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Prices and Economy of Stormwind

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erwtenpeller
Sanara
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Prices and Economy of Stormwind Empty Prices and Economy of Stormwind

Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:15 pm

Disclaimer: this thread is speculation, and educated guess at most. All things presented there are not absolute, reliable facts. You are however welcome to use them in your role-play, as long as you realize that others around you might have different ideas

With thanks to Zinkle for spurring me on and reminding I am supposed to one day finish this instead of endlessly pondering, and to Gahalla for discussing most detail with me and providing most valuable suggestion.

Introduction

I've been witness to people smiting 1000 golden coins on a charity auction, or paying 100.000 thousand for some piece of property. Some pay a golden coin for a glass of wine, others rage if it costs 1 silver coin. This thread is made to discuss the value of money and wealth of people. I have limited myself to the Kingdom of Stormwind, otherwise a daunting task would simply become impossible.

Who lives here?

Let us begin with examining Stormwind's population and how they come by their livelihood. First of all, most medieval societies had up to 90% of the population living in rural areas instead of cities. Even today, averaged over entire planet earth, only 50% of people live in urban areas. In my opinion, between 80 and 90 percent of Stormwinders live in rural areas and off the land.

Rural Dwellers

Rural Dwellers are farmers and village artisans. Farmers grow a great variety of sustenance crops, to provide their family with food. Staple died seems to consist of cereals (mostly wheat) and vegetables (mostly pumpkins). Diet can be enriched by fishing or hunting. Village arisans provide farmer households with specialist goods they cannot produce themselves, and are paid for their services in nature - that is, farmers feed these village artisans. Both groups rely mostly on local economy, exchanging goods and services inside a village or conglomeration of villages without use of money. At times, farmers&artisans will sell their wares in large markets and fares throughout the towns and cities of the land, getting some money they can use to purchase city-crafted or imported goods. Although these rural dwellers can have a good, well-fed life they are unlikely to own a lot of hard 'cash'. Men would tend to do hard physical labor in the fields, with assistance of boys. Women would tend to small cattle, herbs, milking, raising of children, weaving, cooking and maintaining the household with assistance of girls.

Artisans

Artisans live in towns, cities and sometimes castles where they process raw materials into manufactured goods which are then sold to other city-dwellers, and sometimes to rural-dwellers on markets and fares. Sometimes they may receive their pay in nature, but mostly artisans request hard cash for their services. Skilled artisans can be sometimes employed full-time by the King or some other nobles; in this case they receive salary instead of living from selling their goods directly. Most conceivably, spouse of an artisan will either assist with pre-manufacture (sorting, fetching, preparing) or the actual process of selling the crafted goods. Children will be employed in pre-manufacture, or sent to study under other masters of the same crafts-guild.

Servants and Officials

Some parts of population are in direct service of other citizens, nobles or the King himself. Rural magistrates or tax inspectors in village areas are likely to receive their sustenance from land in nature, servants working for nobles in distance castles are also likely to receive food&shelter for their work. In cities, servants and officials tend to get paid. Precise work to be done depends greatly on class - a poor girl may be employed as a kitchen help in manor of a rich citizen, while a citizen's daughter may act as gouvernant. Today it is easy to underestimate the ammount of servants, but even lower 'middle class' burghers used to have at least one servant to help with cleaning, cooking and waiting. Not all servants are uneducated either, it is likely that households with many servants employ masters to organize the labor of other servants, book-keepers and personal librarians and even baillifs supervising estates and fields. Same applies to officials, commers may become clarks or lower-ranked bureaucrats, while members of nobility may be appointed to higher ranks.

Merchants

Merchants make their living from buying goods and reselling them for a higher price. Some may undertake journeys in person in wagons, river-boats, sea-going vessels or even caravans. Others sit in their offices and orchestrate a small trading empire, letting others do the workd. It is not unlikely for a rich and influential merchant to rent out space on his ships for smaller merchants to make use of. More than any other class, merchants receive their pay in cash.

