Ed – how common is it for ships on the sword coast and the inner sea to have a ship’s mage aboard? Not all that common, due to the expense (mage's salary); 18% or so. NAVAL ships: nigh 100 percent.
Yet mages as passengers are given huge discounts (1 sp/voyage, with of course meals and board thrown in), and a surprisingly high number of crew have "wild talents."#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 22, 2020
Which they tend to keep hidden (not from the rest of the crew, of course) until calling on them is necessary, because of how often they must use them against passengers or shippers boarding their ship.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 22, 2020
“Yet mages as passengers are given huge discounts (1 sp/voyage, with of course meals and board thrown in)”
“What do you mean you’re not that king of mage?!”
“I’m an archivist! All my magic is utilitarian, not offensive!”
“So no Fireballs? Lightning Bolts? Not even a Chromatic Orb?”
“No! I could Comprehend Language if the pirates speak a foreign tongue, but…”
“What about tactical magic? Conjure a Fog Cloud? Put the pirates to Sleep?”
“I’m sorry, but unless you need me to Detect Magic or Identify their weapons…”
“What bloody good is a mage who can’t fight?!”
“I beg your pardon! I’ll have you know I’m reknowned among academic circles…”
“Shut it! If we survive this, you’ll be peeling potatoes to pay off your “discount”!”
“Oh, well that’s not so bad. I can just summon an Unseen Servant!”