Treasure Table Confusion

[jguy]

I've always been a bit confused by PF's random treasure generator, having been so used to 3.5's within the DMG and then the MIC. I bought the Ultimate Equipment book because I looked to elevate that issue but I am still confused on the "treasure per encounter" table (on page 360 in Ultimate Equipment) and what they exactly mean.

Let's say that the average party is level 2. They have fast XP and thus fast gold. It says that they get 800 gold per encounter. Now does that mean if they fight a single Worg (CR 2) that they get 800g? Do they get 800g if they fight 2 or 3 worgs or do they get more? Should I take the APL on the side as what the CR of the encounter is? 2 CR2's are considered a CR 4 so does that mean they should get a cr 4 gold list of 1700g or should they get 1600g instead? (Two groups of 800 for two CR 2s)

What if I mix the encounter up with many variety of CR's? Do I add them together for one big loot, do it based off a single encounters worth of gold, or should I do each individually?

Same deal with party of level 2s. Let's say they fight 2 CR2s and a CR 1. By Pathfinders experience point table (Pg 398 of PHB) that is a CR 5 encounter. For the loot do they get a.) 800 gold (a single encounters worth at level 2) b.) 2300g (the wealth a CR 5 party gets per encounter) or 2000g (two 800g CR 2 pots and a 400g pot for a level 1 encounter)

I need clarification because I don't want to roll of MIC tables forever.

[Gauss]

Use the entire encounter's CR and not individual creatures.

However, if you use the individual creature CRs it wont break the game either as they will be close enough. The CRB 12-5 (UE 7-1) treasure table hands out about 30-40% extra treasure over WBL anyhow.

- Gauss

[jguy]

So in the second example I gave of two CR2's and a CR 1, I would count that as a cr 5 encounter and give them a 2300g pot to roll treasure off of?

[Gauss]

jguy: Yup :)

Note: if assembling an encounter where an NPC is involved, use the NPC treasure rules and then subtract that value from Table 12-5.

Note2: If you do not hand out treasure in an encounter (for example, Worgs do not usually have treasure) move that treasure to a later treasure pile.

Example: You have 3 CR5 encounters where treasure is not appropriate. Thus the players miss out on 6900gp (fast advancement). Make sure that treasure eventually reaches them (a treasure pile, other monsters with that equipment..whatever).

- Gauss

[jguy]

Ok, thank you very much for the clarification. It seems that a lot of confusion would be cleared up if the side bar said "Average Encounter Level" instead "Average Party Level"

[King Cobra]

Don't be mechanical with treasure rewards. Roaming worgs probably wouldn't have any treasure on them, but the local governor might pay the PCs for their service is ridding the land of a threat. Or the worgs might be working with a tribe of goblins that have more treasure than a single goblin encounter is normally worth.

[jguy]

Well I understand that. I only used Worgs in this example because it was the first CR 2 that came to mind when I was writing the question. I just wanted to make sure I had the mechanics down so I wasn't undercutting or over indulging my players

[Aluvial]

I have a question then.

I have 6 PC's, 4 of which are 5th level, 2 are 4th level.

I rolled up a random encounter, and got 5 - CR5 trolls.

I see on the chart, you count that as a CR 9 encounter.

Does this mean it generated a level 9 treasure? Or 5 times level 5 treasures?

Thanks!

Aluvial

[Chemlak]

That encounter should generate a CR 9 treasure.

[Paul Murray]

I have implemented the UE treasure generator as a self-contained javascript app at GitHub Pages.