Big Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Big Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Azerith24
01-16-06, 03:18 AM In a game im running, a character of mine robbed a magic shop in a nice sized city, i challenged alot he almost died, then almost was imprisoned, but eventually he got away. Now, i have no clue what all was in the shop, we both think that it is a good amount of loot but i dont wann give him millions of gold or like two gold, i want to be fair and logical, assuming he had a magic shop full of magic items, someone please help me.
Ged Coldplain
01-16-06, 03:30 AM So… your dm’pc has taken the spotlight, robbing a magic shop, and gotten away with it…?
if you are the dm just give him whatever, but do not think the players will enjoy it to say the least.
Azerith24
01-16-06, 03:31 AM no it wasn't my pc it was a players pc ad it is being split throughout the rest of the party
Am_I_Still_Unconscious
01-16-06, 03:32 AM Give him the magic items, then let the city guards catch him with them!
:plotting:

that'll teach him to watch his sticky fingers!
Azerith24
01-16-06, 03:36 AM the guards tried to catch him, he got away, i did everything i could.
Am_I_Still_Unconscious
01-16-06, 03:40 AM 2 words...

Bounty Hunter!

If u let ur players get away with stuff like that, it'll upset other players and your monsters!

you are the DM and are allowed to be evil when being lawful good, in a way... that makes sense rite... :confused:
Azerith24
01-16-06, 03:42 AM well, i planned on that, but i still want to be fair, he did get away and he already said he was giving a fair share to rest of the party
Am_I_Still_Unconscious
01-16-06, 03:46 AM ok, well let him keep the weaker stuff, but have another aspiring theif get the unbalancing stuff, the same way he got em, or something along those lines... my players tried that kinda stuff all the time in their first few years, then i taught them that its just like today, u steal u get punished... except todays law doesnt have divination magic! ;)
Nom
01-16-06, 05:10 AM There are a bunch of answers to this question.

Firstly, most items that could be considered "expensive" (a relative term) will not be in the shop. Most magic shops will work on commission; you order the item and pay a deposit and they get in touch with someone to craft it for you. Even at a broker's, items of any value will not be lying about the shop but will be secure in one or more vaults, likely transdimensional ones.

So assuming your PC just lifted stuff that was available, it will mainly be cheap stuff like scrolls, potions, and maybe wands or minor permanent items.

Secondly, the level of protection should generally match the value of the equipment. For example, broker who can afford to move items costing several thousand gp can easily afford 1200 gp per 15 days for a dimensional lock, and possibly even a permanent anti-teleport item. He can also afford potent guards. If the protections weren't of high quality, then the same should apply to the merchandise.

Finally, there are a bunch of very nasty spells available if a thief has gotten away with enough loot to make it worthwhile. locate object (Brd2,Clr3,Wiz2) is a good place to start. If the thief is known, locate creature (Brd4,Wiz4) or scrying (Brd3,Clr5,Drd4,Wiz4) are also effective. All can be defended against, but not trivially.

The value of the loot will directly affect the power of the hunters. If he only got away with a "small" loot, he'll probably be quickly forgotten about. If he stole a kings ransom, the hunters aren't giving up any time soon.
tarkin
01-16-06, 12:06 PM While I disagree that the magic shops all work on commission, I do agree with his main point, most of the expensive stuff is NOT in the shop.

Magic shops should have access to a large store of 2nd hand goods they bought from other people, but not in the store.

Instead it should be stored in a heavily guarded warehouse, often NOT in the city.

You should place an order, then they use some kind of teleportation/ring gates to retrieve the heavy items.

They would however have a lot of the lesser, more common items available.

Things like:
I would expect at least one of each of these

Several Healing Potions
Enlarge Potion
False Life Potion
+1 ring of protection
Several Continual Light Stones
+1 weapons
+1 shields
4-8 Scrolls of 0, 1st, and 2nd level spells
Two or Three of the following Wands (all with no more than 10 charges left) of Cure Light Wounds, False Life, Enlarge, Charm Person, Bull Strength, Silence)
Handy Haversack
Bracers of Armor +1
Cloak of Protection +1
At least one of the following Efficeint Quiver, Cloak of Elven Kind, Hat of Disguise, Perl of Power (1), Stat boosting Item +2,

That should be there basic, most commonly purchased stuff that they keep on hand. Everything else should be kept in a secret location, not in the shop itself, but retreivable in less than 24 hours, at least by magic.

