Comments on: Your Coin is No Good Here

By: Ameron (Derek Myers)

Ameron (Derek Myers) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:25:12 +0000

@Josh Stevens
I agree that a gold coin will still have value because it contains gold, but coins of different sizes, shapes and even colour would likely be questioned by local merchants, especially the local serving wench. It’s not unreasonable to assume the initial reaction to seeing foreign currency would be to say “your coin is no good here.” If nothing else it creates an interesting role-playing opportunity as the characters have to explain where the coin is from and its relative value. If they play their cards right they may be able to get more than the gold value because it’s an exotic and rare treasure.

By: Josh Stevens

Josh Stevens — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:16:02 +0000

This is a load of hockey. In a world where you carry around literal coins made of gold… their worth stays the same.
The reason that exchange rates happen is because the ammount of gold that is backing that paper up is different. No barmaid is going to look at gold coinage and then turn her face up at it because a different king’s face is printed on it. It’s. Still. Gold!

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By: Ameron

Ameron — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:39:12 +0000

@Craig Willcutt
It sounds like you’ve taken the best approach. Use money exchange as a role-playing tool and not as a way to screw over the PCs.

@Dyson Logos
I think it is just assumed that money exchange happens in D&D but it’s done behind the scenes as you’ve mentioned. I agree that if the mundane activates start to bog down a game then you’re focusing your energies in the wrong area (I have never role-played having a horse re-shoed). One of the guys I used to play D&D with always said “I get enough reality in real life. I play D&D to focus on the fantasy.” My current group, on the other hand, would relish the opportunity to role-play the money exchange. It’s really up to the DM and players to find the right balance.

@Zzarchov
This is a brilliant idea. I’m going to “borrow” it for my upcoming game. My PCs will love it. Thanks.

By: Zzarchov

Zzarchov — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:05:09 +0000

Personally I’ve always loved strange and foreign coins. A standard rate I have most towns folk use is a 10% reduction in price (for coins of completely unknown origin), with the occassional test of purity. The rationale there is that gold is still gold and easy to melt into jewellry (a simple ring or an ingot)

Now the other factor is that metals are different values. In the far east a gold coin is 5 silver(silver shortage), in the south american (equiv) mountains silver is 20 to a gold (many silver mines). This is a case where the PC’s start their own adventure of buying a ship, sailing to south america, trading all their gold to silver, then heading to China to trade it in for an 8x profit (minus the risk of pirates, monsters, storms and high adventure in hawaii along the way).

It can be a grande source of enjoyment. To the right type of player.

By: Dyson Logos

Dyson Logos — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:43:14 +0000

I generally play games with extended downtime between adventures – in the order of months to a year. So we have detailed coinage for the world, but it doesn’t matter to the players, just the characters. Money exchange is one of those things that are done behind the scenes between games.

A lot like the other things that would drive me nuts in a game – like cleaning your horse’s shoes so it doesn’t go lame, cleaning tack, checking ropes for wear, sharpening and oiling weapons, and getting your shoes repaired. All things that are actually important and “real”, but that just become minutia that don’t seriously impact the game.
.-= Dyson Logos´s last blog ..[Friday Map] Fort Tenras =-.

By: Craig Willcutt

Craig Willcutt — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:31:24 +0000

I originally got this idea when I read read through the 2nd edition Arms & Equipment guide many years ago. It really is an excellent idea.

A few years ago I used the idea of varying currency in an Eberron game when the PCs found themselves in Stormreach buying goods for equipment. Essentially, I used it for plot development. Similarly, this can be used to drive a story as well.

Initially the players were a bit shocked (a couple angry) but when they realized that they were not getting low balled and cheated they warmed to the idea. I find players are more agreeable when they see that the DM is screwing them over in the short term for the long term benefit of the game.