[edit] - Athasian Currency is no longer an issue for me with 4e, as the athas.org currency chart is perfect. See my last post in this thread for questions to the athas.org folks. Thanks.
Have one 'lucky' character find a single Astral Diamond.
Value would be what? a million 'gold' pieces?
Then sit back and watch half of Athas hunt down and murder the character for the diamond they also can't sell.
Bwa ha ha!
Just for your edification, monetary treasure is referred to as "200 gp in ceramic" in the Bloodsand Arena module.
I know,Which would translate to 20,000 cp (100 copper = 1 gp). Which is why I do not want to use the "official" standard currency value. I don't want to treat ceramics and bits like residuum. I'm not going to make darksun fit into 4e. I'm going to build my own darksun, using as much of 4e as I can.
Which means I'll be rebuilding the currency system the parcel system and repricing every item I include in my game. This is fun for me and in no way a problem. I'd just like some suggestions on certain things from the hardcore DS masters on this forum.
That's cool, just verifying.
Yeah, when I saw that, I thought, "betterbuyakankquick!". That's a ton of cps for first level or any level. Although, as I understand it, it's treated like residuum, as in residuum (300gp) Ceramic (500gp) which I just don't like. One of my players hates the idea and my friend who brought over BSA to begin with was the one who pointed it out while saying something I cannot repeat on this forum. He also hates the BSA and quit playing fury of the wastewalker. So I'm gonna try and snag both from him.
Point is, my DS group will welcome the effort I'm making. The changes should be minor with regards to the CB, which is my goal. To change it in a way where the character builder is still completely useful and the changes are tracked on scratch paper. Just like survival days.
Instead of a Silver Piece you've got the ceramic Solid Piece or Splitter's piece, which has grooves so it can be busted into smaller Chit Pieces (or Cracked Pieces). Above that is the minted copper Greater Piece, Good Piece, or even Green Piece (since that's what color copper ends up being).
I'd like to think that Wizards could come up with something even more elegant, but I figured I'd throw the idea out there. I'll let folk who know the setting better come up with PP and AD.
Well, I'm a bit fried from all the reading I'v been doing lately and not too little lack of sleep, so I completely spaced out 3.5 darksun. But, once my brain started working again and I popped open my Athas.org folder, I discovered that most of my troubles were solved as the work has already been done for me.
The precious gemstones are, for the most part, completely different and wouldn't work as higher grade currency or low level treasure. Still, I like them more because they are NOT standard 4e treasure. It gives darksun a more unique feel. Which means I need to ask the templars how they would handle a few things. So lets hope they look in here, or I might have to create yet another thread!
Questions to my heroes at athas.org.
1. When it comes to the precious stones and gems found on page 59-60 of the athasian emporium (beta 1.2), how would you change them to better fit into 4th edition? If you wouldn't change them, please explain why.
3. Looking at your currency chart, which I really enjoy, do you believe it can be used as is for 4th edition darksun without problems? I really like the lead beads taking the place of copper and gold as the highest grade of currency. (ps I absolutely love the ceramic artwork)
4. When pricing 4e mundane and magical items, what suggestions can you give me? If possible, can you price check an example item from 4e? The dagger. This will help me price all the standard D&D weapons not found in the ds3, AE or trade lords documents.
Example item - Dagger. (standard 1gp)
Wooden Dagger
Bone Dagger
Stone/Obsidian Dagger
Iron Dagger
Steel Dagger
Also, can you give me an example of price inflation due to being magical. For example, a +1 enhancement bonus would increase the item by how much? A property would increase the price by how much? A power would increase the price by how much. I'd be very happy with simple guess work.
Again, thanks. It's been awhile since I'v looked over the athas.org material and I forgot how well done it is. It's going to be a great help to me and I will finally get to use it when I run 4e DS, as the fluff and artwork and more is still very much useful.
Sorry to say it, but expect to get a lot more attention from me in regards to questions and comments. Sorry, and thanks.
[edit] removed question 2, as it was answered clearly in AE. Basically, same gemstones by a different name. Thanks.