Post/Author/DateTime	Post
NeoTiamat 02-04-08, 03:22 PM	Somewhat odd question... I'm running a game wherein about 8 PCs and 14 NPCs are on a distant journey to the middle-of-nowhere, and one of my PCs stumbles on the brilliant idea that, hey, he can grab a Craft Wondrous Item feat (and MIC is an allowed book), and dramatically improve the level of equipment for the group. He has oodles of XP, since he's also an artist and draws art of characters for bonus XP, so that isn't a problem, even when I house-ruled that XP costs are doubled due to difficulties involved with travel and such. He's essentially selling items to other PCs and NPCs for 75% of the list price (giving him a 25% profit margin in exchange for his XP) Now, my question is as follows: What's the proper course of action regarding having NPCs buy from him? By buying from him, I'm essentially short-circuiting the NPC wealth-by-level, and making NPCs more powerful than they're normally supposed to be. Considering that with the theme of the campaign they'll probably end up fighting at least *some* of these NPCs someday, that might be unfair. But at the same time, he's getting money in exchange for XP, basically. Any idea how to adjucate this?
mvincent 02-04-08, 03:51 PM	I'm essentially short-circuiting the NPC wealth-by-levelI'm unsure of the particulars of your campaign, but NPC's typically start with most of their gear already purchased (preventing this). Are the NPC's leveling up while traveling with the party? Does the party have to give them a share of the loot and XP? Any idea how to adjucate this?Craft wondrous item can possibly be the most effective feat in the game, and your player has evidently figured this out. However, it cannot really be used much if you are spending your days traveling or adventuring. Unless you are giving him loads of down-time, there is only so much crafting he could do. Also, one of the NPC's might have the same idea.
Sinis 02-04-08, 05:21 PM	Firstly, I'd talk to him out of game, and see what his intentions are. I have trouble imagining exactly what he'd do with the gold he's getting (considering he can simply make the most powerful stuff characters normally throw gold at). He has oodles of XP, since he's also an artist and draws art of characters for bonus XP, so that isn't a problem, even when I house-ruled that XP costs are doubled due to difficulties involved with travel and such. If, after you discuss with your PC out of game, you find yourself at odds, you could cut back on the amount of XP you're giving him for the extra stuff. Really, I'm sure an out of game solution can be reached, though, I personally don't see much problem in the PC having boat-loads of gold with nothing to spend it on. If you're worried about the NPCs being overpowered, I wouldn't. They'd probably have this stuff anyway, and the way magic item pricing scales, at the high end you'll be looking at one or two AC difference, and/or +1 to hit and damage from the NPC's weapons. The effects will probably be next to unnoticeable.
StevenO 02-04-08, 07:48 PM	If your player is willingly exchanging XP for gold you are giving your PC way too much "free" experience. If you say he is getting bonus XP for creating "art" that should stop; what that sounds like is a use of a profession or craft and the "award" would be increased gold. There should be no need to exchange XP for gold with this scheme although you can limit possible income by limiting available resources. When PC are equiping NPC with "advanced" equipment you may want to continue to consider that equipment as PC "treasure" until such a time that it isn't. It is a wise player who passes off his old weapons and armor to a loyal aid instead of selling for half price.
mvincent 02-04-08, 08:05 PM	If your player is willingly exchanging XP for gold you are giving your PC way too much "free" experience. Actually it is a strategic practice even without extra XP. The logistics of D&D means that any XP lost will more or less be renewed (because lower level nets you more XP rewards for encounters), while lost GP will effectively always make you less powerful than you could have been. Since gear is not taken in account when calculating CR/XP, clever players will burn XP to get more gear (even if it's for other party members rather than just themselves)... making encounters much easier, and netting all of them GP/XP more easily. Even if they give the gear away for free, they can still theoretically advance quicker than they would in an under-geared party.
Sinis 02-04-08, 09:36 PM	If your player is willingly exchanging XP for gold you are giving your PC way too much "free" experience. If you say he is getting bonus XP for creating "art" that should stop; what that sounds like is a use of a profession or craft and the "award" would be increased gold. There should be no need to exchange XP for gold with this scheme although you can limit possible income by limiting available resources. When PC are equiping NPC with "advanced" equipment you may want to continue to consider that equipment as PC "treasure" until such a time that it isn't. It is a wise player who passes off his old weapons and armor to a loyal aid instead of selling for half price. I think NeoTiamat means that the player is an artist out of game, and is drawing character portraits because he's very much enjoying the game.
StevenO 02-04-08, 11:14 PM	I think NeoTiamat means that the player is an artist out of game, and is drawing character portraits because he's very much enjoying the game. That could be. It still shouldn't award an exclusive in game benefit however.
NeoTiamat 02-05-08, 02:46 AM	*Shrug* I'm not going to do that, because then I'd have bigger problems. It's a PbP, so bonus XP is pretty much my only way to encourage positive behaviors, such as drawing art (Sinis is right by the way) or engaging in RP with other PCs/NPCs. Anyways, that's neither here nor there. You say don't worry about the balance issues, it'll be too minor? Alrighty, that works for me. I'll take note of this extra cash when I'm doling out treasure awards.