Thels said:
Haggling is okay. You could get a variable return for your items. I'm just saying that anything you sell without investing time to look for an interested buyer is probably gonna put you off with 50% of the market value, since you sell it to some trader, not someone who needs it.
Here is what I just sent CS, waiting on his suggestions.
You can either take half the value of an item or try your hand at Trade/Haggling. A player's Haggling (Prof-Trader) is compared to it, with various DCs/results giving differing values. This should be rolled by the Judge governing the game.
That way an item might bring half, full, perhaps even more than market if there is a desire for it and a lack of items of it's nature. The Judge can assign a modifier based on the availability of items of it's nature and/or the skill of the Trader buying the item. This is a rough draft...
HAGGLING CHART
1-5: Not only are the merchants unwilling to buy your item, but you may not attempt to sell it again for a week's time, as you garnered a rather bad name as a Trader, due to your brusk and rude manner.
6-10: 25% Market Value: Your poor trading got you far less than you wanted, you should have taken their original offer.
11-15: 50% Market Value. this is what any sensible merchant expects to pay for things, and his sense wonout over your silver-tongue.
16-20: 75% Market Value. Congratulations, you know when to keep your mouth shut and when to point out the positive features of an item.
21-25: 100% Market Value. Now then,the Merchants could learn a thing or two from you.
Perhaps you are in the wrong Trade,friend...
26-30:125% Market Value. They never knew what hit them.
31-35:150% Market Value. You just made the deal of the century.
36+: 200% Market Value. They should have payed you what you asked for the first time.
Example: Rolgrad has a +1 Short Spear that he wishes to sell, as well as a Potion of Resist Elements 10 (Cold), and a Ring of Protectin +1(he already hasa +2 Ring).
The Judge deems that the spear is a common enought item,no Mod.
the potion is less useful, as Rolgrad is currently in a desert climate, and buyers are less likely to need such a Potion (-2 to roll). The Ring is a highly desired item, as it benefits pretty much everyone who might come across it (+3 to roll).
The Judge checks (Using Rolgrad's Trade skill:+6)
Result for the Spear Skill6+roll12=18.75% value gained for the Short Spear (1726GP)
Result for the Potion Skill6,minus2,+roll6 =10. Sure enough, the potion only garnered a quarter value (75GP).
result for the Ring Skill6+3Mod,+12 Roll= 21.(2,000GP gained).
All in all, Rolgrad gained 3801GP for items listing at 4601 GP.
If you don't like an offer, you can wait for a better one, though you gain a cumulative -1 Mod each time you turn an offer down, as word gets around about your trading practices.
You can always just put the item up on the Trading Post and hope that another PC wants it and will pay more than half, ortrade something good for it.
All-in-all, I think it works quite well.
I am more than willing to roll all trade transactions, btw, so if other Judges don't want to, I am available.
The case of PCs using Magic to affect this (Charm person,suggestion.whatever) arrises, though such practices would eventually get around and the appropriate folks would most likelt pay a visit (a less than pleasant one) to the offending party.
