D&D General Elephants are cheaper than Warhorses

[MGibster]

As for economics, Gygax stated long ago in 1E the prices were "gold rush" levels anyway and because of tradition the costs have barely been touched over the years as the editions have rolled along (I think item weight has seen more revisions than prices).

That's how I treat it. Those are adventurer prices and regular folk don't typically pay that amount for regular goods. Adventurers are typically young (for their species) individuals in the prime of their lives who risk said lives on a regular basis. They're winning and losing fortunes every month and they're probably not going to fret over the cost of some ale or the price of a common laborer for a day.

 

[Xeviat]

Here's an economics question; Would you pay ten bucks for a product that would correct D&D's economy???

I'm listening.

 

[bedir than]

they're probably not going to fret over the cost of some ale or the price of a common laborer for a day.

there are two types of adventurer
1 - here's 10 gold for my peasant dinner
2 - no, I'm not paying 3 silver for this ale

both have at least 100 gold to their name

 

[Tonguez]

A Riding Horse cost 75gp a Warhorse cost 5 times that at 400gp
A Riding Elephant cost 200 so a War Elephant should cost 1000gp
then add 1000 barding and 1000 for a Howdah - thats 3000gp for an Armoured War Elephant

 

[MGibster]

And I just found out Charlemagne had at least one war elephant when he went to fight the Danes. I can scarcely imagine being charged by a large horse but can you imagine staring into the eyes of an elephant as it charges towards your formation? Of course by D&D rules if my poor, peasant conscript survives the 3d8+6 piercing damage from the gore attach he only needs to make a DC 12 Strength check to remain standing.

1 - here's 10 gold for my peasant dinner
2 - no, I'm not paying 3 silver for this ale

I once had a "I'm not sleeping in an inn, I'll camp outside of town" player. For some reason he was really, really attached to his fictional gold. I'm the type of player who says to the GM, "I'm just going to erase 500 gp from my character sheet and live like a rock star while we're here, is that cool?"

 

[MarkB]

That's without even starting on the troll-meat economy.

That and hydra heads.

326 Getting Ahead in Business - Giant in the Playground Games

 

[GrimCo]

Same. After level 3-4, when fighter gets his full plate (and in earlier editions, party buys at least one wand of CLW), gold becomes superfluous, specially in 5e, since there is no magic market. At least in past editions, we saved up for enchanting items, buying more powerful magic items, saving up for that leech or graveknight template (100k for first, 25+ k for second). In 5e campaigns, we stopped counting every gold coin long time ago. It's just assumed PCs have enough money to live comfortable lives.

 

[Horwath]

Same. After level 3-4, when fighter gets his full plate (and in earlier editions, party buys at least one wand of CLW), gold becomes superfluous, specially in 5e, since there is no magic market. At least in past editions, we saved up for enchanting items, buying more powerful magic items, saving up for that leech or graveknight template (100k for first, 25+ k for second). In 5e campaigns, we stopped counting every gold coin long time ago. It's just assumed PCs have enough money to live comfortable lives.

yeah, in 5E without some kind of fixed and BALANCED magic item prices, there is not much use for gold except hauling 500+ healing potions so you do not have problems with low health.

 

[MichaelSomething]

I'm listening.

Funny enough, i did pay 10 bucks for something like that. It's interesting read, and best of all, it's system and edition neutral.

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

I paid $30 for A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe back in the 3E days. Worth every penny, as it made 3E's janky economics make sense and serve as the basis for a recognizably medieval society. It was a bit like killing a cockroach with an atom bomb, but it was a good tool to set up my campaign initially.

 

[Li Shenron]

D&D economics are silly.

Because RL economics are sooo smart?