Remove anti-mask scripts on soubar/UD merchants.

[NegInfinity]

I think it doesn't exactly make sense for vendors in soubar and Underdark to say "we don't deal with bandits, show your face".

The script is active on all merchants soubar, also on the Mudd clones in both UD, Soubar and Roaringshore.

If anything, it definitely should be disabled in Sshamath.

[Avanos]

+1

[Sun Wukong]

I think it doesn't exactly make sense for vendors in soubar and Underdark to say "we don't deal with bandits, show your face".

The script is active on all merchants soubar, also on the Mudd clones in both UD, Soubar and Roaringshore.

If anything, it definitely should be disabled in Sshamath.

Underdark sure, whatever. Soubar? Not really, no. Soubar is a caravan stop. A place where trade caravans stop to rest behind the small safety of its walls. It would be a wonderful place for a masked individual to go snooping for easy caravans to ambush, and therefore the mercants want to see your face. Perhaps you are already known bandit or a troublemaker, perhaps your ambush will fail and then there are questions about your friends... etc... etc...

Coin is coin, so they should deal with everyone, but the anti-mask script should stay.

[NegInfinity]

I think it doesn't exactly make sense for vendors in soubar and Underdark to say "we don't deal with bandits, show your face".

The script is active on all merchants soubar, also on the Mudd clones in both UD, Soubar and Roaringshore.

If anything, it definitely should be disabled in Sshamath.

Underdark sure, whatever. Soubar? Not really, no. Soubar is a caravan stop. A place where trade caravans stop to rest behind the small safety of its walls. It would be a wonderful place for a masked individual to go snooping for easy caravans to ambush, and therefore the mercants want to see your face. Perhaps you are already known bandit or a troublemaker, perhaps your ambush will fail and then there are questions about your friends... etc... etc...

Coin is coin, so they should deal with everyone, but the anti-mask script should stay.

Not really buying it because soubar houses illithids. This doesn't really match the image you're describing. The caravans are protected by you know who.

There's also still the matter of Roaringshore Mudd. Roaring shore is pretty much a pirate city.

[Sun Wukong]

Illithids do not make a caravan stop go away.

[Marathados]

+1 OP

[Cenerae]

I feel like if I were a shopkeeper in either of those regions I would still want to see who I'm dealing with. I wouldn't necessarily *care*, but I would then be able to sell the person out later if someone came by to rough me up for information.

I would find it a bit strange to be told I was now meant to provide discrete services to people that don't want to be recognised, when all I'm doing is selling stuff.

[cosmic ray]

Illithids do not make a caravan stop go away.

But a hooded or veiled person does? ROFL

[Sun Wukong]

Illithids do not make a caravan stop go away.

But a hooded or veiled person does? ROFL

I suppose you could grab your baseball bat, or a crowbar, or a large knife, or a shotgun if that is more applicable, and go over to your local market while wearing a hood and a veil to mask your face. I would be most interested in hearing what happens next. ROFL, indeed.

Now... A mindflayer is really not anyone's preferred neighbour, but you can do trade with one. For example, various poisons and other curiosities from from the underdark could be acquired through one. Not to mention that it also provides a 'financial way' to get rid of some of the bandits cought by the passing caravans.

[Velaris]

lol i think it's a great idea to employ a mindflayer.

"Hey (mindflayer name) I have this shifty mask-wearing guy I caught. If you can get some useful information out of him for me, I'll pay you. Oh, and as a bonus, you can eat his brain."

Always good to stay on a mindflayer's good side, if they have one.

[NegInfinity]

I suppose you could grab your baseball bat, or a crowbar, or a large knife,

That doesn't make sense and doesn't transfer to fantasy world.

Your local market doesn't have one of the most horrible abominations in the universe working as a cashier, and it doesn't have a frigging army fort positioned right in the mall.

No mask script also especially doesn't make sense in Sshamath.

[Sun Wukong]

Your local market doesn't have one of the most horrible abominations in the universe working as a cashier, and it doesn't have a frigging army fort positioned right in the mall.

So, here it is, a lol.

You know, there is a real world out there...

[Khazrak]

Honestly, Soubar doesn't seem like the place to care if you're a bandit or monster or whatever, so long as you're not robbing them. There's the mind flayers, there's wererats, werewolves, ogres, fey, you name it. Hell, it's even common practice for certain merchants to hire thugs to smash the other's stuff, as you learn via quest.

Point being: I don't think anyone would bat an eye at masked jerks in a town like that.

[Sun Wukong]

*Sighs...*

Trade is built upon trust. Without trust, there is no trade. This is a real world fact that cannot be ignored.

Now, you see upon yourself a masked and armed individual. A man who refuses to reveal his face, who might be talking in false tone, what makes you think the gold or goods he wishes to offer in barter are his to give, or even genuine? How could you distinguish such a man from someone who has already acquired fame of leaving debts unpaid, commitings scams and crimes, or otherwise wronged you or someone you know?

There is literally no reason for a merchant to trade with someone who refuses to offer even the bare minimum reason to faciliate trust, such as presenting a face.



Now, an alternative could be to have the merchants charge masked characters four times as much, and reduce the amount they will purchase things to a fourth.

Thus a healing kit that usually costs 60 gp, would now cost 240 to a masked individual - and while the merchant would normally have the gold cap of 1200 gp, it would be limited to 300 gp for a masked character.

[Khazrak]

Now, you see upon yourself a masked and armed individual. A man who refuses to reveal his face, who might be talking in false tone, what makes you think the gold or goods he wishes to offer in barter are his to give, or even genuine? How could you distinguish such a man from someone who has already acquired fame of leaving debts unpaid, commitings scams and crimers, or otherwise wronged you or someone you know?

Counterpoint: this is a fantasy setting with shapeshifting and magical disguises. You can't even be sure the person in front of you is wearing their real face. In a way, at least the masked individual is being straightforward about hiding their nature.

Moreover, Soubar is a shady town. Sometimes you'll have customers that just don't want it to be known they're there. Perhaps they pay you extra; perhaps you're worried they'll yank that weapon out. There's lots of feasible reasons someone in a place like Soubar might just shrug and let the masked man do their business.