Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jan 30, 2007 20:01:41	I don't believe it states in any book (that I've read mind you), that states anything about the income for any sort of individual within athas. Of course, this could definitely be incorrect as i have not read all of the infromation nor am I intimately familiar with it (trying to remedy that as stated before). I have seen it quoted, but i am unable to find it. I am using a different system than what is the normal for all of the dark sun players, but i would rather take the time to adapt it to this system because i like it that much. The wealth system is a little different. 1 gold peice is worth 20 silver. 1 silver is worth 12 copper. 1 copper is worth 4 bits. (Priority A) lord, landed noble, has an initial wealth of 3d10x10 gold coins. they've got lands, taxes, and other sources. Initial funding is 250 gold. Have all of the rights in society that one can imagine. (Priority B) Gentry, or minor nobility, income as soldiers, courtiers, or freelances. Starting gold is 100 and the average income for being a knight is 1d10x10 gold. "sir, or lady" with the right to use all sorts of weapons and armor, and enforce their lord's laws. (Priority C) High Freemen, well to do farmers, merchants, artisans, and soldiers. 50 gold is what they start with and make 4d10 a month. Usually they can use any type of weapon, but cannot wear metal armors (would have to make alterations for Athas). (Priority D) Low Freemen, 15 gold, 1d6 gold per month. Aren't indentured, but likely work for someone. May own weapons, but a mount is almost certainly out of th equestion. rights are identical to high freemen (Priority E) Peasant or Serf, starting of 5 gold, 1d10 silver extra every 1/2 year. No manufactured weapons (swords and other weapons, no law about staves or bows). Most funding goes to feeding the family, and barely keeping a roof over their head. (Priority F) Prisoners and Slaves, Begin with nothing other than tattered Rags. 0 starting and 0 monthly income. Cannot own anything legally. That is the idea so far; however, conversions conversions.... I've read that while templars and nobles get some of the best rights within the city state; however, IIRC Merchants have the ability to make the most money. I've read that most "free men" in the city barely make enough to sustain their family/slaves. Example, instead of 15 GP for a longsword, the base cost for this game is 2 GP. I would make the cost of a longsword be 4 CP (inferior materials of course) while teh average income of the low Freeman would be 30 CP. It's an abstract system, but i'm attempting to make it as close as possible so that it remains true to flavor. As a rule of thumb i would say divide the costs presented in the PHB for weapons and armor by 3. The rest of the goods i cannot compare at the moment. (Priority A) Merchant Lord, landed noble, has an monthly income of 3d10x20 Ceramic Pieces. Relying on the Merchant House to supply for them. Initial funding is 500 Ceramic Pieces. Able to "read". (Priority B) Landed Noble, Merchant Family Member, Templar, or minor nobility, income as soldiers, courtiers, or freelances. Starting Ceramic pieces is 200 and the average income is 1d10x20 Ceramic. "sir, or lady" with the right to use all sorts of weapons and armor, and enforce their lord's laws. Able to read. (Priority C) Senoir Agent, Gentry: Favored by the merchant house or a member of the Noble class with little or no land. 100 ceramic is what they start with and make 8d10 a month. Can use any type of weapon, wear any armor, and the Nobles can read. (Priority D) Common Merchant or Agent, High Freeman, 30 Cp, 2d6 Cp per month. Aren't indentured, but likely work for someone. May own weapons, but a mount is almost certainly out of th equestion. Cannot Read. (Priority E) Low Freeman , starting of 10 Cp, 1d10 Ceramic Bits extra every 1/4 year. Cannot Read, Restricted Weapons and cannot wear armor. Most funding goes to feeding the family, and barely keeping a roof over their head. This is a class prime to enter slavery. (Priority F) Prisoners and Slaves, Begin with nothing other than tattered Rags. 0 starting and 0 monthly income. Cannot own anything legally. Ask GM about specifics for equipment and reading.
#2 zombiegleemax Jan 31, 2007 12:33:32	I always envisioned a large gap between the rich and poor in Dark Sun. I assumed the nobles families have, over time, absorbed most of the small farms freeman held. So, basically, all the land in the Verdant Belt around a city-state usually belongs to the noble class. A noble should have a ridiculous amount of wealth. Any freemen with land, would be in the small villages away from the city-state and the nobles. Perhaps near an oasis miles away from any trade route. Remember, the nobles in Dark Sun, are greedy. They want it all. And they'll get it. One way or another. I would also like to mention credit. I'm sure the nobles have very good lines of credit and likely, they live beyond their means. They throw lavish parties to impress the other nobles that they clearly cannot afford, but do anyway. Most nobles are heavily in debt to their creditors. Their creditors, who are they? Well, there's only three groups with money. The Sorcerer King, other nobles and Merchants. Borrowing from other nobles is possible, however, they risk loosing their lands to them if they fail to pay. The government as money, but there's more fear to pay up because if they don't, a templar could throw them into the arena. So, Merchants are the only real group to borrow money from. There's no risk if the noble doesn't pay up and the merchants have a lot of money. I'm sure many merchants have been refused payments by borrowing nobles. There's really nothing a merchant can do but bride a local templar into doing something. As a class, however, they could ruin a noble. If they refused to buy the noble's surplus goods, how would the noble sell it? Perhaps the merchants would wait until the noble was desperate and willing to sell well below market value. Then, they'd buy it and sell it for regular market value. That's how they get repaid for their loan.