Market Competition [Archive] - Wizards Community

Market Competition [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Diablo05
04-20-07, 01:40 PM Im still just learning about the Eberron setting, so if I have any facts wrong here, please correct me.

My understanding of the Dragonmarked Houses is that they have essentially established a monopoly on whatever their specialty area is, and there is an agreement between the houses that they do not encrouch on each others specialty. Maybe this is the Shadowrunner in me talking, but it would seem to me that any companies that are NOT part of a Dragonmarked house would be dealt with (either through corporate takeover, or other means) long before they become a noteworthy competitor.

My question is, how does the Blackwheel Company fit into this? I mean, I can fully understand why the houses would want to employ such a company, since the houses themselves are not allowed to recruit armies, but, what about House Dennith? Wouldn't they be a little ****** about the Blackwheel stealing their monopoly? In fact, it seems the Blackwheel produces even better mercs than Dennith, effectively crippling the power of the house.

Am I way off here?
WolfStar76
04-20-07, 05:12 PM There's no monopoly, there's just market dominance.

If you arrive in a city on Eberron you'll find Inns run by house Ghelanda (I'm a little sleepy and don't have my EBCS in front of me, so my apologies in advance if that's not the bearers of the Mark of Hospitality) and several that are just small independant Inns run by whomever had the coin to rub together to open an Inn.

That said, people who have the coin to pay for a house run under house Ghelanda will find the same (high) level of service in (nearly) all those inns. When you go to the competition, you might still find a really nice Inn, or you might find a hole in the wall with watery ale, cold soup, and doors that are suspiciously missing locks.

The same can be said for the Mercs of Denneith. They fight for whomever has the coin to buy their services - but they don't stop other people from being bounty hunters. (That's not to say that, in such a cutthroat business "accidents" don't happen, nor does it mean individual agents might not like competition. . . ).

I'd actually propose that Denneith may very well have been among the first houses to suggest something like Blackwheel Company. This would give them an ability to expand their training a bit, and if they were to skim some of the best talent out of the ranks and into their own house, who's the wiser?

Of course, that's all just my take on things. Others will likely have their own views. :)
Diablo05
04-20-07, 07:22 PM A solitary inn wouldnt be on Ghelenda's radar, because it really poses no threat to their market. Same with Denneth not caring about your run of the mill sellsword or bounty hunter. But, if somebody were to open up a global chain of hotels (the Stormreach Hilton), I'm to think Ghelenda would take some sort of action. The Blackwheel company is MUCH more than just one brawler with a sign that says "Will fight for food".
smerwin29
04-20-07, 08:01 PM I think what you might be missing in the discussion is that the Blackwheel Company exists solely to serve the Houses. They only do what the Houses tell them, and they do not freelance for anyone. And since the Houses may not always be working toward the same ends, the other Houses might not want to go to House Deneith for their sword-for-hire needs.
Hellcast
04-21-07, 12:27 AM It's similar to the work all Houses do on the Twelve. It's a way to further their goals, of all the houses.
Marcus Majarra
04-21-07, 02:47 AM Actually, the dragonmarked families' dominance over the market is better illustrated by oligarchies. Guilds are run by dragonmarked houses, and these guilds set the standards by which most of Khorvaire goes by. Thus, independent inns could verily display the symbol of the Hostelers' Guild, and thus be licensed by House Ghallanda, despite being independent. As licensed inns, they would be subject to inspections from the guild, to ascertain the establishments' conformance with guild standards in terms of prices, quality of food and lodging, and so forth. This is how guild commerce works for the dragonmarked houses.

The Blackwheel Company is a different matter, however. It is not a guild, but this mercenary company has the dragonmarked houses to thank for funding and support, so it's only natural that the company do some business for the houses. Furthermore, the Blackwheel Company is a tool used to advance the political needs of the houses in Xen'drik. The Korth Edicts, established in early Galifar, prevent the houses from owning land (aside from house enclaves) or belonging to the nobility of the Five Nations. These edicts are based primarily in Khorvaire and their relevance in Xen'drik is a matter of debate. This plays well for the houses, who wish to expand their spheres of influence to the Xen'drik political arena, and it's believed that the Caldyn Fragments have an important role to play in achieving this goal.

