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Whether or not you ignore the Wealth By Level tables... it's VERY important for the GM to be familiar with why they're there anyway. Because one of the things Pathfinder assumes is that the PCs WILL have treasure of a certain amount by certain levels. If you're playing in a game where character wealth is super low, the GM should take pains to adjust encounters as appropriate.
And when a new PC joins the group, he REALLY should give that new PC wealth equal to the average possessed by the party—a situation where the average PC wealth is 500 and a newly created character would have 10,500 is blatantly unfair and disrespectful of the players who HAVE played their characters.
My advice? Start a new game with one of the other players in your group as the GM. If you've already got enough players for a game, having a game with one fewer player (assuming that your current GM doesn't want to keep playing a PC), playing a game with one less player is much more rewarding and fun than playing with a GM who seems to be only interested in tormenting his fellow gamers.
(Of course... we're only seeing one side of the situation here, but it certainly doesn't SOUND like a fun one to be a player in...)
+1. Please be sure your DM is actually bad, and you're not just projecting all sorts of things onto him.
But if all the things you say are true, I wouldn't play in with that DM.
In fact...look for some PFS games in your area. PFS has it's strength and flaws, but it does 1 thing extremely well, namely a good solid baseline of PF for people to play with.
it sounds like the OP has a DM that may as well be a powermad cookie bear.
the problem with such DMs is that even though they think of themselves as kings, gods, or what ever thier Ego would hint. they forget that the players are the one that they must cater to. a king with no subjects is a king of nothing. which is why a lot of modern governments have something similar to parliament. and sometimes, you have to cater to the odd tastes of your more disturbing players. and it's a 2 way street.
lets say your example hypothetical party had the following characters (ignoring roles and numbers for now)
a modern japanese schoolgirl ninja with a magic katana and a smart phone
a cowboy from the gold rush with highly advanced alien technology he recieved when he got kidnapped by said aliens
a heavily battle scarred Roman gladiator who survived the arena and wields the barbed shackles of his bondage as both his weapon and his armor.
and an Ex Templar captain with a falcata and buckler
this hypothetical party may sound wierd and highly imbalanced, but it has potential for fun. the characters are styled as if they were from completely different periods of time. but this party has potential for fun. even if it is focused on combat and has very little for healing or control.
a controlling DM probably wouldn't allow this party to exist. if he relinquished a bit of control and could get the players to agree. it could work quite well.
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Good stuff.Alright. I was thinking that was probably the reasoning, but I'm not anywhere near as good at subtle rules nuances as I was once upon a time and wanted to make sure it wasn't something fundamental I was missing.
Thanks for your reply.
Anytime.
This is kind of another topic, but just as an aside, if Oracle is fast becoming your favorite class, I wonder why?
I find they suffer the same problem I find with Sorcerers.
They are labelled "spontaneous" casters, but they only get one choice of their highest level spell when they first qualify for that spell level.
Spontaneously casting from a list of one isn't spontaneous, nor does it give you reasonable opportunity to have versatility.
If you are expected to be a party healer, this is a bigger concern.
i wouldn't say that the oracle has fewer spells than a sorcerer, i'd say they have fewer useful spells. i beleive that there are 2 main routes with the oracle. and both use the majority of your known spells and eat up your revealations.
Blind Human Self Buffing Battle (or metal) mystery wannabe fighter with a few self heals.
life mystery wannabe white mage who can't fight thier way out of a paper bag. (Any race or Curse Works, but a haunted aasimaar adds creepy flavor)
Just curious, is this the DM that allowed a bear-trap hammer but constantly nerfed a Summoner?
I've played with this kind of GM before. Criticize him to his face. You will feel like a jerk, but if he takes it to heart, you'll see your game improving.
My friend was purely concerned with telling a story. For a long time, this story had nothing to do with us. His NPCs to this day are a mishmash of class features from all over the place and he flat out ignores the rules there. We've learned to live with this once his DMNPCs stopped upstaging us and we convinced him the reason "he couldn't make a plot happen with all these character deaths" was for ignoring the WBL table. I can vividly remember a bard with a strength of thirty who was "totally a celebrity", fought huge monsters (and had another inside of him) and was there to upstage my own bard at every turn.
We were thirteen. His campaign is now one of three we play in, and our unanimous favourite.
