all adamantine weapons +3k? [Archive] - Wizards Community

all adamantine weapons +3k? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Darkprince
10-17-05, 03:38 PM Why does any weapon of any size cost an extra 3k for adamantine? In 3.0 it was by the pound, and that made sense. Now, my little 1lb dagger cost thesame amount in adamantine as my greatsword. Is this a mess up? Is ther errata?
Draco Strang
10-17-05, 03:42 PM I explain that away by saying the extra cost is mostly because it takes an extraordinary smith to work it, and thus the process is very expensive, not the metal itself. That keeps my players satisfied.

However, if you wanted to houserule some sort of cost per lb. of adamantine, no one's stopping you.
Darkprince
10-17-05, 07:29 PM not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself? and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways?
Draco Strang
10-17-05, 07:43 PM not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself? and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways?
All very valid points, but this is the kind of stuff that suffers from D&D's rather wonky economic system. Lots of little issues such as these just sorta fall through the cracks. If I were you, I'd make a ruling that makes sense within your game and stick to it.
masterofmayhem
10-17-05, 08:28 PM not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself?
You pay 1/3 the cost when crafting things yourself.

and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways?
It should, but the basic assumption you have to make here is that, like Draco Strang said, the high cost is not from the material, but rather from the difficulty of making a weapon out of it. After all, metal must be shaped, and something as hard as adamantine is not so easily bent to a smith's will

I think that I, personally, made all the metals cost differeing amounts per usage category, like how they cost different amounts for light, heavy, and medium armors. So light weapons were 1,000 or so, medium 3,000, and heavy 9,000.

Or something like that. . . . Although that might have been mithral . . . I forget. :angel:
Colmarr
10-17-05, 09:40 PM Actually, the equal cost of adamantine is a play balance issue.

An adamantine dagger does exactly the same thing as an adamantine greataxe: ignores the hardness of any material with hardness less than 20 and bypasses DRn/adamantine.

Against that background, why should the adamantine portion of a weapon's cost vary based on size?
Jaid
10-17-05, 10:39 PM also actually, the 3.0 version of adamantine was not per pound either for weapons and armor as i recall. unless i am mistaken, you paid based on the weapon's base damage (which determined what it's natural enhancement bonus would be) or the armor's weight category.
masterofmayhem
10-18-05, 01:05 AM Actually, the equal cost of adamantine is a play balance issue.

An adamantine dagger does exactly the same thing as an adamantine greataxe: ignores the hardness of any material with hardness less than 20 and bypasses DRn/adamantine.

Against that background, why should the adamantine portion of a weapon's cost vary based on size?
That . . . is a very good point. And one that had not occurred to me.
ScipioX
10-18-05, 01:16 AM DnD economics are based on a very simple model that can be comprehended by your average 12 year old. The general rule is simplicity over realism.

If you have a slightly more sophisticated view of the world, you should probably house rule some things to make a little more sense.
White_Wizard
10-18-05, 08:00 AM Why does any weapon of any size cost an extra 3k for adamantine? In 3.0 it was by the pound, and that made sense. Now, my little 1lb dagger cost thesame amount in adamantine as my greatsword. Is this a mess up? Is ther errata?
It is because now an adamantine weapon is much more effective than it was with the enhancement bonus given in the 3.0.
Now with an adamantine weapon you can break through many DRs and you can easily break almost any object in your path with only little effort. In terms of game you can use it in a much more wide range than that allowed with a simple enhancement bonus.
Darkprince
10-18-05, 03:37 PM I'm not arguing the balance issue, just the realistic issue. Lets put it this way, you are buying raw adamantine. You are paying, say, 500gp/pound. Then you make a weapon that will need 8 pounds of adamantine. You are not going to sell that weapon for any less than 4k, plus labor. On the same note, if you only make a 1lb weapon, is it realistic t charge 3k? A dagger may be just as useful as the great axe, but the cost of labor should be the only constant value. If i'm charging 3k for a weapon that only cost me 501gp, then i'm going to charge much more for a weapon that actually cost me 3k to make. For this issue, I liked how Masterofmayhem set up the prices.
Tyler Do'Urden
10-18-05, 04:29 PM Fighter: *looking over the invoice* "Three-hundred and two platinum!?"
Smith: "That's right, sir. We accept coin or trade."
Fighter: "It's a bloody dagger!"
Smith: "Well not yet I hope, sir."
Fighter: "Oh, very cute. Explain these charges to me."
Smith: "Fifteen gold for the model 7B throwing dagger plus three-thousand gold exotic metal service charge plus five gold tax, sir."
Fighter: "Exotic metal service ch- that's completely rediculous."
Smith: "I'm sorry, sir, but all sales are final." *points*

