Page 144 - Dungeons and Dragons - Players Handbook

CHAPTER 5: EQUIPMENT

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HE MARKETPLACE OF A LARCE CITY TEEMS Members of lhe nobilily lrade eilher in legal righls, such
with buyers and sellers of many sorts: as lhe righls lo a mine, a porl, or farmland, or in gold
dwarf smiths and elf woodcarvers, halfling bars, measuring gold by lhe pound ralher than by lhe
farmers and gnome jewelers, not to mention coin. Only merchanls, advenlurers, and lhose offering
humans of every shape, size, and color prafessional services for hire commonly deal in coins.
drawn fram a spectrum of nations and
cultures. In the largest cities, almost COINAGE
anything imaginable is offered for sale, fram exotic Common coins come in several differenl denominalions
spices and luxurious clothing to wicker baskets and based on lhe relalive worlh of the melai fram which lhey
practical swords. are made. The lhree mosl common coins are lhe gold
For an adventurer, the availability of armor, weapons,
backpacks, rape, and similar goods is of paramount piece (gp), lhe silver piece (sp), and lhe copper piece (cp).
Wilh one gold piece, a character can buy a belt
importance, since praper equipmenl can mean lhe pouch, 50 feel of good rape, or a goat. A skilled (bUl
difference belween life and dealh in a dungeon or the nol exceplional) arlisan can earn one gold piece a day.
unlamed wilds. This chapter delails the mundane and The gold piece is lhe slandard unil of measure for
exolic merchandise lhal adventurers commonly find useful weallh, even if lhe coin ilself is nol commonly used.
in lhe face of lhe lhreats lhal the worlds of 0&0 present.
When merchanls discuss deals lhal involve goods or
services worlh hundreds or thousands of gold pieces,
STARTING EQUIPMENT lhe lransaclions don'l usually involve lhe exchange of
When you creale your characler, you receive equipment individual coins. Ralher, lhe gold piece is a standard
based on a combinalion of your class and background. measure of value, and lhe aclual exchange is in gold
Alternatively, you can starl with a number of gold pieces bars, letters of credil, or valuable goods.
based on your class and spend them on items fram lhe One gold piece is worlh len silver pieces, the mosl
lisls in this chapter. See the Slarling Weallh by Class prevalenl coin among commoners. A silver piece buys a
table lo determine how much gold you have lo spend. laborer's work for a day, a flask of lamp oil, or a night's
Vou decide how your characler carne by lhis starting rest in a poor inn.
equipment. II mighl have been an inherilance, or goods One silver piece is worlh len copper pieces, which are
lhat the characler purchased during his or her upbringing. common among laborers and beggars. A single copper
Vou might have been equipped with a weapon, armor, and piece buys a candle, a lorch, or a piece of chalk.
a backpack as part of military service. Voumighl even have In addition, unusual coins made of other precious
stolen your gear. A weapon could be a family heirloom, metais somelimes appear in lreasure hoards. The
passed down fram generalion lOgeneralion unlil your eleclrum piece (ep) and lhe plalinum piece (pp) originale
characler finally look up lhe mantle and followed in an from fallen empires and losl kingdoms, and lhey
anceslor's advenlurous footsteps. sometimes arause suspicion and skepticism when used
in lransactions. An eleclrum piece is worth five silver
STARTlNG WEALTH BY CLASS pieces, and a plalinum piece is worlh len gold pieces.
A standard coin weighs about a lhird of an ounce,
Class Funds so fifty coins weigh a pound.
Barbarian 2d4 x 10 gp
Bard 5d4 x 10 gp
STANDARD EXCHANGE RATES
Cleric 5d4 x 10 gp
Coin cp sp ep gp pp
Druid 2d4 x 10 gp
Fighter 5d4 x 10 gp Copper (cp) 1 1/10 l/50 1/100 1/1,000
Monk 5d4 gp Silver (sp) 10 1 1/5 1/10 1/100
Eleclrum (ep) 50 5 1 1/2 1/20
Paladin 5d4xl0gp
Ranger 5d4xl0gp Gold (gp) 100 10 2 1 1/10
Rogue 4d4x10gp Platinum (pp) 1,000 100 20 10 1
Sorcerer 3d4 x 10 gp
Warlock 4d4 x 10 gp
Wizard 4d4 x 10 gp

WEALTH
Weallh appears in many forms in a 0&0 world. Coins,
gemslones, lrade goods, art objecls, animais, and
praperly can reftecl your characler's financiai well-being.
Members of lhe peasanlry trade in goods, barlering for
whal lhey need and paying laxes in grain and cheese.

PART I EQUIPME. T
143