Maybe this could work as a base price, to be modified by all or any of the following: * The relationship between the magician and the buyer (personally and in terms of clan, tribe, nation, species)
* Their cult or runic associations (different prices for devotees/rune levels in the same cult, initiates in the same cult, laymen in the same cult, initiates or higher in a different cult from the same pantheon, complete strangers). Strangers will have to pay way over the odds compared to kinsmen and fellow cultists, and they might not be offered the best magic at any price other than in exceptional circumstances (or unless they somehow prove they are worthy?)
* The availability of the magic through other channels
* Whether the caster has to put permanent POW into the transaction; and
* Some good, old-fashioned bargaining?
NB: I am using terms from divine cults, but the same sort of ideas would apply by analogy to the equivalent ranks in aminist practises or churches or orders
There probably are other factors to consider as well. Any suggestions?
One idea of mine is that spirit cults might be more willing to trade with strangers who are not enemies than large theistic cults because they can't afford to be too proud-- though in my Glorantha remaining in a spirit cult also involves keeping the spirit's High Holy Day and observing a geas set by the spirit.
Would we use the RQ3 table (for RQ or HQ or HW?) as, say, the base price for a magician casting a spell for someone from the same clan (or equivalent) who is an initiate (or equivalent) in the same religion as the magician?
Also at least some of the time it is probably more fun (and better for developing a story) to use the 'price' as an approximate value of the goods or services that the magician would require, or even as an idea of the size of (unspecified) favour that the magician might want to call in at a later date?
By way of a complete non-sequitur, the 'old World of Darkness' Vampire RPG had an informal 5 star system for grading favours (and modifiers on social traits between people when one owed the other a favour), because between vampires favours were even more important than cash.
Which kinds of culture in Glorantha might do something like this?
Richard Hayes
From: Mark <markmohrfield_at_09V_WOBXeoIq0yzw4bauuFNV8ciA02DccUlw_ERkN8RweiUtqxjIHvho8vxORQF7d0j80F_pkqaU2-T7s-RN30RC.yahoo.invalid>
To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 17 June 2011, 19:49
Subject: Re: [RQ2/3] Selling magic
The RQ3 Gamemaster's Book contains costs for casting spells on page 30. Things that require the permanent sacrifice of POW, such as one-use divine spells or enchantments, cost much more than things that require only magic points. I share the opinion expressed by some others that these are too cut and dry, myself.
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