Incidentally, I just bought tires.
tarkin
10-18-05, 04:48 PM The answer is simple.

The same people that run the diamond industry in our world run the adamantine industry in d20.

Note, if concerned about the inevitable drastic price devaluation in diamonds, buy Rubys/sapphires/other gems. No monopoly lasts forever, (Even Microsoft will die someday), technology eventually kills them. Ever here of the Salt monopoly?
masterofmayhem
10-18-05, 05:15 PM Fighter: *looking over the invoice* "Three-hundred and two platinum!?"
Smith: "That's right, sir. We accept coin or trade."
Fighter: "It's a bloody dagger!"
Smith: "Well not yet I hope, sir."
Fighter: "Oh, very cute. Explain these charges to me."
Smith: "Fifteen gold for the model 7B throwing dagger plus three-thousand gold exotic metal service charge plus five gold tax, sir."
Fighter: "Exotic metal service ch- that's completely rediculous."
Smith: "I'm sorry, sir, but all sales are final." *points*

Incidentally, I just bought tires.
:rofl:
Thubby
10-18-05, 07:04 PM i think its because it would probably take very special tools to craft a small adamantine weapon, u have to use a smaller hammer with the same punch. also, a larger weapon could be only coated i adamantine, or even just hallow, it is strong enough.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darkprince 10-17-05, 03:38 PM	Why does any weapon of any size cost an extra 3k for adamantine? In 3.0 it was by the pound, and that made sense. Now, my little 1lb dagger cost thesame amount in adamantine as my greatsword. Is this a mess up? Is ther errata?
Draco Strang 10-17-05, 03:42 PM	I explain that away by saying the extra cost is mostly because it takes an extraordinary smith to work it, and thus the process is very expensive, not the metal itself. That keeps my players satisfied. However, if you wanted to houserule some sort of cost per lb. of adamantine, no one's stopping you.
Darkprince 10-17-05, 07:29 PM	not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself? and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways?
Draco Strang 10-17-05, 07:43 PM	not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself? and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways? All very valid points, but this is the kind of stuff that suffers from D&D's rather wonky economic system. Lots of little issues such as these just sorta fall through the cracks. If I were you, I'd make a ruling that makes sense within your game and stick to it.
masterofmayhem 10-17-05, 08:28 PM	not to question your judgement, but what would the cost then be if you crafted it yourself? You pay 1/3 the cost when crafting things yourself. and even when someone else crafts it, wouldn't it still cost more for a bigger weapon because you need more anyways? It should, but the basic assumption you have to make here is that, like Draco Strang said, the high cost is not from the material, but rather from the difficulty of making a weapon out of it. After all, metal must be shaped, and something as hard as adamantine is not so easily bent to a smith's will I think that I, personally, made all the metals cost differeing amounts per usage category, like how they cost different amounts for light, heavy, and medium armors. So light weapons were 1,000 or so, medium 3,000, and heavy 9,000. Or something like that. . . . Although that might have been mithral . . . I forget. :angel:
Colmarr 10-17-05, 09:40 PM	Actually, the equal cost of adamantine is a play balance issue. An adamantine dagger does exactly the same thing as an adamantine greataxe: ignores the hardness of any material with hardness less than 20 and bypasses DRn/adamantine. Against that background, why should the adamantine portion of a weapon's cost vary based on size?
Jaid 10-17-05, 10:39 PM	also actually, the 3.0 version of adamantine was not per pound either for weapons and armor as i recall. unless i am mistaken, you paid based on the weapon's base damage (which determined what it's natural enhancement bonus would be) or the armor's weight category.
