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Dragonmarked Services Have Dropped in Price!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tallric_kruush
Jun 17, 2009 19:34:52 Did anyone else notice how much more affordable it has become to ride the Lightning Rail?

All of the dragonmarked services have dropped substantially in price from the ECS. This will definitely make them much more accessible to PCs, which is no doubt the goal.

Check out the list on page 96 of the EPG if you haven't yet done so.
#2
ChrisTheS
Jun 17, 2009 20:40:47 Speaking as someone who once spent half an hour trying to calculate the fare from Wroat to Starilaskur in the midst of a game, I was quite happy to see 'per stop' listed on the table...
#3
davethebrave371
Jun 17, 2009 21:50:46
Speaking as someone who once spent half an hour trying to calculate the fare from Wroat to Starilaskur in the midst of a game, I was quite happy to see 'per stop' listed on the table...

QFFT. Guess what the second F stands for.

Seriously, this is my sentiments exactly.
#4
nthdegree256
Jun 17, 2009 22:11:24 I too had a spontaneous outburst of glee when I saw the words "Per Stop" in the table. :D

Moreover, the drop in price has me excited. I never felt like travel costs were at all relevant in the games I ran; any of the "interesting" options were so expensive that I would end up just finding a way for a patron of the party to pay for it, which A.) meant the costs were effectively nonexistent as far as the PCs were concerned, and B.) always felt a little railroady to me (even when it WASN'T on the lightning rail, har har!) These expenses put long trips well within the budget of low-level PCs, which in turn (I think) makes it easier for them to get from point to point at their leisure.
#5
xi_mao
Jun 18, 2009 14:47:38 I actually didn't like seeing the "Per stop" line in the book...but that's mainly because a long time ago, I spent 4 hours with a calculator, an architect ruler, and a map of Khorvaire pricing out the cost for each stop along the various Rail lines.

I actually also wish we still had tiered pricing for steerage, First class, ect. because I don't think most peasants could afford the given rate and sometimes I like to be stingy as a PC. "First Class? Are you kidding me? Steerage is fine. Sit me with the Masses, fleshbag!"
#6
doctorj_dup
Jun 18, 2009 20:29:25 I'm just glad the costs dropped as much as they did. When I ran Eberron in 3.5, the lightning rail was so expensive that if I did not give my players a free pass on it, they would never ride on it. Which meant I would not be able to do my fight scene on top of a moving train. With dire apes.
#7
tallric_kruush
Jun 19, 2009 14:50:57 I always got a laugh out of scenes in novels set on the Lighting Rail, and even with some adventure hooks profferred in supplements. Such descriptions often described a varied crowd of rich and poor, human and monstrous, so on and so forth.

Such a mix of peoples really wasn't realistic, though, if based upon the prices given in the ECS. Only the rich could ever ride the lightning rail if the ECS pricing index was any indication. Now, that problem's been solved. Even a 1st level PC can now enjoy such modes of travel if he/she is willing to sink a sizeable amount of their starting wealth into it.
#8
AvonRekaes
Jun 19, 2009 15:15:22
I always got a laugh out of scenes in novels set on the Lighting Rail, and even with some adventure hooks profferred in supplements. Such descriptions often described a varied crowd of rich and poor, human and monstrous, so on and so forth.

Such a mix of peoples really wasn't realistic, though, if based upon the prices given in the ECS. Only the rich could ever ride the lightning rail if the ECS pricing index was any indication. Now, that problem's been solved. Even a 1st level PC can now enjoy such modes of travel if he/she is willing to sink a sizeable amount of their starting wealth into it.

I remember some talk about how the original ECS price for the Lightning Rail assumed you were going for the high-class carts, and that steerage class (no private boothes, bring-your-own-food, hard wooden benches) was considerably cheeper.

