4E Economy Question: Apologies Upfront

[Dayspire]

Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry, okay? I know that talking about the economy in D&D is like talking about an incarcerated uncle when you're at the dinner table, but come on. I just have a small question. Please?

Ok, based upon the prices for the services and goods in the Players Handbook, in your opinion what is the typical salary for a guard? An inkeeper? How about a peasant? How much would a wealthy merchant earn in a month?

My players have been hired by the local university, and they're given a weekly stipend to 'assist the professor of biology' in whatever way he sees fit (which of course involves questing and dungeon-delving!). But what would a good salary be for them? (They're second level, and they do realize that most of their income will be coming from the spoils of war)

 

[Ximenes088]

Look over the ten loot packages you eventually plan to give them over the course of the level, pick one made up of coinage, and give them that. Dungoneering assistance ain't turnip farming, so it can be assumed to be a handsome rate of pay compared to others.

 

[malraux]

Look over the ten loot packages you eventually plan to give them over the course of the level, pick one made up of coinage, and give them that. Dungoneering assistance ain't turnip farming, so it can be assumed to be a handsome rate of pay compared to others.

Got it in one. Also, don't forget that quest completion should also carry an XP reward.

 

[Boarstorm]

There's not a whole lot to go by in the PHB.

Common meal: 2 silver.
Typical room at an inn: 5 silver.

That's not a whole lot of information to weave into a tapestry of the lives of common folk, alas.

But, let's make some guesses. First, let's say that one night in a hotel room is significantly more expensive than a similar amount of time under your own (landlord's) roof. Pulling a number out of my behind yields 2g per month for "rent."

Three squares a day, 30 days yields another 18 gold, so we're looking at an absolute minimum of 20 gold a month just to survive. So... let's double that to 40g a month, to pay for the occasional bar visit/electric bill.

Of course, the PCs are a cut above Joe Peasant -- the highly paid "efficiency analysts" of their time -- so they could be making ... well, just about any value you want to pay them.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry, okay? I know that talking about the economy in D&D is like talking about an incarcerated uncle when you're at the dinner table, but come on. I just have a small question. Please?

Hey, my uncle only ought to be incarcerated. Keep it straight.

I like the avatar.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

My average commoners get 1 SP per day, like they should!

 

[Terwox]

Why not just use the 3E material for this? The amount of money isn't tremendously out of line w/ 4E. (And it's going to have more internal consistency, although you still have insanity like a cart costing 15g.)

 

[WayneLigon]

My players have been hired by the local university, and they're given a weekly stipend to 'assist the professor of biology' in whatever way he sees fit (which of course involves questing and dungeon-delving!).

There's only two reasons you need a salary at all: necessities and luxuries. Simply assume the university pays for all their necessities: food, shelter, any taxes etc. There's no reason they should see hard coin; the taverns and inns (unless the university makes them sleep in student housing and eat at the board) will make a mark on the universities tab and settle up with them later.

For luxuries, the understanding should be 'that's the stuff you get from dungeon delving is for'. Therefor, you don't have to worry about it or keep track of anything.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Why not just use the 3E material for this? The amount of money isn't tremendously out of line w/ 4E. (And it's going to have more internal consistency, although you still have insanity like a cart costing 15g.)

And that, in turn, means you can use the INSANELY GREAT A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe, from Expeditious Retreat Press, now available in a second edition.