Powerstones and Intrinsic Value

[fifiste]

Well or only some of those huge gems are capable of holding large amounts of power.
These thaumatologically exceptional gems are pricy because powers tones are such a great tool.
The current demand and supply works out somehow in a way that you can determine a gemstone value by its thaumatological potency 10^2*P+40*P = V where P is the amount of power a gem can hold and V is its value in $.

There might be gems and items that are quite valuable for other people for other reasons but the main price driver for gemstones suitable for power stones is well ... their suitability for power stones.

It would make a bit more (economical )sense compared to the situation where whatever is valued in this society suddenly gets suitable for power-stone.

The latter makes a certain deal of magical sense, and kind of meshes with the views of economics and value with lot of older cultures and their magic.

But it could lead quite a lot of confusion soon as it makes economy really "magical" :D. What about all the weirdness what happens when the society does not deem gems or colorful feathers really cool anymore*, will they still hold power?
What if you travel and the neighboring tribe don't give two **** about your fancy feathers? Or is it just important that you do find them precious, but then can the groups munchkin just deem random pebbles and pine-cones to be horribly important to him at a whim? And so on and on.

It looks much more sensible to me that the power capable items are precious because they are power capable, not vice versa. And much easier to adjudicate.

*Makes me think off all clap your hands if you believe type of magic stories. Like killing Hogfather by zapping childrens belief in him etc. so it can lead to some cool stories but heh just too messy for a regular game where you wouldn't put it as a highlight or major story arc in itself etc.