Wealth by Level Guidelines

[Shadeydm]

Assuming that some of you actually use the Wealth by Level Guidelines in the DMG to occasionally confirm that the PCs have close to the suggested amount of resources for thier level.
Those of you who do so do you read the guideline to mean that PCs should have x amount worth of equipment/resources upon attaning that level or that they should accumulate that amount while adventuring at that level?
I know its just a guideline but how one reads the guideline certainly effects its application to one's game.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

It's total wealth, not wealth from the adventure.

There are separate treasure tables in the DMG that shows how much treasure PCs should get from individual encounters.

The bigger question for me is whether that wealth is what the PC currently has with him or whether he can have additional wealth but just not all with him at any given time. In other words, a PC could swap out gear to bring them under the wealth guidelines but still have long term access to it.

 

[Shadeydm]

Perhaps I did not state the question clearly enough, my apologies I shall attempt to clarify.

When using the guidelines do you expect the PCs to have the suggested amount upon attaining level x, or do you expect that they will have much less that the suggested amout upon attaining level x but would while adventuring at that level eventually get to that suggested amount of wealth?

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I simply expect them to have the listed amount at some point during the given level. That's close enough, considering the inherent imprecision of the whole concept.

(And yes, it counts total wealth, not just wealth carried.)

 

[TheGogmagog]

I work on the low end, assuming that they achieve the 9th level wealth the day they level up to 10th. Of course I don't track precicely or micromanage wealth distribution, but that's what I shoot for.

I think most use the suggested wealth by level tables as that's the starting gold when drafting the 9th level character with minimum 9th level experience.

 

[Milagroso]

I work on the low end, assuming that they achieve the 9th level wealth the day they level up to 10th. Of course I don't track precicely or micromanage wealth distribution, but that's what I shoot for.

I think most use the suggested wealth by level tables as that's the starting gold when drafting the 9th level character with minimum 9th level experience.

Correct, IMO. The amount listed is the suggested wealth a character of that level might have for purposes of determining starting funds and equipping that character. It only applies if you are creating the character at that level. I use to think that this was the maximum amount of cash a character of that level should have, and kept thinking I was doing something wrong - but after careful reading found that I was okay.

 

[Nail]

When using the guidelines do you expect the PCs to have the suggested amount upon attaining level x, or do you expect that they will have much less that the suggested amout upon attaining level x but would while adventuring at that level eventually get to that suggested amount of wealth?

When using Table 5-1: Character Wealth by Level (DMG, p. 135), I expect the PCs will have the suggested wealth total once they have attained level x.

If you think about it, this is the only interpretation of the table's use that is useful. For example, if the DM said "make up new 9th level PCs, with standard wealth", why would it make sense to look at the 8th level row of Table 5-1?


FWIW, I do not currently use Table 5-1. I have in past campaigns, however.

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

I use it as a general guild line when i "roll" up treasure. If i see that their wealth is a good bit lower than the dmg suggests i sometimes see a 100 on treasure rolls instead of that stupid 1.

 

[Artoomis]

It's a general guidleine. Among other things, the character's wealth table assumes that this is found treasure - if a character is freely able to buy items of his/her choice, the combat value of those items goes up considerably.

Basically, though, the value is for starting at that level - as can be derived from the fact that this is the number you mght use for a character starting the game at a high level.

 

[ThePublic]

I sometimes use the wealth/level matrix when inviting someone into the groups after the game has started (i.e. they are 3rd level so we make up a new PC at 3rd) and I usually hold pretty close, but more than not a little below the pile o wealth listed.

In item generation, i usually show them the arrangement of what they can have (i.e. one weapon, armour, misc or wand some such) and then I put the screw to them with the phrase that has served me best as a DM of over 25years:

"Pick the items, whatever you want- but make sure that you think it is reasonable/ probable, otherwise I will just look at it, shake my head and deny your pick."

You would be surprised how on the nose a player can be with a pick at a certain level when it is put to them that way. In those many years I have only disallowed 3 items TOTAL. Not only does it let the player flesh out this higher level 'new' PC but it also allow the DM to gauge the type of player that they have before them (a litmus test for munchkins/choad warriors if you would).

But hey, I am just one guy.... what do I know?