Experience Points and D&D Economy - What I'd Like To See

[Plane Sailing]

BTW, I'd love to see a 'silver standard' economy, where gold is used for the very expensive stuff by merchants and countries, perhaps.

RQ had a silver standard ('lunars') and it worked nicely there.

One of the problems with a gold standard setting the prices for everything is that while silver becomes almost valueless quickly, copper isn't even worth knowing anything about!

Cheers

 

[cerberus2112]

The D20 Modern style of Wealth is supposed to simulate a modern economy with credit cards, loans, mortgages, weekly income, and many other things which are not appropriate for the average fantasy game. Tracking your coppers is much more appropriate for D&D. While it is certainly fine to house rule the Wealth system into your game, it doesn't fit as a basic rule.

In D&D if you get robbed, the thief takes the money you have on you (or in your stronghold), and you are unhappy. In D20 Modern if you get robbed, the thief takes your credit card, you call up the company, they stop your card and issue you a new one, and you are relieved because you don't lose very much at all.

 

[Terraism]

The D20 Modern style of Wealth is supposed to simulate a modern economy with credit cards, loans, mortgages, weekly income, and many other things which are not appropriate for the average fantasy game. Tracking your coppers is much more appropriate for D&D. While it is certainly fine to house rule the Wealth system into your game, it doesn't fit as a basic rule.

I tend to agree, though I'm actually using both right now. I'm running an E6 game - which isn't terribly relevant, but just to point out that the cap is a bit lower - and money is a significant resource for the players. Significant enough that it *is* worth their while to count coppers.

But here's the thing - I'm using the wealth system for people who aren't living hand-to-mouth. Adventurers do - every penny counts with them, 'cause it's not always clear where they're getting more. But if they were to, say, purchase an inn at some point, or land, or something similar? Then the scale changes, because they suddenly have regular-styled income.

 

[Flynn]

bruceparis:

The XP system you mentioned in the original post reminds me of the "OGL Alternatives: Alternate Advancement System", which I wrote last year and released through Samardan Press. It is very similar to your concept, and incorporates a number of different criteria (which the GM selects from) for earning points, so that you can base advancement on the elements that you consider important for your gaming style. It might be worth checking it out for any D20 System-based game, not just 4E.

I personally like the concept because it takes the emphasis off of combat, and allows you to choose what types of gaming garner points that count towards advancement. I definitely hope that 4E provides something of the kind, even if only options for earning XP other than just straight combat. 2nd Edition had some good suggestions in that arena, if a more freeform approach is a bit too far afield for the 4E developers.

Hope This Helps,
Flynn

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I'm not a fan of wealth systems like the one in d20 Modern. I'd like to see the D&D economy figured out in a sensible way, but including coins, etc. I'd be interested in things going to a silver standard as well, but that's nto a big deal to me.

 

[Nebulous]

I'd like to see it move to a silver basis as well, but overall, it's not a big issue to me. A DM could even houserule it into his campaign easily enough.

 

[MojoGM]

I'd be for a much simplified XP system (though I'd like advancement to slow the higher you go, like in the old days, but I'm not holding up much hope so I'll have to houserule that).

But I'm not crazy about changing to a "wealth" system. If there is one thing D&D is at its core, it's killing stuff and taking their gold!

Something about, "You kill the dragon and take his treasure, add one to your wealth level!" just doesn't have the same effect.

Silver standard would be nice though...