masterofmayhem 10-18-05, 01:05 AM	Actually, the equal cost of adamantine is a play balance issue. An adamantine dagger does exactly the same thing as an adamantine greataxe: ignores the hardness of any material with hardness less than 20 and bypasses DRn/adamantine. Against that background, why should the adamantine portion of a weapon's cost vary based on size? That . . . is a very good point. And one that had not occurred to me.
ScipioX 10-18-05, 01:16 AM	DnD economics are based on a very simple model that can be comprehended by your average 12 year old. The general rule is simplicity over realism. If you have a slightly more sophisticated view of the world, you should probably house rule some things to make a little more sense.
White_Wizard 10-18-05, 08:00 AM	Why does any weapon of any size cost an extra 3k for adamantine? In 3.0 it was by the pound, and that made sense. Now, my little 1lb dagger cost thesame amount in adamantine as my greatsword. Is this a mess up? Is ther errata? It is because now an adamantine weapon is much more effective than it was with the enhancement bonus given in the 3.0. Now with an adamantine weapon you can break through many DRs and you can easily break almost any object in your path with only little effort. In terms of game you can use it in a much more wide range than that allowed with a simple enhancement bonus.
Darkprince 10-18-05, 03:37 PM	I'm not arguing the balance issue, just the realistic issue. Lets put it this way, you are buying raw adamantine. You are paying, say, 500gp/pound. Then you make a weapon that will need 8 pounds of adamantine. You are not going to sell that weapon for any less than 4k, plus labor. On the same note, if you only make a 1lb weapon, is it realistic t charge 3k? A dagger may be just as useful as the great axe, but the cost of labor should be the only constant value. If i'm charging 3k for a weapon that only cost me 501gp, then i'm going to charge much more for a weapon that actually cost me 3k to make. For this issue, I liked how Masterofmayhem set up the prices.
Tyler Do'Urden 10-18-05, 04:29 PM	Fighter: looking over the invoice "Three-hundred and two platinum!?" Smith: "That's right, sir. We accept coin or trade." Fighter: "It's a bloody dagger!" Smith: "Well not yet I hope, sir." Fighter: "Oh, very cute. Explain these charges to me." Smith: "Fifteen gold for the model 7B throwing dagger plus three-thousand gold exotic metal service charge plus five gold tax, sir." Fighter: "Exotic metal service ch- that's completely rediculous." Smith: "I'm sorry, sir, but all sales are final." points Incidentally, I just bought tires.
tarkin 10-18-05, 04:48 PM	The answer is simple. The same people that run the diamond industry in our world run the adamantine industry in d20. Note, if concerned about the inevitable drastic price devaluation in diamonds, buy Rubys/sapphires/other gems. No monopoly lasts forever, (Even Microsoft will die someday), technology eventually kills them. Ever here of the Salt monopoly?
masterofmayhem 10-18-05, 05:15 PM	Fighter: looking over the invoice "Three-hundred and two platinum!?" Smith: "That's right, sir. We accept coin or trade." Fighter: "It's a bloody dagger!" Smith: "Well not yet I hope, sir." Fighter: "Oh, very cute. Explain these charges to me." Smith: "Fifteen gold for the model 7B throwing dagger plus three-thousand gold exotic metal service charge plus five gold tax, sir." Fighter: "Exotic metal service ch- that's completely rediculous." Smith: "I'm sorry, sir, but all sales are final." points Incidentally, I just bought tires. :rofl:
Thubby 10-18-05, 07:04 PM	i think its because it would probably take very special tools to craft a small adamantine weapon, u have to use a smaller hammer with the same punch. also, a larger weapon could be only coated i adamantine, or even just hallow, it is strong enough.