Trader article posted. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Trader article posted.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Kamelion
Jun 18, 2003 1:44:32 Hey there folks.

Been keeping busy on the trader front...

Jon kindly agreed to post my trader article at Athas Online:

http://darksun.3sins.com/3e/3e_trade.htm

There are doubtless holes in this, but I am looking for serious feedback in order to knock this into shape. I think that the concept is sound - need to iron out the mechanical kinks. Anyway, hit me hard and fast and let me know what you think..

Cheers!
#2
nytcrawlr
Jun 18, 2003 12:11:54 Will take a look at it. I'm all for more PrCs!
#3
Kamelion
Jun 27, 2003 3:58:20 So this mul walks into a Tsalaxan trade depot and says:
"Hi there. I need some trade advice and I've got three questions I need to ask."

"Sure," says the Tsalaxan trademaster. "We are here to serve."

"Well, what are your prices like?" asks the mul

"20 gold per piece of advice given," replies the Tsalaxan.

"That's awfully expensive, isn't it?" the mul says.

"Yes, it is," replies the Tsalaxan. "And what was your third question?"

(Just trying to rustle up a little trader interest here, folks...)
#4
zombiegleemax
Jun 27, 2003 4:53:44 I really like some of the feats. They're original and creative ways to expand the trader.

Expand it to a full class ;)

I do think that too much dependence is given to the trader's house since its only feasable to cover the main merchant houses. This makes it rougher to create other houses, flesh out more minor houses, etc. I'd strip away the house dependant features and requirements for feats and just sketch out a few PrCs for the different houses, leaving the basic stuff more generalized for any trader. Also, the class as written is very humancentric (is that the right word); human focused. Generalize it more to give it the capability to handle elven traders, nikaal wandering traders, ssurran scavenging traders, etc. Of course, PrCs could be developed to customize these other types of traders, but they shouldn't be innitially 'cut from the same mold' in the first place.

This is all just a cursory lookover as well. I may very well be wrong on a few points, but that's at a glance. Its still a cool idea and if it works out well enough, I'd definately use it. Also, the feats should be catagorized as trader feats and trader should be removed as the prereq for almost every feat (one or two would fit nicely in a general catagory though).

Lastly, the abilities gained should be roleplayed out, not just chosen from a list at X level. But that may just be me ;)
#5
zombiegleemax
Jun 27, 2003 23:13:58 Hee hee... at Origins I bought the old trader book for $7.

There are probably better deals out there but still...
#6
Kamelion
Jun 30, 2003 6:57:49 Hey, thanks for the feedback Mach - very useful comments!

Your points about it needing fleshing out to incorporate minor houses, non-human traders etc are well taken I deliberately went for a basic approach with the first draft to see if the basic idea works and plan to add these extra areas in the next version. Some feats catering to the minor houses and non-human races are definitely in order.

I had originally envisaged this as a series of prestige classes for each house, but figured that the diversity that this would bring could also be represented by "house feats". I do really like your suggestion about a series of PrCls and almost went there myself, but I am trying to build a feat-based trader system with extra development through PrCls.

I am going with the concept that anyone can be a trader, just by buying and selling goods. Getting trader feats improves your effectiveness and taking the Trader Agent PrCl gets you still another edge at the cost of house affiliation. So, while I don't feel that a seperate trader class is needed for each house, tribe, etc, I do agree with you that there is room for still more specialisation, perhaps in the form of 5-level PrCls.

(Obvious examples might be the Tsalaxan Assassin, Ssurran Scavanger, Inix Courier and the like...)

As for the points about designing new houses, fleshing out existing minor groups etc, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a design template that links the choice of "house feats"offered to the size of the house. I'll see if I can knock something together for this...

I totally agree that the Trader Agent abilities are more role-playing in nature and the write-up could probably do with some wording to the effect that these abilities cannot be gained without commensurate role-playing. But I also really wanted to find a mechanical way to capture these nuggets from 2e. I could use some help on this aspect of the class...