And his games, despite his flaws, have been really fun. I've played Ghouls, Lycanths, Aristocrats and Cockneys. One of my fellow players is a shapeshifter that'd been double crossing us for about a year, and another is an out of control lightning mage that's destined to bring the storm that'll tear the world in two. We've fought Rhemoraz sliding down a mountain, (nearly) escaped from the hells, blown up ships, partied with the Bacchae (and with Olidamarra!), fought dragons and vampires. At ninth level, we're the stars of the show, and he's encouraging us to gather followers and work behind the scenes and make our own ripples in the campaign world. I have an old witch doctor PC that saw one session plotting to Gaes the parties diviner NPC friend (basically our techie and "radio support") to serve his own ends. </gushing>
Ask yourself if you're having fun. If not, tell your GM he'll have to start making concessions for you, because his games are a nightmare. Be honest. Fight tooth and nail for that gear. It worked out for us, and with no love lost. If he can't handle it, consider taking up the GM chair yourself or suggest one of the adventure paths to the most easily bullied... ...er, impressionable players at your table.
Look for easy boosts. Power Attack, inspire courage, weapon specialisation. Capitalize on these as much as you can. If your game is above seventh level, I'd especially reccomend a bard. a move action inspire courage paired with good hope (or with haste, if your GM hasnt nerfed it any more than you've mentioned) might be the boost you and your party members need. A sorcerer with an arcane bond can craft his items without a feat investment, so you can turn what gold you can scrounge up into more gold.
Personally, I'd steer more towards melee or half casters. Power attack and high strength are a one time investment, and are fairly easy to capitalize on. Casters need as much gear to keep up as the average meleer, and it sounds like you won't be seeing a metamagic rod any time soon.
To quote the DM:
DM: "I am not at all happy about the Eidolon gaining flight at level 5."
Summoner Quote: "The wizard and witch can cast fly at level 5."
DM:".............They will need to make fly checks."
I cringed.
Good stuff.Alright. I was thinking that was probably the reasoning, but I'm not anywhere near as good at subtle rules nuances as I was once upon a time and wanted to make sure it wasn't something fundamental I was missing.
Thanks for your reply.
Anytime.
This is kind of another topic, but just as an aside, if Oracle is fast becoming your favorite class, I wonder why?
I find they suffer the same problem I find with Sorcerers.
They are labelled "spontaneous" casters, but they only get one choice of their highest level spell when they first qualify for that spell level.
Spontaneously casting from a list of one isn't spontaneous, nor does it give you reasonable opportunity to have versatility.
If you are expected to be a party healer, this is a bigger concern.
In a group game, I find that your problems with spontaneous casters (or more specifically, sorcs) mirror my frustrations with them. There simply is no good reason for them to be a full level behind wizards in acquiring new spell levels, and few good reasons for only giving them 1 when they DO make it to a new level. It's almost a punishment to play one in a group, and I don't think that's what Paizo intends so much...but it IS how it comes across, at least for a sorcerer.
With an Oracle/Cleric though, while the Cleric has more direct power, earlier, because of spell levels (akin to a wizard), the relative power of Clerical spells doesn't translate as such a large gap - particularly when one considers healing spells. (I come from a group that seldom has access to healing magical items, and our DM's houserule prevents an item from affecting any set of wounds more than once. Spells are not subject to this, though, so long as they are actually cast (not from a scroll.)) The ability to cast 7 or 8 healing spells by level 3 is a potent ability, and these are 'free' spells that don't take up slots on 'Spells Known'. When you look through the clerical list, there are a TON of good spells that have some use...but only a few that are truly critical, and I feel that the Oracle's mysteries/revelations bring more to the table than Channeling except for in undead-heavy campaigns.
To top that off, I've adopted Wordspells as my 'method of choice' in casting. I realize that it removes some of the more specialized and niche abilities (and I'm perfectly content with that) but there is also some versatility in them that is overlooked, particularly at lower levels. Our group isn't very good at optimization, and 'building for higher levels' is pointless as we seldom top level 12 or so. The bonus spells of an Oracle, the sheer volumes of healing, combined with the support of the rest of the party and the inherent flexibility of Wordspells makes that style of Oracle a much more appealing choice to me than just a cleric. It DOES make me somewhat more of a utility/backseat character (while not being anywhere near useless)...but I'm also content with that. I've had my fill of stealing the spotlight as a Wizard during 2nd Edition. =)
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Your Neutral Evil advice for the thread is to each have your characters stay in town, earning GPs through craft, performance, and profession checks until you have the appropriate amount of gold pieces. Do not pick up any plot threads: say that your character lacks the resources to take on such a fearsome quest and it is best for the world if someone better prepared handles it.
