How much does coal cost?

[The_Universe]

In speaking about steam power in the ironclad thread, I started to wonder - how much (in D&D terms) does coal cost? It's not listed as a commodity in the PHB, DMG or the Arms and Equipment Guide, but one must imagine that even if not used to produce steam power, people use it to heat their homes and fuel cookstoves. Dwarves would use it to heat their forges, etc.

How much is coal worth?

 

[alsih2o]

More importantly, do bad guy have an advantage form all the coal Santa brings them?

Just price it like firewood or peat.

 

[adwyn]

Without the need for a coal industry to support steam technology, probably a few copper a bucket in regions where it can be found (mined), otherwise it would be an oddity that would range from a few silver to several gold for a lump.

 

[Kax Tuglebend]

i'd price it in line with firewood, since according to a recent Dungeon Magazine, D&D Coal is made by burning wood.. (obviously somebody didnt know the difference between Coal and Charcoal..)

oh and incase anyones interested, apparently medieval northern english monks did alot of coal mining..

 

[Umbran]

How much coal costs depends on how you're getting your coal. Today, with modern methods, coal is pretty darn cheap. Most of US electricity is generated from burning coal. That takes huge amounts of fuel, but your electic bill is still reasonable. Because coal is cheap.

With more primitive mining,the relative price increases. The stuff is more common than precious metals and gems, but not that much easier to get at.

In Medieval and Renaissance eras, coal was not all that common a fuel for heating and forges. Wood was far more convenient for home heating. And many a forge can work from charcoal.

 

[Zappo]

I'd price coal from mines as substantially higher than charcoal, but substantially lower than any metal. I don't know anything at all about mining but that sounds reasonable.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

I'd say that the availability/price of coal depends on your setting. Though I haven't done any research on the subject, I don't believe that a medieval setting would even be aware of coal, so wood would be the main fuel - excluding magic, of course.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I'd price coal from mines as substantially higher than charcoal, but substantially lower than any metal. I don't know anything at all about mining but that sounds reasonable.

Charcoal is pricier than bitumous coal, cheaper than anthracite, much cheaper than coke. Coal should be cheap!


And coal has been burned since roman time, not just medieval. If there is coal it is burned.

The Auld Grump

 

[Phineas Crow]

According to Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue (one of my fav. 2ed books) 1 lb of anthracite coal is worth 1 gp while bituminous coal is 1 gp/20 lb.

 

[The_Universe]

According to Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue (one of my fav. 2ed books) 1 lb of anthracite coal is worth 1 gp while bituminous coal is 1 gp/20 lb.

I don't really know a lot about the subject, but...

Which is the kind that you would use in a steam engine?