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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jan 2004 : 03:46:00
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Some of the components mages need are fairly exotic. I was wondering if any merchants make their living by just selling components to wizards. It seems that you could make a good living selling to individual mages, but imagine being the primary provider to a mage-heavy place like Silverymoon.
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But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2004 : 04:59:43
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Silverymoon could hardly have a sole provider. Now, perhaps the magical arm of the Lady's College -- they might have a deal with a single merchant, in the same way that many institutions and businesses will make exclusive deals with companies in the real world for a discount on the products. The United States military, for instance, has a deal to only have Coca-Cola's vending machines on their bases. (No, I'm not making that up. It's hard to find some Mountain Dew when I'm on a base.  Fortunately, my college campus has the same deal with Pepsi-Cola.  )
Certainly, some characters (even PCs) could make a buck -- er, gold or two selling some stuff to wizards and sorcerers. Not the stuff with no actual cost, unless your DM rules that delivering a gross of live spiders to a wizard about to teach his student(s) the spiderwalk spell -- or a like delivery -- would be worth some money. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2004 : 20:09:44
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| aye magic components r a must 4 wizards. is there a list anywhere describing all the material components 4 spell casting? |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2004 : 20:21:03
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Components? Correct me if I happen to be mistaken, but is that not why we wizards have apprentices? That and to do the laundry.
By and large I would say only cities (small or large really) would have shop dedicated specifically to the sale of spell components and foci. In the average village or town I would say you would have to go through the local mercantile, where you could probably obtain the more common components easily, however you might have trouble with uncommon and certainly rare items. In general I would say certain components really cannot be bought, such as dragon scales or beholder eyes, they are simple too rare and difficult to obtain, for the most part. Magical guilds or colleges in cities where such institutes exist probably run a big part of component sales, and so they could likely also provide you with components, at a discount if you are a member.
Another viable option is Thayvan Enclaves, which probably do some limited sales in spell components (common ones), and since they crop up even in small towns they make a viable choice as well. All in all, except in large, magic-rich cities, dedicated spell component shops are probably few and far between, simple because there is not enough demand, thus why villages and towns would not have them. Though I suppose in a mage of power lived in or near your village you could make some money selling components to he/she, but it still is not a real good option. One exception might be towns near popular adventuring sites, and I mean popular. The site would have to be visited enough by mages for them to do decent day-to-day sales to open in a random village or town. Or at least that’s how I see it.
That reminds me. Good Bookwyrm, would you be terribly opposed to lending me a scale or two, perhaps some blood. I have rarely had the pleasure of observing such a fine draconic specimine, and I would relish the opportunites experimenting with such a rare breed's scales. I promise it will not hurt, much. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
Edited by - Edain Shadowstar on 29 Jan 2004 03:33:40 |
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Knightcrawler
Acolyte
22 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 03:59:47
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Well considering the number of magic colleges in Silverymoon there is probably a booming business in spell components. I would say the schools are at least somehow involved. Having the first year students go out on "field trips" to collect common spell components. These trips would also act as instruction/training in identifying plants/animals/minerals/etc. Also the schools might actually have a specific department dedicated to just such an enterprise. Obtaining large supplies of spell components, either through deals with merchants to bring them in, with druids and rangers to provide them or any other solution.
