How does wealth per level and mercantile background work?

[Temennigru]

If a character has mercantile background, he can buy and sell items at 75% price, and he starts with extra gold at lvl 1. If the character starts off at higher levels, wouldn't it make sense to give him more gold? (Since he didn't lose so much gold buying and selling items)

[Curmudgeon]

You could ask your individual DM to make an exception, but these really don't interact. Mercantile Background only functions when you play your character, and Wealth by Level exists to create characters above 1st level without playing them.

[Temennigru]

What about purchasing items off-game?

[JohnDaBarr]

If a character has mercantile background, he can buy and sell items at 75% price, and he starts with extra gold at lvl 1. If the character starts off at higher levels, wouldn't it make sense to give him more gold? (Since he didn't lose so much gold buying and selling items)

Generally no, but I would allow him/she a coin flip to see does she get 25% more or less gold depending on the outcome.:smallbiggrin:

But if a player said he gained levels trading (being a Merchant and doing Merchant stuff) I would allow such a player to role his wealth using his merchant profession for every level he gained trading. Beating DC 20 would mean that he get's the same amount a normal adventurer would get for that level, beating the DC 20 by 5 he gets 20% more and vice versa.