Merchants and Ship Based Trading
- Thread starter jpwic
- Start date
jgbrowning
Hero
What level of detail are you looking for? Detailed or simply "this happens" level?
joe b.
joe b.
OD&D
Among the supplements I know of with the best simple systems for use with PC Merchants are two from the Known World of 'Basic' D&D. I *think* they were available as PDFs from SVGames, at one point, but I do not know if they still are. Some shops may still have copies, or e-bay, 2nd-hand, etc.
The Minrothad Guilds, for Sea-based trading, and the Republic of Darokin for land-based (using the same principles).
On a more abstract level, the 2nd Edition Birthright campaign included Trade among the functions of Guild domains. The rules covered income for the ruler, but details for use in adventuring were left to individual DMs.
The 3rd Edition Arms & Equipment Guide from WotC also includes a very simple method. Basically, declare some places "over-supplied" and reduce prices, then declare other places "under-supplied" and raise prices. The rest is simply doing the math to see how much you can get buying-carting-selling.
Among the supplements I know of with the best simple systems for use with PC Merchants are two from the Known World of 'Basic' D&D. I *think* they were available as PDFs from SVGames, at one point, but I do not know if they still are. Some shops may still have copies, or e-bay, 2nd-hand, etc.
The Minrothad Guilds, for Sea-based trading, and the Republic of Darokin for land-based (using the same principles).
On a more abstract level, the 2nd Edition Birthright campaign included Trade among the functions of Guild domains. The rules covered income for the ruler, but details for use in adventuring were left to individual DMs.
The 3rd Edition Arms & Equipment Guide from WotC also includes a very simple method. Basically, declare some places "over-supplied" and reduce prices, then declare other places "under-supplied" and raise prices. The rest is simply doing the math to see how much you can get buying-carting-selling.
Larry Fitz
First Post
Have you looked at Pirates! yet? If what you're looking for is the trading values of various shipped goods it's a good place to start, it also tells you what the ships can hold, whatexactly are you looking for?
Dr. Strangemonkey
First Post
If you are looking for a detailed look at these systems from a gaming perspective I suggest two books:
Savage Seas
Manacle and Coin
These are books for the Exalted line by white wolf, but they are rules light and content heavy. Very easy to fit the information within into a d20 scenario, but there are no other books out there with information that is so easy and useful. Excellent on every level.
Savage Seas
Manacle and Coin
These are books for the Exalted line by white wolf, but they are rules light and content heavy. Very easy to fit the information within into a d20 scenario, but there are no other books out there with information that is so easy and useful. Excellent on every level.
The Minrothad Guilds/Republic of Darokin systems are good but require a lot of number crunching. For most shipping routes you might be best to simply set average sale prices for export at the buy point, and average sale price for import at the sale point, taking account of taxes (which are likely to average around 5% of sale value at the sale point, there may be an export tax at the buy point also). I'd suggest that the base sale price for an export good is around 50% of PHB value, for an import good maybe 80% - the buyer is buying wholesale and still needs to market the goods and make a profit. So the merchant in this example makes 30% of the 'market price' as profit, from which he has to pay transport and tax costs.
If the goods have to be transported a long way, the sale price may be higher, perhaps over 100% of PHB book costs, but in that case the actual retail price will again be a lot higher, maybe twice standard. Likewise some goods in some areas may be very cheap - among the steppe nomads, riding horses will cost a lot less than 75gp, and composite bows may be cheaper also. OTOH full plate armour may be unobtainable there at any price.
If the goods have to be transported a long way, the sale price may be higher, perhaps over 100% of PHB book costs, but in that case the actual retail price will again be a lot higher, maybe twice standard. Likewise some goods in some areas may be very cheap - among the steppe nomads, riding horses will cost a lot less than 75gp, and composite bows may be cheaper also. OTOH full plate armour may be unobtainable there at any price.
Arnwyn
First Post
There are no economic/trading rules for 3e, except for the basic one found in the Seas of Blood book. If that one doesn't cut it for you (it didn't for me), then there's nothing else.
This is one of my pet peeves, and has been for years (along with the lack of kingdom management rules). So far, the old OD&D books mentioned above (especially the Minrothad Guilds) are your best bet if you're looking for a somewhat detailed system.
This is one of my pet peeves, and has been for years (along with the lack of kingdom management rules). So far, the old OD&D books mentioned above (especially the Minrothad Guilds) are your best bet if you're looking for a somewhat detailed system.
TheAuldGrump
First Post
Ships & Sea Battles by AEG for their Swashbuckling adventures line has some fairly decent rules for such things. But then I am fond of the concept of Merchant Adventurer...
The Auld Grump
The Auld Grump
arnwyn said:
One of my peeves too!
AEG Toolbox has a very good listing of goods/products/foods & fruits but NO rules for handling trade!
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