One of my biggest headaches as a DM (though perhaps I am overcomplicating things) is coming up with consistent prices for goods and services not listed in the reference books for a medieval setting (or any setting for that matter) campaign I'm running. Does anyone have any rules of thumb, or better yet, some overarching online encyclopedia (…in my dreams :-P) for the cost of items/services and how they vary them for settlements/villages/towns/cities in times of peace/war/etc?
[RPG] How to generate reasonable prices for goods and services not listed in the PHB
dnd-3.5epathfinder-1e
Related Solutions
It's reasonably straightforward.
- If Jack provokes an attack of opportunity (which means he didn't make a Tumble check to avoid it), then
- If a guy in the hall chooses to attack Jack (they might not, after seeing the first couple dissolve in a red mist), Jack may choose to attack them, if Jack still has an AoO for the round (Combat Reflexes only gives you up to your DEX bonus).
- If that guy hits Jack, Jack may choose to attack him again, if jack still has an AoO for the round (Combat Reflexes only gives you up to your DEX bonus).
- Repeat.
You never have to take an attack of opportunity, either Jack or his opponents.
This chart may help:
As usual, Pathfinder to the rescue. Totally 3.5e compatible and with costs and stuff, not d20 Modern style.
Here are Pathfinder's firearm rules covering up through the revolver/rifle era, and here's the modern weapons info from their visit to WWI in Rasputin Must Die!, and here's the new technological weapons info from the new Technology Guide that has lasers and stuff. Enjoy.
The rules contain dials for adjusting price based on rarity (for example, the modern firearms list prices are 10% what they could be if you wanted to call them very rare). Tech items are priced just like equivalent magic items. The Craft (mechanical) skill is for high tech items and other gizmos, Craft (firearm) and the Gunsmithing feat for normal firearms. Craft DCs aren't in the SRD but are on page 101 of Ultimate Combat, and it's 20 for normal firearms (higher for siege firearms).
Best Answer
Generate them randomly. You'll save yourself a lot of grief, and you won't have to spend a lot of time elbow-deep in rulebooks. Assuming a typical faux-medieval system of copper/silver/gold...
Could any peasant get this? Then its price is in copper. Would the resources of a town/city be needed for this thing to happen? Its price is silver. Is it something you'd expect to change the course of an adventure, like a weapon or a spell? Its price is in gold. Highest value coinage takes precedence.
Roll 2d20 times the level of the relevant PC. Bingo -- you have a price. It may not be consistent from a world-economy-simulation standpoint, but it will give players a reasonable expectation that will grow with their characters' experience.