Fun Day

Had a very fun day on the way to the library with youngest number killing arcs and attacking fire hydrants with our sticks, Oh for the day it was always so simple.

New coffee house is moving into the old coffee shops spot hope these people can make a go of it.

Spent last night writing while the wife made bread at the church basement. Interesting to watch and reminded me of the old days when we would have our separate projects but shared an office.

Joined up on facebook.

Project gutenberg

I have used the project for several text and wanted to help it back with some promotions.

Research day

Today is just a research day for Hadrian's wall and just getting my emails caught up with.

Sent of two articles to day as well playing around with the blog and MS works. Boy are things differ ant from the old trash 80.

Hope to get in touch with the Dice man Bob Kendal this afternoon about the you tube video and set up a link

Photo added from Massive voodoo who are celibrating thier 200 follower.

Peddlers notes

Merchants

Traveling peddlers around the realms.


The life of a traveling peddler could be as light and care free as any minstrel or as much about drudgery as any miser depending on the outlook and area traveled by them. Peddlers traded in small usable everyday objects that would be needed in the markets in their traveling area; around six to twelve miles for the various market days. A full purse from a market could make the traveling a light hearted affair moving from inn to inn with a private room and bath to celebrate the arrival of the fair, But a just a wrong purchases or a too heavy handed tax man and it back to the alewives common room

Market days they were very lucky if were they compensated by the local lord. Foreign traders were required to change money into local coins and sometimes were delayed by law up to two hours before they could enter the fair so as to let the locals get first crack at items. Also tax collectors could remove items from tables as part of the lords’ tax. So as a means to grant favors to kinsmen lords could grant a fair untaxed for one of their vassals so that they curry favor with the merchant class.

Records show that 2400 market days were held within a given year. This did not account for annual trade fairs which highlighted the locally produced goods. These produced revenue in the form of taxes and fines and rents. Cost of transporting goods to a market was calculated at 1.4 to 3 percent of the cost of the goods depending if it is transported by water or land. Also what was to be paid to the workers that helped with portages and tax collection points were worked out by a right of trade agreement set by the merchants and the local lords the choice made by the worker for either a cloak, gloves or food. Plus a cash payment to the toll collector based upon number of items or type going up river or down.

Gold was rarely seen by a peddler as the people used mostly copper and silver pennies minted by the government. Gold was used by the government itself for large purchases of land and ships. Then those were usually transferred with purchase agreements signed by the parties involved. Banking could exist in a fantasy setting by the use of a series of money lenders and guild exchange houses that have given them their members a set rate for funds deposited with others in lue of hard cash. Trade bars are used by costars where they are minted but are usually given a discount the further away they are traveling from its origin point. Peddlers could also exchange money for the local fixed merchants at a higher rate as they are returning to the trade bars point of origin so that the local’s blacksmith and tavern can take these forms of currency

Peddlers travel only short distances for their markets and good average around 8 miles. The farther the distance the greater the increase in the cost of the items. Areas with several villages would have several traveling peddlers where as a small isolated town may only have the peddlers who have it as a turning point or destination who may arrive with wagon loads of goods to service the populace. Groups of peddlers could work the same circuit at alternating times of years to take advantage of the seasonal needs of the area or the desires of the locals. After all if there is no money or barter items available then the trip is wasted time and distance.

Other merchants or traders would buy and sell as they went along to a targeted destination. This was done by the Polo’s as they ventured east, Glass and Venetian trade goods to the Holy Land then Holy Oil to Christian enclaves east on the silk road then onto China. In the game Mercers could be sending agents/buyers along trade routes to find new suppliers of raw or finished goods to bring back to their locations to sell. These agents may be able to act directly for the merchant or they may have some instant way of direct communication via magic. These agents and or mercers are looking go the quickest way to the most profit and are looking to cut corners on travel and time spent on the road, cheap animals and way station points for the coaster to resupply and rest.

Merchants are more generalized in their business pattern such as taking a wagon north to the dwarves mines. selling pots and pans on the way to the villages and when they arrive at the mine they can convert all the unsold pots and pans to be made in to pig iron and anvils. They then return back to the south selling the pig iron and anvils to all the smithies along the way and picking up fancy worked iron from the smiths to sell in the city when they return, setting the cycle to repeat.

Mercers have a general location that they are buying and transporting to, to sell in their home towns or trying to open a new market for any overflow goods from their main market location . Sometimes they are attempting to be rid of older and damaged goods by selling out in the sticks. Beware, this is what set Washington against his British trading partners. Also, the city that I have lived in and done business in for the last twenty-two years was founded by a man who wanted to unload water damaged calico from the Erie canal. So the mercer could be the buyer from the above Iron merchant.

Some enterprises required that shares be sold to see the risk spread. Amounts several individuals and profits shared by those who risked more in the beginning, Ships are a major example with them costing in game terms tens of thousands of gold shares being bought and resold as peoples fortunes ebbed and flowed. shares in a boat being built could be considered better collateral then one at sea after all in the middle ages 4 out of ten ships did not return to their home port and in certain times it was as high as 7 out of ten due to pirates and weather. But years until a merchant man’s return was also not that uncommon. Leading to the old saying when my ship comes in, I can redeem my shares. This could also lead to new treasure possibilities for your game, a chest filled with various ship shares that have yet to return.

