L'awful Evilnomics - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

L'awful Evilnomics

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Burrytar
May 13, 2008 12:01:19 Lord Horrid Scumfancy's wishes have been frustrated by his father for the last time! Horrid will trade his lovers for tutors, and he will study the 4e economic system until he is seven times as powerful as his father, the city's High Grognard.

(In other words, this thread is to list/generate ways in which lawful evil characters might attempt to exploit the 4e economy.)

***

Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny, Horrid will redefine "murder" as "killing someone without paying for a Raise Dead ritual within a reasonable amount of time." If you pay for the ritual, but nothing comes of it, then the deceased is at fault for living past their time; and the family of the deceased should be charged the full price of the ritual.

Horrid is confident about his own destiny; but he's pretty sure his father should have died years ago, along with several other elder patricians. He will suggest that with sufficient age and power comes sufficient reason to test destiny. It's an investment in good society. Anyone who objects is obviously in doubt of his own right to exist.

Consider the destiny management industry it would create. What a heavenly world for lawful evil manipulators! Those who rise, rise quickly; those who fall, fall like dominoes; and those who create destiny for themselves and others will be immortal and always in true power. I'm thinking Horrid's plan will gain support from at least one elder patrician far older than anyone realizes.
#2
Loki5654
May 13, 2008 12:19:15
Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny...

Yet another false assumptions based on Keith Baker's comments.

The long and short of it is that Raise Dead works on whoever the DM wants it to work on. Keith was just suggesting that the idea of "heroic destiny" is one way to reconcile that concept in-game.

Let's all say it ten times together so it sinks in:

There are no rules for destiny...(x10)

Other than that, while I find your quest for exploits amusing, I think it's a bit premature. We should at least wait until the rulebooks are out before we start looking for loopholes. There's an old axiom about counting chickens and eggs hatching that's appropriate here, but I can't quite remember how it goes.
#3
sparrowhawk4
May 13, 2008 14:08:16
Lord Horrid Scumfancy's wishes have been frustrated by his father for the last time! Horrid will trade his lovers for tutors, and he will study the 4e economic system until he is seven times as powerful as his father, the city's High Grognard.

(In other words, this thread is to list/generate ways in which lawful evil characters might attempt to exploit the 4e economy.)

***

Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny, Horrid will redefine "murder" as "killing someone without paying for a Raise Dead ritual within a reasonable amount of time." If you pay for the ritual, but nothing comes of it, then the deceased is at fault for living past their time; and the family of the deceased should be charged the full price of the ritual.

Horrid is confident about his own destiny; but he's pretty sure his father should have died years ago, along with several other elder patricians. He will suggest that with sufficient age and power comes sufficient reason to test destiny. It's an investment in good society. Anyone who objects is obviously in doubt of his own right to exist.

Consider the destiny management industry it would create. What a heavenly world for lawful evil manipulators! Those who rise, rise quickly; those who fall, fall like dominoes; and those who create destiny for themselves and others will be immortal and always in true power. I'm thinking Horrid's plan will gain support from at least one elder patrician far older than anyone realizes.

Um.. no. Not quite. Raise dead works because the DM says it works. Destiny is a convenient cover story.
#4
valdrax
May 13, 2008 23:40:48 I don't think this has much to do with economics in the first place -- more with legal systems and the ethics and morals of a culture.

Personally, I doubt that any legal system which ruled that you couldn't be held responsible for murder if the victim wasn't one of the rare people destined for greatness could have much power over the anguished survivors of the deceased. Worse, one that explicitly favors the rich and rubs salt in the wounds of the victim's family is likely to lead to massive extra-judicial retribution once it becomes clear that the laws do nothing to see justice done in the name of the bereaved and instead exist only to protect villains.

The rules of the setting should not dictate common sense about how family members of murder victims will react. A family told to pay compensation to a killer may very well find a way to "even out" the debt.

