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14:55, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices.

Posted by Michi_chan
Michi_chan
member, 94 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 15:54
  • msg #1

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

 So, I have a character who has profession: shepherd, and I need to buy my flock with my starting wealth.

 In the Ultimate Equipment book, livestock are mentioned in two sections: the Animal/Animal Gear section and the Trade Goods section.

 In the first section(which includes mounts/combat mounts/familiars/pets) sheep are listed at 20gp each and goats 6gp each.

 In the section section (where other livestock are mentioned for the sake of being traded,) sheep are 2gp each and goats 1gp each.

 As I am buying them for the purposes of having my flock for my profession, and possibly eventually for crafting, which cost do I use?
elecgraystone
member, 900 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 16:38
  • msg #2

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

The farm animal section is for producing animals [wool, milk, ect]. So you'll want the sheep at 20gp each and goats 6gp each prices.

The trade goods is for slaughter, so there is 2gp of meat/hide on a sheep and 1gp on a goat.
Michi_chan
member, 95 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 16:45
  • msg #3

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

I would agree with you, but Ultimate Equipment's listing of the Trade Goods prices makes special note that the price is for a live animal, not the amount of hide/meat on it, and also if that were the case, why would one sheep's worth of wool (sq meter) be 6gp as is also listed in the Trade Goods section if the 2gp cost of a sheep is for the hide/meat of a single animal?
This message was last edited by the user at 16:51, Thu 12 May 2016.
elecgraystone
member, 901 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 19:02
  • msg #4

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

In reply to Michi_chan (msg # 3):

Because it's ones you're selling for slaughter. As such, it's most likely an older non-producing animal and if it's wool is still worthwhile, it's already sheared.

It's a different story is you're buying young breeding stock with full milk production and a good coat. This is your farming stock [as listed under farming animals]. I know if I was the DM and you bought trade animals you'd be looking at a sad herd of under/non-producing animals. Trade ones are the ones you toss your Bear, Dino, Shark, ect animal companion for a snack and not to keep.

The only time I think you might get cheaper than the animal section for real farm animals is if you buy in bulk. Feel free to run it past your DM, but I doubt it'd get anywhere close to the trade goods price.
swordchucks
member, 1203 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 19:21
  • msg #5

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

Trade goods are a special class of good.  They're always worth their base value (not half) and they're usually bought and sold in bulk.  There's also a certain assumption of a stable market involved with them.

When an adventurer rolls in to town and starts slinging around gold, I'd say that the higher price is right (both because it represents the cost of buying up animals right now and the normal "adventurer tax").  If it's a farmer (or equivalent) and the flock is obtained over time through proper connections, I'd say use the trade goods section.
Michi_chan
member, 96 posts
Thu 12 May 2016
at 21:24
  • msg #6

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

 But the Ultimate Equipment book chapter for Trade Goods states that live animals are:
- alive, with rope to lead them
- of average quality, meaning not old, not under-producing, considered average for their breed.

  My character is not an adventurer, my character is a shepherd, with the commoner class.
Flint_A
member, 503 posts
Fri 13 May 2016
at 12:04
  • msg #7

Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

If sitting down, raising them and crafting/trading is seriously going to be a bigger part of the campaign than adventuring; I'd say the trade costs are fine. I would also question why you're running a Pathfinder game for farmers. d20 and macroeconomics do not mix. (See "X gp worth of diamonds")
elecgraystone
member, 902 posts
Fri 13 May 2016
at 18:45
  • msg #8

Re: Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

In reply to Michi_chan (msg # 6):

I can only tell you that EVERY time I bought an animal in pathfinder, I paid the higher price. I'm telling you the reason for the price change as I know them and why I wouldn't allow it as a DM. If you REALLY want the lower price, then talk with your DM about it. His/her thoughts on the matter are the only one that counts. I'll be honest though, I don't think the game intends for PC's to use the trade item list as it's not built for those that aren't an "adventurer". Your really stepping outside the rules set to be a 'merchant' NPC using NPC trade rules.

Also there is nothing about 'average' in the trade section.
[PRD] "Animals: The listed price is for one live animal. For larger animals such as pigs and cows, the price includes a short length of cheap rope, allowing you to lead the creature away. For smaller animals such as chickens and geese, the purchase might include a bag for carrying them."

So it's alive. You can't even be sure it comes with a rope as sheep are smaller than pigs. [300 max vs 150 max] And nothing about average.

Flint_A:
If sitting down, raising them and crafting/trading is seriously going to be a bigger part of the campaign than adventuring; I'd say the trade costs are fine. I would also question why you're running a Pathfinder game for farmers. d20 and macroeconomics do not mix. (See "X gp worth of diamonds")
This is something I hadn't thought of. The idea of a farming 'sim' type game using pathfinder rules seems like a very odd thing. If that's really the case, it's likely Michi_chan could trade like an NPC. I was thinking the farmer part would be 'background' like 'orcs/goblins attack and now the townfolks have to band together to survive' type thing not a 'I'll trade 20 lbs of potatoes for these wheels of cheese' typr game...
Michi_chan
member, 97 posts
Sun 15 May 2016
at 04:44
  • msg #9

Re: Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

In the game, PCs are playing the roles of city folk, so a "farming sim" would not be an incorrect way to describe it. I've since had a Venture Captain notify me regarding the issue, stating that 2gp would be the "correct" price, but ultimately, it is up to whatever the GM wants sheep priced at.
nauthiz
member, 462 posts
Sun 15 May 2016
at 05:28
  • msg #10

Re: Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

Instead of worrying about specific goods, you could adopt something similar to the plunder system from the Skulls and Shackles campaign.  Then you're not worrying about specific quantities but more abstract amounts and worths and whether the trade items are sheep, or pigs, or bolts of cloth, it's all just role play trappings and the mechanics work out the same.
C-h Freese
member, 228 posts
Survive - Love - Live
Wed 18 May 2016
at 19:52
  • msg #11

Re: Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

Actually the price of 20GP seems to be for Skilled animals, mounts, pets, familiars, the ones that are either pure blood or have some specialized training.
swordchucks
member, 1209 posts
Fri 20 May 2016
at 00:19
  • msg #12

Re: Pathfinder - Livestock Prices

FYI, the prices for most livestock just changed with today's UE errata.  There's more of a range.
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