Let 2 years pass in game.
Then have your characters look around for adventure.
It's Gandhi's principle of passive resistance applied in a ridiculous fashion. The DM cannot make you do anything you don't choose to do. If you all stick together, he cannot budge you. You are making the gaming table a better place for us all.
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Your Neutral Evil advice for the thread is to each have your characters stay in town, earning GPs through craft, performance, and profession checks until you have the appropriate amount of gold pieces. Do not pick up any plot threads: say that your character lacks the resources to take on such a fearsome quest and it is best for the world if someone better prepared handles it.
Let 2 years pass in game.
Then have your characters look around for adventure.
It's Gandhi's principle of passive resistance applied in a ridiculous fashion. The DM cannot make you do anything you don't choose to do. If you all stick together, he cannot budge you. You are making the gaming table a better place for us all.
...bad idea.
Probably the WORST thing a person can do is try to 'one-up' the GM. Playing a game of Baby Holds Its Breath isn't going to change one thing, although it may well make your problems multiply. Better to simply say to him that you're not having fun or go on your way. Sure, he can't 'make' you do anything, but he can also make sure nothing -happens-, or that your industry is no longer needed, or...
Now, if you were simply to TELL him that you were going to stick around until you can accumulate enough money to purchase X items, and ask how long it might take instead of trying to make a confrontation about it, then you may very well succeed.
Human Wizard (Conjurer)(Teleportation)
Feats:
B: Spell Focus (Conjuration)
1st: Augment Summoning
3rd: Superior Summoning
5th: Skill Focus (Knowledge (planes))
Finish up with Eldridge Heritage, Imp Eldridge Heritage, and Greater Eldridge Heritage taking the Abyssal Bloodline. By 15th lvl you can summon 2 extra creatures as long as they are demons or devils... even with your highest lvl summon... 3 Barbed Devils with a SM 8 hehe.
Even at 5th level your not very money dependent. And who cares if your summons take stat damage. I suppose a straight Summoner works also, but Im personally a fan of 9th level spells.
And Wizards aren't nearly as money dependent as most think. As long as your DM throws Wizards at you that is. They should all have a spell book you can gain spells from.
i think the metal mystery is an attempt to upgrade battle. they get most of the same revealations. just instead of damage feats, metal gets better mobility. Armor Training, AND a Speed Bonus! imagine, a Visually Impaired Suli running around in full plate with a base speed of 40.
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Tell him that individually picking on characters isn't what a DM is supposed to do. Tell him that instead of targeting the better classes just compensate in such a way that doesn't individually pick on the player. Tell him that the game is supposed to be fun and not a harshly ruled dungeon crawler when you're under the threat of TPK. Tell him what you told us that the summoner is so afraid to play his character the way he wants that he doesn't even try. Tell him that altering the rules is fine as long as its in the spirit of fun and to trump overpowered characters. Tell him if he's going to starve you of materials that he should give some features to make up for it. Tell him that this game isn't about killing the main characters. Tell him if he doesn't change his ways that you'll leave and advise others to do as well.(leave this out, until if he retaliates completely to what you said.)If you get your party to confront him with you I will bet he will change his mind.
i think the metal mystery is an attempt to upgrade battle. they get most of the same revealations. just instead of damage feats, metal gets better mobility. Armor Training, AND a Speed Bonus! imagine, a Visually Impaired Suli running around in full plate with a base speed of 40.
Really, the metal and wood mysteries exist so you can have a full group of five Asian-style elemental oracles.
Actually, they don't. Sorcerors get bloodline bonus spells consistently one level after they get that level slot. Oracles get mystery bonus spells the same level they get the slot for every spell level except the first. And they get their choice of all cures or all inflicts free. That's 2 or 3 spells known of each level as soon as they get the slot. None of the mysteries are great, but at least you get an option.I find they suffer the same problem I find with Sorcerers.
