When playing fantasy games, do you think the gold standard as used in D&D is fine, or do you think silver would make more sense?
I usually just stick with the gold standard, since everything is already listed that way. However, it would make a lot more sense if silver coins were the standard for everyone. In my view, your average peasant should not be running around with gold in his pocket.
(I know a number of other fantasy games don't use gold as the norm, but since D&D does, that really is the yardstick for money.)
I mainly use silver in D&D when I bother to think about it.
In the Dawnlands, I made it predominantly barter and gifting with only a small amount of money actually in circulation.
Gold just feels right, you know? When I use silver, in the back of my head I always see it as a fraction of a gold. It's artificial and mechanical rather than emotive.
I suspect the best way to do it is invent a currency name that has a bit more weight to it - Crowns, Shekels, etc.
Silver was, historically, much more common. If that sort of thing matters in your game, then replace pp with gp, and gp with sp, and sp with a smaller sp, or get rid of them together. Also ditch the decimal increments and replace them with imperial-measurement style values of a dozen, a score, a gross, or 40. Also, it's pretty unrealistic to have a single, standardized currency. Mix in currencies from at least a few nations and or emperors, at variable levels of reliable purity. Don't forget that some coins will be clipped, and less likely to be accepted at full value, if at all. And, realistically, there should be a widespread system of credit, usually involving fairly complex interest calculations.
Well, it's a matter of reality...and it doesn't really matter in a fantasy game if you're using a fantasy substance called 'gold' as opposed to a fantasy substance called 'silver'. Whatever makes you happy is fine.
In the real world, even when there was a gold standard, no country ever had enough gold to actually use gold for all everyday transactions--even Rome at the height of the Empire still could not do so (ok, there is one exception, the Spanish Empire flooded itself with gold from conquering South America, and theoretically could...but even then, much of that never made it into the pockets of everyday people). Real world farmers in a gold standard didn't carry gold anyway.
Now, a 'real world' gold piece was generally the size of a dime or smaller (there were larger size coins, but I'm talking the most common coins here), so certainly I'd recommend changing the base weight of a coin to 1/10 or 1/20 of an ounce--Gygax's gold coins weighing 1.6 ounces as "standard" is off base, and it's funny how other games copied his inaccurate estimate of a base coin weight.
FWIW, I recently picked up a 1745 1/2 Escudo in great condition (except for the hole, obliterating its numismatic value)...at 1/20 an ounce, it still buys much the same amount of goods and services it used to. That's one of the neat things about metal money based systems over fiat--the preservation of buying power, since some clown with a printing press can't simply swipe the value from you.
Coins also served as propaganda in previous eras (I often use the mintage of coins in my campaign to give clues to the players), and other uses. The Romans used to mint silver coins with sexual favors stamped on them; this way, the soldiers could purchase the favors with the coins in foreign lands, where they might not speak the language.
The favors such coins would buy 2000 years ago could buy the same favors today with the same coins (at least with prostitutes aware of the value of the metal).
Anyway, I use gold in my campaigns. Since my campaign is set in Minaria, a region with a dozen different countries, there's a 'gold piece' standard of weights, even if the coins are made in different countries. This has a real world equivalent, as Europe (and the colonial US) likewise used a wide variety of coinage, ultimately using the weight of the coins to set their 'actual' value.
Quote from: Doom;497945Well, it's a matter of reality...and it doesn't really matter in a fantasy game if you're using a fantasy substance called 'gold' as opposed to a fantasy substance called 'silver'. Whatever makes you happy is fine.
In the real world, even when there was a gold standard, no country ever had enough gold to actually use gold for all everyday transactions--even Rome at the height of the Empire still could not do so (ok, there is one exception, the Spanish Empire flooded itself with gold from conquering South America, and theoretically could...but even then, much of that never made it into the pockets of everyday people). Real world farmers in a gold standard didn't carry gold anyway.
