Fair Loot Distribution System for D&D 5e
This system relies on rolling for "Treasure Hoards" rather than individual monster treasure for most significant rewards, as hoards typically provide a better balance of coins, gems, art, and magic items.
Core Principles
- Challenge Rating (CR) Driven: The difficulty of the encounter dictates the tier of treasure awarded.
- Hoard-Focused: Major treasure comes from "hoards" (e.g., a monster's lair, a dungeon vault).
- Gold Piece Value (GPV): Magic item distribution is tied to their rarity, and thus their approximate Gold Piece Value (GPV), to ensure a fair overall wealth progression.
- DM Discretion: These are guidelines. Adjustments for campaign setting, player needs, and narrative flow are always encouraged.
Steps for Distributing Loot
Step 1: Determine the Challenge Rating Tier Identify the Challenge Rating (CR) of the encounter or the threat level of the hoard.
- CR 0-4: Low-level adventures, basic threats.
- CR 5-10: Mid-level adventures, more significant threats.
- CR 11-16: High-level adventures, powerful threats.
- CR 17+: Epic-level adventures, world-shaking threats.
Step 2: Roll for Coins (from Treasure Hoard Tables) Consult the "Coins" section of the relevant Treasure Hoard table for the CR tier. Roll the indicated dice to determine the total coin amounts (CP, SP, EP, GP, PP).
- CR 0-4 Hoard: 6d6 x 100 CP, 3d6 x 100 SP, 2d6 x 10 GP
- CR 5-10 Hoard: 2d6 x 100 CP, 2d6 x 1,000 SP, 6d6 x 100 GP, 3d6 x 10 PP
- CR 11-16 Hoard: 4d6 x 1,000 GP, 5d6 x 100 PP
- CR 17+ Hoard: 12d6 x 1,000 GP, 8d6 x 1,000 PP
Step 3: Roll for Gems or Art Objects Roll a d100 on the "Gems or Art Objects" column of the relevant Treasure Hoard table.
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CR 0-4 Hoard:
- 01–06: No additional gems/art
- 07–16: 2d6 (average 7) 10 gp gems
- 17–26: 2d4 (average 5) 25 gp art objects
- 27–36: 2d6 (average 7) 50 gp gems
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CR 5-10 Hoard:
- 01–04: No additional gems/art
- 05–10: 2d4 (average 5) 25 gp art objects
- 11–16: 3d6 (average 10) 50 gp gems
- 17–22: 3d6 (average 10) 100 gp gems
- 23–28: 2d4 (average 5) 250 gp art objects
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CR 11-16 Hoard:
- 01–03: No additional gems/art
- 04–06: 2d4 (average 5) 250 gp art objects
- 07–10: 2d4 (average 5) 750 gp art objects
- 11–12: 3d6 (average 10) 500 gp gems
- 13–15: 3d6 (average 10) 1,000 gp gems
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CR 17+ Hoard:
- 01–02: No additional gems/art
- 03–05: 3d6 (average 10) 1,000 gp gems
- 06–08: 1d10 (average 5) 2,500 gp art objects
- 09–11: 1d4 (average 2) 7,500 gp art objects
- 12–14: 1d8 (average 4) 5,000 gp gems
Once you determine the number and value of gems/art objects, use the provided "Gems" and "Art Objects" tables to determine their specific type.
Step 4: Roll for Magic Items Roll a d100 on the "Magic Items" column of the relevant Treasure Hoard table. This will tell you which Magic Item Table (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I) to roll on and how many times.
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CR 0-4 Hoard:
- 37–44: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 45–52: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 53–60: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 61–65: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 66–70: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 71–75: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 76–78: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 79–80: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 81–85: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 86–92: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 93–97: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 98–99: Roll once on Magic Item Table G.
- 100: Roll once on Magic Item Table G.
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CR 5-10 Hoard:
- 29–32: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 33–36: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 37–40: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 41–44: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table A.
- 45–49: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 50–54: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 55–59: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 60–63: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 64–66: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 67–69: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 70–72: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 73–74: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 75–76: Roll once on Magic Item Table D.
- 77–78: Roll once on Magic Item Table D.
- 79: Roll once on Magic Item Table D.
- 80: Roll once on Magic Item Table D.
- 81–84: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 85–88: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 89–91: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 92–94: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table F.
- 95–96: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 97–98: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 99: Roll once on Magic Item Table H.
- 100: Roll once on Magic Item Table H.
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CR 11-16 Hoard:
- 16–19: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table A and 1d6 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 20–23: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table A and 1d6 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 24–26: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table A and 1d6 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 27–29: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table A and 1d6 times on Magic Item Table B.
