Monday, July 20, 2020

Lifestyle Expenses

I like the idea of Lifestyle expenses but this also should be baked into the different races the way backgrounds are to tell you something about the race. The player should roll for their lifestyle during character creation. A series of tables will better show what I mean.

Hill Dwarf
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
01
Squalid
02
Poor
03-08
Modest
09
Comfortable
10
Wealthy
--
Artistocratic
Mountain Dwarf
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
01
Squalid
02-05
Poor
06-09
Modest
10
Comfortable
--
Wealthy
--
Aristocratic
High Elf
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
--
Squalid
--
Poor
01-05
Modest
05-06
Comfortable
07-09
Wealthy
10
Aristocratic

Wood Elf
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
--
Squalid
01-02
Poor
03-08
Modest
09-10
Comfortable
--
Wealthy
--
Aristocratic

Halfling (Stout)
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
--
Squalid
--
Poor
01-06
Modest
07-09
Comfortable
10
Wealthy
--
Aristocratic

Halfling (Tallfellow)
2d6
Lifestyle
--
Wretched
02
Squalid
03-04
Poor
05-06
Modest
07-08
Comfortable
09
Wealthy
10
Aristocratic

Half Orc
2d6
Lifestyle
01-02
Wretched
03-04
Squalid
05-07
Poor
08
Modest
09
Comfortable
10
Wealthy
--
Aristocratic

Human
2d6
Lifestyle
01
Wretched
02
Squalid
03-04
Poor
05-06
Modest
07-08
Comfortable
09
Wealthy
10
Aristocratic

A character may select to live a week at a higher level than their normal level, but not below. What happens when they are unable to afford their normal level is up to the GM (take out a loan, take up petty crime) but unhappiness and a feeling of desperation is likely. Possibly enough to risk their lives on an adventure.

If they spend too long at a lower level their own lifestyle expectations might drop a level as well.

Here is what the lifestyles mean according to the 5e srd.

Lifestyle Expenses per day
Price/Day
Lifestyle
Notes
--
Wretched
You live in inhumane conditions. Violence, and hunger follow you wherever you go. Other wretched people covet your gear, which represent a fortune by their standards. You are beneath the notice of most people.
1 sp
Squalid
Your lifestyle means you live in a desperate and often violent environment, in places rife with hunger, and misfortune. You are beneath the notice of most people. Most people at this lifestyle level are refugees of some sort.
2 sp
Poor
A poor lifestyle means simple food and lodgings, threadbare clothing, and unpredictable conditions result in a sufficient, though probably unpleasant, experience. People at this lifestyle level tend to be unskilled laborers, costermongers, peddlers, thieves, mercenaries, and other disreputable types.
1 gp
Modest
A modest lifestyle keeps you out of the slums and ensures that you can maintain your equipment. You don't go hungry or thirsty, and your living conditions are clean, if simple. Ordinary people living modest lifestyles include soldiers with families, laborers, students, priests, hedge wizards, and the like.
2 gp
Comfortable
A comfortable lifestyle means that you can afford nicer clothing and can easily maintain your equipment. You associate with merchants, skilled tradespeople, and military officers.
4 gp
Wealthy
A wealthy lifestyle means living a life of luxury. You live a lifestyle comparable to that of a highly successful merchant, a favored servant of the royalty, or the owner of a few small businesses. You are happiest when you have a small staff of servants.
10 gp
Artistocratic
You like to live a life of plenty and comfort. You have excellent lodgings, you dine at the best restaurants, retain the most skilled and fashionable tailor, and have servants attending to your every need. You receive invitations to the social gatherings of the rich and powerful, and spend evenings in the company of politicians, guild leaders, high priests, and nobility.

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