In a place like Silverymmon a spell component shop would do very well. |
Knightcrawler
I Am Become Death, Destroyer Of Worlds |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 04:26:58
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| Honestly, even Silverymoon would not need very many independent spell component shops simply because most mages who live in or pass through the city are members of one of Silverymoon's wizarding organizations. These organizations will provide their members with components at a cheap price, lowering than that of an independent establishment. I think most major Realms cities have a Wizard's Guild or the like to steal much business from component shops. The only real niche a shop could fill is providing especially rare components. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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Belfar
Seeker
USA
86 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 04:32:48
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| A components shop is an interesting idea, but i think it wouldn't work out to well. Most of the components a wizard uses are quite common. I think that the rarer ones might be found in a magic store or alchemy supply store even. Most wizard academies could probably supply siple components also. Also you wouldn't get much profit off of it. Not much of a market in soot and spider legs last time I checked. |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 04:38:57
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| Again, the big business is in rare components. Though likely very expensive, buying a dragon scale, mind flayer brain or beholder eyes for incredibly high prices is more desireable than gathering it yourself. Granted, the average shop will not have these items, but an independant shop might have an edge for obtaining rare items from adventurers, over a large and, likely, very lawabiding and inquisative organization like a Wizard's Guild. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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Fibura Gauntlet
Seeker
United Kingdom
50 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 09:46:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Belfar
Also you wouldn't get much profit off of it. Not much of a market in soot and spider legs last time I checked.
 But these are the legs of specially-bred spiders, not those common house spiders that your apprentice keeps bringing you. No wonder your spells keep miscasting And the soot! The soot is of a marvellous quality and intruiging texture, sold in a charming pouch with a simply delightful embroidered design on it. Elminster himself doesn't use better soot than ours
Not much profit in soot and spider legs indeed! Don't you know people with perfectly good plumbing buy bottled water?  |
- Fibura Gauntlet
A scrib(bl)e on the margins of Candlekeep |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 22:40:48
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quote:
Paraphrased from Dracandos the Spellsage
Aye, magic components are a must for wizards. Is there a list anywhere describing all the material components for spellcasting?
Go look at the spell descriptions. They have the components in them. There's no "master list," since every spell is unique.
Personally, for my two characters (both wizards, though one is multiclassed) I list every spell in their spellbooks by ten categories:
School
Spell Name
Type (ray, figment, etc.)
Element (fire, force, good, chaos, etc.)
Components
(Casting) Time
Range
Duration (plus if dismissible)
(Saving) Throw (plus if Spell Resistance doesn't apply)
Effect |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 23:01:39
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| i know that Bookwyrm but i was wondering if such a thing existed as u reffered 2 as a "master list" of numerous different spell components |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 00:04:15
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quote:
Paraphrased from Dracandos the Spellsage
I know that, Bookwyrm, but I was wondering if such a thing existed: as you reffered to it, a "master list" of numerous different spell components.
No, there isn't, unless it's in a netbook someplace. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 02:59:01
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Actually, I think there was a small netbook available from the FF community that dealt with a "master list" of numerous spell components. The last time I visited the site (just last month), the book had been taken down as a newer version was being released for download sometime in February.
It was supposed to be updated to conform to 3.5e rules. I'll let you know more as I learn of it...
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 15:26:41
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| There was a complete list of spell components included in one of the 2nd edition "Players Options" books. I can't remember which one but I'll have a look and get back to you. I can'r believe the list has been rendered totally unusable by the upgrade to 3.5. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 16:46:23
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I'm guessing something like 1 in 500 people are mages, which isn't enough to support a shop in all but the largest cities, unless very rare expensive components are included -- and I'm against the idea of material components for sale because it takes so much fun out of wizardry. Rare ones should be quested for or sought at Magefairs, not bought from catalogues as if in a game of Papers & Paychecks.
But there are a few references to spell component merchants -- "Nal" Xalyth in Menzoberranzan; Alendyn Crothar, Azuth's Champion in Sembia who funds his church with his profits. |
Edited by - Faraer on 30 Jan 2004 16:52:20 |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 18:06:53
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| I disagree with only being in the largest cities. It all depends. You could have a smaller city with enough mages to make it worthwile, or live near someplace, like Myth Drannor, which attracts wizards (and all other forms of adventurers). It just happens that the larger city are more likely to be generally appealing to wizards, regardless of location |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 20:32:42
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Using a spell-component trader is good if it adds possibilities to the story, bad if it's used to automate it.
Some mages are drawn to towns and cities, others want privacy or to serve or be respected by smaller communities -- it probably balances out. |
Edited by - Faraer on 30 Jan 2004 20:34:15 |
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Component stores?
