Favored Son / Daughter trait question - HOW much gold?

[Lucas Hennes]

So I'm running Rise of the Runelords AE for my group, and we've recently gotten into a debate over the Favored Son/Daughter trait. The trait, among other cool things, gives "an additional 10% over the amount of gp you normally would get from selling off treasure." What I've been interpreting this as is a 1000 gold item, which would normally sell for 500 gold, gives an additional 10% gold, so it would sell for 550. A few of the party members are claiming that "additional" means the item should sell for 10% more than 50%, so 60% (or 600 gold).

At this point in the discussion, I'm very tempted to just say "I'm the GM and I say 55%" but I wanted to ask the forums first. Has anyone had this question before?

[darkwarriorkarg]

Over the amount of GP, not an increase of percentage. Tell them tonot be so greedy

[seebs]

It's certainly ambiguous. I would actually tend to read that one as 60%. Here's why:

10% more => 110% of X
Additional 10% => there is an existing percentage somewhere, add 10 to it.

So 10% more would be do the computation, add 10%. Additional 10% means that since it's normally 50%, there's 50% plus 10%, which is 60%.

[Aberrant Templar]

Lucas Hennes wrote:

The trait, among other cool things, gives "an additional 10% over the amount of gp you normally would get from selling off treasure." What I've been interpreting this as is a 1000 gold item, which would normally sell for 500 gold, gives an additional 10% gold, so it would sell for 550. A few of the party members are claiming that "additional" means the item should sell for 10% more than 50%, so 60% (or 600 gold).

Your interpretation is correct. Despite the "could be clearer" wording, you just add the extra 10% in as a bonus at the end.

Selling an item for 60% instead of 50% is a bit outside the power level of a trait (which should ~1/2 the strength of a feat).

[Sissyl]

Ah, the old percent vs percentage units problem.

[Corbin Dallas]

The rule is clear. Example given: I would normally get 500GP but I get 10% more than that for being a Favored Daughter. Simple math 500x 1.10= 550.
You are doing it correctly. :)

[Aberrant Templar]

Actually, now that I've read the trait it seems less ambiguous (and gives you something you can point to when justifying your decision to your players). The exact wording is:

"...you gain an additional 10% over the amount of gp you normally would get from selling off treasure"

I bolded the important part, because it proves your example correct.

If you sell a 1,000gp item, you would normally get 500gp. With this trait, you gain an additional 10% over the amount you would normally get (500gp). That would leave you with 550gp, like you said.

The "60% instead of 50%" reading would not work as written, since 600gp is more than 10%.

You don't have to say "I'm right because I'm the DM". You can just say "I'm right because math." :-)

[Xaratherus]

Percentages are not additive. An additional 10% off of an item that is marked down by 50% does not equal 60% off the original price, but 55% off.

You have the right of it.

[Lucas Hennes]

Ok, thanks everyone! We've discussed it and everyone agrees that regardless of the exact wording, selling items at 60% would just be too powerful for a trait. Thanks for the input!

[seebs]

Ahh, yeah, with that additional context I agree, that should be 55%.

[Gilfalas]

Lucas Hennes wrote:

So I'm running Rise of the Runelords AE for my group, and we've recently gotten into a debate over the Favored Son/Daughter trait. The trait, among other cool things, gives "an additional 10% over the amount of gp you normally would get from selling off treasure." What I've been interpreting this as is a 1000 gold item, which would normally sell for 500 gold, gives an additional 10% gold, so it would sell for 550. A few of the party members are claiming that "additional" means the item should sell for 10% more than 50%, so 60% (or 600 gold).

At this point in the discussion, I'm very tempted to just say "I'm the GM and I say 55%" but I wanted to ask the forums first. Has anyone had this question before?

Lucas you have ruled correctly. It says they get 10% over WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY GET. Not 10% over what they would normally PAY For that item.

If you sell an item with a street price of 1000 gold, you normally get 500. Ten percent more of what you normally get is indeed 550.

It is a trait, not a road to immediate wealth.