[RPG] Cleric player in Adventurer’s League may have extorted us for Revivify

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In an Adventurer League game, while we were starting a session, a player I didn't know until now plays a cleric. He told everyone at the table that unless they gave him 300 GP at the start of the adventure, he wasn't going to bother casting revivify, should that person die. His reason was he wasn't going to lose gold just because someone acted stupid.

This felt like he was extorting my character. I also didn't want to risk losing my character, so I subtracted 300 gold and gave the cleric the diamond.

What I wish to ask is:

  1. what was the appropriate reaction for this situation?
  2. Should I have reported this to the head GM or something similar?

As to answer the comments: After the session as per the rules of the Adventurers League, the diamonds were returned and we are not playing in season 8.

Best Answer

My insurance company? New Ork Life, why do you ask?

There are a number of Q&A's on this site that ask "What good is gold in 5th edition?" since the Wealth By Level (WBL) framework is no more. Our first group discovered that as we went up in levels, and needed our spellcasters to cast higher level spells, gold was required to buy spell components for certain spells. (The point on revivify in your question being one that we ran into).

My Fighter always carries at least one diamond on his person

In a subsequent campaign, I have made sure to save up my gold and buy a diamond as soon as I could (revivify's cost). Later, I purchased a larger one when our cleric got raise dead as an available spell. Having that attitude - investing in my own raise dead options - has paid for me to be raised promptly twice now, and another party member as well (using my spare diamond). (When I can afford to, I carry a pair of 500 GP diamonds. Less encumbrance that way also ...)

Be Prepared using the Five P's

What are the five P's? Prior Planning Prevents Painful Predicament

If you've got the diamond on your person, any cleric with the the spell can cast revivify or raise dead on you. Be Prepared! (Boy Scout Motto)

How does this apply to Adventurer's League?

If you are not always playing with the same group, keeping a diamond handy on your person for that purpose is like buying a life insurance policy. Any cleric, PC or NPC, can cast the spell since you have the component ready for them to use.

  • For season #8 in particular, Chris Kelly shows why gold pieces are not to be squandered. Casting of spells with expensive spell components has become a financially risky pursuit.

    There is a chance to go into TCP debt (Treasure CheckPoint debt) if you can't afford the spell casting service up front. Chris Kelly explains it here:

    When things go bad, they go bad hard. These are the only Spell Casting Service you can actually go into TCP debt for.

    Raise Dead SCS 10 TCPs or 1,000gp available for all Tiers
    Resurrection SCS 16 TCPs or 1,500gp available for all Tiers
    True Resurrection SCS 16 TCPs or 30,000gp available for all Tiers

    Reference: Season 8 AL DM Guide, page 3.

    Dead Character Pays for Raise Dead.
    Dead characters that can’t afford the GP cost of the service or treasure checkpoint cost of a spell scroll may incur a treasure checkpoint debt as needed to purchase one. This debt must be satisfied before treasure checkpoints can be used for anything else.

What should I do?

  1. What was the appropriate reaction for this situation?

    the diamonds were returned (your comment)

    Keep that diamond with you. You may need it in a future adventure for the same purpose.

  2. Should I have reported this to the head GM or something similar?

    You can, but since the material was returned to you, there doesn't seem to be much for a head GM to do in terms of action. That diamond is, as discussed above, something like your character's life insurance policy.

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