Let's go sell in *insert town name*

[JCrux]

I've been in parties several times where, no matter where we ended up, after finishing our adventure someone says "Let's go to *insert town name* to sell our goods. I get great prices there." Once a wizard offered to teleport there, sell our goods, and then teleport back.

I understand that the merchant there generally does pay the best. I could start a discussion on whether this is an exploit or not. But my real question is, does this make any sense RP wise? I mean, in theory, it takes days to travel between towns. It seems like better RP to me to sell your loot in the town you're in. If you want to look for the best merchant in town, fine. But does it make sense to carry several bags of odds and ends half way across Cormyr for the sake of a few more gold pieces?

I have to admit I'm sometimes guilty of hanging on to things when I get an unfavorable reaction from a merchant. But I'm going to try to be more realistic RP wise about this in the future. If that's the only merchant in town, perhaps I should just take what I can get.

What do the rest of you think?

Editted to remove potential spoilers.

[mourndarkv]

I see your point somewhat on this J, BUT.. I myself am known to drive waaay out of my way for better prices. Also.. if you walk up to Garrot, and he is clearly p8ssy.. well, I'd wait to barter in real life then too. So, is it meta.. eh.. maybe a little. But it can also be like real life.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

It's not metagaming. There is also this to consider. The travel costs to get to *insert town name*. They were reduced but it still does eat away at your gains (and you should break party if the person wanders off by themself if you really want to be realistic). There is nothing wrong with this really. It is a suspension of belief as much as the caravan system is.

Now that this is somewhat public knowledge it is time to enact my plan to kill the caravan guy in *insert town name* to prevent anyone from ever escaping it!

[SlothfulCat]

Yeah... basiclaly, bargain hunting isnt a bad thing... I go to 1 store to buy computer stuff, another groceries etc etc in RL. IG... well sometimes a short trip walking nearly doubles teh pay off... though my preference is to teleport if I'm going somewhere to sell for a party then return... doesnt leave us with a very hard suspension of disbelief when youre back in 5 minutes.

[Munroe]

I order my books from Amazon.com because I can save over 30% off the cover price. I just ordered Monster Manual V and Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land.

So no, I don't think going somewhere else to buy or sell is metagamish. I think if you can afford to do so, it is practical.

Of course I also think there should be more than one merchant in each town that buys stuff.

[DM Valkyrie]

I think it would depend on the party and the characters involved.

If they are fine with the arrangement of the seller going to get the better price, fine. If it were, say for instance, a party of paladins, clerics or others who are not techically into the adventure for the coin but for the "doing a good deed", then...eh..I think it would be fairly poor form. On the flip side, if it were a party of evil characters and or people who really don't know each other well, I would expect to see some misgivings of one person running off with the loot.....possibly never to be seen again....

Also, if you were all running short on time, or someone had to log soon, might be better to split the shares while everyone is there.

But that's just my thoughts...

[SlothfulCat]

Unless of course you're a cleric of Waukeen... then you better be hoofing it for teh greatest profit possible!

[JCrux]

Well, I guess I got my answer.

Thanks for all your input and I won't worry about this anymore.

[Munroe]

However, note that talking in front of the NPC merchant about who will get the best deal for selling stuff to him is VERY BAD FORM.

Now whispering about it or talking about it in another language he probably doesn't know is something else entirely. (Note that Chondathan is the regional language of Cormyr and most NPCs should know it.)

[Toreavamp]

Another option is to roleplay the answers you get when you look at an items. Let us imagine this.

Peter and Molly is out looking for a new bow for Peter. They know from previous experience that they both can barter about equally well with a merchant. They arrive at the bowyer:

Peter: Goodday Sir, could I have a look at this bow *he points out a bow*
...Peter then (depending on how the player RPs their appraise roll) goes into a discuession about how much he has to pay...
Peter: I'm not sure I'll pay you 5976 for that bow, let me look around, please.
... Molly now walk up, having looked at a few things and asks about firs another bow, then the one which were the actual desired one, in the background Peter is listening. Molly and the bowyer goes into a discuession about the price...
Molly: No Sir, I will not pay you 6315, thank you for your time.
...Peter then returns to the bowyer and says he's decided he wants the bow...