Character Wealth

[jason.richardson]

How does True20 handle character wealth? I've read that there's a wealth check that players make to see if they can purchase an item. How does this work? Would it work in a setting that has an economy based on medieval farthings, shillings and pounds?

[skywalker]

How does True20 handle character wealth? I've read that there's a wealth check that players make to see if they can purchase an item. How does this work? Would it work in a setting that has an economy based on medieval farthings, shillings and pounds?

It currently uses a Wealth check like that in D20 Modern. A lot of people like it and some don't. Essentially, the accounting and specifics of wealth are aggregated into a bonus that uses the same mechanics as the rest of the system.

Provided you are OK with the abstraction of wealth, it works for any economy even barter as far as I can tell. BTW there is a simply way to convert Wealth bonuses into dollars and gold pieces if you want. I think they produced a table for D20 Modern. PM me if you want me to send you a copy.

[jason.richardson]

I (think) I like the idea of a simplified wealth system. No need to calculate every coin or dollar ever character is carrying. I've never gamed with such a system, so I'll have to wait and see.

One aspect of this type of wealth system that has me curious though..., how do you calculate correct encumbrance if you aren't keeping track of all the coins you are carrying? Coins get heavy fast. Just curious.

[Citizen Arcane]

If you would like more info on the d20 Modern wealth system, follow this link...

http://systemreferencedocuments.org/mod ... Wealth.php

[skywalker]

I (think) I like the idea of a simplified wealth system. No need to calculate every coin or dollar ever character is carrying. I've never gamed with such a system, so I'll have to wait and see.

One aspect of this type of wealth system that has me curious though..., how do you calculate correct encumbrance if you aren't keeping track of all the coins you are carrying? Coins get heavy fast. Just curious.

I don't calculate encumbrance

True 20 does have rules for encumbrance so you could convert wealth into coins and then weigh each one.

The problem you have is that every economy will have a different encumbrance for money. In barter you may be carrying around pigs and slaves, in modern settings credit cards and in fantasy settings coins. So this task is over to each group to work through if they want to I guess.

Personally, as Wealth checks are an abstraction of wealth which I find very good (on the basis that accounting for every coin is both boring and time consuming to me), I think the same principles would apply to encumbrance for wealth. I just wouldn't worry about it. If it became a problem I would try and encourage a more reasonable approach to wealth carrying from the PCs with the use of banks, more portable wealth like gems, favours and letters of credit and possibly denote that increased wealth often means increased expenditure. I also note that as Wealth check may encompass more than just coins you have on you, such as credit worthiness, encumbrance for such things becomes relatively pointless.

[skywalker]

The most common issue with Wealth checks is not encumbrance but awards of wealth if you use such things heavily to motivate your PCs. They can be done with a Wealth check system but some people dislike having to say: "...if you save my daughter I will give you a +2 Wealth bonus." or trying to convert what $20,000 is in terms of Wealth.

My advice is that first determine how important wealth is in your game. If you are playing mercenaries then wealth could be a big factor and you may want to consider coverting to money. If you are heroes then a Wealth check is normally OK.

Personally, I see this as a good opportunity to reduce the use of money as a motivator as franky there are much cooler things out there like revenge, duty, and blackmail

[Steve Kenson]

Also note that, while True20 uses the Wealth check system by default, it's fairly easy to just ignore it and use cost accounting of dollars or gold pieces or what have you, if that suits your setting and style of play better.

[aaronil]

I ran into this challenge when running my home Caliphate Nights game. A key element of the genre is haggling in the bazaar with greedy and oddball merchants. That scene from "Life of Brian" comes to mind when the merchant insisted that Brian haggle. How could I reflect this in the game while using a wealth system that has not reference to "gold currency"?

My answer was to use "souk phrases" - pithy bits of prose/poetry the characters would say when haggling. A really good one merited a bonus on the Diplomacy haggle check or undermined your opponent's check, while a poor one ended the "bonus accumulation period" (i.e. haggling) or gave you a penalty to your Diplomacy haggle check. My players enjoyed this, and we never mentioned how much gold/silver we were exactly talking about.

Here are examples of "souk phrases":

“A coin belongs in the souk”: Used by merchants who are trying to lure in a reluctant or thrifty buyer.
“Either my bull fetches 100 or it’s back to the stable”: Varieties of this phrase are used by customers who are trying to hold a dodgy merchant to a price the merchant has already agreed to but is trying to get out of.
“God bless the vanquished”: Often used in an attempt to get the other party to compromise and match the offered price; the “vanquished” refers to the one who “loses” the war of the believers (i.e. trade), but wins God’s grace.
“The door for debate is open”: A merchant says this when trying to inspire competition among buyers, selling the good to whomever offers the highest price.
“When money is present, the devil is absent”: A rich customer who wants to settle a bargain fast uses this line.

[Jonathan Moyer]

My answer was to use "souk phrases" - pithy bits of prose/poetry the characters would say when haggling. A really good one merited a bonus on the Diplomacy haggle check or undermined your opponent's check, while a poor one ended the "bonus accumulation period" (i.e. haggling) or gave you a penalty to your Diplomacy haggle check. My players enjoyed this, and we never mentioned how much gold/silver we were exactly talking about.

A system of haggling sounds like it could be handled similar to a chase in Hot Pursuit or Spycraft. The souk phrases sound like chase manuvers, little things a PC does to win the chase.

I'll have to mull this over ...

[jason.richardson]

Also note that, while True20 uses the Wealth check system by default, it's fairly easy to just ignore it and use cost accounting of dollars or gold pieces or what have you, if that suits your setting and style of play better.

Oh perfect. Then I can just use the system of currency already in place for HarnWorld. This is good news. I know that 16 silver pennies weigh 1 ounce.