Do you reimburse casters in your groups? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do you reimburse casters in your groups? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kehaar
09-20-04, 05:39 AM This is a question that keeps coming back to haunt us in the player group I'm in.

If a caster creates a scroll, which costs him XP and gold, and then uses the scroll, do you reimburse him out of the party fund?

If you do, do you

1. Always do it, or is it case by case?
1.5 If it is case by case, do you have a formalized ruleset?

2. Reimburse to cost price or to sales price level? (ie: does your casters donate their XP for free or not?)

:confused:
Harmor
09-20-04, 05:57 AM I'm the wizard in our group and they don't.

If there are spells that are buffs that I need to put on others they will reimburse the cost of the scroll/wand.

If there is a spell that is needed for a quest they party will pay for it.

But I get all the "mage loot" so its usually worth it in the end and I don't really feel gypped.
Thorak
09-20-04, 07:14 AM Did I request the caster create the scroll? If no, then no. Because he's using his own magical items for whatever purposes he sees fit; I wouldn't pay the caster for using charges of a wand or staff either. That he created it rather than finding it is irrelevant; if I didn't ask him to make it for me, it was his choice rather than mine to invest the resources in it. And therefore, I shouldn't be ethically required to pay him because he then uses it on me.

But, if I asked him to use it on me, then yes, but the same would go for anything else used up. If I'm asking for a potion, or a spell cast from a wand he found, or whatever, then I should pony something up. But not if he chooses to use it of his own free will.
krichaiushii
09-20-04, 07:32 AM Overall it should come down to each PC's attitude.

That said, a smart PC may realize that a better chance for victory results in a better chance to survive and spend the inevitable loot.

If your group uses a written party charter - as some do - then item creation should be covered by it, along with party funds and resurrection rules.
Big__Chops
09-20-04, 08:58 AM man I have never been payed for stuff I made/used. I just did it in cooperative spirit. I wonder how much back pay im owed?
Phrennzy
09-20-04, 09:26 AM If it is a commissioned item then that player pays for it.

If the party decides that a wand of spiderclimb would be beneficial, then they will set aside party funds for it.

But they don't pay the wizard everytime he uses a scroll on their behalf. That's him contributing.

Now, if it was a big scroll - like raise dead with a 5000gp cost, they'd reimburse.

Of course, as mentioned earlier, they give the mage the 'magic-user-specific' items rather than sell them.
CzarGarrett
09-20-04, 09:27 AM For wizardly items (as I rarely play wizards or sorcerers), I generally sit back and allow the wizard to take without complaint from the group. And if the group complains, I generally side with the wizard to help him to get the stuff.

But thats just one way I support the wizard. Most of the time I play some sort of melee character (monk, 2-weapon rogue, fighter, etc). I'll generally attach myself to a wizard or the like and act as their 'protector'. So often do I take an AoO or two just to run out and defend them. I figure the wizard at some point or another will be saving my behind with a spell or buffing me up so I can kill better, so I help keep them alive now.

Very little in the way of actual monetary exchange, but more of the non-material way.
FrogTheMighty
09-20-04, 11:36 AM Personally, as a player and as a DM both, have never liked the party charter kind of games. I feel it can break up party coherency at the drop of a hat. After all if money makes your world go round, then what's going to happen to it when that money stops flowing? Then again our games are rarely based around looting and item gathering anyway. Back to the topic. I agree that if some one commisions or otherwise request an item for their own personal use, they should pay in full (including the XP cost converted to GP). However, if the wizard is using his items for the party benefit in general, then absolutely not. At least not unless you pay the ranger every time he tracks a foe, or the fighter every time he power attacks. Item creation feats are just like other feats in my eyes, they just happen to make something tangible.
Callista
09-20-04, 12:06 PM My DM actually gives casters XP for casting spells, with the understanding that they initially gain levels quickly, then slow down as they use XP for item creation later on.

