DnD Industrial Revolution

[Angel Tarragon]

In a campaign where mass production is a reality, what items do you think would be mass produced and should the cost of such items be handled? What should the cost of a newspaper be in a campaign where the printing press is a reality? Armor I know, can not be mass produced, but what about weapons?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

How would the wake of industry affect the bard and dwarves? Would it be unfeasible to transform the bard into a Noble?

 

[Bront]

Dwarves would still be saught after (Think Amish Furnature, but with dwarves and metalcrafting). Bards too, just in a different way (more entertainment stars, but you still get stand up comedians and street performers today).

I have a noble class I've been working on that you can use if you wish. It's in the house rules forum somewhere.

Weapons can be mass produced, and that would likely cut the price almost in half. Masterwork items would have to be hand made most likely though, so would still cost the same amount.

Rarer items might cost a bit more, like strength bows, which might be only 25% less expensive (Or maybe only 75% less on the strength part, so 50% base + 75% str cost.).

Some common clothing and tools might be cheaper as well.

However, also keep in mind that unless mass production is not only prevelant, but easy to deliver, not all mass produced items will be available everywhere (Think Wild West and pre rail-road in the area). So prices may differ from town to town depending on how close a mass production facility is. (Would gradualy get more expensive as the distance increased till it's back up to the same cost as home made (and likely is).

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I'm thinking of having about 3 or 4 cities that have an industrial core scattered across the continent (2 that are coastal) and that implement an arcane-type delivery and postal system. Very small and out of the way hamlets and thorps would probably be like western frontier towns. All other established settlement would have instataneous arcane portals for transit between them.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Another idea I'm tinkering with is the ability to send and receive audio and video continentally through arcane means. I'm thinking of like TV, telephones and radios here. Scry screens for watching a/v broadcasts, and something like a thick wand for sending and receiving audio. A permit would most likely be needed for non-governmental broadcasting of entertainment types. I don't want this to get too silly.

Thoughts?

 

[Bront]

"You're watching MBC, the Magical Broadcasting Chanel"

I'd make it somewhat rare. Consider to make effects permanent mages tend to have to give up experience, unless you don't play that way. So, mass production of magical portals, or A/V equipment could be an issue.

If you want a good example of some of this, look at Eberron. They built a magical rail system using available elements that required some enchantment, but were already magical by their own right. But they aren't everywhere, and only a few actualy have access to them.

However, do what you want, and make it fun. Doesn't always have to be realistic.

 

[Anabstercorian]

Another idea I'm tinkering with is the ability to send and receive audio and video continentally through arcane means. I'm thinking of like TV, telephones and radios here. Scry screens for watching a/v broadcasts, and something like a thick wand for sending and receiving audio. A permit would most likely be needed for non-governmental broadcasting of entertainment types. I don't want this to get too silly.

Thoughts?

Because of the expense of creating such a potent arcane device, they should not by any means be something that lies in every home, not even every noble home. They would be public forums, placed in public places, built to last and be big. Instead of a hundred televisions, one MegaVision. If you want have the feel that magic is a scary, unpredictable force in your campaign, have it kill or warp someone about once a year through stray energies. Naturally, ones used by the kings men would be smaller, more convenient, and more reliable.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

bump.

 

[Cerbie]

In a campaign where mass production is a reality, what items do you think would be mass produced and should the cost of such items be handled? What should the cost of a newspaper be in a campaign where the printing press is a reality? Armor I know, can not be mass produced, but what about weapons?

Firearms would be easy to come by. Crappy swords, as well. If it's not too long after an industrial revolution, though, the quality and quantity would vary wildly. Individual craftsmen would have an edge in popularity, if not price. Anyone could get a cheap pistol, but even with mass-production, not everyone could get a Peacemaker.

A newspaper would be less than a beer, but the cost would likely vary; however, the quality and truthfulness might vary, too. Printers were known for being competitive in reality, to point of libel.

How would the wake of industry affect the bard and dwarves? Would it be unfeasible to transform the bard into a Noble?

For dwarves, I don't think much would change...unless, um, you wanted to use a mine. Actual battles over mines would be probable, IMO. Dwarves and elves would both, if following stereotypes, be likely to craft excellent weapons, including firearms. In fact, I wouldn't call it out of the question to offer some kind of extra handling and/or safety features for them.

As for the bard, it depends on what you wish to emulate. I'll assume the sort of esoteric types that certainly inspired the main PHB class. For major news, the bard's usefulness would be almost nothing. For lore, though, it would remain. Social history and ancient secrets hidden in a dance number will never get old. The thing that separates a bard from a normal performer is responsibility and purpose, and that's before you get D&D magic and such involved. It wouldn't be out of the question to use a bard prestige class, if just due to rarity.

Anabstercorian managed to take care of any thoughts I'd have on the a/v units.

 

[Shades of Green]

In my campaign world the Dwarves began and lead the industrial revolution; their original affinity with metalworking and machines gave rise to the steam engine (which is still relatively primitive), the locomotive, the steamship and the flintlock. Most of the workforce in the Humano-Dwarven empire is, ofcourse, Human, due to demographic reasons. Most Dwarves involved with the new industries are engineers, inventors or factory owners; others prefer to stick to the older ways and create masterwork goods.

My campaign, however, centers around Renya, which is a swampy frontier area. The Humano-Dwarven Empire has several colonies along the Renyan coast, but the deeper mainland is wilder, and even the colonies lag behind the Homeland in technology. So in the colonies prices of most mass-produced items will be cheap (60% of PHB?), but quality will be low, and deeper into the Renya Swamps things won't be as modern.