What do you like to spend your hard-earned (or maybe not) gold on in-game? We're traveling to Neverwinter so if we can't find any magical items I'm wondering what I should get.
First is to check with your Dm if there will be magic shops, then see if you can get an idea of the level of items available. After that, we’d need to know your class, race and level to give good advice.
Information. Better yet, an information network. It's not really suitable for every character concept, but slipping some people a bit of cash to keep their ears to the ground is a great way to spend surplus funds. Get on good footing with a local thieves' guild, make a habit of buying the constabulary a round at their favourite watering hole, become a silent partner in a couple of seedy bars, find an in with someone clerking for the chamber of commerce, chat up the serving staff at a noble's court function - there are lots of people knowing lots of things that will be happy to accept a bit of gold and give you some juicy gossip, tantalizing rumours or the skinny on things other people would prefer you not to know anything about. Lets me roleplay a bit, gives the DM plenty of chances to feed the party plot hooks, helps setting immersion; wins all around.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Another question, when you ever found a diamond how much did it end up being worth?
However much it needed to to let us do whatever the DM wanted us to be able to. That's in my experience the main in-game budget parameter more than anything else: what you are supposed to be able to do with it. If you want to fund a resurrection and the DM's ok with that, you'll find what you need. If you need to gear up, whatever the DM thinks is right will be in your budget (or fall into your lap while adventuring). If the DM wants you to have to go somewhere and do something, the gems you found earlier will not be worth enough to let you easily ignore doing that something. And so on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Another question, when you ever found a diamond how much did it end up being worth?
However much it needed to to let us do whatever the DM wanted us to be able to. That's in my experience the main in-game budget parameter more than anything else: what you are supposed to be able to do with it. If you want to fund a resurrection and the DM's ok with that, you'll find what you need. If you need to gear up, whatever the DM thinks is right will be in your budget (or fall into your lap while adventuring). If the DM wants you to have to go somewhere and do something, the gems you found earlier will not be worth enough to let you easily ignore doing that something. And so on.
To build on this, you could auction the gemstone through something similar to the selling magic item down time mini game in XGtE. Color, purity, size all matter. It's up to your DM and your character backgrounds whether anyone in the party could truly assess the worth, otherwise you're left trusting an appraiser, who may try to buy it from you (up to the DM if the deal is aboveboard or you're getting conned) or maybe take a cut to set up a sale/auction with artisans and wealthy in Neverwinter who would be in the market for a diamond.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
That's why having proficiency with jeweler's tools is useful. Though most 5E games I've been in, the GM has just stated the value of any gems we found.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
First thing to consider is if your DM enforces lifestyle expense or not. Try spending some gold on a more lavish lifestyle, IF you are rewarded for it. Otherwise just go cheap.
So, if you are a medium armor user you will be buying half plate, if you are a heavy armor user you will be buying plate. If you are a wizard you will be spending most of your gold to copy spells.
Next, evaluate if the DM offers magic items for sale. If so save for those obviously.
Lastly, Xanathar's gives you some official downtime activities to spend gold on, including buying magic items if your DM does not offer them otherwise. Training is an ok option, or crafting a magic item if you have the formula and ingredient. Crafting is also nice for the aforementioned half plate/plate if you have smiths tools proficiency. You can craft healing potions with herbalism kit proficiency. You can train either if you don't have it. Research can be ok too; you could use it to learn the formula and ingredient location (monster) for crafting a magic item. Scribing scrolls is a good use of gold as a spellcaster.
I use Pangurjan's approach and begin building an information network early on.
With a prestidigitation cantrip you can build alot of good will. Spending gold (or money) can help quite a bit. I have a particular method I favor; buying spices which may be shared with the less fortunate and improve their day/week. Spices are also good currency when you are away from town. So I buy several small pouches of salt, pepper, cinnamon, etc. and "spend" them on the trail. I have even bought dried fruits and honey for this purpose. But, just because you use this idea does not obligate the DM to give you any useful information.
I also "barter" with traders that travel the roads so I can hear what is going on in other towns/places. Just buying a trinket gives you an excuse to chat them up.
I will buy small wooden flutes and give them to children. My hope is that their parents will remember me well and share what they know about people that pass through the area.
As for gear, one of the best pieces of mundane gear I can't afford initially is silk rope. Any gear that you can buy that is lighter than standard gear is helpful if your DM makes any attempt to check on encumbrance.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Another question, when you ever found a diamond how much did it end up being worth?
there's multiple diamond sizes, so whatever number your DM gives you.
also, what class is your character? i like to buy a small house in each big city and hire a local mage to start putting permanent teleport circles in them.