They are labelled "spontaneous" casters, but they only get one choice of their highest level spell when they first qualify for that spell level.
Spontaneously casting from a list of one isn't spontaneous, nor does it give you reasonable opportunity to have versatility.
If you are expected to be a party healer, this is a bigger concern.
Good call. That certainly makes a difference. Having 1 spell of any level isn't spontaneous casting.
Wait, whats the problem with low cash and ability drain?
Ability Damage and Drain (Ex or Su) Some attacks or special abilities cause ability damage or drain, reducing the designated ability score by the listed amount. Ability damage can be healed naturally. Ability drain is permanent and can only be restored through magic.
Format: 1d4 Str drain; Location: Special Attacks or individual attacks.
Restoration, Lesser
School conjuration (healing); Level cleric 2, druid 2, paladin 1
Casting Time 3 rounds
Components V, S
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores. It also eliminates any fatigue suffered by the character, and improves an exhausted condition to fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.
lesser resto works and doesn't even require a cheap component.
BNW, here's the problem with lesser restoration and ability drain:
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores. It also eliminates any fatigue suffered by the character, and improves an exhausted condition to fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.
Lesser restoration doesn't cure ability drain, period, as drain only comes in the permanent variety.
A good DM can balance all classes and make them all fun to play.
A good DM can balance all classes and make them all fun to play.
The problem here is that he's playing with a bad DM.
...bad idea.
Probably the WORST thing a person can do is ...
I think you failed your Spot Humor check. Read the first four words of that post again.
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores
It does not restore permanent ability drain.
What spell does then?
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores.
If the drain is is a magical effect lesser resto can dispel it.
In the game that I am currently playing in, every player is level 5.
At level 5 we are supposed to have 10,500 gold worth of items.
Each player currently has 1/10 of what we should have as level 5 characters. It has gotten so bad that the cleric refuses to memorize any restoration spells because it is too costly to cast it.
The summoner is afraid to send his eidolon into combat because everything we have been fighting deals ability damage and the eidolon can not heal it.
What class would you guys take so that you had no reliance on magic items provided by your DM?
1. Druid
His AC can cure damage as well as he is not bad. If he is drained too badly just conjure a new one in 24 hours.
He doesn't need too much money because he can buff himself with magical protection and magical weapons.
And a "unusual creature - large" armour doesn't cost much and is almost all you will need while Shapechanging.
Plus has a lot of good summons.
2. Cleric
Can buff himself, gets all spells for free.
Can give himself magical Armor and magical weapons.
Has the option to summon as a standard action for creatures of his alignment (chaotic good would be fine for that)
3. Sorcerer
Doesn't need a spellbook and is still largly ok. 1 level behind the wizard but if all are starved you will still shine.
If you switch for the Int based Sorcerer Variant you will even have a lot of skills around and can savely dump cha and str.
Is not the best at summons but ok.
4. Wizard with Wood Specialization
Not too good for this scenario but is noteworthy because he gets enhancement bonuses on his attributes for free...
If you switch for the Int based Sorcerer Variant you will even have a lot of skills around and can savely dump cha and str.INT based sorcerer variant? Wha? Where? *is interested*
The downside is that you need to select the Arcane Bloodline. The Arcane Bloodline is one of the strongest ones but I still consider the Draconic to be superior...
EDIT: oh and for example the empyral one allows you to cast with Wisdom if you like it more... its also good for summoners.
EDIT2: While we are at it the Sylvan one gives you an AC (which is hell of strong). Take Boon Companion as a feat and you are all set to go in a low power campaign. Because remember: Like Summons the AC is always the same and the less powerful the players are the more powerful the AC is!
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Or even better, don't go on jobs without bigger promises for rewards. Refuse to go on missions that don't pay well.
Look at it like you're in a business.
If someone wants you to do a job, demand a steep price (steeper than reasonable, since youre so far behind and need to catch up).
Demand your pay 50% up front. Take multiple jobs at once, for bigger gear boosts, before you attempt any quest.
or.. You said you have 500g? Avoid any challenges with a CR that doesn't match the L in your WBL.
Seriously. You should be having fun, and if the GM is going to change the rules, he should have a solid justification for why, and a good handle on what hes doing, and ALL of the repercussions of the changes he makes. It does not sound like this is the case.
