[DF] Gold to FP
 

This was a tangent in the DFT1 thread that I felt should be split off here. Here's a repost of what I posted there:


So, looks like we've got $1/FP for "Bound into a magic item to power it," $5/FP for "Bound into a single item belonging to the character, usable for anything," and $33/FP for "Restores lost FP."

These could be simplified into "Enchantment, non-portable," "Item Recovery, non-portable," and "Personal Recovery, portable." What's missing, then, would be "Enchantment, Portable" (loot that can replace FP for Quick and Dirty casting), "Item Recovery, Portable" (an item that can recharge your Power Item in the field), "Personal Recovery, Non-Portable" (results in effects similar to a Very High Mana zone, but without increased Critical Failures - you can cast, instantly recover, cast, instantly recover, and so forth, but only within the temple or whatever), "General Use, Non-Portable" (you can use money entirely for powering a spell, but only within the temple or whatever), and "General Use, Portable" (an item that can be sacrificed in place of FP to power a spell). There might also be a Single Use type (where you can sacrifice money in a temple or an item in the field to cast, say, Fireball, but not another spell) and/or a Single College type (as Single Use, but any spell from the Fire College).
Filling in the chart would be a challenge, but useful. There may already be some options - note I've filled in "Enchantment, Portable" by using the suggestion from The Material Difference (Pyramid #3/66).

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

Personally, in my DF game, refined essence costs $50, and works for all purposes. True, it's more expensive than Paut, but it can be used for enchantments, for powering spells, to recharge power items, etc etc. Using it to power spellcasting is a little tricky, in that refined essence is a very fine powder, and the wizard needs to consume the powder. This not only requires the same maneuvers as bringing up a potion (draw, open, drink...), but you also need to stow it away (since there's probably more than you need) and you gauging how much you need is tricky under stress (AKA in combat), so you will consume (1d-3)×5% of what you intent to take, meaning that either you err on the side of caution and take more than needed, or you might end up with not enough energy (out of combat, you can carefully measure it though). Obviously, you could consume all of it, and so you might want to have receptacles with a pre-measured amount...

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

Ooh. Is it white, you snort it and you feel very energetic and up when you take it?

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

I'll bet it's made from ground Dragon mana horns. Just one more reason Dragons are becoming extinct!

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

It really reads like that, right? Totally unintentional (hides in shame)

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

I'd have suggested long paper wrappers that you open from one end. Usually manufactured by pixie hands, being such delicate work.

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

I think making it addictive is a great idea! Makes it more of a question of whether it's worth using it or not.

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

The camera pans back from the close up on the dead dragons head, it's mana horns loped off... the carcass is mostly intact, only savaged at by the larger local predators. Commentator voice over begins, "And we see another sad result of this growing epidemic, the barbaric practice of butchering these once majestic creatures only for their horns, which Wizards believe brings them untold powers. Oh, wait... I'm being told this was a green dragon? Yes? Never mind then, those things deserve to die..."

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

I'm assuming you mean this is a random adjustment to how much you take - that is, if I wanted to take $1000 worth of refined essence, a roll of 1 would mean I took $900 (-10%; 18 FP), 2 means $950, 3 means $1000, 4 means $1050, 5 is $1100, and 6 is $1150.

That's a neat setup. That puts General Use, Portable at $50/FP. Here's a preliminary complete table:
I rounded Paut down to $33 instead of $30. Note Item Recovery is something of an outlier, having comparable Portable cost to Single College energy yet Stationary cost comparable to General Use. Presumably, temples and the like enjoy an excessive markup.

Re: [DF] Gold to FP
 

With a more G-rated interpretation, pixies might carry tiny hollow staffs filled with refined essence.