Nobility

Members of nobility are alotted land, which is worked by the peasants from nearby villages. Depending on the lord, and laws of the realm, peasants may be asked to work anywhere between 1/4th to 5/6th of their time on lord's lands. Other incomes include taxation in nature (requiring peasants to turn in 3 eggs and one chicken every week for instance), tolls on roads and bridges, tax for using the forest for lumber or hunting. Nobles of higher hierarchy would receive part of the goods and wealth accamulated on the lands of their vassals, and so up the ladder towards the King himself. Nobles and their children may be employed as officials at King's court, or courts of their vassal lords, and are likely to receive officership positions in the military based on their rank. A minor baron is likely to be not that much richer than the peasants who work for him, living in a small, cold tight castle and wearing simple clothes. A great lord is rich enough to waste money on balls and dinners, well-bred horses and ceremonial armor.

Clergy

Clergy lives from goods produced on the few lands held by the church, for instance Northshire Abbey, and donations of the faithful. There might be a small church-tax as well, but its existance is highly tentative. The Church may also enjoy royal and noble patronage, as well as patronage of craft-guilds.

Soldiers

Stormwind seems to have standing army. Those soldiers are likely to live from army-supplies, foraging and even plunder while receiving a small salary to be spent on goods not directly provided. City guards would receive virtually no goods, but more money. It is unknown whether the Kingdom cares for the families soldiers leave behind, or has any program for support of veterans and invalids.

The State

The State is personified in the King, incomes coming from vassals as well as royal estates in direct ownership of the King. Other sources of income are royal taxes, for instance import tarrifs or any other creative taxes the King may come up with, ranging from boat-ownership to beard-tax. These arbitrary taxes are likely to form the bulk of the so-called 'War Tax'.

What they get

We have decided to keep the familiar ratio of 100 copper to 1 silver, 100 silver to 1 gold. This can only be achieved if silver and golden coins are not pure metal. (otherwise that golden coin would be more of a golden disk). Stormwind might use nominal value system, where a unit of currency is worth something because the Mint/King says it does. That however can never work with coins made of precious metals. If a golden coin is worth less than gold it is made of, everybody would smelt them down and sell the gold. if it is worth more, this would lead to rampant counterfeiting.

Copper coins are small, light-weight coins made of copper and easy to carry around and handle.

Silver coins, one silver coin would roughly correspond to the price of sufficient copper to mint 100 copper coins. Purity of silver, weight and scale of the coin, as well as weight and scale of copper coins is chosen such that 100 silver coins correspond roughly to 1 golden coin.

Golden coin is smaller and lighter than a silver coin, is worth its weight in gold, and corresponds to 100 silver coins.

What they pay for

An artisan, a servant, a street-merchant or minor official may earn anything between 1 and 3 silver coins a day. This money is sufficient to maintain a family of five. An average homecooked meal would thus be worth 7 to 15 coppers a person. Dinner eaten in a tavern would be a bit more expensive. Light ale, cider and other every-day drinks would not exceed 1 or 2 coppers. Clothes, furniture, tools, jewelry and utensils are considerably more expensive, justifying their continous use and even passing as dowry or inheritance. A shirt may as well cost 20 silver coins ( ~600 euro by our standards) More succesful citizens would earn marginally more, perhaps up to 6 silver a day, and would be able to afford more luxiourious food and items. These individuals might begin to consider hiring servants for at least a few hours a day. Richer layers of citizenry, such as skilled officials or wealthy merchants may earn considerably more, putting them on par with lower&middle nobility.

Minor nobles probably own a village of approximately 20-30 households. If they work 1/3 for the noble on average, that would mean a minor nobles income (although most of it is in nature) is worth approximately 15 silver a day. This sum is further increased by tolls and taxes. Part of this sum of approximately 20 silver is handed over to the vassal-lords and consumed by the servants and retainers. A minor noble is actually not that wealthy, considering they are expected to have their men-at-arms and provide for their own warhorse and equipment to serve the King. Purchasing a full set of plate armor would put this noble in a spectacular debt.

