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<blockquote data-quote="KidSnide" data-source="post: 4269258" data-attributes="member: 54710">The 20% rule makes a lot of sense in a world where adventurers are not that common.I always figured that most magic items were &quot;made to order&quot;, which is why they cost 20-40% over their material cost.&nbsp; After all, in the real world, clothing, weapons and armor was all made to order.&nbsp; It would be strange to find a suit of chainmail hanging in some armor-markers workshop unless it was being made for someone.&nbsp; It's not like there would be department stores (or - really - stores of any kind) in a typical D&amp;D economy.&nbsp; You just find the relevant craftsman and commission what you want.&nbsp; As such, there isn't a big stock of magic items lying around.&nbsp; Either someone who wants one is using it, or someone who makes magic items has turned into more useful residium.&nbsp; Also, not many items are bought or sold.&nbsp; Adventurers are unusual in that they level up enough and find enough new magic items that they try to &quot;trade up&quot; by selling old magic items to buy new ones.That's why the default price for magic items is their value as raw materials.&nbsp; You're not trying to find someone who would use the magic item; you're selling it to someone can carve it up.&nbsp; Of course, some merchants might try to find other warriors or spellcasters (adventurers or not) who need the items, but that's pretty complicated -- and in any case the merchant's risk -- so D&amp;D makes the simplifying assumption that they buy from adventurers at about the same price.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="KidSnide, post: 4269258, member: 54710"] The 20% rule makes a lot of sense in a world where adventurers are not that common. I always figured that most magic items were "made to order", which is why they cost 20-40% over their material cost. After all, in the real world, clothing, weapons and armor was all made to order. It would be strange to find a suit of chainmail hanging in some armor-markers workshop unless it was being made for someone. It's not like there would be department stores (or - really - stores of any kind) in a typical D&D economy. You just find the relevant craftsman and commission what you want. As such, there isn't a big stock of magic items lying around. Either someone who wants one is using it, or someone who makes magic items has turned into more useful residium. Also, not many items are bought or sold. Adventurers are unusual in that they level up enough and find enough new magic items that they try to "trade up" by selling old magic items to buy new ones. That's why the default price for magic items is their value as raw materials. You're not trying to find someone who would use the magic item; you're selling it to someone can carve it up. Of course, some merchants might try to find other warriors or spellcasters (adventurers or not) who need the items, but that's pretty complicated -- and in any case the merchant's risk -- so D&D makes the simplifying assumption that they buy from adventurers at about the same price. [/QUOTE]

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