Now, a 'real world' gold piece was generally the size of a dime or smaller (there were larger size coins, but I'm talking the most common coins here), so certainly I'd recommend changing the base weight of a coin to 1/10 or 1/20 of an ounce--Gygax's gold coins weighing 1.6 ounces as "standard" is off base, and it's funny how other games copied his inaccurate estimate of a base coin weight.
FWIW, I recently picked up a 1745 1/2 Escudo in great condition (except for the hole, obliterating its numismatic value)...at 1/20 an ounce, it still buys much the same amount of goods and services it used to. That's one of the neat things about metal money based systems over fiat--the preservation of buying power, since some clown with a printing press can't simply swipe the value from you.
Coins also served as propaganda in previous eras (I often use the mintage of coins in my campaign to give clues to the players), and other uses. The Romans used to mint silver coins with sexual favors stamped on them; this way, the soldiers could purchase the favors with the coins in foreign lands, where they might not speak the language.
The favors such coins would buy 2000 years ago could buy the same favors today with the same coins (at least with prostitutes aware of the value of the metal).
Anyway, I use gold in my campaigns. Since my campaign is set in Minaria, a region with a dozen different countries, there's a 'gold piece' standard of weights, even if the coins are made in different countries. This has a real world equivalent, as Europe (and the colonial US) likewise used a wide variety of coinage, ultimately using the weight of the coins to set their 'actual' value.
Reality???? What world are you on??? We are on Earth if that helps you come back?
We are talking about a FANTASY game, not real world mechanics...
In any case, I use gold in my FANTASY WORLD GAMES as I have since day 1.
Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;497965Reality???? What world are you on??? We are on Earth if that helps you come back?
We are talking about a FANTASY game, not real world mechanics...
In any case, I use gold in my FANTASY WORLD GAMES as I have since day 1.
I used to hate the D&D gold standard, but then I just grokked that it is a fantasy game.
Do not think about those matters. This way, the madness lies - especially if you actually count how much 1000 gold pieces weight.
Generally if you want a more realistic system (or one that'd at least feel realistic ;) ) - silver coins'd be mostly used by everyone, gold coins would be rather rare, and in fact, if you take standard DnD guidelines for prices - each silver coin should be worth about 30 - 40 times it is.
Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;497965Reality???? What world are you on??? We are on Earth if that helps you come back?
We are talking about a FANTASY game, not real world mechanics...
In any case, I use gold in my FANTASY WORLD GAMES as I have since day 1.
Really was just explaining and comparing some real world concepts, to better explain that "peasants don't carry gold" while true, doesn't preclude a gold standard being in use in the real world, so such a thing is acceptible in a fantasy world. Many people like to have some basis in realism, even in their fantasy worlds.
I'm on Earth, myself...I don't know if you're simply ranting out of pure confusion, or if you're wanting some documentation for some of the "reality" concepts above.
well, i for one appreciated Doom's post. very informative :)
if i'm going for a more. . . realistic? fantasy, then sp is the main currency. if i'm feeling all dungeoncrawler-y, then fuck it, stick with crazy d&d gp.
I tend to use a silver standard. But as others have said for D&D? With Admantium and Mithral, and such? Yeah gold works.
In D&D we use the Gold standard. In other fantasy games the Silver standard as it's the general currency for common city folk. Brass for the poor, gold for the rich.
I use a silver standard based of the research done by the Harn folks. However gold versus silver is a perference thing neither good or bad.
What I found that makes a difference is one common everyday coin and another coin that much more valuable. In my games the common coin is the silver penny (d) at 250 to 1 pound, and the valuable coin the gold crown which is 320d at 16 to 1 pound. I found that using two coin of disparate heightens the appreciation of high value treasure is found.
If you want to be historical Then coins are typical valued by weight with 20 silver unit worth a gold unit. Everyday coins are the size of a dime and are roughly 250 coins per lb.
Quote from: Doom;497988Really was just explaining and comparing some real world concepts, to better explain that "peasants don't carry gold" while true, doesn't preclude a gold standard being in use in the real world, so such a thing is acceptible in a fantasy world. Many people like to have some basis in realism, even in their fantasy worlds.
