That rat had 400 GP!

[Voneth]

3) A halfling Bard sells them maps to caves & ruins -- "Go in meself? D'ye think me mad? Nay, 'tis the job of strong folk like yerself, doin' the delvin'. I'll be content sellin' the means, I will." Most maps lead to "diversions" -- monster lairs, etc., -- but a few lead to unknown treasure drops, with monsters too of course

-- Nifft

I think you drifted on your accent there.

Go in meselfa? Oh no! D'a be thinking me mad! Yousa talking 'bout a job for strong folksa like yerself. Theysa needs to be doin' the delvin'. I'llsa be sellin' the way, I will."

 

[Xarlen]

The problem is I can't use a whole lot of these.

The PCs are sent into a situation where the Church is sending them. And I find it difficult to imagine the church giving them cash for fixing the problem.

I'm not doing standard Dungeoncrawls- the PCs are trying to figure out what's bringing all these Things (Which are nightmares drawn from the dreams of some sleeping knights tucked into a hidden cave where they are in stasis). The cave is pretty much Locked, so no way stuff can get in there and lair, and the PCs aren't going to steal the knights' stuff.

The group's Paladin will likely NOT approve of looting fallen warriors in a battle.

The Paladin *Will* recieve a masterwork sword at the end of the adventure (mainly because his sword will become Masterwork, because he has the sword of one of the knights; a decendant). So that partially takes care of him.

The rogue is a kid, who's player doesn't care about magical items.

The monk is a Wild monk, so I don't even know if he Cares about cash.

And I don't plan on just dropping monsters here and there and everywhere, so I have no idea how to GIVE Them loot.

 

[Mark]

According to almost every group of players that I have ever run through a dungeon, snakes are famous for swallowing gems. No one has ever found a gem-swallowing snake in any game I have ever run, but this does not keep them from cutting them open every single time...

All snakes aside, here's something actually useful. Many large tribes will melt down any metals they gather to cast as an idol. Not only does it give them something tangible to worship, and show their devotion to their god, but it is much harder for adventurers to pick it up and run away with it. To make it less desirable to adventuring thieves, cover it with the blood and entrails of previous adventuring groups who became sacrifices!

 

[Fenes 2]

Well, in that case, don't give them gear and rewards. If they have fun without the old toy-gathering, let them. You may need to choose the monsters carefully and not rely on CR alone, but I myself am running a rather low-treasure game, and it is working out fine.

 

[Mark]

The problem is I can't use a whole lot of these.

The PCs are sent into a situation where the Church is sending them. And I find it difficult to imagine the church giving them cash for fixing the problem.

Maybe not the church proper, but wealthy patrons of a church, who know the church is either strapped for cash or too stodgy to pay up for deeds, might foot the bill.

Sometimes they like to make sure a job gets done in the interest of their church just to make sure that their religion stays on top, thus ensuring that their personal status remains high. A wealthy patron of a church might ask for a separate (possibly secret) audience with a group of adventurers and make sure they know that there is more to things than is just being asked by the church.

The patron may just sent a note and a small bag of cash with the promise of more if their church's request is handled well.

They might even press the adventurers for an additional task just to show how great a patron they are, such as carrying the patron's banner on the church's quest, or dropping the patron's name if other, lesser members of the congregation take an interest in the adventuer's deeds. This ensures that other members of the congregation know the importance of the patron, or if they already do, it reinforces that belief.

Any or all of these things can help you put the appropriate amounts of treasure in the pockets of the PCs.

 

[Kilmore]

If you don't need treasure to motivate your party, you shouldn't have to feel like it's neccessary to provide it for them. Just hook them up with whatever fix they want as a reward, and see that they (usually) get enough gold to see them through. And just because they work for a church doesn't mean they don't get any gold from them. If the church is wise, they will send their party out with whatever they need and can spare to survive in the world. That includes money.

 

[Xarlen]

Well, here's a thought someone else suggested: A church credit card. Sort've a writ that they show people who know the church (Inns, shops, places along the way), that says these people are accountable by the Church, and you are owed a certain sum.

Of course, this means the PCs can't go willynilly, else get super repremanded.

But, I also realized that I really can't go by the Wealth options. A lot of that cash goes to purchase Magic, and that just ain't happening in this world. Sure, it goes to buying better equipment, which they will need, but not when measuring all these oodles of magical stuff.

But I'm not going to be careful with the CRs because I'm allready treating them as a 2nd level party, due to large stats and the size of the party.

I'm not sure how I should handle things.

 

[Tonguez]

I once did a game in which the PCs were 'Agents' of the Church sent out to recover lost Holy Artifacts or investigate (and destroy) Satanic cults or escort a Blessed Neophyte to a new temple etc etc.

As agents of the Church they get free board at any Church hostel or monastary, free food and supplies and a supply of Divine spells and Divine magic items useful for their task (remember reduced expenses is a form of 'treasure').

When it came to exploring dungeons to recover artifacts they were told that any artifacts of religious or historic importance would be taken by the Church, they were also required to hand 10% of any other treasure to the Church as a tithe but could keep anything the Church did not claim.

They also gained status, followers (and contacts from whom they could call in favours) and land (farms from which they could draw an income whilst serving the Church)

Actually giving them a deed to a business as an 'investment' might work - and act as a respawning coin generator!!!

 

[Nifft]

Go in meselfa? Oh no! D'a be thinking me mad! Yousa talking 'bout a job for strong folksa like yerself. Theysa needs to be doin' the delvin'. I'llsa be sellin' the way, I will."

Jar-Jar is not a halfling.

-- Nifft

 

[Fenes 2]

Well, here's a thought someone else suggested: A church credit card. Sort've a writ that they show people who know the church (Inns, shops, places along the way), that says these people are accountable by the Church, and you are owed a certain sum.

Of course, this means the PCs can't go willynilly, else get super repremanded.

But, I also realized that I really can't go by the Wealth options. A lot of that cash goes to purchase Magic, and that just ain't happening in this world. Sure, it goes to buying better equipment, which they will need, but not when measuring all these oodles of magical stuff.

But I'm not going to be careful with the CRs because I'm allready treating them as a 2nd level party, due to large stats and the size of the party.

I'm not sure how I should handle things.

I don't use CR in my campaign, where you also cannot really buy magic. As an example, one party is level 11 and has about 3 magical weapons and 2 other magical items between the 4 PCs. I handle things by judging each opponent, not going from the CR, but from the capabilities of the PCs. I was stingy with cash up until the point the party established themselves in a city, with manor etc. Nowadays I just assume they have enough money to live well, or very well, and don't worry about the amount of gold coins in their hand. Any mundane item they want they can just get, anything special - magic items for example - has to be earned in an adventure or two.

It also helps if there are rewards that are not masured in gold. Status, fame, significant others for the PCs and similar rewards make for a good game imho.