I'm somewhat new to the serve and I was just wondering something....

When you divide "Party Treasure" how is it normally done? I have seen 3 ways (so far) and was just wondering how most of you do it.

1. I've seen some go around and one at a time take what they want... 2. I've seen some announce what it is they want and as long as there are no objections...they get it. 3. I've seen the Free For All method, where people just take with out concern for the others in the group. (Yeah if you can't tell this is not my favorite method)

So...tell me how do you prefer to divide the "party treasure"??

Number 2- but it tends to vary from character to character. (Talossians favor three, or they better!)

Depends on the character I am playing. I've played ones who will dictate who gets what, ones who will grab what they want without concern for others, some who prefer to roll dice and some who are subservient to how someone else wishes to divide the spoils!

I usually take whatever is left after other people get their first pick.

However, I usually do not play leaders. When I play anyone in a position of authority, I dictate how things are split, usually trying to do so in as fair a manner as possible, but sometimes intentionally ripping off characters my character does not like.

I've been involved with all three methods as well, and it really does depend on the characters involved. Each has possible merits in some ways but no one way is "right" (though some are OOC'ly fairer than others).

In most cases, you're just going to have to "role" with the way things play out. :wink:

Oh, and welcome to the Underdark! :twisted:

I take what I want, then say everyone else's turn.

All three can have their merits.

I once played a character who was Captain of a Crew, that always insisted on taking first pick, then saying Go. At that point, everyone was forced to scramble for the reward they wanted.

It can be good fun! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Depends on the team you're with, on how the job has been handed out to you, etc. You can even agree beforehand on how the spoils are going to be handled.

I'm, still new, but most groups I've been with have done the "split it at the end on the floor in a secluded area" method. Usually it's call for the stuff you really need, and then just grab the rest one at a time if there's stuff genrally useful.

One group had that with the leader as designated looter, and we knew he'd grabbed the best potions, he even mentioned he'd took them as his share first.

Sometimes it goes that I'll sneakily loot stuff off enemies and hide it, if I don't like or trust the group much, or blatantly take it for a reason. For example my gnome was with a group of goblins he didn't trust much, but was willing to fight with to raid a camp of MORE goblins. So he was skimming off the loot, but announced he'd got healing bracers because the rest knew he was looking for healing gear so he could patch up and get into the fight.

I generally set down everything I find or loot, so everyone at least has a chance to see what was found. If my character feels like he deserves the lion's share of the treasure and potions (usually because he used more than others) he'll say so, and see if anyone disagrees.

Basically, I like to give everyone a chance to at least see what was dropped, though, is my main point.

I generally try and come to a group consensus before entering the quest area, and I usually focus on a even split. It's a little tricky when most of the loot is items...but I try and see that everyone gets something of some use or even offer to trade for something I've already got.

Depending on the character I may also side-loot, but I'd never take the best stuff when doing this (for OOC reasons really). I might pick up 3 potions and say it was two....but like I said that depends on the character and party.

I really detest it when people rush through the quest givers talk and zip into the quest area without any discusion (of strategy, roles or divisions). It just feels wierd and totally unnatural.

Lockwood was notorious for #3. Of course, he always got first pick and usually second. Generally though, it depends on the group. Having a defined "leader" in any party that sets the ground rules from the get go is key.

It totally depends on the group. I find #2 to be the best compromise and most affective. #1 can be laborious. #3 is crappy in my opinion.

As far as loot, I think it is kind of lame to stash stuff away from questing and not drop it because your character is a scoundrel, or just evil... In my opinion that is entirely OOC. The gaming engine doesn't make it so we can see or notice everything, it is really easy to skim off the top without anybody noticing because of engine limitations.

If i'm the group leader then I usually suggest something like #2.

IxTheSpeedy

As far as loot, I think it is kind of lame to stash stuff away from questing and not drop it because your character is a scoundrel, or just evil... In my opinion that is entirely OOC. The gaming engine doesn't make it so we can see or notice everything, it is really easy to skim off the top without anybody noticing because of engine limitations.

I'd agree if someone emoted something like: *watches Mr. X loot the corpse* or even *stands and watches* But instead what happens is one person is the looter and the rest scurry off ready to kill the next spawn. I'd say that when rolling a corpse for loot it would be very easy to skim small objects. Especially if the observer is wearing a helmet or just finished fighting (I can't imagine killing some monsters and then counting the number of potions that someone picked up. I'd know there were potions, but 2 or 3 would probably escape my notice). So I think it's totally a IC matter...watch your allies until they prove themselves to be friends.

Thanks for all the responces. I now know that I need to learn the nature of those I travel with. I also must learn that everyone plays different. Even if my character is CN, I generally try to play fair, making sure EVERYONE that travels with me get's healing if needed, gets some of the treasure, and knows of the dangers (traps etc.) that lay ahead.

I have never played a character that just charges into battle, even when playing a Fighter. I like the idea of bringing them to us...rather than us getting way-laid by them. But, I seem to be one of the few that follow that rule.

So note to self : find out the Party Leaders intention's first, ask if there is anything specific he / she expects from me. Basically go in with as much information as possible of those I travel with.

Again, thanks.

Mourn does number three. It's worked well so far. I generally put the qualifier "Don't be greedy" in, and do not divide the gold until everyone's taken what they want. That way if someone grabbed too much, they get a lesser share of the gold.

I always make sure that when I split up loot, that I do it evenly, but in character. If I've got loose cannon type of character, I may take an extra potion or two, but only if there is plenty left over for others (that's an IC and OOC combination of things).

Though typically, I announce what I want (ICly of course) to the group, that's kind of an OOC way of saying "Hey, I got a character to play, but I'm not trying to be a dick OOC about it."

Only on a few occasions, have my character and another clashed over items and usually it's decided in some IC way (duel, dice, IC rationale, etc)

Djspectre, when you come back?

Personally, my sneaky Rogue makes his living by enabling Thief Mode on every adventure I go on, and quietly pilfering odds and ends here and there. If someone in the party goes down in a secluded area, or there's a TPK and I've downed an Invisibility potion, I quietly sort through my companions' bodies and pinch a small thing here or there. Nothing major that they'd notice missing right away, I keep it small, but it's still a tidy source of occasional income for me. :twisted:

MadCaddies Depends on the character I am playing. I've played ones who will dictate who gets what

Would this kind of situation not need a dm, as it is pretty much a hostile action, like stealing?

I like to take a reasonable share for myself, and offer up suggestions as to who should take the rest. Rolling dice, or taking turns is too labourous and boring, in my eyes. Valuable time that could be spent walking to the next QA, and smashing for more loot, gold and XPs.