At 01:17 PM 5/7/2002 +0200, the Falcon wrote:

><< This seems too simple, easy, convenient and logical to actually be
>useful.... ;-) This seems a very sensible solution. I`m going to give
>it a shot once or twice to see how it will work. It might also be useful
>for figuring out what a "class ability" of a noble character class who had
>as part of their class additional funds/equipment. >>
>
>What do you mean exactly by that last sentence?

In the Noble character class I wrote up a while back I gave the class a
"Coffer Key" class ability that basically gave them access to money. I did
that because nobles should, in general, have access to funds much greater
than standard characters. I`ve been fiddling around lately with a point
based system to design character classes and if one has some sort of way of
determining the value of inventory then it can be compared to the value of
other class abilities and balanced accordingly.

Along the same lines, it might also prove useful in BR terms due to the
amount of wealth a regent can get his hands on. Figuring the "value" of a
regent`s domain for the purpose of EL could prove very useful.

>The 1XP:5gp rate is not based on the table you refer to. Rather, it is
>stated in core rulebooks that a spellcaster charges 5gp for every XP he
>loses in spellcasting. Also, the DMG states that if an NPC has an item
>creation feat, you should count items that she has created herself as
>being 70% of the normal value, when calculating what her gear is worth. It
>explains that in effect you`re treating the XP cost of item creation as a
>gp cost instead. Now each item cost gp equal to 1/2 of the market value
>and XP equal 1/25 of the market value to make. Evidently, 50% of that 70%
>is the gp cost, which means that the 20% that`s left is the XP cost. 20%
>is 1/5. If 1/25 of the market value in XP converts to 1/5 of the market
>value in gp, then 1 XP converts to 1 gp. More proof that 1XP:5gp is official.

I don`t think they meant for that to get back engineered as XP awards,
though. In any case, since you`re talking about XP awards in lieu of
treasure, shouldn`t the formula used to determine that be based on standard
equipment values, not the value of items created by a character? It seems
to me that a XP:gp ratio should be based on the more typical PC that
doesn`t necessarily create a lot of his/her own equipment, particularly at
lower levels.

Anyway, I`m not saying it isn`t playable. The gp value and XP progression
values will be near enough that 1:5 will work for most character levels
from around 3rd to 12th pretty well. I`m just saying that the 1XP:5gp
award for not getting gp/magic items curves more dramatically than the
XP/level table, so that eventually XP earned from "lost gp" surpasses the
XP needed to reach the next level, meaning characters would be awarded more
from the lack of treasure troves than defeating the creatures who didn`t
have any treasure to defend. At levels over 20 the ratio will get much
broader, so that PCs will eventually derive more XP from the lack of
treasure than they would from encounters. I don`t know what the gp/level
table at the Epic level is going to look like, but it if maintains the
dramatic increases that the DMG suggests then gp/level will be in the tens
of millions very quickly. At that point the XP:gp award per level would be
much greater than the amount required to reach the next level. (Actually,
one reaches this point at 17-18th level.)

Aside from any of those considerations, I`m opposed to the idea of granting
XP to compensate for lack of treasure. If one can adjust EL effectively
based on the value of characters` inventory, then also awarding an XP bonus
based on the empty pockets of the creatures slain seems like giving them a
reward for already adjusted encounters. Effectively, it makes creatures of
the same CR give different XP awards based on the amount of treasure they
are likely to carry, not how difficult or how many resources were required
to defeat them, and I`m not so sure I buy that.

Gary

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