Starting Resources?

[Centaur]

When making up first level characters, everyone gets a certain amount of cash (depending on class 2d4 - 6d4 x10 gp) with which to purchase goods to go adventuring.....

Other than what you can buy with your starting cash, you get a single outfit of your choice... With one exception, the Wizard.

The wizard gets a spell book with a value of over 1000gp, perhaps even over 2000gp depending on which rules you use and how many spells are in the book at 1st level. Granted the wizard needs this at 1st level to even function so maybe it should just be overlooked.

But then again maybe not. I have two questions for the community to consider...

1) If a character takes his 1st level of wizard after he has already taken several levels of other classes, should he be made to pay for the value of his spell book that he now gains?

2) Should Other classes be granted some other class based starting equipment of similar value to the wizards book? If so, what should that value and/or the nature of that equipment be?

Thoughts?

 

[Pax]

No, and no.

The spellbook has zero value to SELL it, only a cost to ACQUIRE it. And it is, in essence, a class feature.

 

[jgsugden]

1.) Spellbooks never spring up out of nowhere in my games. If a character becomes a wizard, I make him purchase a spellbook or I find a way to work one into the game.

As a side note, a 'starter book' for wizards with all the cantrips ands a few common spells can be purchased in my games for a cost far beneath the price suggested by the DMG. These things are in higher supply than more complex books. Too many young wizards die in dungeons, only to have their equipment recovered by other adventurers. A spell book with 3 or 4 1st level spells and all 0th (or sometimes less due to the original owner's specialization) sells for less than 200 gold in my games.

2.) No. This is a speciali situation where 1 class needs something special. In effect, this special item (the spellbook) is not transferable unless the PC dies, because the PC needs it. Extra equipment for any other class would not follow the same requirement: if they needed it, they'd have it and no other class has something like this ... excpet perhaps the druid's animal companion. I *guess* an evil druid could get an animal companion every day and then sell it off ...