Gems and their value

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:17 pm

I thought this might deserve it's own thread. I got to thinking..

Use the nice gem list in the back of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and give the Faerûnian gems nice descriptions, with the folklore presented there. Those gems and semiprecious stones that aren't accounted for there (not all are) can normally be found on the internet.

Have magnifying glasses in the game that can be used on gems, and when used they roll an appraise check for you (including the +2 for using a magnifying glass) and you get a message of the value of the gem. Unless this is very hard to implement. The rules for the appraise skill are in the Player's Handbook. The reason I mention magnifying glasses and not scales is that scales are used to weigh things and weight is normally irrelevant for gems, since it's impurities and flaws you look for foremost. Scales are used when weighing metals for example.

Please comment.

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:02 pm

Also if this could be implemented perhaps DMs could make gems of the same kind but with different values. Like one bloodstone worth 40 gp and another worth 55 gp.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:11 pm

Ah man that messes. You'd be taking people to jewel shops every time they paid you in gems for something, just to check how much all the little gems they were giving you would be worth.

Maybe simple stuff like, small ruby 50 gp, ruby 200 gp, large ruby 1000 gp would be ok but 5 different rubies all of random values would be basically what we have already.

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:15 pm

Cynon wrote:You'd be taking people to jewel shops every time they paid you in gems for something..

Or you'd get a magnifying glass.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:31 pm

I don't think a magnifying glass would give you knoledge of gems just the ability to look at them.

Perhaps a gem ID kit that contained a listing of gems and their approximate unappraised value and a pair of special gem inspecting specs that allow you to roll lore + a modifier given depending on how pricey the specs were that allowed you to Identify the gems.

Basically i'm saying gems could be turning up unidentified on quests and stuff and require lore to ID depending on how rare they are.

Most people might be fooled into thinking one of those cheap ziose things was a diamond if someone talked slick enough i'm sure.

I used to think granite was made of diamonds when I was a kid and i'm sure lots of half orcs might think the same.

Then again I have to say, too much detail might spoil a nice simple addition such as gems as trade goods. Keep it simple wherever possible and people enjoy it more. If you make it complex as hell no one will want to make and implement it, and if they did people won't use it. they'll just go to the jem shops and trade the gems in for cash and buy trade bars.

Also keeping it simple reduces server lag.

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:39 pm

Gem value is found out by rolling appraise. Not Lore. The magnifying glass is lets you use your appraise on a gem without a DM or merchant being present. Such as when you're bartering with another PC.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:47 pm

Ah ha but you're assuming that everyone will just know what all those different gems are! Come on, how many different gems aree you able to identify let alone appraise for worth in real life purely by use of a magnifying glass.

I highly doubt you could even judge the carrot of a diamond good sir!

P.S. Is it only myself and Bollonger that gives a hoot about gems?

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:59 pm

Well, according to PnP rules you can roll and appraise check against DC 12 for common items and against DC 15 or higher for rare items, and since PnP is what we're trying to mimic I figured the magnifying glass was a good idea.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:35 am

Bah i guess it sticks with the idea of the game rather then overdoing realism and over complicating what is supposed to be just fun.

End of the day, I like most goblins, like Shinys!

If Gems could be implemented to be as usuable as tradebars and gold then we have a system that is RP diversified immensly when it comes to trade and such. It wouldn't be that hard to do but i think It would only be effective and realistic if it was kept simple and usable. Gems buyback should just be ~95% from a gem shop and varying degrees of annoying from various other shops to treat them as usuable depending on whether they are of value to the shop keeper or not.

My comment about appraisal is just really to make the skill of worth, something for another thread really. Appraisal would make gem usage fun I suppose. If we were all using gems as currency i guess a lot more people would be throwing points in appraise instead of tumble.

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:42 am

If gems are considered currency with 100% buy back they're of use to all who trade using large sums of money. Perhaps if you go to a bakery they'll refuse to give you change on a topaz, just like you can't pay with a gold bar when you ride the bus, but it's still worth it's weight in gold. The driver just can't give you the change.

ballonger · Post by **ballonger** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:44 am

Plus appraise would be of use to anyone who might stumble over something of worth (as adventurers do from time to time) at such times when a merchant isn't readily available.