What's the point of gold in 5e?

[Mr. Analog]

Sure we can buy potions of healing and the like but that's about it, magic items are doled out by the DM but generally aren't for sale. So what does fat loot get us?

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[Lazybones]

Sure we can buy potions of healing and the like but that's about it, magic items are doled out by the DM but generally aren't for sale. So what does fat loot get us?

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Isn't there spell components? Ammo? Medical kits? Armor? Wagons and mules?

[Mr. Analog]

Sure we can buy potions of healing and the like but that's about it, magic items are doled out by the DM but generally aren't for sale. So what does fat loot get us?

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Isn't there spell components? Ammo? Medical kits? Armor? Wagons and mules?

Yeah but nothing really significant.

I would have to find a +1 shortsword instead of buying one. Magic items are a rarity. So I end up with a glut of wealth as a fighter.

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[Melbosa]

There is mithril & adamantine armour/weapons... those shouldn't be rare.  There are also things like horses, sidekicks, wagons that can eat money.

Magic item creation cost lots of money... if you want us to make that Sword +1 it can cost a lot of money.

[Thorin]

Interesting answers on this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/4rukl8/5e_what_am_i_supposed_to_spend_all_my_gold_on/?sort=old

I remember the old Basic/Expert/Companion/Master/Immortal ruleset (BECMI or Basic D&D) and the stuff about how much it actually cost to build keeps and staff them, it was really cool.  I wish that kind of stuff would get put back in the game.