Technology and magic

[Aholibamah]

It also depends on how magic is viewed and stuff like that, what actual proportions of spellcasters to normal people, that kind of thing.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Too bad they never made an RPG out of the Troika's Arcanum video game. I liked the steampunk meets fantasy feel of that imperfect game.

 

[Nifft]

IMC, Dragon Banks are what allow Renaissance-like currency fluidity despite Feudal-ish political structures. Basically, you give a dragon your gold, and he sits on it. In trade, you get some cloth-paper with the dragon's arcane mark on it. Impossible to forge, and accepted as valid currency by any who don't want to face the dragon's wrath -- within a three day wide zone of dragonflight, at the very least. Some draconic families collaborate to have truly wide-spread zones of influence.

Some dragons will also extend credit to adventuring groups, for "treasure futures" (first pick of the loot from a particular adventure). Dragons who engage in this practice tend to maximize their Sense Motive check, because adventurers can be lying bastards.

Cheers, -- N