Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 roninfrosty Jul 12, 2009 21:32:15	So, I just finished reading The Dungeonomicon (specifically the Economicon) and I've got some ideas about implementing a higher level economy separate from the gold standard (since buying something that costs 100,000 GP is a literal ton of gold, per the article), but I don't really dig the whole "Wish-Based" economy, since there's no outer planes in my world. There's a Heavenish place and a Hellish place, and then the Elemental Planes, but that's it. So what kind of ideas do you guys have for a higher level economy? I'm thinking something along the lines of maybe like "Elemental Stones" or some such that might be possible to recover from Elementals. Maybe they're used in item creation or something? I'm not sure. Looking for suggestions!
#2 mellored Jul 13, 2009 11:02:06	In 4th, there's higher units of money then just gold. Platinum and astral diamonds for instance. Elemental stones can be the similar (10,00,000 GP = 10,000 lesser stones = 100 stones = 1 greater stone). Same value but like carrying a 20 instead of 20 ones.
#3 rovin Jul 13, 2009 11:24:52	Has the OP even read the DMG? Gold is on its way out by paragon, and platinuum phases out steadily in epic. The problem he's citing doesn't exist.
#4 yellowdingo Jul 13, 2009 12:16:36	Big People's Money Frankly, I dont see the point of going beyond gold, platinum and the basic gems. There is a reason they talk about treasure ships. CY341 - The Kindom of Rhil, unable to meet its financial obligations of three ships filled with gold and gems in annual tithe, fell into bankruptcy. In the dark and chaotic months that followed, The Emperor Rix to whom such a tribute was owed, dispatched investigators to look into the situation...
#5 roninfrosty Jul 14, 2009 3:12:48	I believe I failed to mention this is a 3.5 setting. My apologies...
#6 yellowdingo Jul 14, 2009 13:03:02	I believe I failed to mention this is a 3.5 setting. My apologies... There is nothing wrong with forcing the PCs to move their gold in a half dozen armored wagons guarded by fifty soldiers...Prince John did it regularly. He even lost the English Crown Jewels when one of his wagons washed away in a river flood.
#7 rovin Jul 14, 2009 15:57:20	I believe I failed to mention this is a 3.5 setting. My apologies... Ah, well then, I see the problem. Why don't you do the sensible thing and adopt 4E's higher-tier coinage idea? Obviously platinum is already taken in 3.5, but their could be a x100 monetary unit based on some other metal. Mithral, perhaps, or something else you make up yourself. Astral diamonds work pretty well as-is for epic cash, and while there aren't astral dominions in 3.5, the idea of mining dead god corpses instead has a certain appeal. Outer-planar economies might also run on some kind of solidified soulstuff as currency - although maybe that's what astral diamonds are anyway.
#8 roninfrosty Jul 15, 2009 18:49:27	Thanks for all the feedback! I don't think I like the idea of making the PCs hire wagon trains, mostly because I just don't feel like dealing with the hassle, but I do think I may adopt some sort of higher level currency, akin to Astral Diamonds and residuum. Thanks again!