Hello! If I want to cast the spell Identify, I get to pay 100G. If I ask a store owner to identify for me, I get to pay 100G. Doesn't that strike you as odd?
No, this question has been bandied about for some time. All merchants charge 100gp to identify. This is based on the 3.5 rules where the material component to cast Identify is a pearl worth 100gp. As there are no spell components in ToEE, the game just deducts 100gp from your stash 'o cash to make up for it.
Bandied about, but not answered in a fashion that makes sense. So, let me ask you this: is it a pearl that costs 100gp; or a pearl that's worth 100gp? If the pearl is worth 100gp then wouldn't a merchant want more than 100gp and vice versa. The point being that Identify is a worthless spell if the cost to use it is a spell slot plus 100gp; as it makes more sense to have a merchant identify the item. So, it seems to me the merchants are Identifying at less than cost... Needless to say, I just go to the merchants. On the other hand, if you had to buy the pearl in order to cast the spell... So, aren't we lucky that ALL our friendly merchants have plenty of pearls and spell slots and it only costs us 100gp? Stohrm PS. I think the Identify Spell was put there for just that reason; to be bandied about. It's kind of like the question: "which came first, the chicken or the egg?"
Yeah, I rely on merchants as well for the bulk of identifying items. When I take the crafty wands feat, I usually create a Wand of Identify for dungeon trips. Quick ID'ing of weapons and armour can make a BIG difference.
I just cast Analyze Dweomer once I get high enough level to use it. Saves a ton of time... Before that, a Wand of Identification is very cost effective, especially if you track the charges and sell it when it is about to run out.
It means I mispelled QED, probably because I was thinking of the P in ;P. It means QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM. "which was to be demonstrated" Sort of an academic "In Your Face!"