Comments on: Seven ways to Spice up Your Treasure http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ravenous Role Playing » Blog Archive » Friday Five: 2010-07-16 — Double Stacked Edition! http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10037 Ravenous Role Playing » Blog Archive » Friday Five: 2010-07-16 — Double Stacked Edition! Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:39:53 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10037 [...] Seven ways to Spice up Your Treasure Seven More ways to Spice up Your Treasure These two go together. I know that I’m going to take all 14 points that they brought up and incorporate them into the way I handle treasure. I was already doing some of these to a good extent and most of them to a minor extent, but the over effect of using all 14 tips will make things much better for my games. [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10037','Ravenous Role Playing » Blog Archive » Friday Five: 2010-07-16 — Double Stacked Edition!'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] Seven ways to Spice up Your Treasure Seven More ways to Spice up Your Treasure These two go together. I know that I’m going to take all 14 points that they brought up and incorporate them into the way I handle treasure. I was already doing some of these to a good extent and most of them to a minor extent, but the over effect of using all 14 tips will make things much better for my games. [...]
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]]> By: Patrigan http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10023 Patrigan Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:11 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10023 @drow: I would say, let them run back when they realize this. This is a realistic detail. You could also add in "wandering enemies". A group coming back from outside patrol or something. It would also pose another challenge for the players, how to open the door. Another solution is to let Warlord attempt to throw away the ring to "prevent" that the players can enter the inner sanctuary. This will get the players thinking about that ring.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10023','Patrigan'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @drow: I would say, let them run back when they realize this. This is a realistic detail. You could also add in “wandering enemies”. A group coming back from outside patrol or something. It would also pose another challenge for the players, how to open the door.
Another solution is to let Warlord attempt to throw away the ring to “prevent” that the players can enter the inner sanctuary. This will get the players thinking about that ring.
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]]> By: drow http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10022 drow Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:58:38 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10022 and okay, okay, i'm working on the 4e random treasure generator again. its just taking a while to abstract and rebuild all the appraisal code.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10022','drow'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> and okay, okay, i’m working on the 4e random treasure generator again. its just taking a while to abstract and rebuild all the appraisal code.
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]]> By: Razjah http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10020 Razjah Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:50:27 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10020 I don't mind my players each having a bag of holding. One Iron Heroes campaign they brought a donkey pulling a cart to haul loot. The distractions of them having to get a cart and a donkey through various dangerous dungeons was too much. I'm okay with them being greedy little bastards. After even a couple levels selling everything the characters can grab, the mundane stuff sells for mere pennies compared to what the PCs need/want to buy. Which is when they normally stop hoarding everything that isn't bolted down with sunder-proof bolts.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10020','Razjah'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I don’t mind my players each having a bag of holding. One Iron Heroes campaign they brought a donkey pulling a cart to haul loot. The distractions of them having to get a cart and a donkey through various dangerous dungeons was too much. I’m okay with them being greedy little bastards. After even a couple levels selling everything the characters can grab, the mundane stuff sells for mere pennies compared to what the PCs need/want to buy. Which is when they normally stop hoarding everything that isn’t bolted down with sunder-proof bolts.
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]]> By: Roxysteve http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10019 Roxysteve Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:28:09 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10019 I have a major problem with treasure division anyway. So many people these days want to put everything in a BoH and wait until they are back in town so that the monetary value of everything is equal for all. Never mind that the sword can only be used by the Paladin or that it is vital to defeating the dragon on level six. This got so annoying during one game I played in I figured out a ruse. I would *buy* the treasures I wanted from the group at 100% cash value (to which they always greedily agreed), then I would get x% rebate on it when the treasure divvy was held hours later and I got an equal share of the loot. It made everything right in the world from then on. The others, completely blindsided by the new guy at the table coming up with something they'd never heard of, never tumbled they were giving me a "buy it now" button with frequent spender rewards, and I didn't have to go through danger without the item specifically designed to help my character survive or argue endlessly at the divvy about whether I should have whatever it was. As for those ubiquitous Bags of Holding, were I to GM a dungeon crawl in which they were prevalent I'm damned sure the Orcs would have read the entry on them, including the *very* interesting details of how to damage one and what happens when you do. Then there's my BoH Killer treasure, using only DM Guide(1) available items. One in every dungeon until the Bags of Holding were a distant and fabulous memory, so they could become what they should have been all along: a rare and wond'rous treasure to be found in the deepest, darkest recesses of the Earth. Bwa-ha-ha etc etc etc.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10019','Roxysteve'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I have a major problem with treasure division anyway. So many people these days want to put everything in a BoH and wait until they are back in town so that the monetary value of everything is equal for all. Never mind that the sword can only be used by the Paladin or that it is vital to defeating the dragon on level six.

This got so annoying during one game I played in I figured out a ruse. I would *buy* the treasures I wanted from the group at 100% cash value (to which they always greedily agreed), then I would get x% rebate on it when the treasure divvy was held hours later and I got an equal share of the loot. It made everything right in the world from then on.

