Abstract Wealth

This abstract wealth system removes the need to count coins and inventory your inventory. This system assumes that characters have easy access to their wealth or are able to issue IOUs that will be honored by the Tridale Trade Company or local oligarch.

Wealth

Wealth is a trait that ranges from 0 to 5, just like other traits. It represents real assets, knowledge of local markets, and how well you can negotiate a good price. Most characters start with basic adventuring gear and 2 wealth, which is enough to have residence at a local inn or a room in a boarding house.

Each level of wealth has two values, pocket and limit, that determine what purchases can be made. Any purchases less than pocket value can be made without a wealth check; the cost is too small to note. Any purchase above the limit is too expensive, the character can't afford this purchase without selling assets. A purchase that is more than pocket and less than limit, requires a wealth test. Sum all purchases in a short amount of time, usually a day or two, to find the total value of the shopping trip and use this value to determine if a wealth test is necessary.

Wealth	Description	Pocket Value	Purchase Limit
0	Beggar	$0	$10
1	Laborer	$10	$100
2	Commoner	$50	$500
3	Freeman	$150	$2000
4	Lord	$450	$5000
5	Noble	$1000	$10,000

Wealth is used like an attribute when purchasing goods and services, usually paired with Lore. The difficulty of the wealth check is modified by the quality and rarity of the purchase and the prosperity of the local economy. These modifiers are cumulative.

• A success means the purchase can be made, but it will use significant resources and reduces the wealth trait one level. If wealth would be reduced below 0 then the purchase can't be made.
• A raise means the purchase can be made without reducing wealth.
• A failure means the purchase isn't possible. The item can't be found or you can't afford it.

Purchasing Modifiers

Economy	Quality	Rarity	Modifier
City	Shoddy	Very Common	-1
Town	Standard	Common	+0
Village	Masterwork	Very Rare	+1

Whenever you gain a financial reward from a quest reward you may either spend it on a shopping spree or increase your wealth, but not both.

• Shopping spree: Spend some or all of the reward on purchases. Any remaining after the shopping spree becomes part of your wealth without affecting the trait.
• Increase Wealth: Deposit cash in the bank and buy investments. Wealth becomes the highest level that has a limit less than the reward. Increasing wealth does not automatically confer any property or title.

For example, after defeating Bullnose Bill and his band of ruffians the pair of adventurers each receive a reward worth $1000. Tom recently purchased a new set of armor and his current wealth is a 1; he chooses to use all of his reward to increase his wealth level back up to 2 ($1000 < $2000). Terry already has 2 wealth and goes on a shopping spree, she spends $750 and the remaining $250 becomes part of her existing wealth.

Adventurer Gear

Instead of listing every piece of equipment you have, each pack has a level. To find out if you remembered to pack an unusual bit of equipment, roll Intellect + Pack Level; difficulty depends on how uncommon the equipment would be.

But if you want to keep track of every trinket, you can do that too. Whatever makes your game more fun.

Level 0: $5, Pockets

• Coin purse
• Casual clothes
• Lint and a plain copper ring

Level 1: $50, Sling Bag

• Level 0 gear
• Travel boots and cloak
• Tinderbox
• Twine
• Water canteen
• Mess kit: cup, cutlery, field knife

Level 2: $100, Backpack

• Level 1 gear
• Backpack
• Bedroll: wool blanket wrapped in a waxed canvas tarp
• Torches
• Travel rations
• Simple first aid kit

Level 3: $500, Pack Mule

• Level 2 gear
• A mule and pack harness
• A small tent
• Rations for a week
• Survival gear
• Tools of a trade (carpentry tools, prospecting tools, smiting tools, etc.)

Level 4: $1000, Cart

• Level 3 gear
• A mule and cart
• Rations for a month
• A large tent
• Homestead starter kit: G.E.C.K (seeds, chickens, farm equipment, carpentry tools, etc.)