Why do DMs have a rule regarding how much can be spent on one item?

[Henry]

Plus, roleplaying "natural selection" is not as much fun. More accurately, you're always going to have the one joker who does this and makes the game very lopsided in balance as compared to the other characters, and some DMs want to eliminate that to provide a fun experience for everyone. If all the focus is on someone's "cool item", and who has or doesn't have that cool item as opposed to the game itself, the game is not as much fun.

 

[Question]

But if the player wanted to make a implausible character, then all the DM has to do is sit back and wait for the player to die off before he gets the hint that he should spread his wealth out over more than 1 or 2 items. And most DMs i know say "No you dont get the items from your dead comrades" to avoid screwing up wealth anyway.

I dont understand the re-sell thing for half either. Common sense indicates that you should be able to sell the items for full market value, there is no shortage of customers willing to buy them at full market value. It sorta implies that you are unable to sell them at anything more than half value, in which case, how is it that you have to buy that +1 longsword at full market value of 2,315 gp? Surely that owner is under the same rules where he has to sell at half market value too.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

If a level 11 fighter says he wants to blow 50k/66k on a +5 greatsword and run around in nothing more than masterwork plate, let him, hes going to die very fast with only AC 19 vs CR 11.

I think it is less the +5 Greatsword and more the +1 Flaming Holy Adamantine Greatsword.

Tis foolish to spend good gold on +s when you've got a cleric you can strong arm into casting Greater Magic Weapon on yer goodies.

--fje

 

[Infiniti2000]

But if the player wanted to make a implausible character, then all the DM has to do is sit back and wait for the player to die off before he gets the hint that he should spread his wealth out over more than 1 or 2 items.

The PC may not necessarily die off and even then it might take a while to happen. Moreover, the PC would have to die irrevocably or the player would want him raised. And, then, why wouldn't the player just do the same thing with a new character?

But, you know, if that's the kind of game you like, go for it, but most people that I know about do not like it.

And most DMs i know say "No you dont get the items from your dead comrades" to avoid screwing up wealth anyway.

How does the DM do that, exactly? Do those items disappear after a certain number of clock ticks like in a MUD?

I dont understand the re-sell thing for half either. Common sense indicates that you should be able to sell the items for full market value, there is no shortage of customers willing to buy them at full market value. It sorta implies that you are unable to sell them at anything more than half value, in which case, how is it that you have to buy that +1 longsword at full market value of 2,315 gp? Surely that owner is under the same rules where he has to sell at half market value too.

As evidenced from a recent thread, D&D economics doesn't make sense. But, I'd sure like to be a player in your campaign where everything resells at full value.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

How does the DM do that, exactly? Do those items disappear after a certain number of clock ticks like in a MUD?

I usually just don't give out any treasure for the next couple of encounters until it's "balanced" itself out.

 

[frankthedm]

Common sense indicates that you should be able to sell the items for full market value, there is no shortage of customers willing to buy them at full market value.

Adventures with that kind of cash are not the norm. There are rulers who with gladly accept valuables in replacment for land, taxes and scuttage, but they don't give change.

It sorta implies that you are unable to sell them at anything more than half value, in which case, how is it that you have to buy that +1 longsword at full market value of 2,315 gp?

You are buying the item retail or commisioning it. Check with the DM, there might be a magic item auction coming up. You might get more than your money's worth and you will get more than you bargained for.

Surely that owner is under the same rules where he has to sell at half market value too.

Depending on the DM, If you advertise & wait weeks and months for an intrested buyer you might get more than half value. You might also attract the tax collecter or less honest theives as well.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Short form is that a single, high power item can totally throw off the CR/EL calculations. If one guy's AC is through the roof, then either he is invulnerable or everyone else tends to take disproportionate amounts of damage from the high BAB monsters the GM must throw at the party. By the same token, a magic item with a really high attack bonus means the BBEG has to have either craploads of hit points or a high AC that negatively impacts the rest of the party.

 

[Question]

The DM usually says "No you dont get any loot from his corpse.". Tadaa. Anyway im not seeing this as an actual problem....one or more players, or the DM, is likely to talk to the player on his choice of equipment, fairly soon he will realise its not working out and will want to change it. Hard coded limits just seem un-necessary when common sense can apply.

 

[schporto]

How does the DM do that, exactly? Do those items disappear after a certain number of clock ticks like in a MUD?

We actually have a simple rule. The world expects the dead to be buried with their stuff to help them in the afterlife, and to help future adventurers find loot . Simple consumables, or items noted as 'party items' may be kept by the group - potions, scrolls, etc. But the people of the world expect to be buried with their tools wether those are a hammer and anvil, or a sword and armor. The heirlooms are rare.
Taking bad guys loot is of course acceptable. They were bad after all.
-cpd

 

[reanjr]

How does the DM do that, exactly? Do those items disappear after a certain number of clock ticks like in a MUD?

When I DM, players are generally expected to return wealth to the character's family. Lacking that, I usually try to come up with a reason to at least drop out any powerful magic items (or alternatively, remove an item from the player who receives said powerful magic item).

This is very important in games with very little resurrection. Players shouldn't be given any more incentives than they already have to have their character killed off.