I don't remember if this view was ever written into a book. It might've been one of Keith's answers in one of the old Ask Keith Baker threads. If it did make it into a book, it was probably either Five Nations or Dragonmarked.
#9
tallric_kruush
Jun 19, 2009 15:21:29
I remember some talk about how the original ECS price for the Lightning Rail assumed you were going for the high-class carts, and that steerage class (no private boothes, bring-your-own-food, hard wooden benches) was considerably cheeper.

I don't remember if this view was ever written into a book. It might've been one of Keith's answers in one of the old Ask Keith Baker threads. If it did make it into a book, it was probably either Five Nations or Dragonmarked.

Yeah, that was definitely stated in one of the supplements (it could even have been the ECS). It still gave me a chuckle, though, to read about shabbily clad goblins riding in passenger carts on the Lightning Rail. If the price ranged as steeply as implied, one would expect that goblin to be riding in the cart full of livestock, or whatnot.
#10
xi_mao
Jun 20, 2009 6:59:09 It was in the Explorer's Handbook. I think coach class is something like 5 copper/mile.
#11
tallric_kruush
Jun 20, 2009 12:19:43
It was in the Explorer's Handbook. I think coach class is something like 5 copper/mile.

This was, and still is, a great supplement to have. Explorer's Handbook is one of my favorites.
#12
Ogiwan
Jun 20, 2009 17:25:17 I have to agree, as I am a *huge* fan of the Thunder Guide.

That said, any idea what the going rate for Dragonmarked rituals/benefits of 'marked rituals over non-marked rituals would be?
#13
tallric_kruush
Jun 20, 2009 21:41:09
I have to agree, as I am a *huge* fan of the Thunder Guide.

That said, any idea what the going rate for Dragonmarked rituals/benefits of 'marked rituals over non-marked rituals would be?

I, too, love the Thunder Guide. It's been at the heart of several character concepts of mine, a couple of which actually saw play-time.

As to ritual pricing, I've wondered this same thing. It's hard to say, really. Maybe teleportation courteousy of House Medani [edit: should read Orien] won't differ in cost from any other source. Maybe their facility with it will make it cheaper. This could explain their near monopoly. (I used Medani as an example since they're the first that jumped to mind [edit: and was actually using Orien as an example while doing so].)

The EPG is mum, so it's hard to say. I'm not sure if this sort of thing will be included in the ECG, or not.
#14
davethebrave371
Jun 21, 2009 12:26:04
As to ritual pricing, I've wondered this same thing. It's hard to say, really. Maybe teleportation courteousy of House Medani won't differ in cost from any other source. Maybe their facility with it will make it cheaper. This could explain their near monopoly. (I used Medani as an example since they're the first that jumped to mind.)

Orien, you mean?
#15
tallric_kruush
Jun 21, 2009 12:30:55
Orien, you mean?

:embarrass

Yep. What gave it away? :P

Thanks for the heads-up. I've made the proper adjustments to the original post.
#16
davethebrave371
Jun 21, 2009 12:46:14 hahahaha, no worries. Lyrandar and Orien butt heads over transportation issues, so I've seen people make the same mistake before, since Lyrandar are half-elven and so are Medani. It's a sort of "Phiarlan/Thuranni" mindset that people lock into.
#17
tallric_kruush
Jun 21, 2009 13:10:47
hahahaha, no worries. Lyrandar and Orien butt heads over transportation issues, so I've seen people make the same mistake before, since Lyrandar are half-elven and so are Medani. It's a sort of "Phiarlan/Thuranni" mindset that people lock into.

I was posting in that "Which character are you dying to play" thread specifically concerning a Medani inquisitive. I wonder if that wasn't my problem. Oh, well.

In general, I'm just pumped that the dragonmarks are actually worthwhile, now. Their utility is definitely far greater than in 3E. We rarely had a 'marked PC in previous games, because the marks were "weak sauce". We had members of the Houses, but few with actual dragonmarks.

