D&D 5E Player wealth

[Khasimir]

How does your DM or you if you are the DM, handle what the players do with unspent wealth? Do have some sort of banking system set up or do they carry all of their wealth on them at all times? I ask as I'm very curious to see how it's being handled in other campaigns, since I likely need to address this very thing in our next session.

I'm torn by the idea of having them carry of their wealth upon them. It seems too easy for them to lose everything. As an alternative, I'm considering providing banks in cities with populations > 15k, with the understanding that the bank is local to that city/town. Thus no depositing in Baldur's Gate and then withdrawing from Waterdeep.

 

[not-so-newguy]

I've never used a banking system for my campaigns.

The pc's can exchange coin for valuable items or they can build/buy a secure home. The second idea is MUCH more involved and will probably require hiring npc's for security.

 

[aramis erak]

I use something akin to medieval banks...

Yes, you can deposit money. Yes, you can get it back out. Usually on 30-days notice. No, you don't get paid interest. There's a fee for everything. Including both deposits and withdrawals.

Yes, you can borrow money. rates and specific terms vary, but most of them are outside what's considered fair for anyone but a credit card company or a loan shark to use in the US...

Yes, you can get a letter of credit - which is a note from the bank promising to pay the face amount when it's presented to them. You pay a good bit for them (Typically, the fee is 10% of face, and so the cost is 110% of face.) Most people won't accept them for "immediate payment". When presented anywhere but the bank issuing them, the bank issues a certificate of deposit pended upon the letter of credit clearing. When it does, then they will pay the note.

Sometimes, if you ask for a transfer to a distant bank, you're offered a letter issued by them to someone else, and a note saying that they're sending you to cash it on their behalf (rather sending it back via courier and hauling back goods or cleared drafts of their own...). You take the risk that it won't clear at all, but at least you know you'll know immediately when you get there...

 

[Nergal Pendragon]

One of the reward options is to grant them a title and some land to rule over... That alone is going to take a lot of money from them to get functional and keep running.

 

[Dausuul]

In my campaigns, the players carry very little of their wealth on them. Most of it is stored in banks; they retrieve it by the use of cards covered in arcane symbols, imbued with complex patterns of energy that allow them to summon their money at a moment's notice. The vast majority of it is spent on downtime activities. What little money they spend during the game is devoted almost entirely to procuring pizza.

The characters' wealth is mostly carried around with them. I tend to run campaigns set in less-civilized worlds where banking is not really an option. Besides, I'm fairly tightfisted with the loot, so they don't have all that much cash to worry about anyhow.

 

[SirAntoine]

I have used banks, but they're only storage. The accounts don't accumulate interest unless I want to introduce that as a new concept. The PC's wealth is typically saved up to buy big things like ships and to build a stronghold, and pay henchmen and hirelings. You primarily try to get as much wealth as possible so you don't fall behind the other characters in level.

 

[Shiroiken]

I generally keep the PCs too poor to worry about it =)

When the PCs have a lot of cash, I make suggestions on where to invest it. Building a stronghold/base of operations is usually first, but sometimes they buy a business that helps them with a specific goal (usually an inn to gain information). I've had players in the past be successful business owners as well, but they seldom actually see any profits, as the money is sunk back into the business. They earn more in the way of reputation and contacts than gold. I generally avoid a banking system, as I've had PCs in the past that used them as targets for raids.

 

[Bayonet]

Carry it around in sacks.

Wear it in the form of jewelry.

Bury it somewhere safe.

Invest it in property, businesses, etc. Safehouses, Inn's, Strongholds.


I'd rule that anyone well known, or from a well known family, can get loans from local rich folks, but at a steep rate of interest.

Perhaps factions or temples could hold or transport money for rich travelers? Have to mock up some simple rules for protection costs, transportation times, etc.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Taxes, Guilds fees and Stocks and investments like ship building, wagon trains, death protection, etc. Do have banks in my games but they are more kingdom specific, keeping X amount in vaults.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Oh, there is an d20 rule set on DriveThur: E.N. Guilds - Banking Guild that may help out: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/produ...king-Guild?term=bank&filters=100_0_0_0_0&it=1