Apologies if this post should go into “Herb feedback” but I’d like to come at the topic from another angle. Apologies also if this topic has been thoroughly covered at some point in the past.
I recently returned to PotM after a four month break. The main big change was the implementation of the herb system. Now I have no knowledge of the workings of herbalism and potion brewing in game, but initially I was really quite impressed to see the herb facility as a means of creating some wealth for characters that don’t adventure all that much (non-violent ways to earn coin is a good thing).
However, to get to the point, I think that to be paid 800 fang per box, is far, far too much. One of the main attractions of the server when I have played here is that life is difficult, bleak and frightening. For me, those three aspects of life on Ravenloft are to some extent interlinked and some of my favourite RP on the server has been when characters have been forced into dangerous situations in order to make ends meet. Recently, however, my characters have had the ability to earn more fang from a couple of hours searching for herbs, than they made, in total, over several months when I’ve played here previously.
It used to be that occasional adventuring was required in order to make ends meet and exist on the fringes of society. Currently, I find it extremely difficult to think why on earth my character would risk coming to harm when they can just go picking herbs and earn a wage ensuring that they are wealthier than 95% of the residents of Vallaki.
In short the ability to accrue wealth on the server has risen dramatically, while the cost of living on the server has remained the same.
I still think the herbs system is potentially a great boon for the server, but I think it needs some radical tinkering economically. On the positive side, I do see some signs that variations in herb prices may be arising naturally (hooray for market forces).
Assuming that anyone agrees that there is an issue here I’d throw up the following as possible solutions (and remember, I know nothing about herbalism/brewing so these points could be ignorant, unworkable or both!):
i) Dramatically reduce the price of herbs that are found in relatively safe/low level areas near Vallaki (5 fang tops)
ii) (related to i) above) Only make the least valuable herbs spawn near the starting area/Vallaki.
iii) Make herb spawns rarer the nearer to Vallaki you are (to reflect likely overharvesting by the natives).
iv) Somehow make gathering herbs much more challenging for non-rangers/druids (as those outdoors based classes are arguably likely to be innately better at finding rarer herbs).
v) Make characters have to pay for some of the effects of potions (e.g. healing, removing disease) rather than get these cures for free in the churches (i.e. somewhere to put the newfound wealth rather than swanky items which make the environment less challenging).