Selling Treasure

[S'mon]

I treat gems (or anything else, really) the same way - as IRL, they're worth what people will pay. PCs who offload tons of gems on the nearest merchant get only ca 50% - the merchant then sells to aristocratic ladies at full value or higher.

 

[Hodgie]

I think the old school DMG had suggestions on money changers and gem dealers where they charged 10% the total cost. So if you have 1000 gp and you purchase a 1000 gp gem with it, when you travel to town and want to convert that back into cash you only get 900. I like that because the gem cutter buys a rough gem, works it into a fine gem, sells it for a profit based upon the work he put into it, then makes another profit when he buys gems off future adventurers. Makes being a gem dealer lucrative.

 

[moritheil]

PC: I swear to you this is +3 Flaming SHock Keen Battle Axe.

Buyer: I'll give you 7gp.

PC: Didn't you hear me?

Buyer: I'm not a Wizard. It looks like a battle axe to me. I'll give you 7gp.

PC: <slices head off Buyer> See I told you so.

NPC Paladin: Evil!

NPC Paladin's Gold Dragon Cohort: RRRAAAAGH!

PC: Hand me a new character sheet.