| hobolibrarian |
When creating my ranger for an upcoming campaign, I go over the skill sets with my DM and other players and I opt for weapon creation, bow making in my character's case as my craft skill. I put in my ranks, and when it came to gold allotment and the purchase of weapons, I ask my DM if my skill in bow making would allow me to pay for parts only. You can't, and be it DM's call or rules illustrated in the rule books, I will not argue, but it got me thinking.
I knit. My latest creation was a pair of fingerless gloves. I added nickel plated diamond studs to them. The yarn I use costs me about 2.99 a skein, or at least 5 or 6 pairs of the gloves themselves. The studs are 25 in a 5 dollar bag, which can last me about 3 pairs of gloves to dress up with some left over. Something like that would cost say 20 dollars at a store, but because I was able to make them, it cost me about 7 because I can make them.
I was thinking about this among other things when it came time for my hero to be to get herself armed.
I am a little curious as to how this can work in an RPG setting. For instance, how many ranks in Craft would a player need to be able to make a standard longbow? How advanced would one need to be when creating a composite bow. When magic is involved in creation, another craft skill is required (I think). How many ranks, and would it be worth it to the player to use points in that way?
Now, let's think about the question of parts. Where would the player be able to get them? Let's go back to my earlier example of the studded gloves. I can get my yarn at any craft chain store location and there is usually a Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics nearby. The studs, on the other hand are a whole other ballpark. I obtained them at a leather crafting store that has locations throughout the United States, but only one in my home state, about 40 minutes from where I live.
Bearing this in mind, where would an adventurer find parts? Is there an Honest Pete's Bow parts emporium located in say Korvosa, which is a major city, or any with major mercantile traffic. Or, would something like this be in a smaller town. My studs are not in a huge city. It's part of a shopping strip. Would a parts store be a little smaller since it's only supplies?
If that's the case, why would a PC go out of his or her way when you can just get the weapon they would otherwise make where it's more easily attained, however more expensive?
I'm just curious more than anything and would like to know what others think. My ranger spent the proper amount on a bow already made.