How do you handle jewelry and valuable art as a GM?

[Edgar Ironpelt]

I'm satisfied with how I handle gems as a GM, harking back to this recent thread. But I've been wrestling with handling jewelry and artworks and finding that a tougher problem.

Issue the first is that the size varies much much more for jewelry than for gems: Gems are about the weight of a coin, give or take an order of magnitude. Wearable jewelry ranges from less than a coin in weight (small earrings) to multiple pounds. For artwork not intended to be worn, weights can go from a couple of ounces for a little statuette up to tens and hundreds and even thousands of pounds. Tons for really colossal pieces. Even if you limit things to 'lootable' art that doesn't require special measures to carry off, that still put the top in the tens of pounds (possibly a couple hundred pounds, depending on how tightly you define 'special measures to carry off').

Issue the second is a need to figure both the material and the artistic values of the piece of jewelry or art. The material value - the value of the gems when pried off and the precious metals when melted down - is relatively simple. Figuring a 'reasonable' range for artistic values I'm finding to be more of a puzzle.

So: Do you figure weights and values for jewelry and art pieces ad-hoc by hand-waving? Or do you have some sort of system? I'm interested in systems, particularly those that don't make a hash where the 'artistic' value is negative. I really want the minimum value to be the value of the gem and precious metal components.

Thoughts?

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

I have a strict cash-or-pizza-only standard for GM bribery at my tables. Other offers are just too hard to deal with.

What? Oh, you meant in-game? Ah...well, yeah, set minimum value at the materials alone if they're even recoverable, eg the marble in a statue is generally not, but bronze might be if there's a demand for it. Then add a largely unrelated sum for the value added through craftsmanship/artistry. Bigger is not necessarily better here, but working in more difficult materials might be, rarity certainly is unless it's easily forged, the artist involved could be a huge factor (especially if they're dead and staying that way, so no new material will enter the market). Provenance is a big deal to collectors, but not all art is collectable at first, and often never becomes so. If your buyer has a personal connection to a piece of art (eg it's a family heirloom) that changes the value too.

For me all that's done ad hoc, but I'm 100% certain digging through the endless 3PP content on DTRPG will turn up books of charts and procedural systems for creating artwork. Much of it will be utter garbage following Sturgeon's Law, but there's bound to be some pearls among the offal.

 

[Theory of Games]

Do you figure weights and values for jewelry and art pieces ad-hoc by hand-waving? Or do you have some sort of system?

Nope. Why would I? Which ttrpg are we using?

 

[Jd Smith1]

So: Do you figure weights and values for jewelry and art pieces ad-hoc by hand-waving? Or do you have some sort of system? I'm interested in systems, particularly those that don't make a hash where the 'artistic' value is negative. I really want the minimum value to be the value of the gem and precious metal components.

Jewelry, unless it is something really of unusual size, won't weigh more than a few grams, so weight is not an issue. As to value, I list a value in the notes, but require a 'Appraise' roll, and if the roll is failed, I give the group a reduced price for its value.

Artwork is similar, but its weight is fairly obvious; what's more important, is bulk and toughness. A carved elephant tusk is going to be a real b@stard to haul along; likewise a dozen costly antique (and breakable) vases. Appraise rolls are likewise required.

Moreover, gems, jewelry, and artwork can only be converted to cash in major cities.

 

[kigmatzomat]

My approach is that most jewelery is fundamentally valued based on material content plus a relatively small amount for labor (10% or less).

Some of this is from my assumption of "spec" artisans for expensive things, where the buyer provides the funds for the materials as part of the contract. The ornateness comes down to how much effort the buyer wants the artisan to spend. And at least in my worlds, its rarely more than the bare minimum unless someone needs a foundation for a magic item.

Only the cheapest jewlery is kept in stock to reduce risk of theft. That stuff is made in bulk using simple techniques and cheaper materials like copper and silver.

 

[Koloth]

What I have learned after many years of watching shows like Antiques Roadshow, is that Artworks are worth what the next buyer is willing to pay. One painting is worth $20, the next $200,000. Both look similar to my eye. Gives you as GM a wide latitude in providing the party with cash. Weight and bulk are also variable. Solid vs hollow. Lead vs Aluminum. 3 ft square woven tapestry vs 20 ft square woven carpet.

Unless there is something really special about jewelry, value tends to be fairly related to the value of the materials used in the making.

If you decide to mention that a place has artworks, be prepared for the party or some in the party to spend great amount of time and effort carrying the loot off. Even to the point of abandoning whatever quest they were on. Seen it happen more then once. Some want it for the value, others as a trophy to put in their stronghold.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

I have a degree on the side in art history, and would love to geek deep into the subject as GM. My players though are uncultivated barbarians, so I just handwave and move on

 

[haakon1]

I handwave it. I think the value is in the artistry, not the materials, for artwork. And for jewelry, mostly the same.

In selling goods, I generally do everything like “Pawn Stars”, so the normal deal is 60% of the predicted retail value, if there’s a market for what is being sold. Normally PC’s deal with a trusted dealer, and if they become allies, they might get up to 70% in cash, or trade value.

The Mages Guild regulates the sale of magic items and enforces strict retail prices at approved dealers - who gain the the benefit of protection by following the rules and paying fees.

 

[bloodtide]

In general I go with the light touch for most games. PCs often only even take jewerly or art to pay NPCs or use for sacrifices or such.
the two ton gold dragon statue....my PCs will just leave it or give it to the baron ("we killed all the drow, just go pick it up")

 

[aramis erak]

Jewelry, unless it is something really of unusual size, won't weigh more than a few grams, so weight is not an issue. As to value, I list a value in the notes, but require a 'Appraise' roll, and if the roll is failed, I give the group a reduced price for its value.

A typical circlet is a pound or two. Fancy ones can be up to 6 lb; the coronation crown (St Edward's Crown) of england is about 4.9 lb (2.23kg). Queen Elisabeth's Imperial State Crown, when jeweled was 2.3 lb (1.03kg).

The lighter end is about 1/4 lb of filigree wirework

The Silver Crowns of the SCA's West Kingdom are likewise well over a pound of sterling, without any jewels. The sovereign's is a bit heavier than the consorts.

Many royal jewels worldwide have single stones in the 15+ gram range, and often secondaries in the 5+ gram range, in settings of silver, brass, or bronze, and rarely, in gold. The English State Crown as a 31g main stone...

A typical viking style torc, done in copper, is from 100 to 300 grams,
here's a thin one from a UK replicator: Silver Viking Torc
125 grams (link is not endorsement, but for information cite.)

I used to have a 2oz thor's hammer pendant. 56 g. It was a lead/silver/tin pewter.

I have an ex GF who wears a full pound of gold on her wrists many days. That's not as much as one might think, given it's dense as hell...

A brass cuff with a jewel in the 10g range is about 1/5 lb.