I wanted to talk about some of the ideas in this article: http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/game-currency-theres-more-than-money- at-stake .
...and ask: what other, alternate currencies do you use? For instance:
- Awarding feats instead of treasure
- Awarding traits for roleplay
...and so on. Is there something specific you'd come up with, that works for you or that you've seen and particularly enjoyed, either as a DM or a Player?
Disclaimer: I'm not the writer of the article, or in any way affiliated with GS. I just really enjoyed reading it.
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Hero/Action Points.
Giving out feats should be considered very carefully. Something like weapon proficiency might work, but feats with bigger in-game impact probably should be avoided.
Traits are probably okay, as long as you don't give them too often (2 traits ~= 1 feat)
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Lost or restricted spells. Certain spells may be worth more than their scroll costs.
Rare material components may be worth more than thousands of gold. The cost of a large enough diamond to cast Ressurection could be up for bid.
Real masterpieces: If a deity sat for a portrait, it would require a true auction to sell. If it's a dead deity, it may be needed for a ritual to bring them back. Depending on the nature of the art, an auction agent may come looking for the property and owner to represent. I've been watching the history channel.
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- If my players win in an epic-level fight (CR+3) I tell them "In addition to its regular treasure (if any, depending on the situation) you get to roll on p.118 in the GMG." No matter what they roll, I'll make it fit into the game.
...last time it was a potion of Fly.
Gods-forbid they roll up something uber and broken, but I'll make it work. Valuable items are, after all, valuable to powerful people.
As for other rewards:
- An old retired adventurer gets rescued by the party. He tells them "Thank you. If you ever make it to Absalom, come look me up in my guild hall. Your sword style fits one I used to teach." (so there's your Feat as a quest).
- Gems and jewelry. Some of the jewelry is distinctive and is obviously stolen from some famous/powerful individual. (read up on the Hope Diamond)
- Trade Goods: Bales of very valuable goods (10K or more) but they need to lug them to a trade center
- Treasure maps
- A spellbook containing a few rare spells (like something from the APG) and a story about how some lost adventurers found the lair of a blue dragon said to hold the secret of the shipwreck of a skyship called "Taeron's Hope."
- A solid gold plate bearing strange markings and a name. (quest that leads adventurers to the puzzle where this fits)
- A set of gaming dice carved from actual gemstones, and a folder of bound parchments holding the character sheets that once belonged to the ruling nobles of a distant kingdom, who are now old men and women. Returning these would no doubt win some favor with that crowd, and some political sway.
- A homunculous who remembers his master well, plus all of his master's secrets. Homunculous loves adventure.