That's why having proficiency with jeweler's tools is useful. Though most 5E games I've been in, the GM has just stated the value of any gems we found.
I like the appraisal route, I mean it's not for everyone. I'll also do currency exchanges of old coins (usually not as valuable if inside a few hundred years of the current land's regime). Gems can fluctuate too, on top of the appraisal aspect certain stones are worth more in other places, like any other material. It's a reason for the PCs to travel around. West End game's Star Wars had a good trading system whose principles I've sort of held onto for a lot of other rule systems. Trading whether in luxury/riches or common materials and good can be a good reason to be for an otherwise mixed motive party.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
+1 for building my own castle/keep/stronghold/etc.
Pretty much that. But it costs thousands of gold for it!
That's why one has to kill dragons and take their hoards of treasure.
While the high (fantasy) crime of Dracocide is always an option to aspire to, I've seen strongholds acquired through a combination of good ol fashion squatting and fraud conspiracy. Recently a party, on their own initiative, took over a wealth villa through finagling with the property's title history (Deeds can be fun!) and brokering a deal with the main legitimate and criminal financial interests in town whereas the recently slaughtered family's business interests were largely distributed among said interests with the agreement that the party was able to maintain a small license/business as well as the pledge by those interests to support the party's claims in probate. People are bribed and seals are affixed and the record is then clear.
Or, for those interested in a more mobile stronghold, "have you considered piracy?" A current party is stuck on a ship, the Running Tab. It can hold its own to a degree in a fight, but is more a blockade runner. It's captain has taught them about ship registries, false flags, how if you're ship's home you can largely swindle significant overhauls and what not for free if you never plan on coming back, actual line in session "Ok, ok, you can't really burn every port, well you can, but when you find yourself in a truly deep hole, you just make amends by taking on a letter of marque and usually you'll find yourself ahead of the game them anyway, which brings me to why I brought you all aboard in the first place..." Captain's got a high CHR.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Some non magical things to buy: Caltrops, ball bearings, tools, flour, rope, pitons, crowbar.
Check bookstores for lore (and maybe a spell book for your wizard, if you have one)
If you have spellcasters, look for spell components that have a gp value, like diamonds for revivify or restoration spells. Others can upgrade their armor.
Random though: pay dues to join "social clubs" that may get the characters patronage, access to resources, and maybe adventure hooks. I mean there were really world Adventurers League type societies in the 19th century and there are still social groups that exist either for the aspirational as well as for folks to be told "they've arrived".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
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What do you like to spend your hard-earned (or maybe not) gold on in-game? We're traveling to Neverwinter so if we can't find any magical items I'm wondering what I should get.
First is to check with your Dm if there will be magic shops, then see if you can get an idea of the level of items available.
After that, we’d need to know your class, race and level to give good advice.
Information. Better yet, an information network. It's not really suitable for every character concept, but slipping some people a bit of cash to keep their ears to the ground is a great way to spend surplus funds. Get on good footing with a local thieves' guild, make a habit of buying the constabulary a round at their favourite watering hole, become a silent partner in a couple of seedy bars, find an in with someone clerking for the chamber of commerce, chat up the serving staff at a noble's court function - there are lots of people knowing lots of things that will be happy to accept a bit of gold and give you some juicy gossip, tantalizing rumours or the skinny on things other people would prefer you not to know anything about. Lets me roleplay a bit, gives the DM plenty of chances to feed the party plot hooks, helps setting immersion; wins all around.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Save it for retirement. It’s always cool to build a castle or something at the end of a campaign, and live out the rest of your days comfortably.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
+1 for building my own castle/keep/stronghold/etc.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Another question, when you ever found a diamond how much did it end up being worth?
Pretty much that. But it costs thousands of gold for it!
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I did it was 50gp because, diamonds are a lot cheaper then people treat them,always have been(unless their hyper hard or has coloring impurities).
Check out my homebrew subclasses spells magic items feats monsters races
i am a sauce priest
help create a world here
However much it needed to to let us do whatever the DM wanted us to be able to. That's in my experience the main in-game budget parameter more than anything else: what you are supposed to be able to do with it. If you want to fund a resurrection and the DM's ok with that, you'll find what you need. If you need to gear up, whatever the DM thinks is right will be in your budget (or fall into your lap while adventuring). If the DM wants you to have to go somewhere and do something, the gems you found earlier will not be worth enough to let you easily ignore doing that something. And so on.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
To build on this, you could auction the gemstone through something similar to the selling magic item down time mini game in XGtE. Color, purity, size all matter. It's up to your DM and your character backgrounds whether anyone in the party could truly assess the worth, otherwise you're left trusting an appraiser, who may try to buy it from you (up to the DM if the deal is aboveboard or you're getting conned) or maybe take a cut to set up a sale/auction with artisans and wealthy in Neverwinter who would be in the market for a diamond.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
That's why having proficiency with jeweler's tools is useful. Though most 5E games I've been in, the GM has just stated the value of any gems we found.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
First thing to consider is if your DM enforces lifestyle expense or not. Try spending some gold on a more lavish lifestyle, IF you are rewarded for it. Otherwise just go cheap.