Or so I think.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Diablo05 04-20-07, 01:40 PM	Im still just learning about the Eberron setting, so if I have any facts wrong here, please correct me. My understanding of the Dragonmarked Houses is that they have essentially established a monopoly on whatever their specialty area is, and there is an agreement between the houses that they do not encrouch on each others specialty. Maybe this is the Shadowrunner in me talking, but it would seem to me that any companies that are NOT part of a Dragonmarked house would be dealt with (either through corporate takeover, or other means) long before they become a noteworthy competitor. My question is, how does the Blackwheel Company fit into this? I mean, I can fully understand why the houses would want to employ such a company, since the houses themselves are not allowed to recruit armies, but, what about House Dennith? Wouldn't they be a little ****** about the Blackwheel stealing their monopoly? In fact, it seems the Blackwheel produces even better mercs than Dennith, effectively crippling the power of the house. Am I way off here?
WolfStar76 04-20-07, 05:12 PM	There's no monopoly, there's just market dominance. If you arrive in a city on Eberron you'll find Inns run by house Ghelanda (I'm a little sleepy and don't have my EBCS in front of me, so my apologies in advance if that's not the bearers of the Mark of Hospitality) and several that are just small independant Inns run by whomever had the coin to rub together to open an Inn. That said, people who have the coin to pay for a house run under house Ghelanda will find the same (high) level of service in (nearly) all those inns. When you go to the competition, you might still find a really nice Inn, or you might find a hole in the wall with watery ale, cold soup, and doors that are suspiciously missing locks. The same can be said for the Mercs of Denneith. They fight for whomever has the coin to buy their services - but they don't stop other people from being bounty hunters. (That's not to say that, in such a cutthroat business "accidents" don't happen, nor does it mean individual agents might not like competition. . . ). I'd actually propose that Denneith may very well have been among the first houses to suggest something like Blackwheel Company. This would give them an ability to expand their training a bit, and if they were to skim some of the best talent out of the ranks and into their own house, who's the wiser? Of course, that's all just my take on things. Others will likely have their own views. :)
Diablo05 04-20-07, 07:22 PM	A solitary inn wouldnt be on Ghelenda's radar, because it really poses no threat to their market. Same with Denneth not caring about your run of the mill sellsword or bounty hunter. But, if somebody were to open up a global chain of hotels (the Stormreach Hilton), I'm to think Ghelenda would take some sort of action. The Blackwheel company is MUCH more than just one brawler with a sign that says "Will fight for food".
smerwin29 04-20-07, 08:01 PM	I think what you might be missing in the discussion is that the Blackwheel Company exists solely to serve the Houses. They only do what the Houses tell them, and they do not freelance for anyone. And since the Houses may not always be working toward the same ends, the other Houses might not want to go to House Deneith for their sword-for-hire needs.
Hellcast 04-21-07, 12:27 AM	It's similar to the work all Houses do on the Twelve. It's a way to further their goals, of all the houses.
Marcus Majarra 04-21-07, 02:47 AM	Actually, the dragonmarked families' dominance over the market is better illustrated by oligarchies. Guilds are run by dragonmarked houses, and these guilds set the standards by which most of Khorvaire goes by. Thus, independent inns could verily display the symbol of the Hostelers' Guild, and thus be licensed by House Ghallanda, despite being independent. As licensed inns, they would be subject to inspections from the guild, to ascertain the establishments' conformance with guild standards in terms of prices, quality of food and lodging, and so forth. This is how guild commerce works for the dragonmarked houses. The Blackwheel Company is a different matter, however. It is not a guild, but this mercenary company has the dragonmarked houses to thank for funding and support, so it's only natural that the company do some business for the houses. Furthermore, the Blackwheel Company is a tool used to advance the political needs of the houses in Xen'drik. The Korth Edicts, established in early Galifar, prevent the houses from owning land (aside from house enclaves) or belonging to the nobility of the Five Nations. These edicts are based primarily in Khorvaire and their relevance in Xen'drik is a matter of debate. This plays well for the houses, who wish to expand their spheres of influence to the Xen'drik political arena, and it's believed that the Caldyn Fragments have an important role to play in achieving this goal. Or so I think.