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Ptimot
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Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

Sat 13 Aug 2022, 15:56

Hi, I'm playing a prosperous Barding Messenger in Strider Mode with a starting treasure rating of 90. Now, supposedly, I leave most of it at my save haven, how much treasure is necessary to carry with me to afford my daily expenses given a prosperous standard of living. Not to forget encumbrance since each treasure amounts to 1 load. Anyone came across this? And just to confirm, the idea is that treasure rating doesn't deplete, correct? Thanks a ton.
 
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Harlath
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Re: Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

Sat 13 Aug 2022, 16:01

Carry 0 load of Treasure with you and just apply the text on p72 as a guide to what you can afford: essentially, money won't be a major obstacle most of the time.

Treasure rating won't deplete unless something special happens: maybe you decide to pay a massive bribe, or to hire mercenaries? Or have to pay a blood-debt after accidentally/deliberately killing someone important? Or a thief steals your money and you don't recapture them? Or a poor performance in an adventure leads to orcs raiding the land, including your holding.
 
Dunheved
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Re: Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

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.
 
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Ptimot
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Re: Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

Sun 14 Aug 2022, 14:09

Thanks Guys! Great Advice. I think, I'll keep it simple then, start with an "on the road" treasure count of 0 and add only new treasure finds to the load. For daily expenses, I assume enough gold included in the traveling gear that won't account for encumbrance. Fair enough. I think I get the idea of it. It won't bog down playing time with endless shopping and negotiations etc. Thanks!
 
Viviane
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Re: Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

Fri 10 Mar 2023, 07:12

Simply use the information  as a guide to what you can afford, and don't bring any treasure with you—most of the time, cash won't be a significant barrier. Unless anything extraordinary occurs—perhaps you choose to employ mercenaries or pay a hefty bribe—the treasure rating won't decrease. or be forced to pay a blood debt after unintentionally or purposefully killing a significant person? Or does a robber take your money and you fail to recover it? Or, if you perform poorly in an adventure, orcs may invade the area, even your stronghold. I want to buy some bedsheet?
Thank you.
Last edited by Viviane on Mon 13 Mar 2023, 20:07, edited 1 time in total.
 
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ThrorII
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Re: Standard of Living and Treasure on the Road?

Fri 10 Mar 2023, 23:35

Even in 1e, I always viewed "Treasure" as bulky items you find in troll caves: Chests of gold, rolls of fabric, golden drinking goblets encrusted with gems, etc. That is why they have a 1:1 encumbrance. I view "Standard of Living" as coin in your purse you carry for expenses.

That Goblin Hoard of 10 Treasure? That includes 24 silver coins and 200 copper coins in a wooden coffer, a fine set of SILVER silverware in a wooden travel case, a roll of fine fabric, a golden goblet with rubies, and an Elven statuette.

Hence why there is a mechanic to convert Treasure into Standard of Living.

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