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Shadowsoul
Senior Scribe
Ireland
705 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:22:07
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What do you think dragons hoarded before there was wealth? I've never read anywhere that giants and early elves had any sort of currency system so what do you think the dragons would hoard in their lairs?
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#8213; J.R.R. Tolkien
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore
USA
1268 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:44:29
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Anything shiny? I'm not sure before wealth would be the right question. Before wealth as we know it might be better.
Several dragons I've read about hoarded things other than coin.
It's really whatever strikes their fancy. The race as a general whole has simply adopted a gold standard for now. |
- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:53:22
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| Possibly rare or pretty things in general. Diamonds, platinum, titanium, adamantine, well crafted weapons and armor etc. |
Edited by - Baltas on 04 Apr 2015 03:58:56 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36781 Posts |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 06:12:28
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That's a good question.
I'd say trophies from battles with non-dragons. Anything magical too, like giant weapons or armor, or whatever magic the early elves brought with them that a dragon may have never before seen.
Edit: I will add that the thing I believe they valued the most was territory, and anything of value in that territory. |
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Edited by - Jeremy Grenemyer on 04 Apr 2015 06:13:56 |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 06:41:34
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Gawds you're a nerd Wooly. 
I'm with everyone else. I suspect their treasures included more magic, since there's reason to believe that they were more formidable wielders of the Art back in those days. Trophies and minerals are good too.
I especially like the "anything of value in that territory." Crystalline lakes, colorful hot springs, places where veins of ore/minerals rose to the surface in visually pleasing patterns, particular cliffs, waterfalls, etc.
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7973 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 13:29:52
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Works of art. Finely crafted items. Exotic spices. Expensive silks. Musical instruments. Musicians. Exotic liquors. Rare ores. Gemstones. Jewellery. Crowns. Sceptres. Skulls. Trophies. Books. Deeds to land. Slaves. Cattle. Magic. Allies. Weapons. Desirable women.
A dragon could perceive value in anything a non-dragon perceives as valuable. With possession of such things comes status, prestige, influence and power over others. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 04 Apr 2015 14:12:49 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 14:31:00
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| Bones! |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 16:35:32
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Giantcraft did mention a story about a 2 stone gold coin from the realm of Ostoria, so coins were used from the Age of Giants and on.
The most commmon treasure dragons would be able to hoard from humamoid prey would be trade goods and weapons. For example half-produced tools, pottery and surpluss foodstuffs for trade and hunting tools such as masterwork spears, axes and clubs for weapons. I would guess most dragons would not see any value in most of those weapons unless they managed to hurt him, and the trade goods would go in their hoard if they might not have seen an example of it earlier. Dragons hoard not for trade but out of pride: the idea of owning a big pile of things they like or might use in the future. |
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Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6353 Posts |
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AuldDragon
Senior Scribe
USA
551 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 04:02:52
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Dragons hoard wealthy primarily as a measure of status. There are other measures of status, but they tend to specific to individual species or types; for example, performing good deeds and quests increases a gold or silver dragon's status amongst golds and silvers, but is meaningless to a blue or white. Thus, over time, they gravitated to wealth as something that is a meaningful measure of status amongst almost all dragons. Of course, this probably also reduced the overall dragon population, as with the single primary standard, most any dragon could challenge and slay another and gain a big hoard and thus a big boost to their status. Before that, challenging another dragon would have been less rewarding (sure, a red would gain considerable status for killing a gold, but now they gain that *and* the hoard).
The 2e Draconomicon has some good information on the subject.
Jeff |
My 2nd Edition blog: http://blog.aulddragon.com/
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"That sums it up in a nutshell, AuldDragon. You make a more convincing argument. But he's right and you're not." |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11701 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 13:57:47
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| sex slaves.... that's how they became a creator race. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
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SaMoCon
Senior Scribe
USA
403 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 21:00:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Pogs. 
You, sir, have just won +1 internets.  I am so glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that.
What did wealth look like before coin currencies? What did it look like on Earth? Weaker people subjugated and forced to labor for their new lord. Choice of the fittest individuals for a personal harem (not for dragons). As much food prepared to the lord's liking and brought to his mouth for feasting. Performers to entertain, sycophants to fawn, servants to pamper, prisoners to punish, and fools to ridicule. Without need for clothing, cosmetics, and adornments there is little for dragons to acquire that would be thought of as wealth which wouldn't quickly spoil and lose any value (if not adding a new and funky smell to the lair). Still, piles of furs and cured hides, jars of oils & perfumes, amphorae of wines & olive oil, bricks of peat & incense, piles of woven cloths and patterned rugs,... I said "little," didn't I? I guess there are quite a number of things and I'm stopping here because it is 1pm here and I have somewhere to be. Surely other people can fill more in. |
Make the best use of the system that's there, then modify the mechanics that don't allow you to have the fun you are looking for. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36781 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2015 : 00:47:59
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On a more serious note, currency is not the only form of wealth... And there's a lot that can be considered quite valuable even if no one has invented currency, yet. Gold, for example, doesn't have to be formed into coins for it to have value.
Pretty much anything rare and/or hard to obtain could be considered valuable... Ditto for objects deemed to have cultural or religious value. Precious stones, precious metals, certain plants, certain bits of animals... It can all be valuable. Water can be valuable, if you're in a desert.
Information and knowledge are also valuable. |
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So what do you think dragons hoarded before wealth