Middle nobles might be absentee landlords, spending their time working as officials while leaving the management of their personal estates and collection of taxes from their vassals to baillifs. Gap compared to minor nobility is spectacular. Such nobles may earn anything between 1 and 3 golden coins a day from their lands only - most of that going to upkeep of their men-at-arms and purchases of battle equipment. Their positions as officials may provide a steady income on the side, between 10 and 50 silver coins, with bribes on top of that.

Major nobles tend to be employed at the court, receiving spectacular sums from their lands, positions and bribes. It is hard to put a maximum on their incomes, but they do earn 5 golden coins a day at the very least.

Royal household has enormous expenses as well as enormous incomes, it would all depend on the ammount of nobles in the Kingdom and taxes imposed. But it is safe to assume, that when all expenses are paid, the King himself is not significantly more wealthy than his great lords. It is a rarity of the King is the richest man in his kingdom.

Luxury goods are significantly more expensive, resulting in gap between the poor and the truly rich. This also means that luxury artisans such as goldsmiths and master armorers would earn significantly more than their poorer counterparts focusing on lower-tier goods.

Here is a small 'table' listing a few occupations, their ranking (small farmer would earn less than a big one), and what I think is their daily income. Please note that farmer-income is 'equivalent', that means that they actually have much less cash and 'earn' most in raw goods. Some prices are also included in the list.

The TL:DR version is:
Lower classes earn between 1-2 silver a day
'Middle' class earn between 2 and 6 silver a day
'Upper' class earns between 6 and 50 silver a day
Solid Nobility and 'the Rich' earns anywhere above 1 gold a day

Prices and Economy of Stormwind Moneys10

So, how much does your character earn, and what does he/she do?

Sophyra runs a tea-trading company, receives money from her *cough* patrons and does work for the Broken Sword.
I think this places her in upper middle class, with about 40-50 silver a day and significantly more on lucky days.

Exaythe has no income, but whenever she comes to Stormwind on official buisness she will have about 50 copper to spend as 'allowance' from whoever sent her (usually Aldor)











Melnerag
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Post by Feydor Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:25 pm

Might adjust the prices of my drugs then.
Currently, a joint is 2 silver, pills and mushroom and dust 10 silver.
Seeing this, I think I'll half the prices atleast, so they're still a big luxury, but not too taxing.

Seeing as Feydor owns a small plantation, gets a cut of the Cartel profits, and manages a few bars I'd say that he's definately in the boundary of 50silver +, depending on how many drugs/alcohol we sell, and people we mug. Nice effort Melny!
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Post by Jeanpierre Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:00 pm

I wouldn't mind playing with such a structure for gold and prices. It would be nice to have. But I'm a bit skeptical about the feasibility to get this working server wide.
While I'll try to follow your suggestions, I usually roleplay it this way:
- If the character is poor, then even a mead is expensive (whatever the price is asked). Anything else is beyond his paycheck.
- If the character is managing, then small things like food and drink come easily but clothing is still considered a luxury.
- If the character is rich, then .. well... anything goes.
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Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:22 pm

Thats a nice 'Golden Rule', Jean! I usually apply it in every-day RP as well, but at times there are...moments where something more solid is desirable.
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Post by Seranita Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:22 pm

ah very nice,.. and it is indeed shia is as poor as i play her as Razz
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Post by Zinkle Figgins Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:31 pm

Ah, you finally found some time to work on this topic, Ex. Well, time to lower my pub's prices then.
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Post by Jeanpierre Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:32 pm

Exaythe wrote:at times there are...moments where something more solid is desirable.

