How much is a monster corpse worth?

[dazm]

After just slaying our first 3E dragon, we decided to drag it's corpse back to town and sell it. Thus raising the question how much is it worth, or how much is any corpse worth etc.

Any one tackled this one before?

dazm

 

[Tonguez]

Dragonhide

Armorsmiths can work with dragonhides to produce masterwork armor or shields for the normal cost. One dragon produces enough hide for a single suit of masterwork hide armor for a creature up to one size smaller than the dragon. By selecting only choice scales and bits of hide, an armorsmith can produce one suit of masterwork banded mail for a creature up to two sizes smaller, one suit of masterwork half-plate for a creature three sizes smaller, or one masterwork breastplate or suit of full plate for a creature four sizes smaller. In each case, there is enough hide to produce a small or large masterwork shield in addition to the armor, provided that the dragon is of at least Large size.

So assuming a Large Dragon (eg Juvenile Red) we can make masterwork hide armor worth 165gp. (150masterwork +15hide armour) a Huge dragon (Adult Red) could make masterwork banded mail worth 400gp (250+150)

A standard conversion of 75% of market price gives 125gp and 300gp respectively (and thats just for the Hide)

Dragon Bones might be used for

Amulet of Natural Armor

This amulet, usually crafted from bone or beast scales, toughens the wearer’s body and flesh, giving him a natural armor bonus to his AC of from +1 to +5, depending on the type of amulet.

Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, barkskin, creator’s caster level must be at least three times the amu­let’s bonus; Market Price: 2,000 gp (+1), 8,000 gp (+2), 18,000 gp (+3), 32,000 gp (+4), or 50,000 gp (+5); Weight: -.

Now since a wyrmling Red has a natural armour of +7 we can assume that Red Dragon bones would produce a +5 amulet worth 50,000gp less crafting cost 27000 (as per feat) = 23000gp

23000*0.75 = 17250 (bones)

So Dragon Hide 350 gp (per Masterwork Armour and Sheild)
Dragon Bones 17250 gp (per Amulet of Natural Armour)

Now the I suspect Alchemist would buy the blood of a Dragon BUT will anyone be willing to purchase the meat?

 

[Ferret]

Sell it to some barbarians Actually, someone has done a formula that does AC>element resistance It was something like AC/2=Element resistance

 

[dcollins]

Now since a wyrmling Red has a natural armour of +7 we can assume that Red Dragon bones would produce a +5 amulet worth 50,000gp less crafting cost 27000 (as per feat) = 23000gp

23000*0.75 = 17250 (bones)

I recommend that you read "Variant: Power Components" on DMG p. 96. The only book-suggested method for rewarding specific monster parts in item creation is to offset the XP expense -- with a market valuation based on maybe XP x 10 or something.

 

[Crothian]

Pick up a copy of Dragons by AEG. It lists what parts should be used for what magical items. It's a great book all about dragons.

 

[milo]

I think there is a poison, Dragon's Bile worth about 2000 gp.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I think there is a poison, Dragon's Bile worth about 2000 gp.

1500 gp, actually. One could assume that it's useable in its natural form (value: 1500 gp) or that it needs to be refined by someone with Craft (poison) (value: 500 gp).

 

[Nebten]

*sprinkles out a circle of silver dust, lights some insence, kneels in the middle.*

Arise thread, ARISE!

On a more serious note, are there more resent sources that help in assisting the break down of a . . . lets say a Gargantuan dragon for 3.5. I already know how much armor the hide can make from the DMG. If you can point me in the right direction, I would be thankful.

 

[Animal]

happened to me once. players wanted to play dirty and gain lots of extra money from every encounter? great, decreased the normal treasure per encounter in half and let them start on a corpse-trading quest. they actually managed to haggle for more, than i previously planned for them to have. but they surely spent lots of time and energy.

 

[shadyizok]

Holy thread necromancy batman!!

uhm, as far as I know there are no rules for it. But you could figure out something for yourself. Maybe HD squared times 15.
That would make a cr1 goblin or orc 10 gp, (1/30 of character wealth) reasonable enough maybe to get a hunting party started paid by the local government. A cr15 adult red dragon would be 4840 gp (1/40 of character wealth).

It could solve the problems of low loot count on certain campaigns..
(DM: you guys get to murder forest critters!
Players: *groan*
DM: I thought you liked to snuff out cute things
Players: squirrels not be carrying no loot!)