If you use Gemerator, view this (Discussion on Gem Management too!)

[Kealios]

I made a quick Excel spreadsheet to help put together gems from the Gemerator. It also includes a size-determiner (for the actual width of the gem) as well as an Appraise DC calculator. This should be ok to post, I hope, since it does require the product to use.

Speaking of Appraise, how do you DM's deal with handing out gems?

For example:
Your players find a stockpile that has 9 gems in it. You tell them super-quick descriptions (a big red one, a small green one, etc) until the Appraiser in the group spends his 1 minute per gem to figure out what they are.

At that point, you tell them about the types of stones they are and their worth, based on how accurate the Appraisal roll was.

But what do you do if the Appraise roll is wrong, and how do you keep track of the gems between when they are handed out as loot and when they are used as money?

If a gem is worth 1000 gp, but the player mis-identifies it and you tell him it's worth 800 gp, he is going to write down "800 gp gem" on his player sheet. He will then walk into a shop somewhere and plop down the gem and expect 800 gp. Then he becomes pleasantly surprised when the shop owner correctly identifies the gem and the player is given 1000 gp. One problem--you handed the gem out two months ago, and the players are just now getting into town.

How do you solve this?

Currently, I have been writting down gems on a "Master Sheet" and trying to put labels on the gems. The "large red crystal" the players havent identified is a 1000-gp ruby, and its got a label (like "918a, which might be the month and day it was found, and its the first in the list of that day's gems). Later, when the player goes to use it, he announces he is going to spend "Gem 918a". I look it up on the chart (maybe 3 pages ago? Huoh!) and then scratch it off the list?

Too hard? Too detailed, or too much of a hassle? Not detailed enough?

Weigh in on this topic!
Thanks,
Kealios

 

[wingsandsword]

How have I dealt with the issue in my games?

I simplified the Appraise skill, if you make the appraise skill check, you get the value of the gem as it was originally determined. If you fail it by less than 10, you at least realize the rough value of the gem (the order of magnitude), and when it's identified later the exact value is redetermined rather than getting the original value. If you fail it by more than 10, you just get a simple description (color & shape), and the value is completely redetermined when it's appraised.

Since the PC's don't know the value of the gem one way or the other, it's not like it is really gaining or losing value until it's identified.

It simplifies the DM from having some complex look-up code for gem values, and the PC's from having to metagame to act like they don't know the value of the gems they found. It also prevents appraise from being utterly useless (if you just tell PC's the value of everything because you don't want to deal with the paperwork if they botch the appraise check).

It's kind of like Schodinger's Cat Gem, the gem may or may not have value until it's properly appraised

 

[ThirdWizard]

I have never had a PC try to appraise a gem. Coincidently, I have never had a PC try to sell a gem, for fear of being cheated. It's a vicous cycle. Or something.

 

[Kealios]

I have never had a PC try to appraise a gem. Coincidently, I have never had a PC try to sell a gem, for fear of being cheated. It's a vicous cycle. Or something.

LOL...thanks for that. Not exactly an answer to my dilemma

No one else has any issues with this? Am I just trying to be too detailed?

Kealios

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

If a gem is worth 1000 gp, but the player mis-identifies it and you tell him it's worth 800 gp, he is going to write down "800 gp gem" on his player sheet. He will then walk into a shop somewhere and plop down the gem and expect 800 gp. Then he becomes pleasantly surprised when the shop owner correctly identifies the gem and the player is given 1000 gp. One problem--you handed the gem out two months ago, and the players are just now getting into town.

1) In my experience, most people just assume that they go to town and sell their loot for the price they wrote down- unless the selling of loot is roleplayed. (See 2)

2) Role Play the situation.

If the player just goes "I'd like 800gp for this gem" unless the jeweler is a buddy of his, he'll get 800gp for it and be happy.

If he goes "I'd like to sell this" the merchant (assuming no prior positive relationship) will probably try to buy it for less than 1000gp...significantly less. If the player then counters "I know its worth more" or tells him the value HE appraised it for, the merchant will either buy the stone or continue haggling, or possibly, toss the PC out of the store for insulting him.

Only if someone corrects the incorrect PC's valuation should the PCs get the full value of the stone after a misappraisal, and someone trying to BUY it usually has no such impulse.

For the record, I handle magic items the same way. Misidentify it? Tough luck!

BTW, if you're REALLY into gemstones, may I suggest Walter Schumann's "Gemstones of the World." Encyclopedic in breadth and depth, its dang near indespensible. At $25, it sure ought to be.

As for your ledger- its just a form of inventory keeping.

 

[Crothian]

Here's my soulution for gems. I write down wat is id worth, and then if they appraise it I write doew what they appraised it at and that is the value the PCs write down. Then if the sale it either they get what its worth or a little less, but they so far choose to go to more respectible dealers in gems so they don't get ripped off. But even if they do, it's only money.

 

[ThirdWizard]

What if they only appraised it when attempting to sell the gem? That would get rid of a lot of record keeping. They could just keep it in their notes as "black spinel," "diamond," or whatever until they get to the merchant. Then you could have them roll appraise checks for the exact amount they think its worth.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I usually tell them the correct amount unless they fail their appraisal horribly.
If they do fail it I tell them there is a nick in it or crack and they cannot come up with a good appraisal.
Then later when they sell it I just look up my notes to see what they should get for it.
I dont hand out a lot of gems so this usually isnt an issue.