Trading and item pricing
Trading is a central mechanic in Baldur's Gate 3. Depend on which character is talking a given trader, including the trader's attitude to the character, the character's Persuasion skill level, and the difficulty setting of the game, a trade price multiplier is calculated. This multiplier is than applied to each item's inherent value, giving the prices for the character.
The price modifier is calculated as:
- P = 2.5 - persuasion modifier - difficulty modifier - attitude modifier
An item's value is multiplied by the price modifier when buying, and divided by the modifier when selling. Favorable modifiers are negative and unfavorable ones positive.
Modifiers
Persuasion skill modifier
A character's Persuasion skill modifier affects prices. Positive modifiers will make prices more favorable (higher when selling, lower when buying) and vice-versa. Each Persuasion modifier point changes prices by 5%. In Explorer difficulty, characters receive an additional Persuasion modifier if they are proficient in Persuasion, as detailed below.
- Persuasion modifier = Persuasion skill modifier * 0.05
Game difficulty
Depending on the game difficulty set, the player receives certain advantages or disadvantages.
Explorer difficulty
In Explorer difficulty, the difficulty modifier is 0.5, meaning all characters receive a 20% favorable bonus to prices. If a character is proficient in Persuasion, they receive an additional Proficiency modifier depending on their level. This increases the persuasion modifier.
| Level | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 - 4 | +2 |
| 5 - 8 | +3 |
| 9 - 12 | +4 |
Tactician difficulty
In Tactician difficult, the difficulty modifier is -0.5, meaning all characters receive a 20% price penalty.
Trader attitude
A trader's Attitude score represents how friendly a trader NPC is with a certain character. Each point of Attitude modifiers prices by 0.25%. The maximum attitude modifier at 100 Attitude is 2.5, or a 25% price adjustment compared to 0 Attitude.
- Attitude modifier = Attitude * 0.025
Attitude is visible in the Trading interface under the trader model. Hovering on the meter displays the exact Attitude score. Attitude is per-character, and can be modified by friendly or hostile actions against an NPC. One of easiest ways to gain Attitude is by gifting Gold or other items to a trader using the Barter interface. The amount of gold required to gain attitude scales depending on the level of the character.
| Level | Gold required to raise Attitude by 1 | Gold required to raise Attitude from 0 to 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 400 |
| 2 | 5 | 500 |
| 3 | 6 | 600 |
| 4 | 8 | 800 |
| 5 | 10 | 1000 |
| 6 | 14 | 1400 |
| 7 | 18 | 1800 |
| 8 | 24 | 2400 |
| 9 | 30 | 3000 |
| 10 | 36 | 3600 |
| 11 | 45 | 4500 |
| 12 | 45 | 4500 |
Talking character
The trade price modifier is set depending on the character that initiatives dialogue with a trader. Even if the active inventory is switched in the trader screen, the first character's trade price modifier remains in use. It is thus a good idea to initiate all trade dialogues with the character that has the best trade multiplier.
References
- GaRy van Thos Gaming, "How Merchant and Traders Attitude work and effect Prices in Baldur's Gate 3". youtube.com
- Annie Shi, "Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Raise Merchant Attitude". thegamer.com