A lot of DMs get caught up in the loot of every encounter or new room on a map.
A great way to counteract this is by making some loot useless to the party.
Before then, you might have most of the items your characters find be junk.
This will also make the inevitable pile of gold or magic item that much more exciting.
Have your party search areas, making investigation or perception checks as they do so to find something useful.
Thematic things, like an enemy’s weapon or a financial reward from the quest-giver, are classic examples.
Figure out early on what your party struggles with and give them a helping hand.
5When In Doubt, Use Gold
More Money…
Gold never goes out of style.
Really, this goes for all financial means of loot (i.e.
silver, copper, electrum, etc.).
Telling the party its gold value upon discovery can help set the intention of it being essentially money.
6Make Them Wary Of Cursed Items
Why Is The Sword Speaking?
A rogue thief by Billy Christian.
The bane of manyan adventurer, cursed items have been a D&D staple for decades now.
Items that possess the wielder are a classic choice for cursed items.
you could alleviate this later on by having cursed items be de-cursed through merchants or clerics for a price.
Dungeon Explorers from the 2024 Player’s Handbook 5th Edition.
Flavor items, or even items to help RP, can be a great reward for your characters.
After all, D&D isn’t all about combat.
Whether you sling silly insults or drop diabolical lines, there are so many ways to use Vicious Mockery.
These can be great running bits as time goes on, especially if they’re given at earlier levels.
Food, ammo, spell components, andpotions are greatexamples of this.
you’re free to even flavor each of these to the area and task at hand.
Dungeon Explorers from the 2024 Player’s Handbook 5th Edition.
What food would bandits carry?
What potions would be in an old dwarven dungeon?
Finding the correct time to allow for your players to find or buy one of these is key.
Plummet by Alix Branwyn
Usually, the early teen levels are a great time to hand one of these out.
These can vary from magic items, amounts of gold, all the way to normal items and ammo.
This takes off much of the stress of figuring out items to give to your party in the moment.
Combat by Craig J Spearing
You should also cater these tables to specific configs, scenarios, and enemies.
After all, the loot in a desert fighting mummies will be different from in the underdark fighting duergar.
Knights of the Solar Bastion by Zuzanna Wuzyk
Art by Brian Valeza
Potion of Water Breathing from Basic Rules (2014) via Wizards of the Coast.
Bag of Holding from Basic Rules (2014) via Wizards of the Coast.
Ring Of Three Wishes via Wizards of the Coast.
