Death and Taxes
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Dagger75
Epic Commoner
Now that my group is Union, the Mercane love taxes. So far they have been taxed about 1000gp. They also owned a castle once and that was taxed.
Rember you can slay tons of people, start bar fights burn down the land but if you don't pay taxes you WILL be hunted down for sure
Rember you can slay tons of people, start bar fights burn down the land but if you don't pay taxes you WILL be hunted down for sure
A good document to look at may be the the Domesday Book if you can locate it. It's a record of every pig, horse, farm, cooking pot owned by everyone in Britain in the 11th century. I'm not sure if it has taxation rates and such, but its compilation was meant for efficient taxation of all British subjects. That's why it was frequently called the "Doomsday" Book.
"The Domesday book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. The first draft was completed in August 1086 and contained records for 13,418 settlements in the English counties south of the rivers Ribble and Tees (the border with Scotland at the time)."
Here's a link:
http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/I'd also be very curious about how exactly taxation was done during the Dark/Middle Ages. From my understanding, many taxes were collected by head and by merchandise coming into towns and cities. Also, rulers would collect taxes from tenant farmers in grain (and coin, if possible). Some villagers would pay in livestock to the local chief, too. But it was generally random and arbitrary. I don't know if there was a standard system or not.
"The Domesday book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. The first draft was completed in August 1086 and contained records for 13,418 settlements in the English counties south of the rivers Ribble and Tees (the border with Scotland at the time)."
Here's a link:
http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/I'd also be very curious about how exactly taxation was done during the Dark/Middle Ages. From my understanding, many taxes were collected by head and by merchandise coming into towns and cities. Also, rulers would collect taxes from tenant farmers in grain (and coin, if possible). Some villagers would pay in livestock to the local chief, too. But it was generally random and arbitrary. I don't know if there was a standard system or not.
dave_o
Explorer
K.I.S.S.
For simplicities sake, you could simply charge a flat rate based on the current character/party wealth. Perhaps take special consideration for holdings, etc.
Of course, taxes could also be a very fun campaign dynamic. Some places could charge outrageous taxes (large cities, extremely cosmopolitan areas, etc.) while others (frontier towns) wouldn't charge nearly as much.
And suddenly, living in the wilds has a lot more perks.
For simplicities sake, you could simply charge a flat rate based on the current character/party wealth. Perhaps take special consideration for holdings, etc.
Of course, taxes could also be a very fun campaign dynamic. Some places could charge outrageous taxes (large cities, extremely cosmopolitan areas, etc.) while others (frontier towns) wouldn't charge nearly as much.
And suddenly, living in the wilds has a lot more perks.
Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
Harvest Festivals!
Each year after the annual Harvests the rulers have a huge festival in which every family is to contribute 500lbs of produce to be held in the Royal Silos.
Adventure Parties must either be licenced (a 'Letter of Marque') or must surrender 20% of any treasure found plus any item of religious and/or historic significance (ie magic items)
Each year after the annual Harvests the rulers have a huge festival in which every family is to contribute 500lbs of produce to be held in the Royal Silos.
Adventure Parties must either be licenced (a 'Letter of Marque') or must surrender 20% of any treasure found plus any item of religious and/or historic significance (ie magic items)
Greatwyrm
Been here a while...
For most things, I just consider taxes to be built into the prices of the things characters already buy. I usually only mess with specific taxes on purchasing buildings or farms. Sometimes gate taxes when entering a very large city (1sp per military weapon, 1 or more gp per magic weapon, 1 cp cart tax, etc.) For the most part, characters have enough wealth that day to day taxes won't really affect them.
Then again, you need something like a 9th level cleric to raise dead , but only a 1st level aristocrat to raise taxes.
Then again, you need something like a 9th level cleric to raise dead , but only a 1st level aristocrat to raise taxes.
Nappy MonkeyII
First Post
I too generally assume taxes are paid by workers on their goods and service prices. No more details necessary.
In another campaign, our village is too small for coin and is run on a communal basis. Their is some bartering and private property but in an emergency everything is owned by the village.
Taxes in this setting are more labours given, or tribute for safe passage (but not if we can force/negotiate free passage) through hostile lands. Oh yeah, dowry for inter-village marriage.
The village head does have a cashe of surplus goodies accumulated as a portion of all stuff recovered (there are "lost cities" scattered about...
) by exploring forays. Our characters got to use some of that for a recent expedition, very nice.
It is quite fun playing in a small economy, the taxes are more visibly necessary.
In another campaign, our village is too small for coin and is run on a communal basis. Their is some bartering and private property but in an emergency everything is owned by the village.
Taxes in this setting are more labours given, or tribute for safe passage (but not if we can force/negotiate free passage) through hostile lands. Oh yeah, dowry for inter-village marriage.
The village head does have a cashe of surplus goodies accumulated as a portion of all stuff recovered (there are "lost cities" scattered about...
) by exploring forays. Our characters got to use some of that for a recent expedition, very nice.It is quite fun playing in a small economy, the taxes are more visibly necessary.
Kamard
First Post
I once had the prize of a tournament be a "great keep, situated on the edge of the River Twees, and comprising such-and-such square feet".
The catch? Not only was the square footage inaccurate (the second floor had collapsed), the "border of the river" being much closer than thought (ie, in the great hall), and the whole thing having been uninhabited for 100 years...
It had 10 years of back land tax. Aka, 1000 gold.
My 3rd level party was not pleased.
The catch? Not only was the square footage inaccurate (the second floor had collapsed), the "border of the river" being much closer than thought (ie, in the great hall), and the whole thing having been uninhabited for 100 years...
It had 10 years of back land tax. Aka, 1000 gold.
My 3rd level party was not pleased.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
In Calastia easy. "You pay your taxes and don't cheat us. We will know" In Mithril it's more like "Citizen, it's your duty to help us in keeping this world safe and secure. Please, we ask in the champion's name, pay your taxes."
Everywhere else "Give me money or these thugs will beat you up."
Everywhere else "Give me money or these thugs will beat you up."
