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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nifft" data-source="post: 344007" data-attributes="member: 6562">Plenty of things were in short supply in the middle ages:Spices: they don't grow in the Empire's harsh northern climate. Maybe they don't grow anywhere but the Islands of the Pirate Slave Lords.Sugar: Sure, the Empire can try to live without sugar, but the black market for Maple Syrup -- which only grows in the harsh lands of the Dire Frost Giant's Jarl -- would destroy the Empire's economy.Salt: Extracting salt from the ocean is dangerous work, in no small part becuase of the constant raids by the Shark-Raiders of the Bloody Fin. Luckily for the Empire, our southern neighbors, the Sultans of the Sandy Oppressive Theocracy have extensive salt mines -- and sinners enough to work them for eternity.Metal: This is important stuff! Sure we could glean inferior iron from the peet bog, but why bother? Our new neighbor, Baron von Killavillage, is willing to supply us with a reasonable portion of steel each year. He keeps the better portion for his own arms -- he must look to the defense of his large mountain citadel, after all -- but we have enough to outfit a moderate standing guard force for ourselves. And with such a strong neighbor, what do we have to fear, anyway?Silk: It's better than linen or wool, and those are all you've got if you're stuck in Eurasia before 1500 AD. Alternately, any other fabric -- cotton, wool, mink fur, spandex, whatever.Coffee or Tea: If you control the supply of a highly addictive substance, you will own a segment of the population -- this is why Starbucks will never go out of business. Works equally well with less socially acceptable addictions: tobacco, opium, pipeweed, cocaine, uppers, magic mushrooms (literally, of course).Hope this is helpful! -- Nifft</blockquote>

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