Gold-Gathering
-
Without DM aid depending on your plotting (Cause they arn't always around and sometimes you want to be productive without them) your best bet is Questing / Conversing while questing. Alternatively traveling around also brings in gold. It also depends on your class. Some classes can heal themselves, don't need Inn's - and in the long run it effects how much gold you build up.
For criminals the bloodstone trade / ects is your best bet. I found when I was having gold problems we came up with the idea to rob the Mertio's with a DM - and while we didn't get a single piece of gold from it, we got lots of armour/weopons to sell and further plot goals. Some criminal activities are going to cost you a horde of gold, others will bring it in. Up to your character to do what he thinks is best and having many allies does help with the process of making gold. I can't count how much gold was simply given to Akdul from allies just because of all the plans/idea's and plotting he did. Citizenbane is right though, most plotting is going to take most of your gold. You just have to find the right balance for your character and ask the DM's for a little advice/help.