That will change, I'm sure, with this new setup. Hell, even I'm interested in playing a Cannith Aritificer. That's saying something, as I haven't liked playing Leader classes before the Artificer, and didn't "waste my time" with 3E dragonmarks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tallric_kruush Jun 17, 2009 19:34:52	Did anyone else notice how much more affordable it has become to ride the Lightning Rail? All of the dragonmarked services have dropped substantially in price from the ECS. This will definitely make them much more accessible to PCs, which is no doubt the goal. Check out the list on page 96 of the EPG if you haven't yet done so.
#2 ChrisTheS Jun 17, 2009 20:40:47	Speaking as someone who once spent half an hour trying to calculate the fare from Wroat to Starilaskur in the midst of a game, I was quite happy to see 'per stop' listed on the table...
#3 davethebrave371 Jun 17, 2009 21:50:46	Speaking as someone who once spent half an hour trying to calculate the fare from Wroat to Starilaskur in the midst of a game, I was quite happy to see 'per stop' listed on the table... QFFT. Guess what the second F stands for. Seriously, this is my sentiments exactly.
#4 nthdegree256 Jun 17, 2009 22:11:24	I too had a spontaneous outburst of glee when I saw the words "Per Stop" in the table. :D Moreover, the drop in price has me excited. I never felt like travel costs were at all relevant in the games I ran; any of the "interesting" options were so expensive that I would end up just finding a way for a patron of the party to pay for it, which A.) meant the costs were effectively nonexistent as far as the PCs were concerned, and B.) always felt a little railroady to me (even when it WASN'T on the lightning rail, har har!) These expenses put long trips well within the budget of low-level PCs, which in turn (I think) makes it easier for them to get from point to point at their leisure.
#5 xi_mao Jun 18, 2009 14:47:38	I actually didn't like seeing the "Per stop" line in the book...but that's mainly because a long time ago, I spent 4 hours with a calculator, an architect ruler, and a map of Khorvaire pricing out the cost for each stop along the various Rail lines. I actually also wish we still had tiered pricing for steerage, First class, ect. because I don't think most peasants could afford the given rate and sometimes I like to be stingy as a PC. "First Class? Are you kidding me? Steerage is fine. Sit me with the Masses, fleshbag!"
#6 doctorj_dup Jun 18, 2009 20:29:25	I'm just glad the costs dropped as much as they did. When I ran Eberron in 3.5, the lightning rail was so expensive that if I did not give my players a free pass on it, they would never ride on it. Which meant I would not be able to do my fight scene on top of a moving train. With dire apes.
#7 tallric_kruush Jun 19, 2009 14:50:57	I always got a laugh out of scenes in novels set on the Lighting Rail, and even with some adventure hooks profferred in supplements. Such descriptions often described a varied crowd of rich and poor, human and monstrous, so on and so forth. Such a mix of peoples really wasn't realistic, though, if based upon the prices given in the ECS. Only the rich could ever ride the lightning rail if the ECS pricing index was any indication. Now, that problem's been solved. Even a 1st level PC can now enjoy such modes of travel if he/she is willing to sink a sizeable amount of their starting wealth into it.
#8 AvonRekaes Jun 19, 2009 15:15:22	I always got a laugh out of scenes in novels set on the Lighting Rail, and even with some adventure hooks profferred in supplements. Such descriptions often described a varied crowd of rich and poor, human and monstrous, so on and so forth. Such a mix of peoples really wasn't realistic, though, if based upon the prices given in the ECS. Only the rich could ever ride the lightning rail if the ECS pricing index was any indication. Now, that problem's been solved. Even a 1st level PC can now enjoy such modes of travel if he/she is willing to sink a sizeable amount of their starting wealth into it. I remember some talk about how the original ECS price for the Lightning Rail assumed you were going for the high-class carts, and that steerage class (no private boothes, bring-your-own-food, hard wooden benches) was considerably cheeper. I don't remember if this view was ever written into a book. It might've been one of Keith's answers in one of the old Ask Keith Baker threads. If it did make it into a book, it was probably either Five Nations or Dragonmarked.