The others, completely blindsided by the new guy at the table coming up with something they’d never heard of, never tumbled they were giving me a “buy it now” button with frequent spender rewards, and I didn’t have to go through danger without the item specifically designed to help my character survive or argue endlessly at the divvy about whether I should have whatever it was.

As for those ubiquitous Bags of Holding, were I to GM a dungeon crawl in which they were prevalent I’m damned sure the Orcs would have read the entry on them, including the *very* interesting details of how to damage one and what happens when you do.

Then there’s my BoH Killer treasure, using only DM Guide(1) available items. One in every dungeon until the Bags of Holding were a distant and fabulous memory, so they could become what they should have been all along: a rare and wond’rous treasure to be found in the deepest, darkest recesses of the Earth.

Bwa-ha-ha etc etc etc.

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]]> By: drow http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10015 drow Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:04:40 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10015 i'd use "count it later", except i have a habit of planting useful things in the treasure. the goblin warlord carries a tin ring set with three small rubies, not worth much, easily overlooked, but also happens to be a key to the temple room further in.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10015','drow'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> i’d use “count it later”, except i have a habit of planting useful things in the treasure. the goblin warlord carries a tin ring set with three small rubies, not worth much, easily overlooked, but also happens to be a key to the temple room further in.
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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10012 Scott Martin Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:15:52 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10012 I like these-- particularly as they are things I've struggled with before. It's a little sad when you read off the treasure list and the players just nod, waiting until you gets to "worth X GP". Like everyone above, I really like the "Count it Later"-- particularly since the PCs mostly worry about what it can be converted into (cash value) anyway.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10012','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I like these– particularly as they are things I’ve struggled with before. It’s a little sad when you read off the treasure list and the players just nod, waiting until you gets to “worth X GP”. Like everyone above, I really like the “Count it Later”– particularly since the PCs mostly worry about what it can be converted into (cash value) anyway.
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]]> By: Razjah http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10011 Razjah Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:07:41 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10011 I feel really foolish for not thinking of Count it Later, it makes so much sense and works both players/characters are arguing about treasure the monsters are more likely to come investigate the noise. I also like the different currencies. This can be great when the players realize the sack of gold coins from one nation is worth more in their nation, or less. Either way it can lead to fun moments realistically and mechanically. Great article today!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10011','Razjah'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I feel really foolish for not thinking of Count it Later, it makes so much sense and works both players/characters are arguing about treasure the monsters are more likely to come investigate the noise.

I also like the different currencies. This can be great when the players realize the sack of gold coins from one nation is worth more in their nation, or less. Either way it can lead to fun moments realistically and mechanically.

Great article today!

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]]> By: DiscipleGeek http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10008 DiscipleGeek Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:52:12 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10008 One of the things I do that my players really seem to love is a Loot Card Deck. Basically I plan the loot for their next level out (which 4e makes super easy with its treasure parcels) and write them down on cards. This includes the coinage. Also included in this deck are blank cards about equal to the number of encounters/loot opportunities they will have. Then when they get to a point in the game where they want to search for treasure, each player takes turns drawing from the deck to represent the search. They draw until they encounter a blank card. If there are any special items that I want them to find at specific points, I leave them out, or rig the cards to make sure they draw them at the right time.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10008','DiscipleGeek'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> One of the things I do that my players really seem to love is a Loot Card Deck. Basically I plan the loot for their next level out (which 4e makes super easy with its treasure parcels) and write them down on cards. This includes the coinage. Also included in this deck are blank cards about equal to the number of encounters/loot opportunities they will have. Then when they get to a point in the game where they want to search for treasure, each player takes turns drawing from the deck to represent the search. They draw until they encounter a blank card. If there are any special items that I want them to find at specific points, I leave them out, or rig the cards to make sure they draw them at the right time.
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]]> By: BrianLiberge http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10007 BrianLiberge Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:15:10 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10007 I really like the idea of Count it Later. Its one of those things that seems so obvious after you read it. I'm going to start posing the questions to the PCs as to where and when they want to count stuff like that.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10007','BrianLiberge'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I really like the idea of Count it Later. Its one of those things that seems so obvious after you read it. I’m going to start posing the questions to the PCs as to where and when they want to count stuff like that.
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]]> By: Bastian.Flinspach http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/seven-ways-to-spice-up-your-treasure/comment-page-1#comment-10006 Bastian.Flinspach Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:48:18 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=7234#comment-10006 You could take the "Count it Later" Concept one step further, only allowing characters that have the necessary skills (or class, profession etc. if your RPG of choice has no math skill) to be able to count the loot. It would bring the banking trade to the foreground, if Brezok the Barbarian will need to find someone to count his loot for him (for a fee of course) or make shopping more interesting ("We have this huge sack of Gold which is about half full. That's enough for that dwarven armor over there?").<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10006','Bastian.Flinspach'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> You could take the “Count it Later” Concept one step further, only allowing characters that have the necessary skills (or class, profession etc. if your RPG of choice has no math skill) to be able to count the loot. It would bring the banking trade to the foreground, if Brezok the Barbarian will need to find someone to count his loot for him (for a fee of course) or make shopping more interesting (“We have this huge sack of Gold which is about half full. That’s enough for that dwarven armor over there?”).
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