draft 81. MONETARY MATTERS

["rthorm" <rthorm@cornellbox.com>]

81. MONETARY MATTERS

The GM needs to maintain a balanced economy to provide an interesting
environment for adventure.  The following table provides an outline
for the range of income levels and costs of living for various social
classes: 

Class        Annual Income  Monthly Upkeep
Peasant         <500 Sp       n/a
Subsistence     1000 Sp       100 Sp
Yeoman          1500 Sp       125 Sp
Soldier/
Mercenary       4000 Sp       200 Sp
Tradesman       7500 Sp       300 Sp
Adventurer/     
Merchant       10000 Sp       500 Sp
Hero/Lesser
Noble          50000 Sp      1000 Sp
Greater
Noble/Royalty 100000 Sp      1500 Sp
Merch Prince  200000 Sp      2000 Sp

The upkeep listed for each class is the amount needed for a moderate
lifestyle for that level.  Typical income levels and monthy upkeep
costs for Mercenary, Adventurer, and Hero level characters are also
noted.  

Monthly upkeep includes the costs for food and drink, shelter,
clothing and other ordinary expenses.  Costs for training, ability
improvement, and the like are not included in these expenses.  The
included costs needed to maintain a Skill are also not included in
upkeep costs (with some exceptions as noted below).  All adventuring
gear should be calculated separately from the upkeep costs.  Likewise,
the costs for the purchase of any specific item should be treated
separately from upkeep costs.

Some characters may apply a portion of the cost of maintaining their
skills towards their monthly upkeep costs.  A Merchant can credit the
value of one week per month of their appearance upkeep cost towards
upgrading their lifestyle above the base level of moderate.  Half of a
Courtesan's annual upkeep can be credited towards monthly upkeep and
upgrading lifestyle.

[81.1] The Silver Penny (Sp) is the standard unit of money, with
copper, gold,
and truesilver currency also in circulation.

  Coin               Abbrev. Value   Weight
  Truesilver Guinea   TsG    =21 GS  1/2oz  14.2g
  Gold Shilling       GS     =12 Sp  1/4oz  7.1g
  Silver Penny        Sp     =4 cf   1/6oz  4.7g
  Copper Farthing     cf             1/8oz  3.5g

A Platinum Shilling (PS =1.5 GS or 18 Sp and weighing 1/4oz) may be
found in
some areas.  There are also coins such as the ha'-penny (=2 cf; 1/12oz),
threepence (=3 Sp; 1/2oz), and sixpence (=6 Sp; 1 oz).  Cut coins are also
commonly found in some areas, while in other regions, they are
prohibited by
law.  Weights and values for these other coins can be extrapolated
from the
list above.  

[81.2] The Adventurer's Guild provides safe storage of valuables among
their range of services for their members.  Non-members typically will
have to pay double the listed rate for any Guild service.

Safekeeping of money or valuables -- 1 Sp/mo for up to 500oz (31.25
pounds)
Banking/letter of credit -- 1 Sp/mo for up to 36000 Sp
Postal service (delivery to Guildhouse) -- 1 Sp up to 500 miles
Guild preparation of contract -- 10-100 Sp
Guild arbitration of contract -- 50 Sp/hour

[81.3] Improved Basic Goods List (table)

(footnotes to 81)
1  Poor Trash = Peasant
2  Impoverished Gentlefolk = Subsistence
4  Burgher or Farmer = Yeoman
6  Merchant
10 Merchant Prince
5  Craftsman or Adventurer = Tradesman or Adventurer
8  Bandit or Pirate
5  Lesser Nobility
10 Greater Nobility

Note, also, that not every character will necessarily be living at the
specified level their class normally affords.  There are plenty of
individuals of noble birth who are living at more modest levels than
their station may call for.

Alternate text: "A comfortable lifestyle is 1.5 times the base cost. 
An expensive lifestyle is double the base cost, and an extravagant
lifestyle is triple the base cost (or more)."

For reference and comparison, here is some information I found on
ancient Roman coinage (looking at the silver denarius as a close
approximation of the silver penny).  Also, for comparison, I have
included information on current US coinage.  Canadian coinage is close
enough in size to US coinage to serve as an example, too.

Roman Coinage
Gold      Aureus  7.75g
Silver    Denarius  4.5g
Silver    Quinarius  2.25g
Silver    Sestertius  1.125g
Brass     Sestertius  (2.5g)

1 aureus was equal to 25 denarii in value.  The quinarius was worth
half of a
denarius.  The sestertius was worth a quarter denarius.

US (and Canadian) Coinage
Quarter   5.675g
Dime      2.25g
Nickel    5g
Penny     2.5g

And remember that 28.35g = 1oz

A very interesting site (Historical Coinage Cheatsheet) for some
additional
reference information:
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/history/coin.html