Creative loot leads to memorable role play

Don't you ever get tired of finding coins, gemstones, generic art items, and magical items? OK, maybe not magical items...

As a long time DM, I certainly got tired of handing that stuff out. That's why I decided to make a conscious effort to embrace setting-appropriate realism when placing loot and creating random tables in my current campaign.

For example, the party journeyed through an ancient elven city that had once existed within massive, living trees that were now blighted and petrified. Each tree/building was well over 1000 feet tall and were more likely to be inhabited by monsters at higher levels While exploring the city, they passed through a variety of districts that were themed and named. Loot was then determined using tables based on district type and altitude.

The first tree they went through went like this:

• Lower levels - residential district - loot found: sweet smelling soaps with dried leaves and spices preserved inside, a badly water-damaged book of fairy tales, some coins and basic gear found on the corpse of a dead adventurer

• Middle levels - temple district - loot found: scented oils, decorative holy symbols, material components for cleric spells, ancient vestments, incense and a lavish burner

• Upper levels - market district - loot found: a rare magical item, ancient promissory notes from a bank, a very complex lock with 2 keys, ancient cookware and pottery

The journey both to and through the ancient city was... harrowing. I'm running an eldritch horror campaign and this was point in the story when the horror started really ramping up.

That's why, after exiting the forest, our barbarian, Arthur, felt the need to blow off some steam by pranking our fighter, Clive. While keeping watch, Arthur dug out an ancient clay pot and filled it with warm water. Then Arthur totally biffed a stealth roll and woke Clive up while putting his hand in it.

When asked what he was doing, Arthur stammered for a moment before saying, "You found those soaps and scented oils in [the city], I thought I'd surprise you with a nice manicure."

This started a runner between those two that lasted for months and got the ball rolling on some character growth for Clive who was learning that he REALLY likes the finer things in life.

How has creative non-magical loot influenced your campaigns/characters?

tl;dr: The barbarian gives the fighter a manicure.