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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Flying Toaster" data-source="post: 9751436" data-attributes="member: 7052563">I am not sure if it was here or on RPGnet, but I read a long forum thread in which somebody noted that in 1E RAW 75% of XP was supposed to come from treasure, both monetary and magic, and they were curious about how that system would work with published TSR modules.  They went through the classic mega-module GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders and tallied up all of the treasure.  Even if you assume that no party could ever grab it all, the magic items alone added up to a massive hoard.  Henchmen and hirelings would probably not be too keen on venturing into the unknown for the “D” series, but after completing the “G” series you would probably have enough extra magic items to sweeten the pot considerably.  Even after the PCs keep all of the best stuff for themselves, there would probably be enough leftover +1 and +2 items to offer several followers a full panoply of magic swords, daggers, shields, and light armor.  Once a party gets into the Underdark there are many possible encounters with dark elf patrols that need to be avoided or taken out.  Drow NPCs were kitted out with pseudo-magical items that had been infused with mysterious subterranean energies, and the PCs might collect quite a few of those.  If brought back to the “Overlight” these items eventually degrade unless they are periodically brought back to the Underdark for a top-up of weird radiation, so over the long term they would not be terribly useful or valuable topside.In the underground city there are random encounters with gangs of disaffected young men of various races, not only dark elves but also half-elves, half-orcs, etc (the module doesn’t say what their other half is... human?).  They are not necessarily of CE alignment and are enemies of the Lolth cult and the noble houses.  Clever PCs might parley with those guys, and arm them with all the drow gear in exchange for information and backup.  Even if the PCs do not trust the renegades enough to fight side by side, they could just urge these motley crews to run amok and attack the powers that be however they see fit, as a diversion from whatever goals the party decides to pursue.“Here you go guys, knock yourselves out and go have some fun.  Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!” <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face    :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /></blockquote>

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