[DF] - Party wealth disparity

[Whyte]

Originally Posted by ericbsmith

The Wealthy PC doesn't benefit directly from the Barbarian's 22 HP - he gets some benefit when the Barbarian doesn't die in the fight and can keep protecting him, but the Barbarian benefits more from his not dieing than the Wealthy PC does. Is that fair to the Wealthy PC? Well, yes, the Barbarian paid for the HP he should reap the biggest benefit from it.

Just like the Wealthy PC wouldn't be able to get the loot to sell if the Barbarian had not enabled the Party to get the loot in the first place. Thing is, even if you say that the Barbarian is benefiting more for his hit points by not dying, the end result is that the party benefits as a whole. When the Fence skims from the top, the Party is not getting the full advantage, but a diminished version. This would be akin to the Barbarian letting the monsters past him and at the Fence, when his hit points are halved.

Originally Posted by ericbsmith

However, that is the niche that the Cleric has chosen for himself, just as the player of the Wealthy PC has chosen the niche of being Wealthier than the other PCs and the Barbarian has chosen the niche of being a walking wall of flesh.

If only this were so. See my answer to Kromm. Cash is Points. The Wealthy PC will continue getting Wealthier and hence More Powerful than the other PCs. His platemail makes him as good (or better) a meatshield as the Barbarian's extra HP due to the DR. That's my problem with Wealth. It is not the niche of Being Wealthy. It is the niche of Becoming More Powerful Than Everyone Else Just Mark My Words.

See my answer to Kromm for ways in which I would correct this in DF.