I'm on Earth, myself...I don't if you're simply ranting out of pure confusion, or if you're wanting some documentation for some of the "reality" concepts above.
Don't mind the suppurating mole's anus leaking horse semen over this thread. It's a solid set of work.
Silver.
Unless I play D&D in which case I just don't care. If you do then simply move all the prices down one notch.. so gold is silver and so on..
The pricelists in the AH RQ3 are one of the best, they really show the true cost of animals like horses, which were very dear.. and the Gamesmasters books shows simply and neatly how much different social classes need per week.
It's all generalised and subject to every interpretation under the sun, but it's the best one so I use it for all fantasy games.
Unless you prefer the C&S 2nd edition lists.. also strong on veracity (with a tablespoon of salt).
Frankly I am less and less worried about money in rpgs.
Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;498002Don't mind the suppurating mole's anus leaking horse semen over this thread. It's a solid set of work.
ha ha internet muscles at its best...
Always say it online but BUT never in person.
Typical socially inept gamer...LOL
In my recent campaign of Warhammer, I use gems a lot - since they are easy to transport, and in every bigger city you will find a jeweller, they make perfect substitute for gold pieces. And they make up for some merry bargaining later.
Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;498045ha ha internet muscles at its best...
Always say it online but BUT never in person.
Typical socially inept gamer...LOL
I think you're confusing your monitor with a mirror.
Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;498056I think you're confusing your monitor with a mirror.
Leave him be. He's like this small guy who's always drunk and tries to get into every fight in a bar.
Quote from: Doom;497988I'm on Earth, myself...I don't know if you're simply ranting out of pure confusion, or if you're wanting some documentation for some of the "reality" concepts above.
It helps to remember that while the rest of us are on Earth, that still means that none of us are living in the same world as Ancientgamer1970.
Quote from: Silverlion;497992I tend to use a silver standard. But as others have said for D&D? With Admantium and Mithral, and such? Yeah gold works.
This, for me, is a major point: In D&D, there's a lot more precious metal laying around than in the historical middle ages. That happens when you've got dwarves and wizards and the gods know what else hauling the stuff out of the ground.
Historically, gold was rare. In D&D, on the other hand, gold is as common as silver in the real world (and silver even more common than that). And this tends to track fairly well when you start looking at the other stuff lying around D&D treasure hordes and towns. There's a lot more wealth in a typical D&D setting than there was in medieval Europe.
We're not much for house keeping when it comes to number crunching, so we just use gold.
One thing I just thought of - how do the random coin treasure tables in the various editions of D&D compare? Has there been an "inflation" in the amount of coins of all types from edition to edition? I ask because it seems to me that magic items have become more varied, and more expensive, over the years, but we never seem to have trouble buying them. Maybe it's just because I remember my early days when 100s would be a huge find (at least at lower levels).
I'm playing in a D&D game now with a GM that focuses on the silver standard. I just wait for somebody to tell me how many of a particular type of coin to fork over.
I prefer the "feel" of silver to gold. Gold evokes a higher fantasy setting than what I like to play.
Quote from: two_fishes;497942Silver was, historically, much more common. If that sort of thing matters in your game, then replace pp with gp, and gp with sp, and sp with a smaller sp, or get rid of them together. Also ditch the decimal increments and replace them with imperial-measurement style values of a dozen, a score, a gross, or 40. Also, it's pretty unrealistic to have a single, standardized currency. Mix in currencies from at least a few nations and or emperors, at variable levels of reliable purity. Don't forget that some coins will be clipped, and less likely to be accepted at full value, if at all. And, realistically, there should be a widespread system of credit, usually involving fairly complex interest calculations.
Or just go to one of the many sites that have already done this (without the interest calculations, but that was just trolling anyway) and boom, instant Old-Europe flavored money system.
Or you could have a pool of "Resources", and when "Consequence" from a "Failed Conflict" causes "Fallout", you could choose to reduce your "Resources" rather then have to narrate a "Complication" involving a "Relationship" of the Director's choice. You know...real roleplaying.
