If you’re walking in on the middle of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeons series, there’s an index here.

Economics gets a lot of words, especially in the DMG, but concrete implementations are non-existent. I want to cast fantasy economics in the context of the personal: The shopkeeper and their family. To summarise the NPC post:

To sketch a walk-on or one-note NPC, give them A-DNA: An asset the PCs want, a distinguishing trait, what they need from the PCs, and an agenda.

To portrait a significant NPC, add A-VOW: A preferred approach, a visage they falsely present to the world, an obsession they cannot let go and a weakness that will always defeat them.

And pulling from the DMG, the five principles of fantasy economics:

Shopkeepers are people. Give them at least A-DNA, and A-VOW too if they’re a local who will be met with every trip back to town. Shopkeepers can’t afford to buy things that they can’t sell to the people already in their town. If they could afford a 1000 GP diamond, it’s at a tenth the price, and they leave town to sell it and retire in the city.

Shopkeepers can’t afford to give discounts. If they like your chances, though they might just take a percentage of the treasure you bring back.

Shopkeepers can tell if you’re desperate. If you walk into town looking like adventurers, climbing gear and torches are going to be at a premium.

Shopkeepers sell rare items at high prices. The shorter the supply, the more expensive it is. If you buy the local stores supply of hemp rope, that last length will be double the price of the first, and next time even more so.

Shopkeepers think in whole numbers. Charge double or triple to sell. Offer half or a quarter of the price to buy.

It’s worth acting out shopping because shopkeepers have mouths to feed, and they’ll routinely charge double or triple price, or offer a tenth of the value of an item, because their job is to squeeze the PCs for all they’re worth. I’m not sure where this belongs — NPCs, probably?

This has been a part of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeon Series! Let me know your thoughts on fantasy economics, if there are questions left unanswered, whether I’ve overlooked anything glaring, or anything of the sort!

Idle Cartulary

24th May 2022