Also, they have a HIGH probability of having at least one or two CURSED items, designed to be a trap for thieves. Things that BLOW up, or teleport you to jail.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Azerith24 01-16-06, 03:18 AM	In a game im running, a character of mine robbed a magic shop in a nice sized city, i challenged alot he almost died, then almost was imprisoned, but eventually he got away. Now, i have no clue what all was in the shop, we both think that it is a good amount of loot but i dont wann give him millions of gold or like two gold, i want to be fair and logical, assuming he had a magic shop full of magic items, someone please help me.
Ged Coldplain 01-16-06, 03:30 AM	So… your dm’pc has taken the spotlight, robbing a magic shop, and gotten away with it…? if you are the dm just give him whatever, but do not think the players will enjoy it to say the least.
Azerith24 01-16-06, 03:31 AM	no it wasn't my pc it was a players pc ad it is being split throughout the rest of the party
Am_I_Still_Unconscious 01-16-06, 03:32 AM	Give him the magic items, then let the city guards catch him with them! :plotting: that'll teach him to watch his sticky fingers!
Azerith24 01-16-06, 03:36 AM	the guards tried to catch him, he got away, i did everything i could.
Am_I_Still_Unconscious 01-16-06, 03:40 AM	2 words... Bounty Hunter! If u let ur players get away with stuff like that, it'll upset other players and your monsters! you are the DM and are allowed to be evil when being lawful good, in a way... that makes sense rite... :confused:
Azerith24 01-16-06, 03:42 AM	well, i planned on that, but i still want to be fair, he did get away and he already said he was giving a fair share to rest of the party
Am_I_Still_Unconscious 01-16-06, 03:46 AM	ok, well let him keep the weaker stuff, but have another aspiring theif get the unbalancing stuff, the same way he got em, or something along those lines... my players tried that kinda stuff all the time in their first few years, then i taught them that its just like today, u steal u get punished... except todays law doesnt have divination magic! ;)
Nom 01-16-06, 05:10 AM	There are a bunch of answers to this question. Firstly, most items that could be considered "expensive" (a relative term) will not be in the shop. Most magic shops will work on commission; you order the item and pay a deposit and they get in touch with someone to craft it for you. Even at a broker's, items of any value will not be lying about the shop but will be secure in one or more vaults, likely transdimensional ones. So assuming your PC just lifted stuff that was available, it will mainly be cheap stuff like scrolls, potions, and maybe wands or minor permanent items. Secondly, the level of protection should generally match the value of the equipment. For example, broker who can afford to move items costing several thousand gp can easily afford 1200 gp per 15 days for a dimensional lock, and possibly even a permanent anti-teleport item. He can also afford potent guards. If the protections weren't of high quality, then the same should apply to the merchandise. Finally, there are a bunch of very nasty spells available if a thief has gotten away with enough loot to make it worthwhile. locate object (Brd2,Clr3,Wiz2) is a good place to start. If the thief is known, locate creature (Brd4,Wiz4) or scrying (Brd3,Clr5,Drd4,Wiz4) are also effective. All can be defended against, but not trivially. The value of the loot will directly affect the power of the hunters. If he only got away with a "small" loot, he'll probably be quickly forgotten about. If he stole a kings ransom, the hunters aren't giving up any time soon.
tarkin 01-16-06, 12:06 PM	While I disagree that the magic shops all work on commission, I do agree with his main point, most of the expensive stuff is NOT in the shop. Magic shops should have access to a large store of 2nd hand goods they bought from other people, but not in the store. Instead it should be stored in a heavily guarded warehouse, often NOT in the city. You should place an order, then they use some kind of teleportation/ring gates to retrieve the heavy items. They would however have a lot of the lesser, more common items available. Things like: I would expect at least one of each of these Several Healing Potions Enlarge Potion False Life Potion +1 ring of protection Several Continual Light Stones +1 weapons +1 shields 4-8 Scrolls of 0, 1st, and 2nd level spells Two or Three of the following Wands (all with no more than 10 charges left) of Cure Light Wounds, False Life, Enlarge, Charm Person, Bull Strength, Silence) Handy Haversack Bracers of Armor +1 Cloak of Protection +1 At least one of the following Efficeint Quiver, Cloak of Elven Kind, Hat of Disguise, Perl of Power (1), Stat boosting Item +2, That should be there basic, most commonly purchased stuff that they keep on hand. Everything else should be kept in a secret location, not in the shop itself, but retreivable in less than 24 hours, at least by magic. Also, they have a HIGH probability of having at least one or two CURSED items, designed to be a trap for thieves. Things that BLOW up, or teleport you to jail.