Step 6: Gear

After recording all of the NPC’s class features, the next step is to outfit the character with gear appropriate to his level. Note that NPCs receive less gear than PCs of an equal level. If an NPC is a recurring character, his gear should be selected carefully. Use the total gp value found on Table 14–9 to determine how much gear he should carry. NPCs that are only scheduled to appear once can have a simpler gear selection. Table 14–9 includes a number of categories to make it easier to select an NPC’s gear. When outfitting the character, spend the listed amount on each category by purchasing as few items as possible. Leftover gold from any category can be spent on any other category. Funds left over at the end represent coins and jewelry carried by the character.

Note that these values are approximate and based on the values for a campaign using the medium experience progression and a normal treasure allotment. If your campaign is using the fast experience progression, treat your NPCs as one level higher when determining their gear. If your campaign is using the slow experience progression, treat the NPCs as one level lower when determining their gear. If your campaign is high fantasy, double these values. Reduce them by half if your campaign is low fantasy. If the final value of an NPC’s gear is a little over or under these amounts, that’s okay.

Table 14–9: NPC Gear

Basic Level	Heroic Level	Total gp Value	Weapons	Protection	Magic	Limited Use	Gear
1	—	260 gp	50 gp	130 gp	—	40 gp	40 gp
2	1	390 gp	100 gp	150 gp	—	40 gp	100 gp
3	2	780 gp	350 gp	200 gp	—	80 gp	150 gp
4	3	1,650 gp	650 gp	800 gp	—	100 gp	200 gp
5	4	2,400 gp	900 gp	1,000 gp	—	300 gp	200 gp
6	5	3,450 gp	1,400 gp	1,400 gp	—	450 gp	200 gp
7	6	4,650 gp	2,350 gp	1,650 gp	—	450 gp	200 gp
8	7	6,000 gp	2,700 gp	2,000 gp	500 gp	600 gp	200 gp
9	8	7,800 gp	3,000 gp	2,500 gp	1,000 gp	800 gp	500 gp
10	9	10,050 gp	3,500 gp	3,000 gp	2,000 gp	1,050 gp	500 gp
11	10	12,750 gp	4,000 gp	4,000 gp	3,000 gp	1,250 gp	500 gp
12	11	16,350 gp	6,000 gp	4,500 gp	4,000 gp	1,350 gp	500 gp
13	12	21,000 gp	8,500 gp	5,500 gp	5,000 gp	1,500 gp	500 gp
14	13	27,000 gp	9,000 gp	8,000 gp	7,000 gp	2,500 gp	500 gp
15	14	34,800 gp	12,000 gp	10,500 gp	9,000 gp	2,800 gp	500 gp
16	15	45,000 gp	17,000 gp	13,500 gp	11,000 gp	3,000 gp	500 gp
17	16	58,500 gp	19,000 gp	18,000 gp	16,000 gp	4,000 gp	1,500 gp
18	17	75,000 gp	24,000 gp	23,000 gp	20,000 gp	6,500 gp	1,500 gp
19	18	96,000 gp	30,000 gp	28,000 gp	28,000 gp	8,000 gp	2,000 gp
20	19	123,000 gp	40,000 gp	35,000 gp	35,000 gp	11,000 gp	2,000 gp
—	20	159,000 gp	55,000 gp	40,000 gp	44,000 gp	18,000 gp	2,000 gp

Weapons: This includes normal, masterwork, and magic weapons, as well as magic staves and wands used by spellcasters to harm their enemies. For example, a wand of scorching ray would count as a weapon, but a staff of life would count as a piece of magic gear.

Protection: This category includes armor and shields, as well as any magic item that augments a character’s Armor Class or saving throws.

Magic: This category includes all other permanent magic items. Most rings, rods, and wondrous items fit into this category.

Limited Use: Items that fall into this category include alchemical items, potions, scrolls, and wands with few charges. Charged wondrous items fall into this grouping as well.

Gear: Use the amount in this category to purchase standard nonmagical gear for the character. In most cases, this equipment can be omitted during creation and filled in as needed during play. You can assume that the character has whatever gear is needed for him to properly use his skills and class abilities. This category can also include jewelry, gems, or loose coins that the NPC might have on his person.