| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Shadowsoul |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:22:07
What do you think dragons hoarded before there was wealth? I've never read anywhere that giants and early elves had any sort of currency system so what do you think the dragons would hoard in their lairs?
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| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 06 Apr 2015 : 00:47:59
On a more serious note, currency is not the only form of wealth... And there's a lot that can be considered quite valuable even if no one has invented currency, yet. Gold, for example, doesn't have to be formed into coins for it to have value.
Pretty much anything rare and/or hard to obtain could be considered valuable... Ditto for objects deemed to have cultural or religious value. Precious stones, precious metals, certain plants, certain bits of animals... It can all be valuable. Water can be valuable, if you're in a desert.
Information and knowledge are also valuable. |
| SaMoCon |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 21:00:06
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Pogs. 
You, sir, have just won +1 internets.  I am so glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that.
What did wealth look like before coin currencies? What did it look like on Earth? Weaker people subjugated and forced to labor for their new lord. Choice of the fittest individuals for a personal harem (not for dragons). As much food prepared to the lord's liking and brought to his mouth for feasting. Performers to entertain, sycophants to fawn, servants to pamper, prisoners to punish, and fools to ridicule. Without need for clothing, cosmetics, and adornments there is little for dragons to acquire that would be thought of as wealth which wouldn't quickly spoil and lose any value (if not adding a new and funky smell to the lair). Still, piles of furs and cured hides, jars of oils & perfumes, amphorae of wines & olive oil, bricks of peat & incense, piles of woven cloths and patterned rugs,... I said "little," didn't I? I guess there are quite a number of things and I'm stopping here because it is 1pm here and I have somewhere to be. Surely other people can fill more in. |
| Joran Nobleheart |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 16:32:41
I always figured they hoarded knowledge back in eons past. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 13:57:47
sex slaves.... that's how they became a creator race. |
| AuldDragon |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 04:02:52
Dragons hoard wealthy primarily as a measure of status. There are other measures of status, but they tend to specific to individual species or types; for example, performing good deeds and quests increases a gold or silver dragon's status amongst golds and silvers, but is meaningless to a blue or white. Thus, over time, they gravitated to wealth as something that is a meaningful measure of status amongst almost all dragons. Of course, this probably also reduced the overall dragon population, as with the single primary standard, most any dragon could challenge and slay another and gain a big hoard and thus a big boost to their status. Before that, challenging another dragon would have been less rewarding (sure, a red would gain considerable status for killing a gold, but now they gain that *and* the hoard).
The 2e Draconomicon has some good information on the subject.
Jeff |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 16:53:15
Im gonna go with territory, slaves and empires. Fits in nicely with the idea that dragons from long ago were overlords of large empires. They were hoarding the things that lead to the creation of empires.
When the dracorage ended those empires and their successors and their successors, most dragons switched to hoarding treasure which was far more permanent |
| Bladewind |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 16:35:32
Giantcraft did mention a story about a 2 stone gold coin from the realm of Ostoria, so coins were used from the Age of Giants and on.
The most commmon treasure dragons would be able to hoard from humamoid prey would be trade goods and weapons. For example half-produced tools, pottery and surpluss foodstuffs for trade and hunting tools such as masterwork spears, axes and clubs for weapons. I would guess most dragons would not see any value in most of those weapons unless they managed to hurt him, and the trade goods would go in their hoard if they might not have seen an example of it earlier. Dragons hoard not for trade but out of pride: the idea of owning a big pile of things they like or might use in the future. |
| Artemas Entreri |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 14:31:00
Bones! |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 13:29:52
Works of art. Finely crafted items. Exotic spices. Expensive silks. Musical instruments. Musicians. Exotic liquors. Rare ores. Gemstones. Jewellery. Crowns. Sceptres. Skulls. Trophies. Books. Deeds to land. Slaves. Cattle. Magic. Allies. Weapons. Desirable women.
A dragon could perceive value in anything a non-dragon perceives as valuable. With possession of such things comes status, prestige, influence and power over others. |
| xaeyruudh |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 06:41:34
Gawds you're a nerd Wooly. 
I'm with everyone else. I suspect their treasures included more magic, since there's reason to believe that they were more formidable wielders of the Art back in those days. Trophies and minerals are good too.
I especially like the "anything of value in that territory." Crystalline lakes, colorful hot springs, places where veins of ore/minerals rose to the surface in visually pleasing patterns, particular cliffs, waterfalls, etc.
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| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 06:12:28
That's a good question.
I'd say trophies from battles with non-dragons. Anything magical too, like giant weapons or armor, or whatever magic the early elves brought with them that a dragon may have never before seen.
Edit: I will add that the thing I believe they valued the most was territory, and anything of value in that territory. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 05:42:29
Pogs. |
| Baltas |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:53:22
Possibly rare or pretty things in general. Diamonds, platinum, titanium, adamantine, well crafted weapons and armor etc. |
| Delwa |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:44:29
Anything shiny? I'm not sure before wealth would be the right question. Before wealth as we know it might be better.
Several dragons I've read about hoarded things other than coin.
It's really whatever strikes their fancy. The race as a general whole has simply adopted a gold standard for now. |