Quote from: CRKrueger;498175Or just go to one of the many sites that have already done this (without the interest calculations, but that was just trolling anyway) and boom, instant Old-Europe flavored money system.
Or you could have a pool of "Resources", and when "Consequence" from a "Failed Conflict" causes "Fallout", you could choose to reduce your "Resources" rather then have to narrate a "Complication" involving a "Relationship" of the Director's choice. You know...real roleplaying.
While I know you are joking - using a statistic to represent Wealth isn't a bad idea. Though probably only really noteworthy if the players are playing more high - end characters.
Quote from: CRKrueger;498175Or just go to one of the many sites that have already done this (without the interest calculations, but that was just trolling anyway) and boom, instant Old-Europe flavored money system.
Or you could have a pool of "Resources", and when "Consequence" from a "Failed Conflict" causes "Fallout", you could choose to reduce your "Resources" rather then have to narrate a "Complication" involving a "Relationship" of the Director's choice. You know...real roleplaying.
Keep on fighting that war.
Quote from: two_fishes;498180Keep on fighting that war.
You first babe, you first.
Quote from: Rincewind1;498179While I know you are joking - using a statistic to represent Wealth isn't a bad idea. Though probably only really noteworthy if the players are playing more high - end characters.
Wealth as a stat like in Burning Wheel or abstracted expenditures like lifestyle levels in Shadowrun are a decent way to handle money. You're right, I was just laughing at twofishes. God forbid someone wanted to do something other then the D&D standard of having people buy a round of beers with a handful of gold.
Quote from: CRKrueger;498186Wealth as a stat like in Burning Wheel or abstracted expenditures like lifestyle levels in Shadowrun are a decent way to handle money. You're right, I was just laughing at twofishes. God forbid someone wanted to do something other then the D&D standard of having people buy a round of beers with a handful of gold.
I know, but in my current WFRP campaign I have a bunch of mid - power npcs - the guys who have a lot of resources, but not that much to pull anything. I wondered how to handle that to keep the sandbox "realistic" - and of course, I forgot that I can just stat their resources.
I was a little more snarky than I should have been, but I do think the original question is a little silly, mostly for being too vague. What "makes sense" in the context of the D&D economy? It's so out of line with a real-world economy that it's hard to know where to begin without a reworking from the ground up, a la Adventurer Conquerer King. If all you want is a little more realistic flavour, then a simple swap to silver is easy, but it still doesn't exactly make sense. And money has always been very complex so if realism is really your goal, then where do you stop?
Quote from: Werekoala;498120One thing I just thought of - how do the random coin treasure tables in the various editions of D&D compare? Has there been an "inflation" in the amount of coins of all types from edition to edition? I ask because it seems to me that magic items have become more varied, and more expensive, over the years, but we never seem to have trouble buying them. Maybe it's just because I remember my early days when 100s would be a huge find (at least at lower levels).
That's a fairly fascinating question.
I'm leaning towards "no", at least for the first 10 levels, and the pre-3E editions. Coins weighed so much that often weight was the true limiting factor, and characters couldn't really move more (from edition to edition).
Overall, though, I think copper pieces sort of dropped out of use by 3E, it seems nearly everything was in gold pieces by then, with an occasional silver hoard.
Once you get to 3E, you had real magic item creation rules, which warped the game in so many ways, one of which was certainly the 'cheapening' of coin for higher level characters. Gold simply became a resource that you'd directly invest into your character for ever more power in the form of magic items, as opposed to a goal of itself.
In short: I dunno, but it's an interesting question, I'd love to see if anyone took it seriously enough to define terms precisely and give an answer thereby.
Interesting comments from Doom. I dunno'. I like the sound of gold. Adventurers seeking gold sounds (to me at least) a lot cooler than "seeking silver". I guess I have a fairly romantic view of wealth. Although, come to think of it, I like the sound of "A Few Silver Pieces".
