value of NPC equipment?

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Orc NPC fighter should get Str 19 Dex 13 Con 14 Int 8 Wis 10 Cha 6. All members of *PC classes* are supposed to get good stats, even if they are *NPCs*. At higher levels, orcish Warriors aren't so tought anyway; it's probably better to use orcish fighters.

Once your PCs start getting good treasure (eg a +2 sword), they won't have much use for a +1 sword. Or if they have something cool (a +1 keen shock scimitar), they probably won't want something else (a +2 flaming burst scimitar). They'll just sell it and get only half of the price.

I really wish the DMG had a guide as to *how often should you fight classed creatures*. Oh well.

 

[Magic Rub]

I agree with BluWolf & the others. Make the treasure fits the setting. Your players generally don't know the history of the "Orcish war party", you do. Take some time to explain it to yourself. Also you can further tailor this by including the idea that, as was said, these are Orc or Goblin tribes that don't have access to large cities. Therefore they might not even have the knowledge of such fancy things as Potions of Bull's Strength, & even if they did, such a thing would be an incredibly valued possession. Worth far more to them then the standard market price. They might very well waste there gold on seemingly simple things such as "magical pink rock of power on a stick.". Something like this would have been purchased because the Orc or Goblin (whatever) was told it held incredible power. All the wile it's nothing more then a fancy looking placebo, worthless to the real world, but priceless to the Orc. Now I don't suggest you do this with every encounter but occasionally it lends some nice depth, and a possible stumbling block for your Player. It's even a good way to remove some gold from an overly wealthy party, as they'll surely have it identified if you play it up right. I've done it as a DM & it works.

ya I'm done now.

 

[BluWolf]

I have actually used this trick Magic Rub. Its the only time I have ever seen a PC or NOC actually cast Nystul's Magic Aura.

I had a low level Halfling Rog/Ill cast it on three rings for the player's as "1 shot ring's of invisiblity".

When they tried to sneak into the baron's dungeon to free an informant man did they get a surprise!!

 

[TrizzlWizzl]

Here's what I would do:

1) Consult the Monster Manual with regards to the 'Treasure' entry.

2) Determine the Encounter Level of the encounter in question.

3) Roll randomly on Table 7-4 DMG p.170 'Treasure'

Bam. If the orc(s) in question randomly roll themselves into possesion of a ring of protection +1, then that's part of their 'starting equipment', otherwise they have the weapons and armor listed in the Monster Manual.

Unless, of course, they have PC class levels. In such a case I'd just refrence 'NPC Statistics' p.47 DMG and adjust ability scores based on race... the listings already have ready-to-go equipment packages that can be modified with relative ease and takes a lot of guesswork out of putting together treasure for NPCs.

But again, in the case of monsters with NPC classes, I'd just go with the random treasure table.

 

[xjp]

Normally I eyeball this sort of thing, hand out whatever I feel works at the time

Actually, this method works pretty well.