int19h
16-02-2006, 06:31
Just a suggestion on how an NPC-guided process of identifying items could be implemented, as a replacement for the rightfully disabled Identify button for the merchants. I know we are supposed to look out for someone with high Lore, but unfortunately there simply isn't anyone around at times (especially for players from the US and Pacific), and having to carry an unidentified full plate around without knowing how soon you can get rid of it can be quite annoying. So here goes...
The idea is to have NPCs use their Lore skills the same way PCs have to do. You could have several loremasters, as separate NPCs or perhaps with existing magic shop owners doubling as such, each with their own rank in Lore according to the location. They would of course want you to pay for their time, if you happen to require their services, and that's where the interesting part kicks in. Basically, what I'm proposing is to link the fee to the Lore rank of the loremaster, require it to be pre-paid, and make it non-refundable - in other words, you pay them for their time, not for result.
The way it would look from your character's perspective then is this: you find e.g. a sword of uncertain nature. You first bring it to the hobbit alchemist in Bree, who asks for a modest sum of 300gp in return for having a look at it. You pay him, he spends some time inspecting it closely and flicking through his tomes, and returns it, telling you regretfully that he is not familiar with such craftsmanship. Having thus lost the gold, you decide to avoid further hassle, and go straight to Rivendell, where the elven bard well versed in history and lore agrees to help you... for 1500gp. And sure enough, it does not take him long to proclaim that it is indeed a very finely crafted sword originating from Southern Gondor that would sell for perhaps about 750gp. Come to think of it now, you could've actually made a profit if you happened to visit the wizard in Tharbad first, whose usual fee for such services is 500gp, and who could probably come to the same conclusion, albeit perhaps requiring a few hours rather than mere minutes - but you weren't in a hurry anyway. Of course, it could be a close call, and if he had failed, you would've just wasted another 500gp.
Incidentially, the alchemist, after inspection, could also offer you to sell the sword in question to him for a reasonable sum of 350gp, relieving you from the burden of having to investigate further, and producing a small but guaranteed profit of 50gp - though, noticing his cunning smile, you couldn't help thinking that it's certainly worth quite a bit more, even if he himself doesn't know exactly how much...
The idea is to have NPCs use their Lore skills the same way PCs have to do. You could have several loremasters, as separate NPCs or perhaps with existing magic shop owners doubling as such, each with their own rank in Lore according to the location. They would of course want you to pay for their time, if you happen to require their services, and that's where the interesting part kicks in. Basically, what I'm proposing is to link the fee to the Lore rank of the loremaster, require it to be pre-paid, and make it non-refundable - in other words, you pay them for their time, not for result.
The way it would look from your character's perspective then is this: you find e.g. a sword of uncertain nature. You first bring it to the hobbit alchemist in Bree, who asks for a modest sum of 300gp in return for having a look at it. You pay him, he spends some time inspecting it closely and flicking through his tomes, and returns it, telling you regretfully that he is not familiar with such craftsmanship. Having thus lost the gold, you decide to avoid further hassle, and go straight to Rivendell, where the elven bard well versed in history and lore agrees to help you... for 1500gp. And sure enough, it does not take him long to proclaim that it is indeed a very finely crafted sword originating from Southern Gondor that would sell for perhaps about 750gp. Come to think of it now, you could've actually made a profit if you happened to visit the wizard in Tharbad first, whose usual fee for such services is 500gp, and who could probably come to the same conclusion, albeit perhaps requiring a few hours rather than mere minutes - but you weren't in a hurry anyway. Of course, it could be a close call, and if he had failed, you would've just wasted another 500gp.
Incidentially, the alchemist, after inspection, could also offer you to sell the sword in question to him for a reasonable sum of 350gp, relieving you from the burden of having to investigate further, and producing a small but guaranteed profit of 50gp - though, noticing his cunning smile, you couldn't help thinking that it's certainly worth quite a bit more, even if he himself doesn't know exactly how much...