Re: Salvaging Helms

Andrew Tiffany

> >Now, we can still have other concepts like salvage laws, etc, in
addition,
> >but command words are a completely logical security precaution that the
> >Arcane would have no reason to ignore.  In fact, it helps the Arcane
because
> >it makes theft/salvaging/recycling helms less feasible, which means fewer
> >helms are in circulation, which means more people have to buy new helms
or
> >pay to get the command word, and either way works for the Arcane.
>
> Well, only if you are not using Leroy's "Dirty Secret of the Arcane"....
> (it's on his site)

While I have had a few people over the years let me know they
like the idea and use it in their games, that article wasn't something
that many have interest in, and so I didn't think to mention it
in my post, but...


> Leroy: did you think about these two ideas together?  From their Dirty
> Secret, the Arcane would prefer it to be easier for everyone to use helms,
no?

...since you asked.

When I came up with the idea I did think of how in contradicted
the Dirty Secret of the Arcane.  But it didn't take me too long to
come up with a justification.

The Arcane are considered the most reliable source for helms.
You really can't go wrong buying from them; you know the
product will work, won't be an ensorcelled fake, and they won't skip
out on you, with your money.  Because of this, more people
buy helms straight from them than from independent sellers.

This means the Arcane need to have a good supply of helms
available at all times, to insure their reputation goes unstained.
By having command words only they can identify, and charging
steep prices to share the information, it helps insures that most
helms that are salvaged are sold to them.  This system allows
them to keep plenty of helms in stock to meet the constant demand,
without having to make new ones.  Making new helms requires
energy, something they really disliking giving up.

So, in the long run, the command word system helps them
do better business, to distribute more helms, and to reduce the
amount of energy required to make new ones.  If they simply allowed
the distribution of helms to go unchecked they would likely end
up having to expend more energy building new helms to meet
the demand.  The end result might be roughly the same in terms
of incoming and outgoing energy, but one results in more Arcane
control, something they prefer.

How's that?


Leroy Van Camp III
malacoda@??????.net
http://www.users.uswest.net/~malacoda/TarkasBrainLabIV.html
ICQ #20039817

"My hamster had five babies last week.  This morning when I
looked in the cage she had ate two of them little babies.

What the heck.  Had a couple myself."

                                  Earl, Red Meat