(Also, the assumption that one who dies and does not come back actually somehow was living beyond when they should have died before that time is kind of strange.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Burrytar May 13, 2008 12:01:19	Lord Horrid Scumfancy's wishes have been frustrated by his father for the last time! Horrid will trade his lovers for tutors, and he will study the 4e economic system until he is seven times as powerful as his father, the city's High Grognard. (In other words, this thread is to list/generate ways in which lawful evil characters might attempt to exploit the 4e economy.) *** Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny, Horrid will redefine "murder" as "killing someone without paying for a Raise Dead ritual within a reasonable amount of time." If you pay for the ritual, but nothing comes of it, then the deceased is at fault for living past their time; and the family of the deceased should be charged the full price of the ritual. Horrid is confident about his own destiny; but he's pretty sure his father should have died years ago, along with several other elder patricians. He will suggest that with sufficient age and power comes sufficient reason to test destiny. It's an investment in good society. Anyone who objects is obviously in doubt of his own right to exist. Consider the destiny management industry it would create. What a heavenly world for lawful evil manipulators! Those who rise, rise quickly; those who fall, fall like dominoes; and those who create destiny for themselves and others will be immortal and always in true power. I'm thinking Horrid's plan will gain support from at least one elder patrician far older than anyone realizes.
#2 Loki5654 May 13, 2008 12:19:15	Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny... Yet another false assumptions based on Keith Baker's comments. The long and short of it is that Raise Dead works on whoever the DM wants it to work on. Keith was just suggesting that the idea of "heroic destiny" is one way to reconcile that concept in-game. Let's all say it ten times together so it sinks in: There are no rules for destiny...(x10) Other than that, while I find your quest for exploits amusing, I think it's a bit premature. We should at least wait until the rulebooks are out before we start looking for loopholes. There's an old axiom about counting chickens and eggs hatching that's appropriate here, but I can't quite remember how it goes.
#3 sparrowhawk4 May 13, 2008 14:08:16	Lord Horrid Scumfancy's wishes have been frustrated by his father for the last time! Horrid will trade his lovers for tutors, and he will study the 4e economic system until he is seven times as powerful as his father, the city's High Grognard. (In other words, this thread is to list/generate ways in which lawful evil characters might attempt to exploit the 4e economy.) *** Since Raise Dead works on people who have not yet fulfilled their destiny, Horrid will redefine "murder" as "killing someone without paying for a Raise Dead ritual within a reasonable amount of time." If you pay for the ritual, but nothing comes of it, then the deceased is at fault for living past their time; and the family of the deceased should be charged the full price of the ritual. Horrid is confident about his own destiny; but he's pretty sure his father should have died years ago, along with several other elder patricians. He will suggest that with sufficient age and power comes sufficient reason to test destiny. It's an investment in good society. Anyone who objects is obviously in doubt of his own right to exist. Consider the destiny management industry it would create. What a heavenly world for lawful evil manipulators! Those who rise, rise quickly; those who fall, fall like dominoes; and those who create destiny for themselves and others will be immortal and always in true power. I'm thinking Horrid's plan will gain support from at least one elder patrician far older than anyone realizes. Um.. no. Not quite. Raise dead works because the DM says it works. Destiny is a convenient cover story.
#4 valdrax May 13, 2008 23:40:48	I don't think this has much to do with economics in the first place -- more with legal systems and the ethics and morals of a culture. Personally, I doubt that any legal system which ruled that you couldn't be held responsible for murder if the victim wasn't one of the rare people destined for greatness could have much power over the anguished survivors of the deceased. Worse, one that explicitly favors the rich and rubs salt in the wounds of the victim's family is likely to lead to massive extra-judicial retribution once it becomes clear that the laws do nothing to see justice done in the name of the bereaved and instead exist only to protect villains. The rules of the setting should not dictate common sense about how family members of murder victims will react. A family told to pay compensation to a killer may very well find a way to "even out" the debt. (Also, the assumption that one who dies and does not come back actually somehow was living beyond when they should have died before that time is kind of strange.)