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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 6324632" data-attributes="member: 19675">That's a different issue, and I agree that this could happen.  But even if it did happen, it would be the exception, not the rule.  Economically speaking, if you make something suitable only to a smaller group or individual, you're giving them the power to dictate price after the fact.  You as the seller are creating a monopsony for the product, which means that if you don't get paid up front, you're screwing yourself.What do I mean?  Just look at RW transactions.I design jewelry and I have custom-made guitars, etc.  If that custom work doesn't get paid for substantially before the work is completed, the buyer may opt to renegotiate the price.  If the maker is unhappy with that, he can decide not to deliver the product, yes, but then he's invested time and energy in a project for minimal compensation with little hope of being able to recoup payment from anyone else.  Now, in most RW cases, you can find another buyer, but it ain't always the case.Mike Tyson, in his heyday, ordered a custom-built Ferrarri.  The thing was hideous.  He sold it shortly after buying it, and it went for @1/10th what he paid.  Now, imagine if he had refused to pay for it in the first place...This even works with mass-produced custom work: the big 3 American automakers were infamous for negotiating bulk-rate discounts for the parts that went into their cars.  Usually, they'd order in such vast numbers that it would be 80-100% of the parts makers' production capacity.  Some makers would even have to invest in specialized machinery or additional physical plant.  Nothing inherently wrong with any of that.But since those parts typically didn't fit anything but the cars of one particular maker, that caused problems for the makers.  The automakers would take delivery of the parts...then wouldn't pay on time.  As the makers' bills came due, they felt the squeeze.  The automakers would then offer to pay a lesser sum- sometimes in cash- to settle their overdue payment...at a discount, of course.  So, suddenly, the parts maker who may have contracted with them in such a way that he made a 15% profit might find his ACTUAL profit to be around 3%.And forget about withholding the parts- do that, and they'd simply get the parts elsewhere.  Meanwhile, with a stockpile of inventory he can't sell, and specialized machinery, the parts maker slowly goes out of business.Back to the fantasy realm...SOME stuff really should be more difficult to sell, but it will never happen because it would change the game, and not for the more fun.  High-end armors like plate were custom-made, fitted to their wearers.  Unless you're very similar in size to that person, it just won't fit without taking it to an armored for resizing.  Logically, it follows that masterwork armor- and thus, magic armor- of the same kind would likewise be fitted.  So the odds that someone- even if they're the right species- would fit that +3 plate armor found in the dungeon are very slim.  But most GMs- myself included- just handwave issues like that away.</blockquote>

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