Regards,
David R
Quote from: two_fishes;498190if realism is really your goal, then where do you stop?
Now that, right there, really is the question. It's almost a cliche that you can tell what hobbies people have by looking at what subjects they've added houseruled details for. If you don't know or particularly care about a subject, it takes a lot less detail to pass muster as far as realism goes. It's really a question for each table.
I recently thought about going to more of a Harn money system for WFRP1 which suffers from fantasyflation even though it uses Pence, Shillings and Crowns. I decided to just leave it because this current roster of players aren't really bothered by using Gold Crowns to buy a shirt.
Quote from: CRKrueger;498198I recently thought about going to more of a Harn money system for WFRP1 which suffers from fantasyflation even though it uses Pence, Shillings and Crowns. I decided to just leave it because this current roster of players aren't really bothered by using Gold Crowns to buy a shirt.
I think that the humourless Capnzapp did something on coinage for WFRP in the v2 days if you can find it.
Quote from: CRKrueger;498198Now that, right there, really is the question. It's almost a cliche that you can tell what hobbies people have by looking at what subjects they've added houseruled details for. If you don't know or particularly care about a subject, it takes a lot less detail to pass muster as far as realism goes. It's really a question for each table.
I recently thought about going to more of a Harn money system for WFRP1 which suffers from fantasyflation even though it uses Pence, Shillings and Crowns. I decided to just leave it because this current roster of players aren't really bothered by using Gold Crowns to buy a shirt.
Oh boy, I think the most hilarious example of fantasyflation was in Middenheim supplement - especially the costs of monthly ticket for Snotball.
In D&D, I use gold. I'm not wholly satisfied with the D&D "fantasy economy" though. For some D&D games that works just fine. But if you're playing a campaign where time and resources are important (wages and food for troops over a season, fortress building, stuff like that), then it can get a little off. I like what Gygax did with the economics and monetary system in Lejendary Adventure better than the economic/monetary system in D&D.
In non-D&D FRPGs, or in D&D variants (e.g. pseudo-historical Vikings, or Greeks, or whatever) I used to try to aim for something more "realistic" and appropriate to the setting. I've found that to be a frustrating waste of time. These days I prefer using a more abstract system for handling wealth and purchases in such settings. The Wealth system from Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying gold book it my go-to for that. (There's also a decent example of its application in the Alephtar BRP Rome (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?affiliate_id=17667&products_id=62523) book.)
I always use a silver standard.
1 gold piece = 10 silver pieces
1 silver piece = 10 bronze pieces
1 bronze piece = 10 copper pieces
Platinum being reserved for jewelry or ingots for really large monetary transfers. I also use mithril pieces for Dwarves that are equal to 5 gold pieces. and electrum rings that are used by the Elves that are equal to 5 silver pieces. For my latest campaign idea the Elves will be using specially treated wooden currency in one, five and ten silver piece equivalents. I like coinage.
I've always used the gold standard, although I understand the draw of the silver.
In my current game, it's gold, although there's also paper money (1gp = $1) since it's a fantasy pseudo-western. But mostly in play it's been barter, which has been really fun.
I've experimented with a couple of different economic variations with some success.
1) In Moragne and several other settings, I simply had one type of coin - the silver pence. While other units of currency existed notionally (a pound was 240 silver pence, a half-penny was worth half a pence), they were not actually minted. I found this kept silver valuable, and restored the dignity of gold, as it was extremely expensive and only found as either bullion or objects made of it.
2) The gift economy. I'm planning to experiment more extensively with this when I next run the Dawnlands (the previous campaign was in a colony of Dwer Tor, which has a money-based economy; the next one will take place amongst the nomads). In this set-up, there is either no money, or very little money, and objects are mainly valuable as gift objects or personal possessions. Economic circulation involves giving gifts to others, with the ability to out-gift someone demonstrating one's superiority to them in the status hierarchy, and refusing to make gifts of one's possessions is a humiliation for the tightwad and an insult to the person refused.
