Economy
The economy in Arthos works universally on coins of gold, silver, copper and platinum. Coins weigh 0.02lbs.
Contents
Currency
Type | Value in Copper | Equivalent Value [USD] |
---|---|---|
Copper | 1 | $0.50 |
Silver | 10 | $5 |
Gold | 100 | $50 |
Platinum | 1000 | $500 |
Mints
Banks
The more money a business makes, the more risky the cost of doing business becomes. Storing profits into a locked chest works to an extent, but thieves are as cunning as they are brazen.
A Dimelivean trading guild had the ingenious idea to store all the profits of all the businesses in their city into one place, making security much easier to organize and giving birth to a new industry. Many banks around Arthos started cropping up, mostly run by governmental entities, given the massive amount of capital at their disposal.
Bank Functions
- Open Account
- For a moderate to exorbitant fee, you may open an account with a bank. Most banks have little interest in dealing with those without the means to afford this charge. Some banks will even charge a yearly upkeep fee depending on your balance.
- Deposit / Withdraw
- Self explanatory. The basic function of a bank is to protect assets.
- Issue Note
- Because Arthos runs on a coin economy, dealing with large quantities of money can be burdensome and dangerous. A bank may issue you a certified bank note that you may trade with. You can also use bank notes to move capital between cities with the same bank.
- Lend Money
- If you're wealthy enough and your name carries weight, you may negotiate loans with banks. Keep in mind these loans tend to be quite large and anything below 100 gold is considered laughable. For small loans, find a pawnbroker.
Marketplaces
The main arteries of a functioning economy. Marketplaces are designated zones within municipalities meant to facilitate trade between businesses, peddlers, and consumers. Markets are too numerous to list given that almost every town in Arthos will have at least one. Major cities will oftentimes have multiple markets catering to different products and socioeconomic classes.
Merchants
Merchants are the permanent residents of a town or city whose business is to sell products to consumers. They tend to specialize in a specific type (and even quality) of merchandise depending on the location of the settlement and income level of the district. In the center of a marketplace, merchants sell their wares under expansive grids of tents. The more wealthy of merchants will own their own store, usually located on the outskirts of a market. No self-respecting merchant will buy your junk.
Peddlers
The name given to traders who travel from place to place buying and selling goods. They make their profit solely through arbitrage. Peddlers only trade in wholesale, meaning they are unlikely to waste their time selling to individual consumers. Outside of towns, peddlers are easy to spot traveling by horse-driven cart. In city markets however, where carts are left in storage, peddlers are harder to pick out of a crowd. They can be found either busily walking at a brisk pace or chatting with merchants.
Money Changers
In any given marketplace, you will find people called money changers. They provide the service of exchanging coins for coins of equivalent value. Their business relies on the fact that most merchants do not give change for transactions. Depending on proximity to the nearest bank, they will charge a fee ranging from 5-20%. For an even steeper rate, they may accept foreign coins for local ones.
Pawnbrokers
The main purpose of a pawnbroker is to lend small quantities of money to average citizens, making a profit from the interest. Due to the volatility of such a practice, pawnbrokers will almost always ask for valuable items as collateral. The collateral for defaulted loans are sold off.
Pawnbrokers are the only businesses in Arthos who will buy the junk found (and often looted) by adventurers. Expect to be offered prices in the range of 5-10% of an item's true value.
Bartering Economies
Player Character Starting Wealth
The inventories for new characters, including their coinage, is ultimately up to the GM. However, the player and GM may agree to use the following method to semi-randomly determining their beginning wealth.
You may choose to break your cash down into small units only during character creation. Once the game begins, you must use in-universe methods to make change.
Character Archetype | Wealth on Hand | Wealth in Bank |
---|---|---|
Peasant | 1d20 copper | N/a |
Loner | 2d6 silver | N/a |
Commoner | 4d6 silver | N/a |
Fledgling Peddler | 1d4 gold | N/a |
Established Peddler | 4d6 silver | 5d10 gold |
Business Owner | 4d6 silver | 10d20 gold |
Young Noble | 4d8 gold | N/a |
Established Noble | 4d8 gold | 100d20 gold |