Eyes on the Marketplace: Tracking Competitors in Faerûn

In the sprawling economies of Faerûn, knowing your enemies is as valuable in trade as it is in war. For the Waterdeep Trading Company, tracking competitors isn’t just a matter of pride—it’s a matter of profit. Whether you’re trying to outmaneuver Royalty Distilleries in spirit shipments or respond to new brewery upstarts from Icewind Dale, a structured system for competitor intelligence can tip the scales in your favor.

Why Monitor Competitors?

Tracking rival trading houses, breweries, distillers, and merchant guilds across Faerûn enables:

• Price benchmarking for regional goods like Salington wines or Lakeside ciders
• Forecasting market trends based on seasonal outputs or trade route control
• Anticipating supply disruptions due to war, embargoes, or monster activity
• Identifying acquisition or collaboration opportunities

Key Competitor Data to Track

Tools in Your Arsenal

The Business Administrators Guide outlines several ways to track and leverage this data using the capabilities of Faerûn-enhanced Dynamics 365:

Competitor Profiles in Vendor Table

Use non-trading vendors to create Competitor profiles, assigning them categories like:

• “Brewery – Northern”
• “Guild – Independent”
• “Distillery – Arcane Enhanced”

Custom Fields for Magical Monitoring

Add custom attributes such as:

• Scrying Viability Score
• Divination Approval Pending
• Rumor Spread Rate

These allow you to layer in intelligence from magical informants, Sending Stones, or MirrorNet reports.

Price Journal Comparisons

Import product pricing from scouts or open-market flyers and compare SKUs across regions using the Price Disc Journals or External Trade Tables.

Mirror Communication Logs

Track communications, alliances, and disputes through registered Mirror IDs (e.g., MIR-WD-SAL-002 for Salington Vinyards’ mirror).

Trade Route Mapping

Use the Route Management module to trace known caravans of competitors, identifying stops, vulnerabilities, or shadow market overlaps.

Event Watchlists

Configure Watchlist alerts in your Faerûnian event calendar for:

• Product Launches
• Seasonal Brews
• Interguild Festivals (e.g., Winter Spirits Gala in Baldur’s Gate)
• Tax code updates from city-states

Sample Competitor Intelligence Entry

Strategic Advantage Through Awareness

From alchemical arms dealers to humble mead brewers, every competitor’s move leaves a footprint. By cataloging those prints in your AD&D365 environment, the Waterdeep Trading Company can stay one teleport step ahead.

Want to automate your competitor watch?

Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com

Login npc@adnd365.com

Password N0nPl@yC#822!

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