I started running the Slumbering Tsar set of modules, and while it is going well, the campaign has a LOT of random encounters due to the size of the exploration area.
My question however, is should I be giving treasure out for the random encounters? So far, I haven't, but my group is starting to complain about getting nothing that the creatures didn't have on them (a couple of long spears).
I just wanted some opinions from others.
Thanks.
There are people who feel that WBL is the holy grail, or rule "-1".
What sort of game do you want to play, what sort of game do the players want to have?
Random encounters are kinda bunk in my opinion..... encounter should set the stage or provide clues to the adventure and campaign as a whole......
Here are a few things that may mouth sock the players.... and things to consider....
1. the creatures do not appear out of nowhere and go back to dust once defeated..... they should have a hideout/burrow/cave/etc... where they stash their loot.... but it may be underwater on a cliff/ hard to reach.... did your players look for it? i know when i go hiking i dont take my gold jewelry and plasma tv....
2. modules and ap's always frustrated me because the monsters never use the treasure they have..... e.g. we just killed the bandits and they had a potion of cure serious in their loot .... i bet the bandit leader could have used that when we were fighting him .... this breeds teamwork i feel as defeting the encounter efficiently before the beasties use the good stuff is a lot better than bad tactics leading to finding a bunch of used scrolls and empty potion bottles...
3. it is important i think to stay away from diablo style loot drop where the goblin drops a set of plate out his bum once defeated ... where was he stashing that exactly?
4. You are right in giving only what they have on them ... but perhaps the creatures had things of value to them as well (ivory necklace of defeated mammoths, wolf pelt cape, etc.....) .... in other words try to think like the creature....
5. players will always complain!!!!
Unless the treasure is something they may want to use like potions or magic weapons then it should be somewhere safe like there lair
As for coins it depends how much treasure you roll up and how many of them there are
So if you roll up say 200 gp then ten orcs could have that between them but one bugbear may well have it stashed
But they should have something even if just gear