So, if you are a medium armor user you will be buying half plate, if you are a heavy armor user you will be buying plate. If you are a wizard you will be spending most of your gold to copy spells.
Next, evaluate if the DM offers magic items for sale. If so save for those obviously.
Lastly, Xanathar's gives you some official downtime activities to spend gold on, including buying magic items if your DM does not offer them otherwise. Training is an ok option, or crafting a magic item if you have the formula and ingredient. Crafting is also nice for the aforementioned half plate/plate if you have smiths tools proficiency. You can craft healing potions with herbalism kit proficiency. You can train either if you don't have it. Research can be ok too; you could use it to learn the formula and ingredient location (monster) for crafting a magic item. Scribing scrolls is a good use of gold as a spellcaster.
I use Pangurjan's approach and begin building an information network early on.
With a prestidigitation cantrip you can build alot of good will. Spending gold (or money) can help quite a bit. I have a particular method I favor; buying spices which may be shared with the less fortunate and improve their day/week. Spices are also good currency when you are away from town. So I buy several small pouches of salt, pepper, cinnamon, etc. and "spend" them on the trail. I have even bought dried fruits and honey for this purpose. But, just because you use this idea does not obligate the DM to give you any useful information.
I also "barter" with traders that travel the roads so I can hear what is going on in other towns/places. Just buying a trinket gives you an excuse to chat them up.
I will buy small wooden flutes and give them to children. My hope is that their parents will remember me well and share what they know about people that pass through the area.
As for gear, one of the best pieces of mundane gear I can't afford initially is silk rope. Any gear that you can buy that is lighter than standard gear is helpful if your DM makes any attempt to check on encumbrance.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
there's multiple diamond sizes, so whatever number your DM gives you.
also, what class is your character? i like to buy a small house in each big city and hire a local mage to start putting permanent teleport circles in them.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
I am a level 3 wood elf monk who typically uses a longsword.
I like the appraisal route, I mean it's not for everyone. I'll also do currency exchanges of old coins (usually not as valuable if inside a few hundred years of the current land's regime). Gems can fluctuate too, on top of the appraisal aspect certain stones are worth more in other places, like any other material. It's a reason for the PCs to travel around. West End game's Star Wars had a good trading system whose principles I've sort of held onto for a lot of other rule systems. Trading whether in luxury/riches or common materials and good can be a good reason to be for an otherwise mixed motive party.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
That's why one has to kill dragons and take their hoards of treasure.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
While the high (fantasy) crime of Dracocide is always an option to aspire to, I've seen strongholds acquired through a combination of good ol fashion squatting and fraud conspiracy. Recently a party, on their own initiative, took over a wealth villa through finagling with the property's title history (Deeds can be fun!) and brokering a deal with the main legitimate and criminal financial interests in town whereas the recently slaughtered family's business interests were largely distributed among said interests with the agreement that the party was able to maintain a small license/business as well as the pledge by those interests to support the party's claims in probate. People are bribed and seals are affixed and the record is then clear.
Or, for those interested in a more mobile stronghold, "have you considered piracy?" A current party is stuck on a ship, the Running Tab. It can hold its own to a degree in a fight, but is more a blockade runner. It's captain has taught them about ship registries, false flags, how if you're ship's home you can largely swindle significant overhauls and what not for free if you never plan on coming back, actual line in session "Ok, ok, you can't really burn every port, well you can, but when you find yourself in a truly deep hole, you just make amends by taking on a letter of marque and usually you'll find yourself ahead of the game them anyway, which brings me to why I brought you all aboard in the first place..." Captain's got a high CHR.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Some non magical things to buy: Caltrops, ball bearings, tools, flour, rope, pitons, crowbar.
Check bookstores for lore (and maybe a spell book for your wizard, if you have one)
If you have spellcasters, look for spell components that have a gp value, like diamonds for revivify or restoration spells. Others can upgrade their armor.
And as said above, make connections.
Random though: pay dues to join "social clubs" that may get the characters patronage, access to resources, and maybe adventure hooks. I mean there were really world Adventurers League type societies in the 19th century and there are still social groups that exist either for the aspirational as well as for folks to be told "they've arrived".
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.