When two teams encounter one another, they might place very totally different values on the identical objects.
Think about a humanoid tribe that’s “past the pale” of civilized territories occupied by humanity. They’ve not often encountered “civilized” peoples. However these individuals are slowly increasing. Barring precise battle, which is dear and unsure, how can the newcomers affect this group?
Impress Me
Multiple group of gamers has in all probability tried this: to impress the locals, they carry out feats of magical or marital may. It is a authentic tactic the place arcane magic is exclusive. Whereas the native tribe might have entry to divine or druidic magic, arcane magic is commonly related to institutes of studying that native tribes might not have entry to.
So that you exhibit your magic, each innate spells and magical gadgets. This may increasingly embody giving minor magic gadgets to chieftains (and their households), whose status will then develop inside their very own tribes.
This form of present change has precedent. In the course of the Roman Empire, Germanic chiefs usually impressed their followers via possession of Roman-produced items. A superb steel goblet, not of nice worth in Rome or Milan, was extraordinary in Saxony or Thuringia. Even semi-perishable items, similar to Roman wine, have been of nice worth to the “barbarians” past the Rhine, often too far north to domesticate grapes (almost 2,000 years in the past, local weather modifications over time). Chiefs needed to extend their following in a society that emphasised particular person accomplishment quite than loyalty to a bigger group similar to a tribe.
“Status items” similar to these have been a way to impress followers, and whereas such items is likely to be silver or gold, they could even be exceptionally helpful or uncommon gadgets.
What’s the Good?
A status good is just as prestigious as its capacity to impress your followers and potential followers. What might sound abnormal to a member of a magical society could possibly be extraordinary to these outdoors the pale of civilization, whether or not human or non-human.
In a world of magic, a lot of these items would carry much more status when they’re magical. It doesn’t must be a robust magic merchandise, or one that may contribute to death-dealing. It may be innocuous, so long as it’s helpful or flashy (ideally each). These make priceless items, although in a martial society gadgets that enhance fight functionality can be even higher. On the similar time, in a magic-rich society, magic is probably going for use to supply priceless non-violent items for the elites of the time. Most of those can be appropriate status items.
By way of the levels of magic this might be true of the Mature stage, when magic gadgets are commonplace and sometimes used for mundane duties. For extra particulars, see my three–half collection on the 4 Levels of Magic.
Instance Status Items
Not all status items must be outlined by their fight utility. With regards to commerce, even easy non-combat magical gadgets will do. For some early examples, Roland Getliffe and I wrote an article, “Non-Violent Magic Gadgets”, in Dragon Journal #73. There’s additionally the favored Enchanted Trinkets entries for En5ider.
I’m going to finish this with a barebones record of products that is likely to be produced for society’s elite, but may find yourself within the fingers of different tribes (of no matter species) who would use them as “status items.” Many of those fill comparable roles that that fashionable facilities present as we speak, however can be thought-about very helpful the place sanitation, meals, and shelter is likely to be scarce:
- Halo Hairpiece: Creates smooth glow/halo when worn
- Never-ending Bottle of Scent: In environments the place not everybody bathes, these might be very helpful
- Excellent Comb: Units hair completely in two minutes, notably for societies that do not groom a lot
- Compass of Route: Magical or technological
- Pan of Heating: A frying pan that heats by itself and nothing sticks to it
- Necklace of Respiration: A wearable merchandise that forestalls drowning
- Bottle of Infinite Water: A bottle that refills with water, vital in desert societies
- Potion of Enticing Look: One sip and the drinker seems to be extra muscular
- Appeal of Poison Detection: A allure that detects poison in a drink
Your Flip: Have you ever ever used status items as a part of commerce in your marketing campaign?
