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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Solarious" data-source="post: 3197466" data-attributes="member: 27346">If you want to run a game where the Dragonmarked Houses are cyberpunk multinationals, then the Aurum is antagonist organization for you. They're the guys who think Khorvaire should be run as an plutocracy: the rich (capable, competent, and optionally ruthless) rule. They feel that the kings and queens of old are nice: good figureheads, but that's all they should be. There are many members of Dragonmarked Houses in their ranks, and there is even a 'Shadow Cabinet' that is the true sinister face behind the platinum concords.The real threat in these campaigns are the people with... 'ideas' getting into power in the percisely wrong places at the worst times possible. The matriarchs and patriarchs of the present (mostly) are concentrated on the 'old' ideas of simply maintaining their specialities' economic superiority and advancing the interests of the house (basicly earning money), but that could change if new, impressionable members of the house were to get a sudden leg up... or if their superiors/compeditors were suddenly be cut a few size catagories down, if you know what I mean.However, it's an illusion that Dragonmarked Houses don't compete. Look at House Cannith: they were producing Warforged as supplemental troops, which clearly steps on the toes of House Deneith. House Tharashk also deals in monsterous mercenaries from Dorram, which is also bad news for Deneith. Vadalis Magebred guardians are also a vector for competition in the bodyguard business.Lyrander competes directly with Orien in transportation. Medani Inquisitives and Tharashk Trackers have overlapping interests. Cannith and Kundarak butt heads behind the scenes in personal security. Phiarlan and Thuranni are obviously working against each other, and they directly conflict with the goals of Deneith and Medani.As for the halfling houses, Jorasco and Ghallanda, they aren't really glamourous businesses that are easily replicatable, but they need to work to maintain their advantages. Little competition to speak of, but also not exactly room for serious breakthroughs either.And Sivis.... well, gnomes are gnomes. They know how to snuff out competition in their chosen vector without a whisper.The moral of the story? If you're Small, then you have a superior position in industries over your taller counterparts.Least Marks give spells of around 0th to 2nd level, Lesser 3rd to 4th, maybe 5th, and Greater grants spells of 6th and 7th level, while the legendary Siberys marks generate something into the 8th to 9th level reigons.Also, Dragonmarks also let you 'break the rules', as it were, at least in magical items in a narrow range. If you consider the Dragonmarked Focus items in the ECS, they are severly undercosted and also come with abilities you really can't get any other way. Unlimited Whispering Wind with 10 times the speed and unlimited range? And it only costs 10k gold? That's crazy talk! Not even bumping up the caster level on a regular, unlimited use wonderous item of Whispering Wind to 20 gives you this kind of power on communication.</blockquote>

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