Creation Note 4: Starting Packages

The DMs have a distinct desire to see the inventories of submitted character sheets explicitly include everything in a given character's inventory. Players, meanwhile, have expressed dissatisfaction with the math required in such a process, as well as figuring out exactly what their characters need--the starting packages in the book, while helpful as a starting point, still require the player who wants them to do their own math in that regard, and don't necessarily include the optimal supplies for this game.

In the interests of appeasing both camps at once, we've jerry-rigged a "standardized" starting package. These differ from the ones in the Player's Handbook in a few ways; namely, we've stripped out weapons, armor, and class-specific items in an attempt to make packages as general-use as we possibly can, and included only those items that all of our players should find most useful.

When making your character, you can just grab one of the starting kits below. Instead of itemizing each item on your sheet (which you can still feel free to do), you can simply put down "Adventurer's Kit" or "Greater Adventurer's Kit," deduct the appropriate cost, and list in the description column precisely what is included. Add weapons and armor, and you're set.

In-Character: At the Aurora's Realms Shops, located in several spots throughout the city, useful bundles of items called Adventurer's Kits are available. These kits include everything the aspiring adventurer, pilgrim, or traveler might reasonably require on his travels, in one easy package. By buying in bulk, these bundles are available to be sold at a small discount as compared to buying each item separately. Each item is done in black and gold (some kits are available with green as well), as these colors are favored by the Waterdhavian armed forces, and the shops wish to show their support for them.

Adventurer's Kit - This kit runs 15 gold, and comes in a sturdy leather backpack. It includes the following items:

Bedroll, Cold Weather Outfit, Flint and Steel, Hempen Rope (50 feet), Torches (5), Trail Rations (5), Waterskin.

Greater Adventurer's Kit - More affluent characters might consider this kit, which runs 40 gold. It also comes in a sturdy leather backpack, and includes the following:

Bandoleer, Bedroll, Cold Weather Outfit, Flint and Steel, Grappling Hook, Hooded Lantern, Pint-Bottles of Oil (3), Potion Belt, Silk Rope (50 feet), Trail Rations (5), Tent (one-person capacity), Waterskin.

Explorer's Kit - This kit is for experienced travelers who intend to spend very long periods of time on the road, and comes with pretty much everything one might need. It runs 80 gold, and also comes in a sturdy leather backpack:

Bandoleer, Bedroll, Crowbar, Flint and Steel, Grappling Hook, Hammer, Hooded Lantern, Iron Pot, Map/Scroll Case, Pint-Bottles of Oil (3), Pitons (10), Potion Belt, Sack (5), Sheets of Parchment (6), Silk Rope (50 feet), Silver Mug, Small Shovel, Small Steel Mirror, Soap (1 lb.), Sunrod (5), Tent, Tindertwig (5), Trail Rations (10), Vial of Ink, Waterskin.

Note: A potion belt (1 gp) holds six potions, and allows the wearer to draw one per round as a free action. A bandoleer (5 sp) holds eight small items, and works as per a potion belt.

Extra Note: Additional commonly-desired items at creation, presented here for ease of reference, include the following:

• Arcane Spellcasters: Spell Component Pouch - 5g
• Bards: Musical Instrument - 5g
• Crafters: Artisans' Tools - 5g
• Divine Spellcasters or the Especially Devout: Wooden Holy Symbol - 1g (Note: Followers of Lathander, as members of a rather...flashy church, will rarely be caught dead without at least a Copper Holy Symbol, for 5 gp, if not something even gaudier.)
• Rogues, or anyone with the Open Lock/Disable Device skills: Thieves' Tools - 30g
• Travelers: Waterdeep Map - 40g (Note: This item grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Survival checks made to discern direction or location while in the Waterdeep area. Maps of other reqions can be purchased as well; a map of The Sword Coast runs the same price, while maps of the High Forest, the Silver Marches, and the Western Heartlands run 60g. Regions further afield run even higher.)
• Wizards: Spellbook - 15g