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<blockquote data-quote="UnDfind" data-source="post: 52716" data-attributes="member: 2744"><p><strong>Hmmm...</strong></p><p></p><p>There's always going to be things that seem odd, but the reason for them may not be obvious. Also remember that peasents and other commoners of the day mostly live in what we would call poverty today. The available cash listed for places is cumulative, and would not be apparent unless every resident came together in one place and spilled all their cash and valuables into a pile. They probably wouldn't do that to hire mercenaries, as they would still have to eat.</p><p></p><p>There are no labor-relieving machines or mass-production factories in most fantasy settings, which makes certain products (like chain) to be a commodity, equalling the price of other products or services that are easier to come by (IE mercenaries). In truth, full suits of armor, chain mail, etc may very well be worth more than their entries, but characters require access to them. </p><p></p><p>There is also the fact that in a place filled with orcs, goblins, and all other sorts of crazy beasties ready to feast on the common folk, there is a higher demand for weapons and armor. There would be a higher percentage of blacksmiths ready to meet these demands, and unless they united in some form of guild, prices for these things would keep dropping as competition increased. Chain, however, is not one of these necessities in soopah-high demand, so it's price stays at what the dealer can hawk it for. Remember that the prices given in the PHB are simply a reference, and certain items may be an expensive rarity in some parts, but rather cheap in others. </p><p></p><p>Take wine for instance. Go to the place farthest from a nations' vinyards and you might find that decent wine is at least three times as expensive as the PHB listing (and good wine may be worth enough to purchase an army of mercs). But if you go to the place where the vinyards and aging cellars are, you'll find that the common folk can afford to drink pretty decent wine with every meal. It's supply and demand, and wise merchants play it as much as possible, always insuring that they make the most possible profit, but at a price reasonable enough to ensure you prefer them to the other dealers.</p><p></p><p>I added this aspect of the world to my games a long time ago, and was surprised at how many players loved it and tried their own hands at the market. It's kind of fun to have a bunch of heroes who also run the trade routes on the side. Makes for interesting adventures when their interests are threatened by events in another city.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="UnDfind, post: 52716, member: 2744"] [b]Hmmm...[/b] There's always going to be things that seem odd, but the reason for them may not be obvious. Also remember that peasents and other commoners of the day mostly live in what we would call poverty today. The available cash listed for places is cumulative, and would not be apparent unless every resident came together in one place and spilled all their cash and valuables into a pile. They probably wouldn't do that to hire mercenaries, as they would still have to eat. There are no labor-relieving machines or mass-production factories in most fantasy settings, which makes certain products (like chain) to be a commodity, equalling the price of other products or services that are easier to come by (IE mercenaries). In truth, full suits of armor, chain mail, etc may very well be worth more than their entries, but characters require access to them. There is also the fact that in a place filled with orcs, goblins, and all other sorts of crazy beasties ready to feast on the common folk, there is a higher demand for weapons and armor. There would be a higher percentage of blacksmiths ready to meet these demands, and unless they united in some form of guild, prices for these things would keep dropping as competition increased. Chain, however, is not one of these necessities in soopah-high demand, so it's price stays at what the dealer can hawk it for. Remember that the prices given in the PHB are simply a reference, and certain items may be an expensive rarity in some parts, but rather cheap in others. Take wine for instance. Go to the place farthest from a nations' vinyards and you might find that decent wine is at least three times as expensive as the PHB listing (and good wine may be worth enough to purchase an army of mercs). But if you go to the place where the vinyards and aging cellars are, you'll find that the common folk can afford to drink pretty decent wine with every meal. It's supply and demand, and wise merchants play it as much as possible, always insuring that they make the most possible profit, but at a price reasonable enough to ensure you prefer them to the other dealers. I added this aspect of the world to my games a long time ago, and was surprised at how many players loved it and tried their own hands at the market. It's kind of fun to have a bunch of heroes who also run the trade routes on the side. Makes for interesting adventures when their interests are threatened by events in another city. [/QUOTE]
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