Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5368657" data-attributes="member: 92511">For me, the finding/trading of magic items is completely location dependent.As noted by others, magic and magic items are a commodity. So there are those who specialize in the making, distribution and sale of those goods. WHAT kind of goods and how "easy" it is for a party to find them is another matter...and as astutely pointed out by Saeviomagy, how easy it is for them to find exactly what they want is another matter entirely.Where the use of magic is more common and the locale is closer to those areas (cost for distribution is reduced) items will be easier to find and potentially cheaper (for low level/common items) when found. For example, the western kingdom of my realm is more divine magic- oriented. There are wizards and magicians around, but barring a few well known exceptions, the clerics and temples are where the real power are.The nation of arcane mages and large elvish realm, where most magic item crafting takes place, are more in the east. Can you find a magic item shop(s) in the large trading hub cities? Yes, absolutely you can. In the case of Brightmoon and Bluside, it is also possible you will be able to find just about ANYthing you're looking for "for sale" (barring artifacts or very very powerful items). But you sure as hades are going to pay double what you'd pay in the major trading cities on the east coast. As for actual magic item "dealers" or "shops", I generally break that down by population. (Note: This is simply speaking to the availability of "arcane-type" magic items. The placement and availability of temples offering divine potions, scrolls or services, like resurrection, is an entirely different matter.) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">MOST villages of any significant size (say...over 150 people?) are going to have a local wise woman/man, herbalist, maybe even apothecary shop. These people are there and make their living off the well being of the farming/rural community of which they are a part. So available potions will venture more towards the CLW and Neutralize poison variety. Depending on the knowledge and skill of the potion-maker, maybe a few other "physical-oriented" potions are kept in stock (speed, strength, maybe a special batch of Cure Moderate or Serious wounds for emergencies). There's always the chance, if you're looking for something specific, the potion-maker would know how to make it for you...given time, money, and if you just retrieved this certain ingredient for her... </li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Towns would certainly have a specific potions and/or magic supply shop. The selection of potions here will be broader, though still not too powerful (say 3rd level spell equivalents). Given the owner is almost certainly a mage or has access to one locally, some simple wands, a few scrolls perhaps (if he doesn't have them readily for sale, he'd be willing to scribe some up for you for a price.), maybe rings or amulets of resistance or protection. In a larger town, maybe some minor-enchanted weaponry or the odd "more powerful" item that's come through/found its way to his shop.</li> </ul>Regardless of number and power of magic items, these shops also supply your mundane assortment of necessary herbs, spell components, candles, incense, vials, and general equipment needed for magical research. What he doesn't have in store, he probably has a contact for it in 5-7 days or knows where it can be obtained.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Smaller cities will basically have the same resources as the town, plus a few more options and possibility to find more unusual items. Maybe there is someone who specializes in enchanted weaponry, two or three alchemists in competition with each other for the potion market, and the store owned and operated by the mage's guild where (by city law) all scrolls, wands and other assorted items may be purchased...but perhaps you can find a merchant who perhaps happens to know where you can perhaps find a certain item as a very reasonable price.   </li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The larger cities of the continent: Andril, Threeways, Brightmoon and Bluside (as well as Ablidon and Flin in the magelands of R'Hath) have very large marketplaces with goods from all across the continent. This includes magic items. Again, number of vendors and availability and levels of power of items will be greater than anywhere else. Can you walk in and find a staff of the magi or a +5 sword...proooobably not. But if you make the right connections or happen to be in the right place at the right time...one never knows, do one.<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devil.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":devil:" title="Devil    :devil:" data-shortname=":devil:" /> </li> </ul>Throughout the world there is the occasional personality, like Zarachius Jasper (a gnome illusionist/dealer in magic items with a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time), wandering the realms with his cart of Wondrous Wares for the discerning buyer.As previously mentioned, availability in all levels of population is more sparce (outside of major cities) the further west you are. In any of these options cursed or faulty (or downright fake) items are definitely in the mix.--SD</blockquote>

Verification