Jester David
Hero
Doesn't take much to get rich in 3e/4e. The expected wealth of a 5th level adventurer is enough to buy a small house and live off of for twenty years. Or you could buy a small inn.There was no reason if your goal was to get rich, sure.
All those inns owned by retired adventurers? The innkeepers only need to be 5th level. Anything after that is just being greedy.
True. But as I said, if saving the world is your motive, you don't need gold.Well, except, y'know, saving the world because that's where you keep all your stuff, I suppose.
That is another option. But it's the same thing as making the "stronghold resources" non-gold as well. You end up tracking this second currency that isn't compatible and isn't exchangeable for gold (despite the fact people should buy and sell it) for mechanical gamist reasons (balance) rather than any in world logic.You could also draw a line between mundane wealth and magic resources. Instead of spending gold to enchant items, have another commodity (like the hokey 'residuum' in 4e; or 'mana' or whatever) that's fungible for making (or buying) magic items and certain other adventuring uses, but doesn't convert to gold/have consistent value in normal markets.
I actually liked residuum, and keep it in my world (kinda) but it's another form of currency, like gems or trade goods. Heck, it is a trade good.