Unearthed Arcana Why UA Psionics are never going to work in 5e.

[Paul Farquhar]

Yeah, but there might be a reason why those ancient magical empires are not current magical empires.

Actually... that's an interesting wrinkle to Eberron... What if it's basically taking place in the "ancient magical empire" that a lot of other worlds have and is close to the cataclysm that would result in the current state of most D&D worlds...

That's my feeling about Eberron. It's worth noting that the setting is fixed in time. I would suggest that this is because the setup is unsustainable. The white heat of magical technology is rushing Eberron towards catastrophe.

 

[Maxperson]

No, that's not how economics works.

A certain amount of wealth* is generated. You can use that wealth to train 10 wizards or 1000 peasants. If you spend it all on wizards the wizards will all die because there is no food. If you spend it all on peasants then they will all die because without wizards dragons will come and eat them all. So you need to balance the production of wizards and peasants.

And that's not how D&D works. There's an infinite amount of wealth in tombs, on monsters(those dragons you mention), etc. Wealth generated through normal economic means is only part of how wealth comes into the economy in D&D.

*wealth is not the same as money. It is a combination of money, time and expertise. Merchants do not usually become wizards because they do not have time to study, because they are to busy making money.

We know this premise to be false by the huge number of wizard classed merchants in official products released over the years. They do indeed have time to both study as wizards and make money.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

And that's not how D&D works. There's an infinite amount of wealth in tombs, on monsters(those dragons you mention), etc. Wealth generated through normal economic means is only part of how wealth comes into the economy in D&D.

what

 

[Paul Farquhar]

And that's not how D&D works. There's an infinite amount of wealth in tombs, on monsters(those dragons you mention), etc. Wealth generated through normal economic means is only part of how wealth comes into the economy in D&D.

I thought you wanted your D&D world to follow some kind of "believable logic"!

Clearly, there cannot be "infinite" wealth in tombs - the idea is patently ridiculous!

And what wealth is in tombs must have bean previously created by earlier economic activity. And I have never seen adventures hauling sacks of time out of tombs.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

And what wealth is in tombs must have bean previously created by earlier economic activity. And I have never seen adventures hauling sacks of time out of tombs.

It's a helluva treasure to go adventuring for though, you gotta admit.

 

[Maxperson]

I thought you wanted your D&D world to follow some kind of "believable logic"!

I'm not looking for it to mirror reality. Just be a bit more realistic than D&D's base level.

And what wealth is in tombs must have bean previously created by earlier economic activity. And I have never seen adventures hauling sacks of time out of tombs.

Remember those dead and ancient wizard empires?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm not looking for it to mirror reality. Just be a bit more realistic than D&D's base level.

There is no level of fantasy that can create infinite wealth in infinite tombs. It's utter stupidity.

Remember those dead and ancient wizard empires?

Who generated wealth through economic activity.

 

[Maxperson]

There is no level of fantasy that can create infinite wealth in infinite tombs. It's utter stupidity.

Relax man. I'm just saying that adventurers are constantly finding it, but it hasn't and won't run out. There's always more to find. Since you've been playing D&D, how many times has the DM said, "Sorry guys. There's nothing left for you to find out there."?

There's plenty to pay the wizards with. Is it infinite? Nope. Does that matter? Also nope.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

Relax man. I'm just saying that adventurers are constantly finding it, but it hasn't and won't run out. There's always more to find. Since you've been playing D&D, how many times has the DM said, "Sorry guys. There's nothing left for you to find out there."?

There's plenty to pay the wizards with.

I know economics can be confusing, but it's not freakin' quantum physics.

 

[Maxperson]

I know economics can be confusing, but it's not freakin' quantum physics.

D&D "economics" is not real world economics. There is ALWAYS more out there to find by adventurers.