D&D 5E Easy realistic economy

[Horwath]

Under current prices 1 GP would be about 368$

1 SP, 4,90$

1 CP 0,06$

So, if we enlarge a cold coin a bit(it has more density than silver, so to be similar size) to a cost of 500$, reduce copper to 5 cents(smaller density than silver)

we could have ratio of 1GP=100SP=10000CP=500$, mostly equal size coins. Gold would be little smaller in volume, little more in weight than silver and copper.

5 cents is small enough coin denomination, but for DnD terms maybe too small. Maybe make an alloy with silver to boost value to 25c or 50c?

 

[Oofta]

Under current prices 1 GP would be about 368$

1 SP, 4,90$

1 CP 0,06$

So, if we enlarge a cold coin a bit(it has more density than silver, so to be similar size) to a cost of 500$, reduce copper to 5 cents(smaller density than silver)

we could have ratio of 1GP=100SP=10000CP=500$, mostly equal size coins. Gold would be little smaller in volume, little more in weight than silver and copper.

5 cents is small enough coin denomination, but for DnD terms maybe too small. Maybe make an alloy with silver to boost value to 25c or 50c?

But that assumes that gold has the same dollar value as today? I'm not sure that makes sense either - I can easily see gold being more abundant and devalued because every once in a while alchemist really do figure out how to turn lead into gold.

Of course all of this would be easier if D&D had just started with a silver economy, like it should have been.

 

[Thurmas]

Personally I would prefer:
GP =$100
SP = $10
CP = $1.

Keeps the 1:10 ratio going, eliminates cents and decimals to keep the math simple and allows for easy transition to currency exchange. Using that formula, you can determine prices of items with real day equivilancies pretty easily.

 

[Krachek]

Realistic and DnD dont fit well together.
Economy and DnD dont fit better.
Realistic economy is not the solution to control players Magic equipment.

 

[Horwath]

Personally I would prefer:
GP =$100
SP = $10
CP = $1.

Keeps the 1:10 ratio going, eliminates cents and decimals to keep the math simple and allows for easy transition to currency exchange. Using that formula, you can determine prices of items with real day equivilancies pretty easily.

problem is the worth of the material for that ratio. Worth is almost 1:100:10000 so that ratio is better.

Also as many stated silver standard would be better.

Copper would be the same value as now in DnD. Silver would have the value as gold and gold would be 10x valuable than current platinum. Also platinum and gold have almost similar value.

 

[Thurmas]

problem is the worth of the material for that ratio. Worth is almost 1:100:10000 so that ratio is better.

Also as many stated silver standard would be better.

Copper would be the same value as now in DnD. Silver would have the value as gold and gold would be 10x valuable than current platinum. Also platinum and gold have almost similar value.

I wasn't looking at it from an actual value of gold or silver. I was looking at it as a Gold Piece as an intangible object equal to the value we say it is. Similar to an actual dollar, which only has as much value as the government or market says it does. Its not tied to a gold standard. Tieing a GP to an equivilant monetary system, ie the dollar, allows you to make quick and easy comparisons to price items accurately. You want to buy a house? That's $300,000, or 3000 GP, or 30,000 SP, or 300,000 CP. You want a taco? 1 CP, or 10 tacos for a SP.

 

[dave2008]

Realistic and DnD dont fit well together.
Economy and DnD dont fit better.
Realistic economy is not the solution to control players Magic equipment.

I think you are missing the intent of this exercise. The intent is to creature a simple way to handle the economy that a DM can use intuitively. It is not really about being "realistic," it is about being simple and easy to use with enough flavor or realism that everyone can easily accept the prices you use.

 

[jgsugden]

Unless you have a rare party that REALLY LOVES ACCOUNTING, the best option is to leave it vague and unfocused. Don't sweat the details and let PCs brush past the numbers as much as possible. Worrying about the cost of a wineskin is not heroic. It is tedious.

This is one of the reasons I don't give out much coin treasure in the first place, and when I do, it tends to be in huge hauls that the PCs want to spend right away - and they usually have some obvious options for how to spend it, such as a rare magic item being available at auction, an estate being up for sale, a city in need of financial aid, etc...

 

[dave2008]

what about electrum! Shouldn't it be:
$1 = 1 CP
$10 = 1 SP
$50 = 1 EP
$100 = 1 GP
$1000 = 1 PP

 

[Dausuul]

I think you are missing the intent of this exercise. The intent is to creature a simple may to handle the economy that a DM can use intuitively. It is not really about being "realistic," it is about being simple and easy to use with enough flavor or realism that everyone can easily accept the prices you use.

Then the exercise is a failure, because I would certainly not "easily accept" such prices. The modern economy is totally different from the medieval economy; mass production changes everything, on every level. And the typical D&D world does not have magic-driven factories pumping out goods, so you can't just swap in magic for technology.

This approach is no more convincing than just using prices out of the PHB, and it's a lot more work.