1st edition D&D and logistics, More fun reading 1st edition rules Options

[Wounded Ronin]

So, in the 1st edition AD&D DMG, Gygax writes about how when the characters slay a particularly fearsome monster such as a dragon, or even a bunch of ogres that have a stash, there are lots of ways that the DM can prevent them from "cashing in" the whole haul of treasure.

Basically, he states that the treasure should be kind of cobbled together and bulky as if it were accumulated over a long period of raids. So, gold coins should be rare but maybe there's a lot of silver and copper (snort!). The loot can include art objects and inlaid strongboxes and crap like that which are hard to carry. When the characters carry out as much as they can, the rest will disappear before they can come back because other monsters will remove the remainder.

I'm okay with the treasure being piecemeal or in low denominations (although coppers are kind of ridiculous; that's like an armored car carrying a haul of pennies) but the idea that the player characters won't be able to haul it with them is pretty ridiculous.

I've had the privilege to work an overseas natural disaster response in the past year and have been lucky enough to have had some experience with logistics. As it turns out there's a well established field that basically concerns getting large, bulky, and heavy supplies from point A to point B within certain time tables and across geographical barriers. A lot of it goes back to planning ahead and mathematics, in terms of planning for weight and volume given the means of transportation.

The guy who had introduced me to the field of logistics mentioned in one of his lectures how supposedly Roman logisticians would be executed or otherwise severely punished if there was a logistics hiccup with the supplies for the Roman armies. If the Romans had it, why can't logistics be a thing in the world of D&D?

If the purpose of risking one's life on an adventure is to accrue lots of treasure (and indeed you get EXP for treasure transported home) why would the PCs spend all their time buying swords and flaming oil and 10' poles, but not spend their time and energy on logistics? My first thought would be to find some investors, get a wagon train and a bunch of guards, and instead of just trying to stuff a backpack like some kind of cat burglar, focus on filling up the wagons instead.

Especially if you plan on taking out a dragon with a Smaug-like pile of loot, you would think that one of the first orders of business would be lining up a wagon train, some ships, or whatever to haul back ALL the loot. Who would seriously risk their life for as much as they can personally carry? That is what would make the least sense.