- 30–35: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 36–40: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 41–45: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 46–50: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 51–54: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 55–58: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 59–62: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 63–66: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 67–68: Roll once on Magic Item Table E.
- 69–70: Roll once on Magic Item Table E.
- 71–72: Roll once on Magic Item Table E.
- 73–74: Roll once on Magic Item Table E.
- 75–76: Roll once on Magic Item Table F and 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 77–78: Roll once on Magic Item Table F and 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 79–80: Roll once on Magic Item Table F and 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 81–82: Roll once on Magic Item Table F and 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 83–85: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 86–88: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 89–90: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 91–92: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 93–94: Roll once on Magic Item Table I.
- 95–96: Roll once on Magic Item Table I.
- 97–98: Roll once on Magic Item Table I.
- 99–00: Roll once on Magic Item Table I.
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CR 17+ Hoard:
- 03–05: Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 06–08: Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 09–11: Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 12–14: Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C.
- 15–22: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 23–30: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 31–38: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 39–46: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D.
- 47–52: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E.
- 53–58: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E.
- 59–63: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E.
- 64–68: Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E.
- 69: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 70: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 71: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 72: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 73–74: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 75–76: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 77–78: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 79–80: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H.
- 81–85: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I.
- 86–90: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I.
- 91–95: Roll once on Magic Item Table F and 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G.
- 96–100: Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I.
For each indicated roll on a Magic Item Table (A-I), roll a d100 on that specific table to determine the item. Refer to your list for the specific item names and their associated prices.
Magic Item Tables (for reference, showing rarity)
- Magic Item Table A: Mostly Common and Uncommon consumables and minor permanent items.
- Magic Item Table B: Uncommon items, including many consumables and some permanent utility items.
- Magic Item Table C: Uncommon and Rare consumables, and some Rare permanent items.
- Magic Item Table D: Mostly Rare and Very Rare consumables.
- Magic Item Table E: Primarily Very Rare consumables, with some Rare permanent items.
- Magic Item Table F: A mix of Uncommon and Rare permanent magic items (weapons, armor, utility).
- Magic Item Table G: A mix of Rare and Very Rare permanent magic items, including +2 weapons/shields.
- Magic Item Table H: Very Rare and Legendary permanent magic items, including +3 weapons/shields, and some powerful utility.
- Magic Item Table I: Legendary and powerful Very Rare permanent magic items, including artifacts and highly sought-after unique items.
Example Walkthrough: A CR 7 Monster's Hoard
Let's say your party defeats a Young Green Dragon (CR 8), and you decide to award them a Treasure Hoard.
- CR Tier: 5-10
- Coins (CR 5-10 Hoard):
- 2d6 x 100 CP (Roll 2d6, get 7. So, 700 CP)
- 2d6 x 1,000 SP (Roll 2d6, get 5. So, 5,000 SP)
- 6d6 x 100 GP (Roll 6d6, get 20. So, 2,000 GP)
- 3d6 x 10 PP (Roll 3d6, get 11. So, 110 PP)
- Gems or Art Objects (CR 5-10 Hoard):
- Roll d100, get 25. This means "2d4 (average 5) 250 gp art objects."
- Roll 2d4, get 6. So, 6 art objects, each worth 250 gp.
- Consult your "Art Objects" table, roll d10 six times for 250 GP Art Objects to get specific items (e.g., "Fine gold chain set with a fire opal," "Old masterpiece painting," etc.)
- Magic Items (CR 5-10 Hoard):
- Roll d100, get 65. This means "Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table C."
- Roll 1d4, get 3. So, roll 3 times on Magic Item Table C.
- Roll 1 (Magic Item Table C): d100 roll of 40 -> Potion of Gaseous Form (Rare, 300 gp)
- Roll 2 (Magic Item Table C): d100 roll of 12 -> Spell Scroll (4th Level) (Rare, 600 gp)
- Roll 3 (Magic Item Table C): d100 roll of 88 -> Bag of Beans (Rare, no price listed but typically 500-5000gp. You could assign it 890gp for flavor)
Final Loot for Example Hoard:
- 700 CP
- 5,000 SP
- 2,000 GP
- 110 PP
- 6 x 250 GP Art Objects (e.g., fine gold chain, masterpiece painting, etc.)
- Potion of Gaseous Form (300 gp)
- Spell Scroll (4th Level) (600 gp)
- Bag of Beans (your assigned price, e.g., 890 gp)
This system provides a structured way to generate diverse and appropriately valued treasure for your D&D 5e campaign. Remember to always consider the narrative and adjust as needed!
