Sun 14 Aug 2022, 11:58
I think it is fair to say that more than just me finds the Load rating for Treasure to be a less than satisfactory resolution of the issue.
Of course, Tolkien's whole point that piles of gold and "jools" have their own transport concerns is well made in the Hobbit. And by so elegantly putting this point, by the double-speaking Dragon Smaug, he weaves in the whole issue where Bilbo's absolute faith and trust in the dwarves integrity is undermined by the fear and strain caused when considering wealth and greed.
But, for wandering around Middle Earth? I always hand wave it. I cannot see how having one or two gold coins give me more trouble to carry than the weight of the contents of my drinking flask. Or those lightweight Daggers that the entire population of Middle Earth carry at all times.
And a single gold coin can be cut up into... well, pieces of eight perhaps!...
The trouble is not so much carrying treasure in the Wild, as finding places to spend it if you ask me.
The way I think about it?
Prosperous is a state of mind. Those who are used to eating off plates with knife & fork will carry those things around with them when camping. Lightweight specialists e.g. Rangers, will fashion a skewer every evening to spit roast their rabbit, then throw the piece of wood on the fire so they don't even have to carry that in the morning. In the meantime, the Barding tidies away his/her cutlery set and unpacks it again for the following evening. Being wealthy, his/her cutlery set is part of the travelling kit and they are simply "used to" the Load.
When they get to an inn, the Barding will pay for a bed to get their good night's sleep. The Ranger will use the barn for free, and consider that just as much of a luxury. (The Ranger may even feel more comfortable inside the barn than the Barding in a bed with a lumpy mattress).
So doing it this way, I avoid the accountancy. But I understand if you have players who want to incorporate the idea.
I allow them to do this, but never ask them how they pay the bill at the inn.
Last edited by
Dunheved on Fri 26 Aug 2022, 00:13, edited 1 time in total.