tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post6544440651309215162..comments2024-03-25T22:48:31.750-04:00Comments on Dreams in the Lich House: Revisiting the Magic ShoppeJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-47362263363104911862014-05-01T03:04:36.139-04:002014-05-01T03:04:36.139-04:00I play ACKS so the main sinkhole for cash is stron...I play ACKS so the main sinkhole for cash is stronghold and empire building, hiring mercenaries, keeping armies, and producing your own magic items through (expensive) magical research. You can also try to buy magic items, but you'll have a better chance commissioning them.<br /><br />But still, amass gold, and you can build strongholds and raise an army. Isn't that motivation enough?Omer Golan-Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242085820257230639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-65643793557768068252014-04-10T08:29:36.157-04:002014-04-10T08:29:36.157-04:00I'm cautious about using the expression 'j...I'm cautious about using the expression 'jumping through hoops' - the main goal is to make the buying and selling of magic items more interesting (and rational) than going to the Walmart and picking a sword +1 off the rack. However, there's no doubt the added difficulty is a nice byproduct!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-72571060141266025432014-04-10T00:08:36.716-04:002014-04-10T00:08:36.716-04:00This is a great idea that I plan to use if my play...This is a great idea that I plan to use if my players ever ask about buying magic items. And it seems to me that to even get invited to an auction or to attempt to commission the creation of an item would entail jumping through several hoops first.Desert Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862907749003106864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-8846282135602695842014-04-09T13:58:17.146-04:002014-04-09T13:58:17.146-04:00Dave Arneson used magic-item auctions in the very ...Dave Arneson used magic-item auctions in the very early days of Blackmoor. So the idea has been around for awhile. I'm not sure why it never really caught on in D&D fandom. Especially since the ultra-elite auction is a fairly common trope in movies. Hedgehobbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17606283586332210195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-46782253017933190122014-04-09T10:52:06.812-04:002014-04-09T10:52:06.812-04:00The auction is an excellent and far more plausible...The auction is an excellent and far more plausible idea than the standard thaumaturgical convenience store. Like JDJarvis, I have plenty of ways for player characters to lighten themselves of cash in the pursuit of their goals and interests, but it's good to have another alternative that gives them the <em>chance</em> to pay for something they desire rather than forcing them to go on side quests that might not fit in the adventure schedule.Gordon Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-164979352466096772014-04-09T09:51:21.906-04:002014-04-09T09:51:21.906-04:00Not a fan of Ye Magick Shoppe myself but I agree t...Not a fan of Ye Magick Shoppe myself but I agree the piles of cash make it hard to motivate folks that do nothing with the cash.<br />Stronghold building, even just a fancy estate can be a huge money sink and the more security one seeks the more wealth they need.<br />I keep the money flowing by only giving exp when it is spent on training, sacrifices, gifting (outside other PCs), property, research and exceptional purchases. Just carrying it out doesn't earn exp by itself. <br />I do let PCs make their own doodads like potions and scrolls and this requires unusual ingredients some of which can be found for sale but in and of themselves offer no direct power. <br />The ingredients and even the raw products to acquire these ingredients are often monster bits or found in exotic and remote places so they provide a constant reason to adventure. JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-51363664746798610362014-04-09T08:28:23.205-04:002014-04-09T08:28:23.205-04:00Very nice post. Combined with your allusion earli...Very nice post. Combined with your allusion earlier of kid fantasies about a super awesome "club house" (which might or might not account for some of the dungeons that are out there), and I think there are more than enough ways to spend that hard won gold!Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06551480034601737297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-36228619248875676772014-04-09T07:24:27.578-04:002014-04-09T07:24:27.578-04:00This caveat is key. The creepy, strange, obscurita...This caveat is key. The creepy, strange, obscuritarian, and bizarre make for great "magic shops," particularly if all the items aren't necessarily magical. Always deal carefully with those who spend their time indoors beneath groaning shelves of weird treasure, I say.JDG Perldeinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07632961831809544262noreply@blogger.com