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EveryDungeons & Dragonscampaign needs at least one shopping episode, and most of the time, players want to get their hands on that powerful magic item they’ve been dreaming about since session one. Magic shops are a fantastic way to give players the chance to spend their hard-earned money on the gear they want and add a bit of personality and flair to the location where said shop is based.
Magic shops come in any shape and variety you can think of, but they do require a bit of forethought if you really want to make them special for your party. A stall and shopkeep are easy, but exquisite shops are more memorable to the party.
Creating A Magic Shop Based On Location
Location, location, location is the motto when starting;think about the city, kingdom, swamp, or general area where your shop will be and how you can build from it. This is also a great time tothink of story elementsfor the surrounding regions orcreate a random encounterthat can be associated with said shop.
For example, if your party is traveling through a thick forest, a seemingly random whimsical shop based on a giant mushroom run by a fae creature can lead to many exciting interactions (as well as a few questions).
When you start to finalize a location and a list of items the shop will sell, thelocation can also be the primary reason a shop sells what it sells.Maybe in a city where magic is only allowed on the weekends, a shop that sells concealment scrolls (if you ask nicely) would make sense in terms of story and lore.
Detailing The Shop & It’s Workers
Beyond location, you’re able to focus on what the shop looks like and who runs it. A typical description of a shop will describe the following things:
Using this list,ask yourself the simple question, “What would the outside/inside look like?”
Some parties may be curious about environmental and NPC details, while others are not as interested. It is all up to how your party operates and how much energy you want to use to create your shop. Overall, this can be completely optional!
Perhaps the shop matches the same building material as the rest of the city (cobblestone, brick, wood, etc.), or maybe it is different for a specific reason. Magic shops often come with the trope ofbeing more colorful and noticeable than other shops(unless it’s a shop in the black market), so it wouldn’t hurt to describe the colors or trimmed paint it may have.
Of course, aDungeon Master’s favorite part in creating something is the NPC that runs the shop.It’s even better when you give them a specific personality and plot points to feed the party and then completely forget to give them a name.
Creating a shopkeep, especially for a Magic Shop, can be agreat way to provide the party with an extra ally (or annoyance).While making it a casual interaction is perfectly okay, giving them a personal charm can give the players a reason toreturn to said shop.
Possible dialogue/personality quirks include:
Some Dungeon Masters will alsohave a short bullet listof their NPC, especially if they will be important to the party later. This list can include a more accurate physical description, personality quirks/ ticks, several dialogue lines you may want to say to the party, and notes on how they may tie into the story later.
NPC Outline Example - “Amelia Crystalline” Of The “Hopping Dwarf Magic Shop”
Adding one or two tropesis a neat way to tie the shop further into your story, whetherdirectly with the current plot or as a side detail.They can help provoke more dialogue between the players and store owners and hint at future adventures/ details.
Trope examples include:
Creating A Shop Inventory - What Items Should You Sell?
Now, onto the fun part:listing what your shop will sell!This can be tricky to do on the fly, soit is always handy to have a general list of items prepared.Chapter 7of theDungeon Master’s Guideis all about the treasures and items you’re able to find in Dungeons & Dragons.
There are alsolevel brackets for recommended items to be rewarded at certain levels. While those brackets are more commonly used to describe loot from dungeons and other quest rewards, they can also beused as a quick reference to see how they compare with the current level of your player characters.
Most magic shops will specialize in aspecific category of magic items, such as robes, weapons, potions & poisons, trinkets, etc. This can also be a handy way tonarrow your listso you are not pulling random magic items under one roof.
If you intend to tie story elements to a shop, your list can also be based on the limitations/freedoms of the location you are currently in. A shop that is surplus in exotic and rare potions & poisons may be because the area has a dense population of rare monsters that are hunted to create them.
Using the magic rarity reference tableor by going based on your currency standard,having between 4-6 priced magic itemsis a fair amount of items to have prepared to sell at a time. If a player wants a specific item,you can always have your shopkeeper “go check the back room” while you flip through the Dungeon Master’s Guideto find an item they are after.
Magic Shop Guide Example
Using all that we have learned,you can go through a simple checklistthat will ensure you have a general description of the important details of your Magic Shop.
“The Frozen Dragon Emporium”
Exterior Description
“The shop has tall dark oak walls with a light blue trim, which would normally look hideous in any environment, but you find it looks quite lovely with the layer of snow around it.”
Interior Description
“You walk into a cozy interior with hanging lit chandeliers. Various pillars are scattered about, with all shelves pressed back against the walls, leaving the center of the shop open.”
(Optional) Random Trope
“You glance up and notice what you can presume is the skull of an adult dragon, chained above you looking down.”
NPCs
“While you take in the surroundings, a hooded NPC quickly grabs a bag from the counter and makes their exit. The shopkeep, a heavy-set balding individual greets you.”
“Ah! Afternoon folks. My name is Leviticus. Let me know if you need anything.”
