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Silly economics of DnD
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<blockquote data-quote="UnDfind" data-source="post: 52815" data-attributes="member: 2744"><p><strong>Oi</strong></p><p></p><p>Supply/Demand isn't quite as simple as that. If there was only one manufacturer of a particular product in an area, then yes, he could charge whatever he wanted for it (of course he has to keep it low enough that people can still buy it). But with multiple manufacturers/dealers, you've gotta realize that demand DOES result in a dropping of prices. One merchant will find a way to cut prices just enough to make it lower than the guy across the street, and the other guy has to find a way to beat the new price or lose business. This does result in a lower gain per product, but it is made up for in sheer volume sold. Prices tend to be lower when competition is real (thus the laws against monopolies). </p><p></p><p>As for the preference of a blacksmith forging a chain instead of chainmail, remember what was said about demand and availablility. What if a blacksmith creates 100 lengths of chain, and then opens his doors to the public? He'd set a lower price then competitors (but not by much) and would make a fortune, right? Not necessarily. The price for chain may be high because demand is actually low (strange concept, I know). But if chain isn't in as high a demand as chainmail, it would be a far more rare product to be found. That would mean that when you do find it, the one selling it can feel safe charging a higher price for it as you may not find it in too many other local shops (I'm not saying this is true for a chain, they tend to be common in cities and such). </p><p></p><p>Another factor of price is the economic position of the common customer. Let's say that the demand for chain comes mostly from nobility, masons/architects, and city officials (for things like prisons, buildings, etc). Those all have far more means to draw upon than a commoner, thus increasing the price to what the dealer can get the customers to pay. Remember that the price is a mixed (and usually convoluted) factor that includes cost, supply/demand, availability, general worth, target customer, and a whole lot more. Most merchants and folks know most of this, but a lot of it happens naturally within the economic system.</p><p></p><p>The game prices may very well be skewed (I haven't really compared them with prices common to medieval days, and I probably never will), but the truth is that prices would actually change for every town you come across. It says right in the PHB that the prices are only for reference and not set in stone. I never charge the PHB price for anything. I usually try to figure out how many fletchers would be in an area (things like nearby forests and the availability of good feathers could play a roll) before setting a price for arrows (usually made up on the fly, but it works), and then have the merchant ask a price well above what he's willing to settle on for them. The haggling is fun, and it's a good way to get some use out of Sense Motive, Bluff, and Diplomacy. Of course if I'm in a hurry to get to another scene, I'll be far more kind in my price setting. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="UnDfind, post: 52815, member: 2744"] [b]Oi[/b] Supply/Demand isn't quite as simple as that. If there was only one manufacturer of a particular product in an area, then yes, he could charge whatever he wanted for it (of course he has to keep it low enough that people can still buy it). But with multiple manufacturers/dealers, you've gotta realize that demand DOES result in a dropping of prices. One merchant will find a way to cut prices just enough to make it lower than the guy across the street, and the other guy has to find a way to beat the new price or lose business. This does result in a lower gain per product, but it is made up for in sheer volume sold. Prices tend to be lower when competition is real (thus the laws against monopolies). As for the preference of a blacksmith forging a chain instead of chainmail, remember what was said about demand and availablility. What if a blacksmith creates 100 lengths of chain, and then opens his doors to the public? He'd set a lower price then competitors (but not by much) and would make a fortune, right? Not necessarily. The price for chain may be high because demand is actually low (strange concept, I know). But if chain isn't in as high a demand as chainmail, it would be a far more rare product to be found. That would mean that when you do find it, the one selling it can feel safe charging a higher price for it as you may not find it in too many other local shops (I'm not saying this is true for a chain, they tend to be common in cities and such). Another factor of price is the economic position of the common customer. Let's say that the demand for chain comes mostly from nobility, masons/architects, and city officials (for things like prisons, buildings, etc). Those all have far more means to draw upon than a commoner, thus increasing the price to what the dealer can get the customers to pay. Remember that the price is a mixed (and usually convoluted) factor that includes cost, supply/demand, availability, general worth, target customer, and a whole lot more. Most merchants and folks know most of this, but a lot of it happens naturally within the economic system. The game prices may very well be skewed (I haven't really compared them with prices common to medieval days, and I probably never will), but the truth is that prices would actually change for every town you come across. It says right in the PHB that the prices are only for reference and not set in stone. I never charge the PHB price for anything. I usually try to figure out how many fletchers would be in an area (things like nearby forests and the availability of good feathers could play a roll) before setting a price for arrows (usually made up on the fly, but it works), and then have the merchant ask a price well above what he's willing to settle on for them. The haggling is fun, and it's a good way to get some use out of Sense Motive, Bluff, and Diplomacy. Of course if I'm in a hurry to get to another scene, I'll be far more kind in my price setting. :) [/QUOTE]
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