Tell him you guys aren't having fun, with the way he's been running the game. You're so severely underequipped that you can't afford to fight the things he throws at you, and point out your argument that the only thing he rewards in his campaign is character death.
Grab another DM if you can, DM it yourself, or as mentioned, just go play some videogames.
A game thats not fun is a game not worth playing.
I think you failed your Spot Humor check. Read the first four words of that post again....bad idea.
Probably the WORST thing a person can do is ...
How is this PC even surviving up to 5th level without equipment and goodies? Is the DM nerfing his encounters? If so, I bet the newly-rolled up character is squashing all opposition, or the DM has a capable foe for this guy and leaves the other PC's to fight it out with the runts.
Sounds like a blast.
The good news is that you can learn from a bad game just as much as you could from a good one, and if nothing else you come away with lessons on what not to do.
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Took it as something he'd do instead of humor.
I actually did something like that once, but I was really fed up (and about ready to walk from the game anyways) because the GM simply wasn't listening when I tried to point out there was a problem in more civil ways.
Wasn't a PF Game though, it was nWoD Changeling. Unreasonably high difficulties (that didnt follow the guidelines for DCs in the book), very difficult combat encounters, and he wasn't allowing the Armory gear or the better combat merits(feats).
He wanted to run an adventurey/political campaign, but he ran it like the first day of Minecraft on Survival mode. You can't logically justify doing anything but staying indoors and avoiding excitement, unless youre intentionally being an idiot.
It never really got better, and his whole game just kindof fizzled out.
I'm a little iffy about gaming with the guy now. He's a "ignore the rules/make them up as I go" and "all that really matters is the story I want to tell" type of GM, and he is kindof disruptive as a player. Unfortunate, because I consider the guy a decent friend.
I hit 7th with a Fighter, wielding only a +1 sword. And the 'dm' freaked when I got that second attack at 6th.
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I hit 7th with a Fighter, wielding only a +1 sword. And the 'dm' freaked when I got that second attack at 6th.
...
Is this the same GM as the OP?.
What is with these people. Have they even read the book?
You're level 7. The game is built with the ASSUMPTION that you'll be using a +1 sword or better. You wanna take that away? youre making a pretty big set of changes. None of the CRs will be anywhere near reasonable, after like: CR 2.
You want low magic or no magic gear? There are some quality threads on how to do that under houserules.
Or you can run the Conan RPG(which is pretty awesome - but the point is it assumes NO magic items as the default, so the game has to be adjusted to deal with that).
Seriously.
Ooh! Give these GMs the beginner's box. Thats roughly what they're comfortable working with anyways right? Level 1-5, very little magic gear, only 1 attack per round.
Hell. If they read the GM section, they might actually learn how to GM.
From my experience as a DM, (as opposed to playing) I find that even if I drop a few decent items every time my players get together to play I still end up being under the Wealth by level curve. However with the constant drops the players are getting very close to their appropriate level of loot.
When in doubt, give low level players 1-3 a few master work items. Their GP pool goes up by ~300 per item, it is a useful item conferring a better bonus than a normal item without horribly overbalancing the magic bonuses or the gold scale. Also, players love loot, that is why they play (Not the only reason, but also not a bad one either.)
This little tip however changes when you hit level 4-5 because of the wealth jump to 10.5k at level 5, so then ya give them magic items. Maybe take a tally of magic items that players have and have an average gold tally for it, when you find yourself on the low side make with the spirit of giving. (Doesn't have to be useful to them, but it does have to be sell-able.)
Just suggestions from my experience. As far as the campaign I am in.....I am screwed.
To "Apotheosis": 'sokay. I find that if I miss the first page of comments, the only advice left is the comically evil.
I kind of like campaigns with lower gold/loot, as long as it's done well, of course.
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores
It does not restore permanent ability drain.
What spell does then?
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores.
If the drain is is a magical effect lesser resto can dispel it.
This is factually wrong. Ability drain can only be restored by Restoration ( Not Lesser ) and Greater Restoration ( and Wish/Limited Wish ). Ability damage can already be restored by Lesser Restoration.
My advice is to run a game yourself, if you want to keep playing in that game i suggest a bladebound magus to compansate for the lack of funds.
But you haven't answered the question from before, is that the same DM who allowed a bear trap hammer?
Dr00d.
