Looting Bodies

[Ranger REG]

I was DMing a session a while back when my 15th level PCs killed off a group of evil warriors. Unfortunately, they left without looting the bodies of the dead. When they realized they forgot and asked how much gp was left behind, I said over 100,000. They argued that they would have naturally looted the bodies, but I ruled that if they didn't say that they looted the bodies, they left it all behind.

Was I being unfair? What would you have done?

Well, first off, I wouldn't tell them what they left behind because they didn't actually loot the bodies, now did they?

When it comes to treasure, my players have to tell me if they're looting the bodies or taking the chest, or some other way of possessing the treasure to be of some use to them.

Sometimes, I don't tell them the amount until they actually tell me they're counting the treasure, in which case, I roll for wandering monster encounters if they're still in dangerous environment.

 

[Thurbane]

I was DMing a session a while back when my 15th level PCs killed off a group of evil warriors. Unfortunately, they left without looting the bodies of the dead. When they realized they forgot and asked how much gp was left behind, I said over 100,000. They argued that they would have naturally looted the bodies, but I ruled that if they didn't say that they looted the bodies, they left it all behind.

Was I being unfair? What would you have done?

Unless the players have left standing instructions that they loot every body unless they specifically say they do not, then you are perfectly in the right to say they did not loot the bodies unless they stated that they did at the time.

However, it is also a little unneccesary to inform them on how much loot they missed out on, as there is no way they could know what they missed.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, the thing is, the PCS encountered the evil NPCS on a well-traveled road frequently used by commoners, merchants, and such.

So, what havoc have you decided will be caused by the EXTREME cash flow into the nearby towns? I'd imagine that unless the 'towns' you mention are really Lankhmar and Waterdeep, that much hot loot will have an enormous impact on the local economy.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

You're totally in the right. They didn't say it, they didn't do it.

Someone gave a specious argument about not having your sword if you didn't say you brought it from the inn, but this is a different situation because
1) There could be good reasons not to loot
2) Probably they normally say when they're looting and when they're not
3) Looting is not a trivial activity (like belting on your sword) but an important part of the game

Really as a DM assuming that they did stuff when they didn't say it is infringing on their right to control their characters. If they didn't say they were looting and you said "As you start to pick up the scattered gold, your arms start to tingle. Make a fortitude save" You can bet you would hear protests that they had never said they were going to loot. Why should it be any different if the results would be positive?

I don't really see a problem with telling the players how much they missed out on either, provided it can't affect anything in game. If they don't want to be frustrated then they shouldn't ask such questions.

 

[frankthedm]

If they didn't say they were looting and you said "As you start to pick up the scattered gold, your arms start to tingle. Make a fortitude save" You can bet you would hear protests that they had never said they were going to loot. Why should it be any different if the results would be positive?

QFTT

 

[mvincent]

1) There could be good reasons not to loot
2) Probably they normally say when they're looting and when they're not
3) Looting is not a trivial activity (like belting on your sword) but an important part of the game

I don't believe any of those points can currently be taken as truisms in the original post.

 

[TheEvil]

As others have pointed out, the circumstances make a big difference. That said, unless they had a reason not to loot, I would give it to them this time. To do otherwise only encourages gaming habits that I would rather not have. I recall one game where we had been fully searching the caverns after killing the bad guys. In the last encounter of the session, we killed a minor BBEG and the GM called end of session. We didn't play for two weeks. In the next session we forgot about searching the cave and leisurly left. Later we passed through the same cavern and noticed some excavation. When asked, the GM mentioned that minor artifact that we would easily have found had we bothered to search. I still feel burned about that one due to timing.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

As a DM you have to tell me what you are doing. I am not going to assume you are looking for traps, or you would have decided to loot, etc. As soon as I do that and there is some danger you get, "well I didn't say I did that!".

You did nothing wrong if you didn't give them the loot.

 

[Thurbane]

As others have pointed out, the circumstances make a big difference. That said, unless they had a reason not to loot, I would give it to them this time. To do otherwise only encourages gaming habits that I would rather not have. I recall one game where we had been fully searching the caverns after killing the bad guys. In the last encounter of the session, we killed a minor BBEG and the GM called end of session. We didn't play for two weeks. In the next session we forgot about searching the cave and leisurly left. Later we passed through the same cavern and noticed some excavation. When asked, the GM mentioned that minor artifact that we would easily have found had we bothered to search. I still feel burned about that one due to timing.

Man, that's one h@rd@$$ DM

My current group have a SOP we follow after a battle (assuming no imminent danger or other time restrcitions):

1. One (or more) people cast Detect Magic
2. People with the highest Search scores spend one round searching each body, in priority of the most obvious leader etc.
3. Those with lower Search scores start to "take 20" on a search of the bodies (and immediate area if in a lair)
3. Person(s) with the highest Spot and/or Listen scores stay on watch

These are our standing instructions with the DM, to avoid any confusion.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

That's all and well, but what would your response be if one of them said "We didn't get loot for that last battle. What was it?"

IMC, I usually just give them the list, they modify their sheets and we move on.

"Yeah, here's what you find, and YOU make a save"
"Why?"
"Because that item was trapped and you didn't find the trap"
"But I didn't pick it up!"
"You would, it's a sword, you're the swordfighter here"
"Still would not, I have a sword"
"Okay, then, who did pick it up?"
"...."
"Noone?"
"...."
"And why not? Why didn't you pick up that one item when you always pick up everything else?"