When I did run the previous Dawnlands campaign (using 4e), I took all the treasure packets that were boring old gold and turned them into items worth the same amount. Sometimes the items were art objects or curios, sometimes they were valuable ritual objects, or useful items, sometimes they were trade goods. I got very positive feedback from the players on this.
I did something similar with healing potions (instead of 2 generic healing potions or whatever, the PCs would find enough Bonemend herb growing out of the skulls of corpses to grind into two helpings of healing paste; or they might find a jug of fermented tree sap or a Halide Polyp or whatever), and they loved this too. I've continued to do this in particular in fantasy games, and people really like it (in Emern, the PCs mainly use ayahuasca for healing potions, which means they end up tripping balls and vomiting all over the place after a really bad combat).
Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;498218I did something similar with healing potions (instead of 2 generic healing potions or whatever, the PCs would find enough Bonemend herb growing out of the skulls of corpses to grind into two helpings of healing paste; or they might find a jug of fermented tree sap or a Halide Polyp or whatever), and they loved this too. I've continued to do this in particular in fantasy games, and people really like it (in Emern, the PCs mainly use ayahuasca for healing potions, which means they end up tripping balls and vomiting all over the place after a really bad combat).
Awesome and stolen. I've just amended the 'reskin for setting flavor whenever possible' sticky-note above my desk to add 'THIS INCLUDES OBJECTS' beneath as a reminder.
The gift economy and the herbs are both really cool ideas.
Remember: It's not a true healing potion if the players don't grimace at the thought of consuming it.
As usual... I am a mutant...
"The northern celtrican cradle is based on the Electrum standard, in that an unskilled villein's work is worth an electrum coin per day. In a city like Igbar, the electrum standard still holds true. Igbarian Drafted soldiers are recompensed an electrum goodwife a day, as well, though this may take a while to catch up to them.
So, in terms of the electrum standard, these minted coins of Trabler, and the worth of money in most systems, (please note the inhabitants do NOT normally mention the metal when discussing money. They call them Goodwives or trips or horn...)"
http://celtricia.pbworks.com/w/page/44074324/More%20on%20the%20Economy%20of%20the%20Cradle
Polish RPG Neuroshima features a system that I personally dislike, but you may find it useful.
There's no such thing as money there (it's post - apocalyptic). Everything is bartered. However - there is an abstract (I don't really like how the abstraction is handled, but that's another thing) value to each item, that gives you an idea how much it is worth in the world.
I find the monetary system in AD&D breaks down as soon as you move away from its suggested style of play - the prices are 'boomtown' prices. This is what you'd expect to pay for things in a tent city outside a newly-discovered dungeon complex.
So, if you're going to actually simulate such a thing, maybe just look at historical stuff? Assume each new dungeon that gets discovered is something like a mini-New World, severely distorting local economies, the power of local strongmen, and so on.
Quote from: VectorSigma;498222Awesome and stolen. I've just amended the 'reskin for setting flavor whenever possible' sticky-note above my desk to add 'THIS INCLUDES OBJECTS' beneath as a reminder.
Recently I included potions that were alchemically created from pulping the dead brains of sorcerers.
Several of the PCs in my campaign refuse to use them. :)
Quote from: Justin Alexander;498325Recently I included potions that were alchemically created from pulping the dead brains of sorcerers.
Several of the PCs in my campaign refuse to use them. :)
Nice.
After all the fun with hallucinogenic healing potions in this game, I am going to start experimenting with the idea that potions by default have two or more effects. Not necessarily one good effect and one bad effect, just two (probably rolled randomly). Sometimes you'll luck out and get the potion of fire resistance and fire breathing, and sometimes you'll get the potion of deadly poison and magic resistance. :D
I'll be drawing up some tables of fun and useful potion effects for the Emern game. Stay tuned.
Quote from: beeber;497991well, i for one appreciated Doom's post. very informative :)
if i'm going for a more. . . realistic? fantasy, then sp is the main currency. if i'm feeling all dungeoncrawler-y, then fuck it, stick with crazy d&d gp.