Go Druid or Rogue.
Preference Druid, you get every spell at every level you can cast at.
Give your meatshield buff spells and the flank/ aid anonther with a level or two of rogue - it's worked for me in PFS...
Except for the Greater Magic Fang I like the Cleric with the Animal Domain better. They have a full progression on Cure Spells and their Buffs like Divine Favor/Divine Power or Righteous Might are castable on your AC and they are somewhat better than the buffs the Druid can give his AC.
If you want to focus on buffing (your AC and the rest of the group) then you might want to take the Evangelist Variant which is one of the best buffers around...
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Rogue is a rather bad class to take in this scenario. Rogues are already one of the weakest classes out there. And its dependend on magic items because it can't make its equipment magical. Clerics an give themselves +x Armor and Shield and +x on his Weapons. With Extended (either as rod or feat) those last a full adventurer day from early on saving you big money...
Is this the same GM as the OP?.
Alas, no, there are at least two of these boneheads 'dm's out there.
Hmmm...giving the Beginners set as kind of a 'two-by-four hint to the forehead'? Or would that be mean?
If you have a fear of over powering the PCs, drop consumables. A 3.0 game I played in kept us well supplied in scrolls and potions. A well provisioned Rogue can be awesome in such a game.
Oh please stop using AC for animal companion, AC is usually reserved for ARMOR CLASS, not animal companion.
Oh please stop using AC for animal companion, AC is usually reserved for ARMOR CLASS, not animal companion.
ACs are way more awesome than you usual AC :P.
So no! ;)
Look at a martial class.
Level 4 WBL is enough for a +1 weapon and +1 armor.
Level 7 is enough to add a +2/+2 str and dex belt.
and so on.
If your DM told you "In my campaign, everyone gets -1 to hit and damage, and -1 ac, for every 3 levels beyond first," you'd call him a lunatic.
That's what your DM has told you.
Look at a martial class.
Level 4 WBL is enough for a +1 weapon and +1 armor.
Level 7 is enough to add a +2/+2 str and dex belt.
and so on.
If your DM told you "In my campaign, everyone gets -1 to hit and damage, and -1 ac, for every 3 levels beyond first," you'd call him a lunatic.
That's what your DM has told you.
Actually, I played in a campaign that we were all dying from an incurable wasting curse that was directly linked to our level. The stronger we became, the more negatives we took upon us. Also, it we were doomed to die at the end of five years. Of course, this was all information that was given up front about the campaign/storyline. It was alot of fun. Our primary goals were revenge and/or not wanting the BBEG doing it to another world.
Greg
From my experience as a DM, (as opposed to playing) I find that even if I drop a few decent items every time my players get together to play I still end up being under the Wealth by level curve. However with the constant drops the players are getting very close to their appropriate level of loot.
...
As another GM, I am running the Rise of the Runelords adventure path. It was designed for D&D 3.5 and is low on loot. Part of that is the style of the adventure: saving innocent common townsfolk is seldom profitable. I have been assuming that the rest of the poverty is a difference in monetary rewards between D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder.
But around 5th level it became obvious that new players coming in with standard WBL were better equipped than the long-running players. My wife, who was GM before me, balanced the next new 7th-level player by using the "The party bursts into the room and finds the bad guy trying to sacrifice a hapless tied-up adventurer" entrance to strip him of some of his WBL (some of his property was mixed in the loot, the rest was missing).
I prefer to channel more money their way. For example, when the adventure party battled an enemy war party, in addition to the rewards from the module, they also discovered that the war party had raided a trade caravan and could not resist hauling that wealth with them on their mission.
It is still a low-wealth adventure. I gave the lore master time to craft magic items between modules--he took both Craft Wondrous Items and Craft Magic Arms and Armor--which helped correct the magic item deficiency and gave the lore master a lot of pride of accomplishment. But the current module won't provide a month-long break, to the detriment of the bard who said, "I'll wait until the lore master can make me the Bracers of Archery rather than buy them at full price."
I would suggest wizard with Craft Wondrous Items as a good class to play under a stingy GM, but I fear that your GM would react badly to that feat.
The OP describes a pretty bad situation, but my suggestion would be a Bladebound Kensai Magus. Doesn´t need armor, brings his own magic weapon, and if push comes to shove can even deal some damage with an enhanced bow.