Hello All,
I am running a pre-written scenario which includes a list of equipment for a number of creatures.
I want to deduct the value of this equipment from the overall treasure that the party should earn throughout the scenario, and then work out the balance.
Should I be using the value of the equipment or should I half it as when it is sold, that's how much it's worth?
Where there are magical items, I will count them as full value.
Any hint's on how to balance treasure would be great.
Thanks
DMStue
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To me, selling magic items should be somewhat difficult, if its to people who don't use magic. You may have a +2 Keen Rapier, but how are you going to prove its abilities to that guy down the road?
Now, if that were, say, a Flaming Shortsword, its a lot easier to prove.
Of course, then you have to consider whether or not the shopkeep can afford, or even if he can find someone who could/would buy it.
Character: "I have this sword to sell you."
Shopkeep: "I see, it looks in good shape. I can see parting with 20 gold for it."
Character: "20? But this is a magic sword!"
Shopkeep: "Magic you say, that's completely different! I'll take it off your hand for this bag of magic beans, then! Quite a bargain if you ask me!"
Assuming your running this "by the book" and the NPCs are meant to be hostile to the PCs, then there is no reason to assume their gear won't fall into PC hands. As such, it then operates like any other spectrum of loot, which is 2 categories:
1. Portable wealth: Coins, Gems, Art Objects, Trade Goods. These are all "worth when sold" the value listed. 500gp gem = 500gp. Same with art objects.
2. Equipment: Mundane and magical objects, devices, or substances that have application beyond a form of currency. Alchemist fire, long swords, +5 swords of butt-whuppin. These all sell for half, buy the default rules. Some DMs adjust up or down based on relative value; a holy avenger might go for more if you sell it to the paladin order, and good luck getting much for your 20 flasks of holy water when your selling them in the Lich King's city (talk about black market!).
I have been running with a general rule. My players seem to like it and their impatience usually means they don't even use it much.
Immediate sell: 50% base price (as per standard rules)
Give to an auction house: 50-80% of base price (with the time they are willing to wait as the determining modifier)
If there are a lot of X and they are trying to sell them all in the same area over a relatively short time period (1-2 months) then they get 20-50% value as the market starts to flood.
Hello All,
I am running a pre-written scenario which includes a list of equipment for a number of creatures.
I want to deduct the value of this equipment from the overall treasure that the party should earn throughout the scenario, and then work out the balance.
Should I be using the value of the equipment or should I half it as when it is sold, that's how much it's worth?
Where there are magical items, I will count them as full value.
Any hint's on how to balance treasure would be great.
Thanks
DMStue
The tables seem to presume that the magic items are worth their full stated value. Obviously this does cause certain problems becuase its possible for the PCs to be falling behind the wealth by level curve should they get lots of magical loot and then sell it.
That said my experience has been that it can make the DMs life easier about as often as it can cause issues. The two major ways this has been beneficial in my campaign are when dealing with NPCs and the Magic Item that must exist for plot reasons.
NPCs are loaded with loot - their still far outstripped in this department by PCs but they have a lot of magical gear. Well NPCs that the players are going to fight will presumably end up dead and all this gear will end up in the players hands. It does not take long to realize that your highly restricted from using very many NPCs becuase of the sheer value of their treasure haul. The fact that these goods are actually worth 1/2 their value unless the PCs keep the items allows the DM to use more NPCs before the game goes seriously out of wack due to to much wealth falling in the players hands.
The other problem is the magical item that must exists for plot reasons - this item is almost always potent, thats how it got into the middle of the plot in the first place. The 1/2 price deal means that its not quite such an issue as even if the PCs do get their hands on it and sell it its not a game breaking amount of cash falling into their hands and also encourages them to keep it, which is important becuase, more so then with most magic items that the DM places, the main plot item is often one that the DM secretly hopes the players will keep.
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Hello All,
I am running a pre-written scenario which includes a list of equipment for a number of creatures.
I want to deduct the value of this equipment from the overall treasure that the party should earn throughout the scenario, and then work out the balance.
Should I be using the value of the equipment or should I half it as when it is sold, that's how much it's worth?
Where there are magical items, I will count them as full value.
Any hint's on how to balance treasure would be great.
Thanks
DMStue
Well, as with magic items, any loot should be counted at full value for the concerns of wealth by level whether or not the PCs keep it. Opinion, and has worked best in my personal experience, other DMs mileage may vary.
In APs, at least, the items are placed for the usage of the PCs, if they don't use it and sell something for half value then they'll fall under their expected wealth by level but, honestly? That's just something that happens. Expected wealth by level is meant to give an indication as to where, with their items, gold, and magic, the PCs will be, and what challenges you can give them.
Apart from that, for your concerns OP, I'd say since you aren't actually trying to sell the items and readjust the gold values (I'm assuming redistributing the wealth) then just consider the full values of the items. The APs put gear in with WBL in mind so I don't think it'd be a problem if you say... trade out a 200 gold noble's suit, masterwork thieve's tools, and 500 silver for a masterwork weapon worth 50g, for example. That's assuming I have the right idea here...
My players get half price for anything they sell. The buyer has to be able to make a profit. I usually don't worry about the wealth by level since most of the time this cash get used to make or buy replacement magic items that the party can actually use. In a pre-written scenario things should already be balanced for the most part by the authors unless it comes from some disreputable 3rd party publisher. (I'm not famaliar with any 3rd parties that really fall into this category).