Merchant guilds exist to help run the mercantile life of the city some of them going as far as to say who can sell what where and when such as in London fish caught above a certain stream could only be sold up to a certain bridge and never below it. Produce could only be hold in one square and butchery was to take place along the route to the river. The merchants guild could also work towards better trade rights the other guild and city rulers. city fines and fees to the advantage of their members.

Tradesman or craft guild exist to help buy in bulk and apprenticing rights and services. Fathers could place a son with the guild for a certain fee. Paid to the guild in either money or property. The sons would then begin their servitude with the guild until they were given journeyman status and then could travel freely about to establish themselves with in the union.

Next part who works for merchant the NPCs and what they do.

sunday afternoon

Blogging has been interesting that it will allow me to pass on some of the great blogs that I have come across during my research sessions.
like The Lost fort (www.lostfort.blogspot.com) For some of the most indeed review of sites n Europe with text pictures and history.

Nest would be the scrolls of the platinum warlock who has such a passion for his characters and game play it is hard not to get pulled up in the excitement.

Christian from Detonation Unknown who has my vote for foody and GM bar none. It is amazing how a great game and great food go hand and hand. Oh for the days of Jolt cola and Twinkies.

Trip to the Doctors went well on Friday my blood suger responding well so now I can start my rehab for my cardio troubles. You know it going to be a long day when the cardiologist tarts wtih" You have a very unusual heart".

Alan My 15 year old and his friends have started to role up characters for a 4 th edition game He real likes the new system. I kind of miss the old way that monsters were described I cannot seem to get my "mojo" up for 4 th ed monsters. it could be in all the details that are on the listing. Well more later this week.

Just thoughts

Stories filled my mind of bandits and brigands at the keep on the borderlands. Forty years of Afton Borr, Preston and others seeking the Malachite throne. Through Dungeons Unknown to either stand victorious or add thier bones with the countless score.



Gygax, Arnson and Moldvey persons all renowned added fuel to the flames eternal to those who seek to master dungeons both deep with logic and power to reap. Boxes of all colors and hues, editions basic to advance all given to peruse pursue to the dungeons of our desire and the dragons of our power.



Buccaneers and pirates upon sloops most fast slip thought the misty Nyr Dyr upon the wild coast to tread under our adventurous feet to Battle orcs, goblins with kobolds galor at the Pamrjero. From jungles reek to mountains deep so on adventuring with vows to keep. Hellfire from furnaces of giant keeps to the volcano home of lichs seek the to whelm and wave the human race under the black razors spell under the mountan white with ash.

Weiss and Hickman added to our hoard of gleaming treasure with stories bold ofAnsoln held firm by the dragons claw of evil intent rill heroes arouse to find the ways toward seasons anew when legends of old would be retold to forge anew the lances that could pierce the Vail of evil Tiamats heart Kenders played with no fear to be seen as dragon riders battled with shining knights upon turreted walls. Players gave their all to be worthy of tales to be told and compared to Huma who stood like a giant with in their minds.

Realms forgotten but well remembered upon the brow of one Ed of the Greenwood dwell has stories of those who unheralded came to life so well as ventures cause them whose cold comfort did seek the harbor of Waterdeep. Of chose few of a goddess did dwell with silverfire of masked lords and ladies who give a mystic voice to those they rule.

upon this scene comes the scholarly Kovak and Grubb with walkers dark a nd the birth of the wizards three. Brave and bold harpers stand against a tide unceasing of wizard dark and krakens deep whose plots do seek to sour the music of those who harp.

Has cousins three venture forth from the city of moonlight and silver to find adventure bold with the moon wood cold where the dead did not rest. Next was venture deep to the turlanch wood to find a man of metal steel but a soul of gentle being nest to spoil a plan most foul by a lich who seek the power of the fallen Karsus blood. This group anointed Karsus's wish to repent his folly did stop the blood most foul.

Adventures come and adventures go life has gone on and technology has changed our game ourselves. We would wait for the mailman to bring forth our letters, zines and monthly magazines, sometimes taking months to arrive from overseas. Now we have email blogs and twitters. 124 character to express our game views. For better or worst. Enjoy the game for itself, for the freedom to be the best geek we can be

Till we meet again in the sunless cavern of sun bleached bones

Who got me into gaming

When I look back on how I became interested in gaming I see what is a perfect storm like of location of a small mid western town, a need to read and a thirst for what was beyond the horizon. Being the youngest of six children and a large age difference between myself and my sibling made my imagination my best playmate not to mention the empty garage and sturdy apple tree that over looked the train tracks. 

Movies of the time with claymation monsters from the mind of HH and magazines by the great Fory Ackerman help fire the need for something other then card games and chess. So when out of the Mind of  EGG came this new experience brought to me by someone in the Drama Club I was hook. My parents spoke a mantra that I remember to this day  "At least he is not doing drugs" It may be weird and unknown to us and it maybe a gateway to devil worship but at east he is not on drugs..

Years before the Internet and the WWW we would communicate with fellow gamers  through the mail with APA, or fanzines we would mimeograph off and send out about the world I have meet many fine and wonder people including my wive and we have two wonder children who also play games. We ran a game shop for fifteen years and my most fond memory was in 1996 at thanksgiving All my family was gathered around worried about making it to retirement or if the plant was going to close and as they then turned to me I just looked at them and said I just need to lower my tax liability next quarter but hey "at least I not on drugs."

Good gaming all.