New DM trying to figure out loot rolling


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


So just started DMing a game for the first time because A friend asked me to. It's a solo game, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I just can't seem to figure out how loot rolls work. I got the first part down I think.

In the Core Rule book, page 461 table 15-2. The player rolls a DC 100, and you choose what ever item comes up with the corresponding number. Say it's armor and shields. I'd go down to table 15-3 and they would roll again. I would go to the number they rolled for the size of their character and would find out if it's a +armor or shield or what ever.

That's about as far as I get, I have no clue what to do if they roll high enough to get specific armor or shield, or a special ability.

Or if they roll scrolls for their first item. I know where the table is to find out what level of scroll, but no clue where to go to figure out specifically what scroll.

If someone could help me out with this, it would be greatly appreciated.


Welcome to the world of gm'ing.

My solution is probably not what you want, but: don't roll loot.

Being a solo game you won't change the fun by giving too much or too little loot. Just decide what you want the char to have, and give that.

If you think he is getting too powerfull, give items you know he probably don't need, and items the bad guy actually use (making him stronger)

Rolling is fine if you need to find words to describe art...


I had been considering that. Thinking about how strong her character is. I was thinking of just using items that would be used by the enemy for the most part, but there are times where I might want to let her roll for something.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber
Dragonreaper wrote:
I had been considering that. Thinking about how strong her character is. I was thinking of just using items that would be used by the enemy for the most part, but there are times where I might want to let her roll for something.

You can always use this.

http://pathfinder-treasure-generator.com/


Way i have done in the past as well as for vendors, is to figure out in the situation how many magical items are gonna be found or given and then roll ahead of time. This way can also help flesh out the game by giving u ideas because many times i have rolled loot and saw loot that players if found would just sell off so instead gave them to bad guys and had the bad guys use it. Or something nice and threw it at the end for the prize to be gotten. But most of the "mundane" magical items ive given to npcs or enemies and had them use it. Its fun for us the GM and also gives the player a reason to want such an item when normally they woulda passed it up and forgot about it.

I roll a % die and see what it is and then go to that section and determine if its minor major etc and roll again. If its armor ill go to armor section and roll to see what type (l, m, h) and then roll a d6 and have 1 &2 be light and so on and then once thats determined then i see how many there are in that section and roll a die thats equavalent to it and if the number doesnt match up ill pass up the lower ones up top til i the number up top goes all the way to bottom and presto the armor is done.
may seen daunting but it literally takes a few minutes and its quite fun because of the randomization. For a single player id do one from each section and not do 2 from the same (ex. Dont do 2 head pieces etc).

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