Post/Author/DateTime	Post
One Wolf 03-20-05, 08:49 AM	Sorry if this has been asked before, but search isn't working for me today. Does anybody have a rule system for bartering? In other words, some form of skill check which would influence he prices of items sold either up or down? I have some rudimentray ideas, but I'd like some input. Here is my idea. 1) Prices start at the standard from the books. 2) Players attempting to barter roll a skill check (I was thinking either appraise or diplomacy) 3) DC depends upon the situation. (a poor tradesman would be 10 a busy dealer would be 15, etc . . .) 4) The PC gets a discount of a percentage equal to the amount the check exceeds the DC. 5) If the check fails by less than 4 then no change 6) If the check fails by 5 or more than the price in increased by the percentage equal to the amount the check fails. example: DC=10 PC's skill check = 17 (Price of item reduced by 7%) PC's skill check = 8 (Price of item remains unchanged) PC's skill check = 4 (Price of item increased by 6%) Let me know what you think, or if you have a better system. Thanks. -One Wolf
quaiven 03-20-05, 09:19 AM	Complete Adventurer has rules on Haggling and it's ruled by Diplomacy. Basically you have to adjust the vendors attitude to helpful (sidebar on pg 72 of PHB), if you do you get a %10 discount.
One Wolf 03-20-05, 09:25 AM	Basically you have to adjust the vendors attitude to helpful (sidebar on pg 72 of PHB), if you do you get a %10 discount. Thanks for the reply. Funny, I don't have complete adventurer, but I considered an option similar to what you said. However, I'd like to have a system in which the PC's could aggravate the vendor and cause the price to increase as well. Therefore making the PC's consider whether to even attempt to barter. -One Wolf
WizardlyFriend 03-20-05, 10:25 AM	if you fail diplomacy horribly you can actually decrease the status of how much someone likes them. So maybe you do instead of helpful 10% you could assign diff. percents to each status
hussey_graham 03-20-05, 11:14 AM	I use a mix of a couple things. I always start with the price options in the 3rd Ed arms and equipment guide. It shows you the price increase for rare items and decreese for the opposites. But then I always make deplomacy rolls made for hagling and give the store owner a deplomacy check aswell if he is a higher-up merchant. If the PC succeeds I give them a discount thta geos with the price and their roll. They fail and the cna pay more if they bothered the owner
Lord Dracos 03-20-05, 11:47 AM	I actually make the players roleplay to barter. I make a diplomacy check to see how willing the salesman is.
olostar 03-20-05, 12:19 PM	In addition to the PHB guidelines I also factor in automatic discounts for players when they purchase goods in their home town where they are often known by the merchant (the PC's in my campaign come from about 5 different small-sized towns, small = less than 500 citizens), as well I take into account the variaton of alignments and races between the vendor and the PC.
Vharuck 03-20-05, 02:29 PM	Also the initial idea players have for how much something is worth should be determined with an Appraise check (make that skill useful!). Of course, only severely bad rolls should have any negative effect. PC: Hmm, I'll give you 5 gold bars for that flint and steel. NPC: *scratches chin* You drive a hard bargain sir, but I see you are too intelligent and crafty for me to swindle. I accept. *does a little happy merchant dance*
CzarGarrett 03-21-05, 10:07 AM	Bartering should be more a roleplay and DM decision on supply/demand. A farmer is not going to give up his only milk cow for 25 gp (even if its only worth 15 gp). That milk cow is his livelyhood. While he'd be able to buy a new one for 25 gp, it will take a few days. A few days which he won't be getting milk. And a street urchin might be more than willing to give up a Flaming Longsword +2 he got off some random guy for a few sweets and copper pieces. What does an 8 year old know about weapons and value?