Agreed. Even when the US was on the gold standard, currency was still issued in paper bills. While it is possible to 'cash out' your gold investment and get the actual gold, it isn't easy, and in this day and age you will attract the attention of Homeland Security at the very least. Pointing out that no peasant and precious few freemen would have even seen a gold coin, let alone possessed one, is not wildly out of line; this is another aspect of the hobby that has little to do with 'realism' and more to do with verisimilitude.
When Ron Paul GMs, it's always the gold standard.
I stick with gold in D&D because I want less numbers. I explain that a gold coin is $100 value and that adventurers are rock star criminals on the fringe of society so they can be overcharged with impunity by merchants. Also, worthwhile gossip costs real money, not a handful of coppers.
Quote from: Rincewind1;497986This way, the madness lies - especially if you actually count how much 1000 gold pieces weight.
I actually love the 10 coins = 1 pound in D&D. My PCs recently were hauling around 3000 gp (300 lbs of metal) and without a pack mule or hirelings, they were all sorts of unhappy dragging the stuff through dangerous territory.
Quote from: Spinachcat;498349When Ron Paul GMs, it's always the gold standard.
I stick with gold in D&D because I want less numbers. I explain that a gold coin is $100 value and that adventurers are rock star criminals on the fringe of society so they can be overcharged with impunity by merchants. Also, worthwhile gossip costs real money, not a handful of coppers.
I actually love the 10 coins = 1 pound in D&D. My PCs recently were hauling around 3000 gp (300 lbs of metal) and without a pack mule or hirelings, they were all sorts of unhappy dragging the stuff through dangerous territory.
First part made me laugh.
Second - yeah, exactly, not exactly "carry in a pouch" stuff ;).
Quote from: Spinachcat;498349When Ron Paul GMs, it's always the gold standard.
I stick with gold in D&D because I want less numbers. I explain that a gold coin is $100 value and that adventurers are rock star criminals on the fringe of society so they can be overcharged with impunity by merchants. Also, worthwhile gossip costs real money, not a handful of coppers.
I actually love the 10 coins = 1 pound in D&D. My PCs recently were hauling around 3000 gp (300 lbs of metal) and without a pack mule or hirelings, they were all sorts of unhappy dragging the stuff through dangerous territory.
Amazing how similar we get on this. I posted recently that I consider my 'electrum standard' to be the equiv of 50 bucks. I think I got way too deep into the analysis of the 'Gilded Age' enequities in money in my setting, but it still holds true.
And I am also one who enjoys keeping track of encumbrance in players, and the cost/benefit in carrying.
I put this over in my Emern thread because that's where I'm gonna use it, but in case you don't read that thread (perhaps you are an anti-semite, or child rapist or possess some other serious defect of character) I'll link to it here:
(http://i.imgur.com/7rOYAl.jpg)
Quote from: CRKrueger;498198Now that, right there, really is the question. It's almost a cliche that you can tell what hobbies people have by looking at what subjects they've added houseruled details for. If you don't know or particularly care about a subject, it takes a lot less detail to pass muster as far as realism goes. It's really a question for each table.
I recently thought about going to more of a Harn money system for WFRP1 which suffers from fantasyflation even though it uses Pence, Shillings and Crowns. I decided to just leave it because this current roster of players aren't really bothered by using Gold Crowns to buy a shirt.
Harnmaster is a great system. +1
I had used the GP standard, I guess you could say, for almost my entire history of running D&D. I never had any problem.
Ironically, with Albion I've switched to the SP standard, because its run with LotFP and LotFP is set up that way.
Even more ironically, my Forgotten Realms "A-team" campaign players have recently suggested to me that I switch to the SP standard in that game, in exchange for them not having to pay for level advancement anymore. That's still under consideration.
RPGPundit
I'm more accustomed to games like Runequest, Rolemaster and Dragon Warriors than DnD, and they generally have silver as the most common currency, so that feels more natural to me.