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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gizmo33" data-source="post: 4223114" data-attributes="member: 30001">If by "medieval" you mean that the implied setting of DnD is historical medieval Europe than I would disagree, and list a number of obvious differences, let's say elves (or, of more obvious relevance, the mercane).  These differences IMO are substantial and would impact even this particular aspect of the campaign world.  Another problem that I see with using Medieval Europe is that many of the commodity prices, as well as standards of living, are anything but historical.  Compare the wages of a laborer, the value of a knights fee, and the equivalent numbers in 3E DnD, say for instance the monthly expense for "wealthy" status, and I think you might find that historical values are of little use in making sense out of DnD (at least prior versions).  "Moderately rich" people in DnD are *way* richer than IRL AFAICT.Also, as you say, you can consider elements of (not even in their entirety) Renaissance Europe and the Roman Empire.  I see no logical reason to exclude Arab or Chinese society from the period either.  Again, picking and choosing those elements that you want from whatever society.  3E DnD assumed a pretty high degree of literacy (all but barbarians, IIRC) among the PCs.  Anything but "Medieval" AFAICT.Your calculations for the market size of a metropolitan area seem to include only persons who live within the walls of the city itself (or maybe including the immediate area), which IMO is forgetting a huge number of persons who would actually buy and sell within the city.  Also, you assume that the state itself, and the private armies maintained by merchants, etc. would not be customers for a +1 sword.  I think customers of the +1 sword would not be just adventurers.I would expect that "scruffy adventurers" would be the best people to buy magic items from.  "Volo" is probably a little too educated about the value of his wares for a fellow merchant to see much use in dealing with him.  Any competent dealer in magic items, like those who deal IRL in gems and metals, isn't going to simply rely on the reputation of the seller.  A scruffy adventurer would be a nice place to make a few extra gp, though I think he might try to buy and item for 20% of it's price, such a swindle might not be the average result.The PCs aren't merchants, but many of them have very high diplomacy scores, and the old prejudice of assuming that all PCs are monster-bashing thugs IMO doesn't suit well a game that makes it possible to play other types of characters.  There's no reason to stick all PCs throughout the game with results that would even arguably be suitable only for the most anti-social and naive adventurer. The only precedence I see for a x5 mark-up historically would be the spice trade (other than very local market fluctuations, etc. which are irrelevant IMO for determining general characteristics).  IMO are there are a number of differences between the spice trade and magic item trade that makes it not helpful.  Basically, making a 500% profit on a magic item, given the huge amounts of money involved, and considering the even inflated costs of living standard for what 3E DnD says was a wealthy person, it's hard to see why groups of merchants aren't accosting adventurers at the gates of every city.  Think about it - buy a 10,000 gp item for 2,000 gp and make 8,000+ gp profit!?  So it takes you all month to sell it, boo hoo!  8,000 gp is an awesome amount of money for even an entire year's work if the monthly living expenses are any guide.</blockquote>

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