Wealth by Level Guidelines- how closely do you follow them?

[Ellie_the_Elf]

Hi all,

Do you follow the wealth by level guidelines in the DMG? And if so how closely?

My reason for asking is this- my first campaign had a tendency towards monty haul-ness with treasure. From around tenth level, most of the PCs were 1-3 levels ahead treasure-wise, going by the chart mentioned above. While I was still able to challenge them, it required a lot of thought and occasional underhand tactics....

So for my second campaign, I decided to be a bit more careful about what I was handing out. The PCs are now 5th level, and an audit I did last week revealed they have 4th level equivalent wealth (about 4000gp per character down). My current storyline, which is a murder investigation taking them across the country, doesn't have too many appropriate points to put decent treasure in, since it's mostly roleplay based with wandering encounters as they travel. It doesn't help that they are being very careful about what they can and can't carry and are leaving mundane weapons and armour on bodies left and right...

My players, as far as I can tell, are okay with this, but I'm feeling bad for 'short changing' them. So what would you do in this situation?

Ellie

 

[Crothian]

I don't even look at them. I could care less what the DMG says about wealth in my game. A DM knows his game, setting, and players better then any book can so a DM should be able to judge the wealth he hands out. If a DM wants to give over 30k to a second level group and knows how to handle it (and I did!! ) then it's fine.

 

[maggot]

I occasionally look at wealth-per-level only because my players often refer to it. Usually in the context of "my character isn't powerful enough because he is lacking the appropriate equipment for his level." I use the weath-per-level difference to adjust the average CR downwards if appropriate. And I also use it to figure out which characters are behind the overall party average if not the proscribed amount. (And usually the complaining players are those way ahead of everyone else, if not ahead of the DMG values. Go figure.)

 

[Crothian]

I occasionally look at wealth-per-level only because my players often refer to it. Usually in the context of "my character isn't powerful enough because he is lacking the appropriate equipment for his level."

If I had a player tell me that I think I'd remove some of their items.....

 

[James Heard]

If I had a player tell me that I think I'd remove some of their items.....

If I had GM like that, I think I'd find another game.

 

[Crothian]

If I had GM like that, I think I'd find another game.

Why? I already stated I don't follow that rule. Also, players really shouldn't be looking at the DMG and second guessing the DM. The game requires trust and if the player doesn't trust me to do my job then maybe he should fine another game. Luckily though, people find it really easy to leave one game and quickly find another.

 

[maggot]

Luckily though, people find it really easy to leave one game and quickly find another.

Really, I've had exactly the opposite problem. Some players don't want to leave a game for fear that they will never play again.

 

[Crothian]

Really, I've had exactly the opposite problem. Some players don't want to leave a game for fear that they will never play again.

Come to think of it, I imagine that is actually the way more common instance.

 

[IronWolf]

I tend to not pay too much attention to them, running with what I think is warranted along the way. In some cases this may mean being under the recommended guidelines and in others over the recommended guidelines. Whatever happens to make more sense for the campaign at hand.

 

[Fieari]

I both ignore them, and tell my players that I ignore them. Sometimes they'll get bounties beyond belief, sometimes they'll be dirt poor and scrounging for coppers in the dust. I have no lack of players.