If you are a beginner to tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons then it is important for you to decide the amount of starting gold for the game. Most players get confused and think that they get a random amount of starting gold and the equipment for their background and class for their character class but the reality is different as it’s a choice.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the starting gold in Dungeons and Dragons.
Starting Gold By Level 5e Guide
According to the official rules, you can choose between a random amount of starting gold or the starting gold and equipment from the background and class. The first option involves rolling a die to determine the amount of initial gold to purchase your equipment or choosing the equipment based on the background and class of your character.
When using the random starting gold method, you will be making a number of D4 rolls depending on your starting class to determine the amount of initial wealth. This method is riskier, as there is a chance of rolling much more gold but the average gold rolls will be about the same or less than taking the basic starting equipment option.
This roll is multiplied by 10 to get the amount of initial wealth in the game with the only exception being Monks as they roll five d4 but don’t get to multiply it. These rolls should be made in front of your Dungeon Master
A pool of gold will be created and it will be used for the purchase of your initial equipment. Any leftover money that will be utilized will be left as the starting gold. You can refer to the table below to get an estimate of the gold pool for each character class:
| Class | Starting Gold Pool |
|---|---|
| Barbarian | 2d4 x 10gp |
| Bard | 5d4 x 10gp |
| Cleric | 5d4 x 10gp |
| Druid | 2d4 x 10gp |
| Fighter | 5d4 x 10gp |
| Monk | 5d4 gp |
| Paladin | 5d4 x 10gp |
| Ranger | 5d4 x 10gp |
| Rogue | 4d4 x 10gp |
| Sorcerer | 3d4 x 10gp |
| Warlock | 4d4 x 10gp |
| Wizard | 4d4 x 10gp |
The Artificer class was recently added and there is no official mention of the starting gold for this class. If you are looking for the starting gold amount for this class then it’s best to make the same rolls as the Wizard which is 4d4 x 10gp. The Artificer has higher material costs in comparison to other classes since it also needs armour.
The second method involves selecting the starting equipment for each class as well as specific background-related items. Each background has a different starting gold amount in addition to the class starting gold.
Each option will fetch a pouch of gold coins that can vary according to class and background. Starting gold and equipment depend on the chosen background and class. Higher-level characters may have options for more gold and equipment.
Some of the things that you need to pick for your character are:
- Armour (if worn)
- Melee and Ranged weapons
- Survival gear based on your setting such as rope or backpack
Here is the complete list of gold based on your background:
| Background | Starting Gold Pool |
|---|---|
| Acolyte | 15gp |
| Anthropologist (ToA) | 10gp |
| Archaeologist (ToA) | 25gp |
| Charlatan (PHB) | 15gp |
| City Watch / Investigator (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Clan Crafter (SCAG) | 5gp gem and 10gp |
| Cloistered Scholar (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Courtier (SCAG) | 5gp |
| Criminal / Spy | 15gp |
| Entertainer (PHB) | 15gp |
| Faction Agent (SCAG) | 15gp |
| Far Traveler (SCAG) | 10gp jewelry and 5gp |
| Folk Hero | 10gp |
| Gladiator (PHB) | 15gp |
| Guild Artisan/Merchant (PHB) | 15gp |
| Haunted One (COS) | None |
| Hermit (PHB) | 5gp |
| Inheritor (SCAG) | 15gp |
| Knight (PHB) | 25gp |
| Knight of the Order (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Mercenary Veteran (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Noble | 25gp |
| Outlander (PHB) | 10gp |
| Pirate (PHB) | 10gp |
| Sage | 10gp |
| Sailor (PHB) | 10gp |
| Soldier | 10gp |
| Urban Bounty Hunter (SCAG) | 20gp |
| Urchin (PHB) | 10gp |
| Uthgardt Tribe Member (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Waterdhavian Noble (SCAG) | 20gp |
If you are starting on a higher level character which is greater than level 1 then you can consult your Dungeon Master to allow you to get some extra gold based on the levels below. These tables specify the gold options based on low, standard and high magic campaigns:
| Character Level | Low Magic Campaign | Standard Campaign | High Magic Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st – 4th | Normal Starting Equipment & Gold | Normal Starting Gold & Equipment | Normal Starting Equipment & Gold |
| 5th – 10th | 500gp plus 1d10x 25gp, normal starting equipment | 500gp plus 1d10x25gp, normal starting equipment | 500gp plus 1d10x25gp, one uncommon magic item, normal starting equipment |
| 11th-16th | 5,000gp plus 1d10x250gp, one uncommon magic item, normal starting equipment | 500gp plus 1d10x250 gp, two uncommon magic items, normal starting equipment | 5,000gp plus1d10x250gp, three uncommon magic items, one rare item, normal starting equipment |
| 17th+ | 20,000gp plus 1d10x250gp, two uncommon magic items, normal starting equipment | 20,000gp plus 1d10x250gp, two uncommon magic items, one rare item, normal starting equipment | 20,000gp plus d10x250gp, three uncommon magic items, two rare items, one very rare item, normal starting equipment |
Choosing between the two options to determine the amount of starting gold can be a bit difficult. It depends on your playstyle and how flexible your Dungeon Master is It is better to roll for starting gold in the following cases:
- If you are using a build with obscure or specific equipment needs
- Starting equipment packages give more gold pieces worth of stuff on average than rolling.
- Rolling may be better for builds using equipment not found in class or background packages.
- Rolling may be better for classes like Bard that get more gold on average when rolling.
- If your build uses cheaper packages. Cheaper options in class packages may not be worth it compared to rolling for gold.
On the other hand, you can choose the equipment method in the following cases:
- If you are short on time and want to start the game quickly
- If you wish to stick true to the roots of your character for a realistic gameplay session
- If you want a set gold amount instead of risking it in the roll method
That’s it, now go ahead and choose the method that best suits your playstyle and character background!
