A bunch of questions, actually.
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to alignment?
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to race?
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to guild requirements?
And I don't think this will ever come up, but can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to class?
If I can get an item cheaper at a merchant they cannot buy it from, but they can still buy the item elsewhere, can I still sell it to them from the merchant I can buy from?
I'll break these down:
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to alignment?- If the item is not available through any other merchant and has special applications meant only for that alignment, then no.
OOC Implications: Such items found on those they are not intended for could result in a DM destroying them with no reimbursement. An example would be monks gloves sold at the Banite Temple and intended for use by evil monks following Bane or his allies.
IC Implications: If a DM determines someone has witnessed this exchange (another spying PC or nosey nearby NPC), then there could also be IC repercussions later. Using the gloves above, if sold to/bought for a monk of a rival order, The Temple of the Blackhand would likely seek to retrieve the items and punish those involved.
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to race?- Racial restrictions carry the same restrictions as alignment or even class based access to goods. I.e., an elf selling elven goods to non-elves would assume similar consequences as the alignment violation above.
And I don't think this will ever come up, but can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to class?- Most of the above responses apply with class substituted as race or alignment. We do indeed have a few class only merchants and are planning to add more.
Can I sell something to a person who cannot normally buy it due to guild requirements?- Items sold from a guild merchant are intended soley for the use of the buyer. This includes any "mundane" items as well as guild only items. So if "your" guild for example sells medic kits for a slightly better price than you can get them elsewhere, then buying them for healing yourself and others is fine. Buying them and giving/exchanging/trading them with others is not.
OOC Implications: Selling/trading/gifting guild merchandise to non-guild members is a serious offense. At a minimum, anyone caught will lose their guild membership and furthermore, not be allowed membership in another guild for ANY present and future PCs for an indefinate period to be determined by the Admins and DMs. If the player has other infractions noted as well, harsher penalties up to and including banning may be applied. Items found carried by non-members will be destroyed without reimbursement. Guild items carried by the PC losing their guild status will also be forfeited the same.
IC Implications: If outside "witnesses" are determined exist in regards to the exchange of the goods, then IC consequences shall apply also. The offending PC is now an avowed enemy of the guild they have betrayed and will be treated accordingly by them.
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Grey Areas:- Many "Grey Areas" do exist. When in doubt ... ask. I'll outline a few examples that expand on what DM Arsescratcher posted previously.
Healing and other mundane supplies bought from rival factions by a party member:As DM "Arsey" pointed out, there's ways this can be done ICly and that aren't an issue. Its when clear metagaming is involved that it shall become one. I.e., a group of elves with a human in the group has the human buy the party supplies at the Temple of Bane just so they don't have to go to another town.
- There's a second temple in Llorkh so that doesn't need done and the elves can shop in it freely to avoid this completely.
- If the same elves just tell the human to purchase goods and meet at "X" and do not witness the "where and how" the supplies were gotten, no issue exists.
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IF the party is not bright and discusses with the human his chore in range of NPCs (seen or unseen), then IC consequences could occur.
- The same would also apply to many mundane items like "bags" that are sold in Llorkh by a merchant refusing to deal with elves. The same (and a few more options) are sold in another town with no restrictions. So anyone buying them in Llorkh for use by elves needs to do so without any witnesses to the transaction. I.e., avoid discussing and trading the goods anywhere NPCs (or even a snooping rival PC) might overhear. IC consequences will vary based on each individual event.