#9 tallric_kruush Jun 19, 2009 15:21:29	I remember some talk about how the original ECS price for the Lightning Rail assumed you were going for the high-class carts, and that steerage class (no private boothes, bring-your-own-food, hard wooden benches) was considerably cheeper. I don't remember if this view was ever written into a book. It might've been one of Keith's answers in one of the old Ask Keith Baker threads. If it did make it into a book, it was probably either Five Nations or Dragonmarked. Yeah, that was definitely stated in one of the supplements (it could even have been the ECS). It still gave me a chuckle, though, to read about shabbily clad goblins riding in passenger carts on the Lightning Rail. If the price ranged as steeply as implied, one would expect that goblin to be riding in the cart full of livestock, or whatnot.
#10 xi_mao Jun 20, 2009 6:59:09	It was in the Explorer's Handbook. I think coach class is something like 5 copper/mile.
#11 tallric_kruush Jun 20, 2009 12:19:43	It was in the Explorer's Handbook. I think coach class is something like 5 copper/mile. This was, and still is, a great supplement to have. Explorer's Handbook is one of my favorites.
#12 Ogiwan Jun 20, 2009 17:25:17	I have to agree, as I am a huge fan of the Thunder Guide. That said, any idea what the going rate for Dragonmarked rituals/benefits of 'marked rituals over non-marked rituals would be?
#13 tallric_kruush Jun 20, 2009 21:41:09	I have to agree, as I am a huge fan of the Thunder Guide. That said, any idea what the going rate for Dragonmarked rituals/benefits of 'marked rituals over non-marked rituals would be? I, too, love the Thunder Guide. It's been at the heart of several character concepts of mine, a couple of which actually saw play-time. As to ritual pricing, I've wondered this same thing. It's hard to say, really. Maybe teleportation courteousy of House Medani [edit: should read Orien] won't differ in cost from any other source. Maybe their facility with it will make it cheaper. This could explain their near monopoly. (I used Medani as an example since they're the first that jumped to mind [edit: and was actually using Orien as an example while doing so].) The EPG is mum, so it's hard to say. I'm not sure if this sort of thing will be included in the ECG, or not.
#14 davethebrave371 Jun 21, 2009 12:26:04	As to ritual pricing, I've wondered this same thing. It's hard to say, really. Maybe teleportation courteousy of House Medani won't differ in cost from any other source. Maybe their facility with it will make it cheaper. This could explain their near monopoly. (I used Medani as an example since they're the first that jumped to mind.) Orien, you mean?
#15 tallric_kruush Jun 21, 2009 12:30:55	Orien, you mean? :embarrass Yep. What gave it away? :P Thanks for the heads-up. I've made the proper adjustments to the original post.
#16 davethebrave371 Jun 21, 2009 12:46:14	hahahaha, no worries. Lyrandar and Orien butt heads over transportation issues, so I've seen people make the same mistake before, since Lyrandar are half-elven and so are Medani. It's a sort of "Phiarlan/Thuranni" mindset that people lock into.
#17 tallric_kruush Jun 21, 2009 13:10:47	hahahaha, no worries. Lyrandar and Orien butt heads over transportation issues, so I've seen people make the same mistake before, since Lyrandar are half-elven and so are Medani. It's a sort of "Phiarlan/Thuranni" mindset that people lock into. I was posting in that "Which character are you dying to play" thread specifically concerning a Medani inquisitive. I wonder if that wasn't my problem. Oh, well. In general, I'm just pumped that the dragonmarks are actually worthwhile, now. Their utility is definitely far greater than in 3E. We rarely had a 'marked PC in previous games, because the marks were "weak sauce". We had members of the Houses, but few with actual dragonmarks. That will change, I'm sure, with this new setup. Hell, even I'm interested in playing a Cannith Aritificer. That's saying something, as I haven't liked playing Leader classes before the Artificer, and didn't "waste my time" with 3E dragonmarks.