Mach, thanks again for your input, even if you feel it was only cursory. This started out as an idle interest in the defunct class but I think that something can be hammered out that makes for a colourful, playable trader character and your thoughts are welcome prods in the right direction. Cheers! :D

Q: What do you call 2000 Tsalaxans buried up to their necks in the Great Alluvial Sand Wastes?
A: Not enough sand.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Kamelion Jun 18, 2003 1:44:32	Hey there folks. Been keeping busy on the trader front... Jon kindly agreed to post my trader article at Athas Online: http://darksun.3sins.com/3e/3e_trade.htm There are doubtless holes in this, but I am looking for serious feedback in order to knock this into shape. I think that the concept is sound - need to iron out the mechanical kinks. Anyway, hit me hard and fast and let me know what you think.. Cheers!
#2 nytcrawlr Jun 18, 2003 12:11:54	Will take a look at it. I'm all for more PrCs!
#3 Kamelion Jun 27, 2003 3:58:20	So this mul walks into a Tsalaxan trade depot and says: "Hi there. I need some trade advice and I've got three questions I need to ask." "Sure," says the Tsalaxan trademaster. "We are here to serve." "Well, what are your prices like?" asks the mul "20 gold per piece of advice given," replies the Tsalaxan. "That's awfully expensive, isn't it?" the mul says. "Yes, it is," replies the Tsalaxan. "And what was your third question?" (Just trying to rustle up a little trader interest here, folks...)
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 27, 2003 4:53:44	I really like some of the feats. They're original and creative ways to expand the trader. Expand it to a full class ;) I do think that too much dependence is given to the trader's house since its only feasable to cover the main merchant houses. This makes it rougher to create other houses, flesh out more minor houses, etc. I'd strip away the house dependant features and requirements for feats and just sketch out a few PrCs for the different houses, leaving the basic stuff more generalized for any trader. Also, the class as written is very humancentric (is that the right word); human focused. Generalize it more to give it the capability to handle elven traders, nikaal wandering traders, ssurran scavenging traders, etc. Of course, PrCs could be developed to customize these other types of traders, but they shouldn't be innitially 'cut from the same mold' in the first place. This is all just a cursory lookover as well. I may very well be wrong on a few points, but that's at a glance. Its still a cool idea and if it works out well enough, I'd definately use it. Also, the feats should be catagorized as trader feats and trader should be removed as the prereq for almost every feat (one or two would fit nicely in a general catagory though). Lastly, the abilities gained should be roleplayed out, not just chosen from a list at X level. But that may just be me ;)
#5 zombiegleemax Jun 27, 2003 23:13:58	Hee hee... at Origins I bought the old trader book for $7. There are probably better deals out there but still...
#6 Kamelion Jun 30, 2003 6:57:49	Hey, thanks for the feedback Mach - very useful comments! Your points about it needing fleshing out to incorporate minor houses, non-human traders etc are well taken I deliberately went for a basic approach with the first draft to see if the basic idea works and plan to add these extra areas in the next version. Some feats catering to the minor houses and non-human races are definitely in order. I had originally envisaged this as a series of prestige classes for each house, but figured that the diversity that this would bring could also be represented by "house feats". I do really like your suggestion about a series of PrCls and almost went there myself, but I am trying to build a feat-based trader system with extra development through PrCls. I am going with the concept that anyone can be a trader, just by buying and selling goods. Getting trader feats improves your effectiveness and taking the Trader Agent PrCl gets you still another edge at the cost of house affiliation. So, while I don't feel that a seperate trader class is needed for each house, tribe, etc, I do agree with you that there is room for still more specialisation, perhaps in the form of 5-level PrCls. (Obvious examples might be the Tsalaxan Assassin, Ssurran Scavanger, Inix Courier and the like...) As for the points about designing new houses, fleshing out existing minor groups etc, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a design template that links the choice of "house feats"offered to the size of the house. I'll see if I can knock something together for this... I totally agree that the Trader Agent abilities are more role-playing in nature and the write-up could probably do with some wording to the effect that these abilities cannot be gained without commensurate role-playing. But I also really wanted to find a mechanical way to capture these nuggets from 2e. I could use some help on this aspect of the class... Mach, thanks again for your input, even if you feel it was only cursory. This started out as an idle interest in the defunct class but I think that something can be hammered out that makes for a colourful, playable trader character and your thoughts are welcome prods in the right direction. Cheers! :D Q: What do you call 2000 Tsalaxans buried up to their necks in the Great Alluvial Sand Wastes? A: Not enough sand.