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Message: <blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 3943593" data-attributes="member: 463">Overall I think the BECMI rules are the best available, but I agree that the economics are way out of whack.  In OD&D a ruler got 10 gp per inhabitant *per year*; in 1e a Fighter gets 7 sp/month, Cleric 9 sp (inc tithes), Magic-User 5 sp.  Those figures are better, but still awfully high when a heavy infantryman only costs 2 gp/month - the 1e Cleric only needs 5 inhabitants to generate 45 sp, enough for 1 heavy infantryman & 5 sp to spare.  In 3e an infantryman costs 6 gp/month, I think even a rich domain should need at least 20 inhabitants to keep him supplied, which would be 6/20 = 3/10 = 3 sp per citizen per month.If you want something resembling historical conditions though you need to reduce the amount of money still further - the feudal system is based off land, not goal; and temporary levies, not standing armies.  Even the wealthy city states of Renaissance Italy weren't maintaining large standing armies; they employed mercenary companies on temporary contracts, and paid through the nose for troops of often dubious loyalty.   One thing I do IMC is to use the BECMI income figures as annual rather than monthly income per-family (5 people in BECMI).  Combine this with 3e costs and it looks fairly reasonable.</blockquote>