So How Does Your Group Distribute Treasure?

[The_Universe]

My group has their characters fight to the death in order to resolve any treasure/wealth distribution disputes. We go through a lot of characters.

Seriously, I encourage people to distribute items as they would in-character, but will lightly penalize players for being jerkwads if they start to horde things they don't need, and then use the "in character" excuse. Yes, it's a collaborative story. But it's also a game - and in the game, everyone gets a reward.

 

[Thomas Percy]

As need over greed is completely fair as long as the players are being fair, but if they aren';t then you are doing something else with lieing and untruths.

What about "need over greed" method when DM always gives items useful for only one class (wands, staff of powers, robe of archmagi)?

 

[Kristivas]

My group is pretty much all for Need before Greed, but they have a good way of selecting loot. I'll give this example (it's a little far-fetched example of loot, but it helps you get the picture.)

I the party, there's a Wizard, a Fighter, a Paladin, a Cleric, a Rogue, and a Bard. They just killed a Great Wyrm Blue Dragon and got an assload of loot. Here's a exerpt of the loot page.


Robe of the Archmagi
Staff of Power
Vorpal Bastard Sword +4
Great Sword of Speed +4
Bag of Tricks
Full Plate +4 of Spell Resistance
Cloak of the Bat
+5 Unholy Dagger


The party then casts lots (rolls a d20) to determine the order of who can choose what. In our example, it goes: Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Paladin, Bard, Rogue.

Fighter: I'm takin' that sweet Bastard Sword!
Cleric: Hmm, the Full Plate looks good, I'll go with that. Torm would agree.
Wizard: The Robe, most deffinately!
Paladin: *miffed that the armor and bastard sword was taken, but since they would be used rather than sold, he gets over it* Great Sword for me.
Bard: The Bat! I know I'm useless, but at least I'll look cool!
Rogue: The dagger.. umm.. ya know, it might come in handy. *glancing at the Bard*

And then they'd pick over. When all of the items are distributed, then they divide the cash. If there wasn't enough items for everyone, those that didn't get anything get more money. In 99% of all of our games, people didn't pick items that would benefit someone else just because it would sell well.

The 1% time that it did, a new guy joined and picked a sword the fighter could have used because he wanted to trade it in. When approached peacefully and asked to make a wiser choice and he didn't, the fighter (and a few other party members) ganked him and took the item.. not really wanting to group with someone without enough common sense to care more about the group than about their own pockets.

 

[tetsujin28]

Need before greed. If that falls over, then a simple comparison of each PC's wealth comes into play. We're all friends around the table so an amicable solution is never more than a few seconds' discussion away.

Yep. I've never had a problem doing it that way.

 

[tetsujin28]

What about "need over greed" method when DM always gives items useful for only one class (wands, staff of powers, robe of archmagi)?

That's as lame as the GM who only gives out cursed items :\

 

[kigmatzomat]

That's as lame as the GM who only gives out cursed items :\

Oh man, I love that guy! Once we figure it out we started using them as traps. Spot some powerful bad guy, shriek like little girls and throw the shiny, glowing cursed magic weapons in their direction shouting "please, take our magic blades but leave us our lives!"

How can BBEGs resist beheading you with your own sword?

 

[Big Finger Games]

As such, I would really appreciate some suggestions in how your group distributes treasure. Is there a fair system that can keep some of the "usual treasure behaviour" in line?
For example, imagine your group has just found a Ring of Protection +4. Who gets it and how do you work this out? I'd appreciate any ideas at the moment.

My group completely metagames it. The monetary treasure is typically used as a group fund. The magic items go to whoever can use them and needs the help with whatever bonus they impart. They're a mature group so their is almost never any problems with treasure allocation. Occasionally, there is an item that could benefit more than one player, it these cases the players usually barter it out between themselves, or the group will vote on it as a whole.

-mike

 

[was]

I. It goes to the character who can best use the item (class/concept...etc...)
II. It goes to the character who needs it the most (i.e. a ring of protection +4 to the rogue with a 14 AC vs. the fighter with a 20 AC)
III. Disputes not falling into either of the above category require a d20 rolloff. The loser gets first pick of the next treasure.

 

[Crothian]

What about "need over greed" method when DM always gives items useful for only one class (wands, staff of powers, robe of archmagi)?

Well, then those items goto that one class since they are the one who can make use of them. Or the parety can try to sale/trade/eat the item for something else.

 

[Herobizkit]

We use The Party Pool. All treasure goes into this pool and generally stays there at all times. If anyone needs money for whatever reason, they take it out of the Pool.

Magic items work the same way. People take out what they can use, dice-off if more than one character wants it, and put the item back when/if they're done with it. Any excess magic stays in the pool to be sold off, donated, or used to equip NPCs.