Selling items : illogical rule ?

[lukelightning]

Players are supposed to have fun. A good system will have at least a little flexibility in how people can have fun playing it.

Yah, but I'd rather the core books have rules on adventuring, rather than waste space with profession, crafting, and commerce rules.

 

[Danceofmasks]

There's flexibility, then there's PCs breaking worlds with crazy money making schemes.
4e starts with economics that's bad for PC traders ... you can always change that, but by RAW universes aren't going to get broken by fabricate or some other silly.

 

[Incendax]

The only logic behind it is that Wizards wishes to strongly discourage picking up every piece of mundane trash you can possibly find. Adventurers are supposed to be heroic, and possibly pragmatic, but not so pragmatic that they come back from the dungeon with the copper kitchen sink strapped to their back.

But they DID want a unified rule, so they made 1/5th apply to magic items as well... but here's the catch.

It's specifically based on the idea of a quick sell, or scarcity of money. If you try to get rid of it fast, or reduce it to residiuum, you get 1/5th. But, if you actually take it someplace where there is a demand you can get a more normal price as arbitrated by your DM.

 

[Yaezakura]

Players are supposed to have fun. A good system will have at least a little flexibility in how people can have fun playing it.

Actually, a good system is a system that accomplishes what it's designed to accomplish. 4th edition isn't trying to simulate a realistic economy, so the fact it doesn't is not a flaw. It's trying to give you a balanced and fun high-fantasy RPG. And it does that very well.

 

[Norwolf]

Call it a guideline for PCs getting rid of a lot of crap at once. If you have a player that want's to spend the time roleplaying and flogging items it's up to the DM to decide if that's part of his campaign and adjust your rules appropriately.

I see rules as handrails and not handcuffs but you'll always have rule-nazis in groups.

 

[Mort_Q]

Players are supposed to have fun. A good system will have at least a little flexibility in how people can have fun playing it.

Fair enough.

The systems rules are set up so the system can't be gamed without the DM's permission. The DM is the flexibility in the system, and an experienced DM can adjust things as needed.

 

[Wormwood]

Removing the focus on vendor trash is an upgrade, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Simon Marks]

Okay, assuming you could do that, you make them at retail price, too... how is that fair?

You make items at Wholesale not Retail prices.

Prices in the PHB are Wholesale, retail may be around 10%-40% higher. see PHB 224;

"The actual cost to purchase a magic item depends on supply and demand and might be 10 to 40 percent more than the base market price"

 

[Exquisite Dead Guy]

The only logic behind it is that Wizards wishes to strongly discourage picking up every piece of mundane trash you can possibly find. Adventurers are supposed to be heroic, and possibly pragmatic, but not so pragmatic that they come back from the dungeon with the copper kitchen sink strapped to their back.

What?!? That's half the fun in our campaigns. We drive the DMs crazy by asking what everything is worth and trying to figure out how to transport 800lb. statues back to town.

 

[Deverash]

Okay, assuming you could do that, you make them at retail price, too... how is that fair?

Hence you charge the standard 10-40% markup when you sell it from your store.