Minor Q on City Fees

[Azure Trance]

My PCs are going to Bluffside in a little bit with gobs and gobs of money and jewelry they want to pawn off. Would it make sense for some sort of entrance fee, or tax, when they enter? Somewhat similar to a Market Day in a town (pay to get in when all the merchants gather) ... only except not really. I'm trying to recall from the Castle Handbook, if thats what it was, where it had different taxes to sic on the populace (and therefore, the players by default).

The thing I wonder is how it would make sense in game - are they supposed to be taxed each and everytime they enter? Each time they bring in items over a certain value that hasn't been recorded before? Etc.

 

[Brisk-sg]

This depends on the type of tax:

Gate Toll – A very minimal charge for using the gate, applied every time. The charge would be very minimal (think something a commoner could afford).

Tariff – A tariff would be applied to specific items of a category. This can be a really elaborate or simple tax. Normally this would not be applied at the Gates as it would be very time consuming to search for such items and create the necessary documents. Likely the characters would be required by law to go to a tax or import office to pay the Tariff and get paper work to legally sell the import.

- Josh

 

[jgbrowning]

a flat 20% or more wouldn't be outrageous because they're dealing in luxury goods, especially considering they dont belong to a merchant's guild. they're selling of their loot will also irratate said guild.

joe b.

 

[Azure Trance]

Ah, perfect. Thanks for the replies, I suppose a tariff was what I had in mind. I would fear 20% as a PC ... but fortunately I'm not ;D This is great also because I'd like to push them towards a specific jeweler I have in mine who might give better deals then the guild, not threaten them with joining, etc.

 

[Gizzard]

The lastest "Elminster Speaks" column on the WotC site talks about a gate at the edge of the city and gives charges for different things passing thru it.