Mobspawner's page

I am one day going to write a big big article about the economics of Dungeons & Dragons / pathfinder.

I would like to know, dear Paizo, how have you decided upon the price levels in the Pathfinder Core book? If it is purely based on price levels in previous DnD editions - how were different price levels decided upon back then?

I have done a lot of economics calculations based on material prices and wages of 15th and 21st century Earth and found some prices to be completely ridiculous. Generally weapons and armors seem to cost twice what they should, and bows especially are overpriced. Other prices in Pathfinder, however, seem to be spot on – if a Pathfinder gold piece is equivalent to a British Gold Sovereign.

How can a longbow cost 75gp when the yearly salary of a trained craftsman is 100gp per year? A trained bowmaker would make many bows per year and thus make a way to big profit.

In my campaign I have decided to halve the prices of all non-magical weapons and armors. This also has the advantage, that my players stop looting every single piece of leather armor and goblin Morningstar they find – and have to waste time carrying it.

I am GM in a game in which one player has been allowed to play a Saurian Ninja.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/3rd-party-races/saurian

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/playtests/paizo---ultimate-combat/ninja

In total I think the Ninja class is too frontloaded, but overall balanced.

The Ki system means that he is over-powered in one-two encounters per day, but otherwise still great, as he will just have to spend more time to get in position for the perfect sneak attack. Ki seems to be an ability a character should not get already at 2nd level.

With vanishing trick and featherfall - he is pretty much impossible to kill.

The Ninja trick: Forgotten Trick is extremely boring. It means that the player doesn't have to make any real choices of tricks later in the game.

Unrelated: The Saurian class is a little overpowered bacause of the +2 Natural Armor. But is still seems a decent way to make a saurian, as he is pretty much defined by his scales.