Alternative Loot Systems

[Oli Ironbar]

Hi all!

What are some alternatives to using finding and selling loot to power your characters up with items?

Especially looking for systems to add to the excitement/anticipation factor that buying gear provides.

Thanks!
Oli

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

You have the automatic bonus progression from Unchained, where PCs atuomatically improve on the four major categories (ability scores, saves, AC and attacks) without needing specific items, leaving magic items to be more free and flavorful.

Also from Unchained you have the magic items that improve as you level (name scapes me at the moment). They are pretty fun. Similar to this you have the Ancestral Relic feat from 3.5, or the d20 Rokugan variants (Ancestral Daisho class feature and Soul Forge feat), as well as the idea that as long as a PC keeps a precious item on them for a time they will spontaneously manifest magic powers. It works better in L5R-verse than default D&D, but it can be adapted.

Other than that, quests. PCs hear of some legendary item and decide to go look for it. Possibly they get it as a reward for a quest from someone else.

[Goth Guru]

Any intelligent monster, such as humanoids, will use the treasure to buy magic arms and armor.

A ritual that destroys ability boost items and transforms them into an ability increase of the character. It then frees the slot for more interesting items. A cloak of the bat is always better to have.

[Sysryke]

Instead of generic magic marts, consider having a few artisans in town who only make pieces by commission. I'm thinking of Edna Mode from The Incredibles.

Either allow for a bit of time passes hand-wavium, or insert some magic or extra staff that allows them to craft faster than normal. Fill the craft/downtime with role-play interviews/assessments or skill/ability demonstrations that inform the pieces being made so that they are customized/personalized/unique to/ meant for each character. This could be a simple a a generic Dex belt with some embellishments other than the standard tiger motifs, to as specific as a set of magical ribbons that give a unique option or bonus effect to your dancing bard's specific bardic performance.

Bypass all the traditional haggling and shopping if you're bored with it. Keep loot somewhat generic, slap a monetary value on a whole bundle, and let the group turn it over to the local authorities in exchange for credit with the local vendors/artisans.

Plus 1 to all the above posts as well.