D&D 5E (2014) Starting Equipment/Gold Question

[Tigit]

I have a question about starting Gold and Equipment. I you take the option of rolling your gold instead of the starting Class Equipment does that mean you lose the starting equipment from the background or is that separate?

 

[DND_Reborn]

Yes, you lose the background equipment if you roll for gold.

You either A) roll for gold and buy everything or B) get starting equipment from your class and background.

 

[Hriston]

Under "Backgrounds" on page 60 of the SRD 5.1:

Equipment​

Each background provides a package of starting​

equipment. If you use the optional rule to spend coin​

on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment​

from your background.​

 

[Tigit]

Under "Backgrounds" on page 60 of the SRD 5.1:

Equipment​

Each background provides a package of starting​

equipment. If you use the optional rule to spend coin​

on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment​

from your background.​

Okay. Was just unsure because the back ground gives items with no real value such as poorly wrought maps from your homeland. Thank you.

 

[Hriston]

Okay. Was just unsure because the back ground gives items with no real value such as poorly wrought maps from your homeland. Thank you.

It isn't necessarily a replacement because you can get one anyway, but similar items can be found on the Trinkets table.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I will add that for many classes, taking the starting equipment and background packages is "worth more" than if you roll and try to buy all the same things--often you just can't.

If you find this is an issue, simply allow maximum starting gold instead of rolling.

 

[Tigit]

I will add that for many classes, taking the starting equipment and background packages is "worth more" than if you roll and try to buy all the same things--often you just can't.

If you find this is an issue, simply allow maximum starting gold instead of rolling.

In my case it was mainly the character needed a heavy crossbow instead of the longbow that was given and he had a choice of taking scalemail but studded leather made better sense. In terms of gold, the longbow and the crossbow both cost 50 gp and the studded leather costs 5 gp less than the scalemail. At first level 1 extra point of damage or 1 extra point of ac can make a big difference.

 

[aco175]

If I was the DM, I would not have a problem with you swapping them out. I also likely would not notice if you swapped them out and not told me.

 

[DND_Reborn]

In my case it was mainly the character needed a heavy crossbow instead of the longbow that was given and he had a choice of taking scalemail but studded leather made better sense. In terms of gold, the longbow and the crossbow both cost 50 gp and the studded leather costs 5 gp less than the scalemail. At first level 1 extra point of damage or 1 extra point of ac can make a big difference.

As others have mentioned, just swapping out items like that is simple enough IME.

But I am more curious, why was a heavy crossbow "needed"? Why did studded leather "make more sense" than scale mail?

(FYI, "studded leather" was never even a real armor... Ringed leather was and would be better if you want "realism" in the game...).

 

[Tigit]

As others have mentioned, just swapping out items like that is simple enough IME.

But I am more curious, why was a heavy crossbow "needed"? Why did studded leather "make more sense" than scale mail?

(FYI, "studded leather" was never even a real armor... Ringed leather was and would be better if you want "realism" in the game...).

Playing a Dwarf Ranger and the Heavy Crossbow just seemed to fit better with the character. As far as the Studded leather, No dex cap and no stealth disadvantage. The other option was leather armor which is 1 points less than studded.