I'm not sure how this will work out (all the casters are level 3 to the rest of the party's level 2 now, except for a rogue who got trap-disarming, lock-picking and RP XP) , but I'm willing to go with it for now. It's not too unbalancing, as spellcasters tend to start out weaker than physical combatants. However, I won't be surprised if we do run into problems... we'll just have to deal with that as it comes, though; I'm not the DM so no one will blame me! *evil grin*

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kehaar 09-20-04, 05:39 AM	This is a question that keeps coming back to haunt us in the player group I'm in. If a caster creates a scroll, which costs him XP and gold, and then uses the scroll, do you reimburse him out of the party fund? If you do, do you 1. Always do it, or is it case by case? 1.5 If it is case by case, do you have a formalized ruleset? 2. Reimburse to cost price or to sales price level? (ie: does your casters donate their XP for free or not?) :confused:
Harmor 09-20-04, 05:57 AM	I'm the wizard in our group and they don't. If there are spells that are buffs that I need to put on others they will reimburse the cost of the scroll/wand. If there is a spell that is needed for a quest they party will pay for it. But I get all the "mage loot" so its usually worth it in the end and I don't really feel gypped.
Thorak 09-20-04, 07:14 AM	Did I request the caster create the scroll? If no, then no. Because he's using his own magical items for whatever purposes he sees fit; I wouldn't pay the caster for using charges of a wand or staff either. That he created it rather than finding it is irrelevant; if I didn't ask him to make it for me, it was his choice rather than mine to invest the resources in it. And therefore, I shouldn't be ethically required to pay him because he then uses it on me. But, if I asked him to use it on me, then yes, but the same would go for anything else used up. If I'm asking for a potion, or a spell cast from a wand he found, or whatever, then I should pony something up. But not if he chooses to use it of his own free will.
krichaiushii 09-20-04, 07:32 AM	Overall it should come down to each PC's attitude. That said, a smart PC may realize that a better chance for victory results in a better chance to survive and spend the inevitable loot. If your group uses a written party charter - as some do - then item creation should be covered by it, along with party funds and resurrection rules.
Big__Chops 09-20-04, 08:58 AM	man I have never been payed for stuff I made/used. I just did it in cooperative spirit. I wonder how much back pay im owed?
Phrennzy 09-20-04, 09:26 AM	If it is a commissioned item then that player pays for it. If the party decides that a wand of spiderclimb would be beneficial, then they will set aside party funds for it. But they don't pay the wizard everytime he uses a scroll on their behalf. That's him contributing. Now, if it was a big scroll - like raise dead with a 5000gp cost, they'd reimburse. Of course, as mentioned earlier, they give the mage the 'magic-user-specific' items rather than sell them.
CzarGarrett 09-20-04, 09:27 AM	For wizardly items (as I rarely play wizards or sorcerers), I generally sit back and allow the wizard to take without complaint from the group. And if the group complains, I generally side with the wizard to help him to get the stuff. But thats just one way I support the wizard. Most of the time I play some sort of melee character (monk, 2-weapon rogue, fighter, etc). I'll generally attach myself to a wizard or the like and act as their 'protector'. So often do I take an AoO or two just to run out and defend them. I figure the wizard at some point or another will be saving my behind with a spell or buffing me up so I can kill better, so I help keep them alive now. Very little in the way of actual monetary exchange, but more of the non-material way.
FrogTheMighty 09-20-04, 11:36 AM	Personally, as a player and as a DM both, have never liked the party charter kind of games. I feel it can break up party coherency at the drop of a hat. After all if money makes your world go round, then what's going to happen to it when that money stops flowing? Then again our games are rarely based around looting and item gathering anyway. Back to the topic. I agree that if some one commisions or otherwise request an item for their own personal use, they should pay in full (including the XP cost converted to GP). However, if the wizard is using his items for the party benefit in general, then absolutely not. At least not unless you pay the ranger every time he tracks a foe, or the fighter every time he power attacks. Item creation feats are just like other feats in my eyes, they just happen to make something tangible.
Callista 09-20-04, 12:06 PM	My DM actually gives casters XP for casting spells, with the understanding that they initially gain levels quickly, then slow down as they use XP for item creation later on. I'm not sure how this will work out (all the casters are level 3 to the rest of the party's level 2 now, except for a rogue who got trap-disarming, lock-picking and RP XP) , but I'm willing to go with it for now. It's not too unbalancing, as spellcasters tend to start out weaker than physical combatants. However, I won't be surprised if we do run into problems... we'll just have to deal with that as it comes, though; I'm not the DM so no one will blame me! evil grin