Starting Gold and Leveled Wealth/Gear Value

[Mark CMG]

With PC wealth meant to be equal at all levels above first, and if the characters are all starting at the same time, does having them start with random, and unequal, wealth truly make sense?

Can a druid starting with 50 gp wealth really hope to wind up equally wealthy at second level as a fighter who began with 150 gp?

Do you audit your PCs at various levels and see if they fit the expectations in the DMG?

What of the disparity between first level NPCs and PCs and how this effects the lowest levels of play?

What about when that disparity flips only a couple of levels later, what effect does that have on the pace and tenor of the game?

 

[gamecat]

The trend I've noticed is the more weapon-and-armor based a class is, the higher starting wealth.

 

[Mark CMG]

The trend I've noticed is the more weapon-and-armor based a class is, the higher starting wealth.

Seemingly, but the druid is a bit of both, and except for the monk, receives the least. Plus, the assumption is that everyone gains equally and winds up equally wealthy, but that seems unlikely when they do not begin equally.

 

[el-remmen]

I think if a 100 gp give or take is making a noticable difference after a handful of levels either something is wrong, or you are playing a very cash poor game.

 

[Mark CMG]

I think if a 100 gp give or take is making a noticable difference after a handful of levels either something is wrong, or you are playing a very cash poor game.

Maybe so. What about the rest of the questions, say, about the NPCs/PCs differences?


I've done some audits on characters when starting pick up games on PCs brought in from home games by people (who were all proud of their characters and sure their games were fairly standard) and found some remarkable differences. It can be strange, the conversations that follow pointing out which PCs have what and how much the difference is.

 

[Cor Azer]

With PC wealth meant to be equal at all levels above first, and if the characters are all starting at the same time, does having them start with random, and unequal, wealth truly make sense?

Can a druid starting with 50 gp wealth really hope to wind up equally wealthy at second level as a fighter who began with 150 gp?

Do you audit your PCs at various levels and see if they fit the expectations in the DMG?

What of the disparity between first level NPCs and PCs and how this effects the lowest levels of play?

What about when that disparity flips only a couple of levels later, what effect does that have on the pace and tenor of the game?

I used to care about such things. I was meticulous about ensuring that the wealth the PCs gained matched the guidelines, and took several audits over various levels. This primarily came from my Living Greyhawk experiences at the beginning of 3.0. Eventually, my players said that they really don't care to that extent. As long as everyone is treated fairly in the loot department and they each get something "cool" every now and then, the exact amount of gold each receives isn't a big concern. I still eyeball wealth on occasion, but now it's so I can tweak any upcoming challenges.

As to some of your other questions, yes, I think that despite starting at unequal levels PCs can end up equal - in my experience, those classes that start with more gold tend to need more for disposable items: ranged ammunition, healing, etc.

 

[el-remmen]

Maybe so. What about the rest of the questions, say, about the NPCs/PCs differences?

Hard for me to answer as I pay no attention whatsoever to wealth by level limits for PCs or NPCs.

 

[Lanefan]

I used to care about such things. I was meticulous about ensuring that the wealth the PCs gained matched the guidelines, and took several audits over various levels. This primarily came from my Living Greyhawk experiences at the beginning of 3.0. Eventually, my players said that they really don't care to that extent. As long as everyone is treated fairly in the loot department and they each get something "cool" every now and then, the exact amount of gold each receives isn't a big concern. I still eyeball wealth on occasion, but now it's so I can tweak any upcoming challenges.

As to some of your other questions, yes, I think that despite starting at unequal levels PCs can end up equal - in my experience, those classes that start with more gold tend to need more for disposable items: ranged ammunition, healing, etc.

Never mind that greater inequalities result as time goes on due to: some characters lasting longer than others (and thus getting in on more treasury divisions); some getting luckier than others in situations of equipment destruction; Thieves doing their job and actually stealing stuff (whether from party members or the world at large), and so on. Trying to maintain or force equal wealth is an exercise in complete futility...just like trying to maintain equal levels...and it's a simple fact of life that some PC's are going to end up wealthier than others.

The wealth variance at campaign start is, in the long run, such a trivial amount as to be almost meaningless; the challenge is to equip yourself as best you can with whatever g.p. you start with, and go from there.

Lanefan

 

[frankthedm]

With PC wealth meant to be equal at all levels above first, and if the characters are all starting at the same time, does having them start with random, and unequal, wealth truly make sense?

Those GP amounts represent what those characters need for thier mundane combat gear and exploration equimnet with somechange left over. If you let the casters have access to more cash than that, they will load up on scrolls.

Can a druid starting with 50 gp wealth really hope to wind up equally wealthy at second level as a fighter who began with 150 gp?

Yes, because the druid's hide armor and sling bullets cost less than the fighters' scale mail, greatsword and bow. The game expects characters to have the starting packages. The starting gold is an abstract idea for players who want thier gear a bit more customised.

What of the disparity between first level NPCs and PCs and how this effects the lowest levels of play?

The players should not get rich that fast off NPCs unless the party kills the NPC before it uses it's expendables [potions & what not]. The first masterwork stuff a party gets will likely come of the back of an NPC. The only real problem is if the DM does not use enough Monsters & Mooks and then has the NPC's gear value as a GP lump on the character.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I audit my group's PC's on a regular basis just to check that their wealth levels are around about where they should be as per the wealth table in the DMG. I also like to check that one PC doesn't have twice as much goodies as someone else. If there is a disparity between some characters then I introduce some items that are relatively character specific to try and even things out.

In the end though all that really matters is that everyone is having a good time.

Olaf the Stout