So How Does Your Group Distribute Treasure?

[KRT]

I guess my interpretation of "need over greed" must be different than yours, Tony, because when I said my group uses this method, I meant exactly what you describe! We give stuff to the characters who could best use it, not just to the class mosted suited to it...

I think that need over greed means many different things to different groups. In a campaign where PCs have lots of things to do with their money like build churches and raise armies need takes on a very different definition than in a dungeonhack style campaign or a high politic style. I would even argue that greed IS need depending on the campaign. Many players need the loot to enjoy the game feel like they've accomplished anything (though most just play Diablo to get that fix).

 

[kigmatzomat]

Two: "need over greed" is totally fake. People aren't that selfless, and wouldn't act like that. ...Well, maybe one person in a party would, but not every-frikkin-body.

It can happen. It's not exactly common but if the characters have acquired the long view (aka wisdom) and trust each other they won't quibble over personal power. The wise adventurer realizes he's only one person and that by increasing the strength of the party as a whole he improves his odds. More targets on their feet equal more people to share in the abuse. The same goes for offensive power; if someone is harmless they get ignored. So the best plan is to keep everyone on an even keel.

With proper external reinforcement, even the selfish characters will learn to purchase the good will of generous NPCs with gifts and the like out of self-interest.

IMC the greedy rogue/sorceror doesn't immediately go for the most powerful magic items. For one thing, my NPCs take advantage of Detect Magic and tend to target people with lots of mojo so he doesn't want to stand out. Second of all, he's hunting a particular set of magic items and doesn't want any arguements.

 

[antman120]

I have found that the more dangerous the adventure, the better the players got along. When fighting a bunch of kobolds and a white wyrmling, the discussion about treasure came down to who liked what (that and one player wants everything that is shiney). But after killing the three steel golems outside the illithid's bedchamber, it all came down to "how do we split up the items so we don't die". Whole discusion took about 30 seconds.

 

[Frozen DM]

Our group's method is pretty straightforward. We don't really factor in the value of an item, not in game terms anyway.

First, all money, gems and mundane valuables are diveded evenly.

Secondly we list out all our treasure on the "Big Party Booty List"® . Once that is done, we pass the list clockwise around the table. Each player/character gets 1 pick. They write their name down beside the item they want. Once this is done once, we resolve any conflicts, usually through RP but sometimes by dice-off.

Then we repeat until all the treasure is accounted for. If there is nothing of interest for a player on that list, they can forfit their pick, and get 2 picks the next time we do this.

It's worked for us for years and seems to distribute the wealth fairly. Except for rogues, they always get a "little" extra

 

[Altalazar]

Total gp value is divided by size of party. Then divided evenly. Equipment that someone wants isn't sold, but can be 'bought' as part of a share (half book price to keep things simple).

Some things may be group property, like the wand of cure light we bought.

Just keep it fair and equitable and be reasonable and things work out.

 

[genshou]

Well,

My players add up everything as though they had sold it all. Magic and equipment are counted as 50% of purchase price. Then they split that amount evenly. Using that number they then "purchase" any items at the 50% price from the pool. If more than one person wants a particular item they bid against each other until a final price is arrived at. The difference between the 50% price and the final price is then distributed evenly amongst the players who did not win the bid.

It works really well as everyone gets their even share. They also lend each other money if one person needs a particular item but can't afford it from their share.

Jack

That's the system my group has used for the most part. Works well enough for us.

 

[Staffan]

In the campaigns I'm in, we usually use what in this thread has become called "need before greed." Protective items tend to go to the characters with the lowest AC, weapons to the fighters, and so on. If there's stuff no-one is particularly interested in, they get sold and the money added to the gold pile. The gold pile is then divided evenly between the party members.

 

[billd91]

In the games I usually participate in, it's need before greed. PCs who are falling behind in some way, get first crack at whatever will help in that area, then PCs who could best use an item from the standpoint of a cooperative party, and then PCs who simply want an item. And among the criteria for falling behind is great disparity in general wealth.

I fail to see how a system like this is unfair since it's primarily geared toward getting the stuff to PCs who need it most. It works best in a party where the PCs all get along and are reasonably trustworthy.

 

[Nemigar]

Wow, lots of complicated methods. Most of the NBG methods seem to assume a party where all the PCs are not just allies, but buddies, everyone knows what magic everyone else has, and that pretty much the same exact group shows up, time after time. If that's true for your group, then these NBG systems should work fine.

The makeup of the groups I play with tend to vary wildly from session to session, so we don't keep any kind of 'pool' of items (not fair to those who risked their lives to get item X for a player who wasn't there to take it), and since the PCs are much more along the definition of 'allies' rather than 'buddies' (one group contains several rangers and one priest of Set - neither side of which is going to open up their list of magic for the other to peruse to ensure fairness!), they are definitely looking to improve their personal power whether it hurts or helps the other side.

The system we've used since the beginning of our group (ca. 1977) is that all 'money' (gold, gems, etc.) gets split evenly, among PCs, NPCs, and hirelings. For division of magic, everyone rolls percentile dice (if one PC has multiple hirelings, the hirelings group together for one pick, prevents a PC from hiring henchmen just to leech magic). The highest percentile roll goes first, they take whatever they want. Next highest roller goes, takes whatever they want. If they run out of rolls before they run out of items, everyone rolls again (actually, we'll do enough 'sets' of rolls to divvy up everything at the start, when a large enough hoard to require multiple rolls happens).

People tend to take what they need (rather than what's the most valuable), and it's common for people to trade positions in the list for favors, items, and so on, and this puts the newbie on even par with the experienced character.

It also means zero discussion/argument about who 'needs' what, and what items are 'worth'.

 

[Ed Cha]

Divide up the coins evenly and then whoever is the loudest gets to decide who gets what on the rest.