Murray Fife's Blog, page 6

The True Cost of Automation Through Golems

An Arcano-Economic Analysis for the Waterdeep Trading Company and Beyond

In Faerûn, automation has taken a decidedly arcane twist. Where other realms may rely on levers and pulleys or even rudimentary clockwork, the merchants and mages of the Sword Coast have turned to the elemental labor force of stone, clay, and metal — golems.

At first glance, golems seem like the perfect workforce. They don’t strike, tire, or complain. They lift crates, guard vaults, and even bottle potions with tirele...

Accounting for Arcana: Depreciating Long-Term Magical Enhancements

In Faerûn, where trade routes are protected by arcane glyphs and castles glow with perpetual wards, it’s easy to overlook that even magic has limits. While a +1 sword might stay sharp indefinitely, enchantments placed on buildings, gates, infrastructure, and tools often degrade, expire, or require periodic recharging. For the wise merchant or quartermaster, these enhancements aren’t one-time costs—they’re capital assets with lifespans and diminishing value.

This article explores how to financ...

Traceability in Faerûn: Why Batch Control Isn’t Just for Breweries Anymore

When Faerûnians hear “batch control,” their thoughts often drift to the rich scent of mead barrels aging beneath Baldur’s Gate, or to the tightly tracked crates of vintage wine headed for noble feasts in Waterdeep. But there’s another trade where batch control has become essential, not for taste, but for trust.

The Herbalists Guild of Faerûn (HRBL) has quietly adopted one of the most advanced forms of traceability across the continent. No longer just guardians of ancient remedies and hedge-gr...

From Seedling to Soil: How the HRBL Guild Moves Magical Herbs from Greenhouses to Fields

In the intricate world of Faerûn’s botanical trade, few processes are as important (or as carefully regulated) as the cultivation and transfer of magical herbs. Within the Herbalists Guild (HRBL), transitioning delicate plants like Nightroot from arcane greenhouses to open fields is a ritualized, multi-phase operation. Using a combination of formulation logic and routing in Dynamics 365, the HRBL models this process to ensure product quality, consistency, and magical integrity.

A Two-Phase Gr...

Unified Trade Dynamics in Faerûn: The Herbalist Guild, WDTC, Faerûn Board of Trade, and Guild Members

In the complex tapestry of Faerûnian commerce, no sector is more regulated, interwoven, and arcane-infused than the herbal trade. Anchoring this ecosystem are four pivotal players: the Herbalist Guild, Guild Members (herbal producers and alchemists), the Waterdeep Trading Company (WDTC), and the Faerûn Board of Trade. Together, they orchestrate a symphony of standardized pricing, controlled distribution, and protected formulation practices.

This article unpacks how each entity contributes to ...

MGOs, Organics, and Arcane Agriculture: What They Mean for the Waterdeep Trading Company

The trade winds of Faerûn are shifting, and they carry more than rumors and spices. From the alchemical terraces of Silverymoon to the enchanted farmlands of the Western Heartlands, a new breed of commodity is emerging: Magical Genetic Organisms (MGOs). Alongside them, a growing demand for certified organic goods has taken hold, driven by noble courts, druids’ circles, and increasingly conscious adventurers.

For the Waterdeep Trading Company (WDTC), this dual trend represents both opportunity...

Unveiling the Phantom: Practical Use of Phantom BOMs at the Waterdeep Trading Company

In the heart of Faerûn’s bustling Sword Coast, the Waterdeep Trading Company continues to lead the way in magical manufacturing and logistical innovation. Whether it’s potions distilled in our alchemical towers or enchanted gear forged in subterranean workshops, one of the invisible engines of our operations is a powerful, often misunderstood tool: the Phantom Bill of Materials, or Phantom BOM.

What Is a Phantom BOM?

A Phantom BOM is a logical grouping of components used during production ...

Onboarding and Offboarding Checklists for the Waterdeep Trading Company

Welcoming a new employee or saying farewell to a departing team member is more than just a formality. These are moments that define the culture of your organization. The Waterdeep Trading Company takes these transitions seriously, ensuring that every arrival is smooth and every departure is dignified.

A consistent onboarding and offboarding process strengthens team cohesion, protects company assets, ensures compliance, and builds goodwill that lasts long after someone has left the building.

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Beneath the Bristles: How BOM and Route Define the Magic of the Self-Sweeping Broom

In the heart of Waterdeep’s bustling workshops, the broom stands as one of the simplest tools we manufacture, until it doesn’t.

What happens when that same broom is imbued with an Arcane Kinetic Core, inscribed with motion glyphs, and certified by the Arcane Artificers & Alchemists Union (ARALCH)? You no longer have a basic product, you have a regulated enchanted good with a completely different production footprint.

This article breaks down the detailed differences in BOM and manufacturin...

Funding the Future of Faerûn: Guild-Based Budgeting at the Waterdeep Trading Company

In the thriving trade capital of Waterdeep, gold flows not only between merchants and markets but also into the hands of guilds, those vital engines of craftsmanship, protection, and prosperity. The Waterdeep Trading Company stands at the center of this economic orchestra, ensuring every mason’s hammer, every apothecary’s mortar, and every bard’s lute is backed by fair and structured funding.

The guilds of Faerûn don’t merely operate as trade organizations. They are public institutions, econo...