Let’s Make Better Rpg Currencies
I’m curious what currency systems my fellow #ttrpg GMs have dreamt up when #worldbuilding.
It’s always annoyed me how #dnd’s gp/sp/cp currency resembles the USD system so much in the way it is used, despite the fact that IRL a single gold coin would be worth more than my car. Does #WotC think my backpack is worth $8k? That makes no sense to me.
I can think of a couple systems that don’t use gold (or any other straight currency) :
The One Ring uses treasures as a measure of wealth, which above set amounts grows and gives you access to more. It’s not about spending your treasures, you’re not buying goods for currency (most of the time), instead you can afford stuff depending on your level of wealth.
Warhammer Rogue Trader (40k) while not a ttrpg still offers an interesting alternative. Since you’re extremely wealthy, earning and spending currency wouldn’t make much sense on a small scale, so instead you gain reputation with various factions by trading with them, which in turn gives you access to items you can grab freely.
The idea is the same, rather than using currency you have a measure of what you have access to. It can evolve up or down, varying what you can get over time, without the hassle of book keeping (or verty little of it).