Oh I definitely agree with that. If you're selling something, punish someone or want to scam someone it helps to have a reference of what is expensive etc. I certainly will try to support the idea Smile
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Post by Magaskawee/Anaei Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:34 pm

I've always sort of used Jean's summary there, although it sounds elitist but i've only ever had one poor character really. Vezzy is modest living but is very shrewd, she barely spends. Anaei just.. well she's Anaei.

My poorest lived off literally copper a day, but she was a thief.
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Post by Valerias Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:49 pm

I think that's very well reasoned - and a fine piece of work that I agree with in its conclusions. Only trouble is that sometimes game mechanics subvert it. I mean, it costs 16 silver to buy a flagon of mead from in-game vendors, so the Blade always sold it for 20. Now realistically we'd be selling meads and ales for a few copper coins, but if you're using real items as drinks, you just can't.

While drinks is sort of a minor point, there are a lot of taverns around. I suppose we can just consider them as an exception and shake our fists at Blizzard while still considering that these prices aren't realistic?
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Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:55 pm

You can charge 20 OOCly, while ICly charging only a few coppers?
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Post by Muzjhath Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:20 pm

As Ex says, it should be quite easy to make a table for an "IC too OOC cost conversion" that states that "this cost so much copper In Character, but out of character to cover the real costs you pay yee amount"
Since' a mead is fairly basic let's put it at a 1c -> 20s conversion according to Ex's table for a drink at a tavern going for 1-3 copper.
Ofcourse it would have to be better than just a straight value and it would curve so the more expensive too buy drinks were at a much higher exchange rate. But tight now I'm far to lazy to check up what all alcoholic brewages cost, and then check how it would convert.
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Post by Feydor Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:22 pm

With ale and such people tip OOCly, more than likely aswell if you tell them its only 1 copper.
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Post by Valerias Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:27 pm

Conversions sound madly overcomplicated, but as I'm not running an active bar right now that uses in-game items, I suppose it's up to the folk who are -nods-

ps - not because the conversions themselves are difficult, but because it's difficult to have to explain all this through whispers when someone just wants to buy an ale.
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Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:38 pm

I think with the current gold-flow, you can afford to 'squander' 5 golds an evening for drinks people didn't OOCly tip you for Very Happy
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Post by Gahalla Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:56 pm

One observation from Hanoi, where this sort of system still vaugely applies, is that street-food is no more expensive then a home-cooked meal. In a world where space is expensive (like in both Hanoi and Stormwind) then a private kitchen is a luxury, which leads to the result that many eat a quick, cheap meal in a streetcorner closeby. So homecooking and eating out should be roughly the same price, including -one- drink.
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Post by Geldar Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:18 pm

Good read, and bringing this suggestion as Lilath had an idea to make it earlier. Why not make a GHI currency that players can use in exchange for goods and services? Benefits would be that you could realistically run an economy, have it faked and whatnot. But the downside would be how many you could reach with it.
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Post by Guest Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:28 pm

I would say that the value of Gold and Silver is different in WoW than it is in real life. Perhaps it is not as rare. I agree with Aniane that a conversion chart would make things very difficult, not to mention confusing for people because the community will become split bitween people who take conversion into account and people who don't.

Also, personally I feel it will break my Roleplay immersion when I charge people for drinks, and then constantly have to whisper them the OOC-price. I can just pretend I serve drinks, but I prefer to serve the actual item. (Not for profit, trust me. I sell at vendor prices).

The idea is very nice, but I don't think I will adopt it in the Mastiff for the time being because it just looks like more hassle than it's worth.


Last edited by Coladan/Geoffray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:32 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Post by Guest Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:32 pm

Exaythe, what do you do outside of making walls of text forum threads? xD

Very interesting to read though. Where'd you get the basic amount that each one would earn daily?

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Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:40 pm

I used the fact that copper coin exists, that means it is useful and you can buy something for it. and built up from there really.
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Post by Ledgic Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:43 pm

Geldar wrote:Good read, and bringing this suggestion as Lilath had an idea to make it earlier. Why not make a GHI currency that players can use in exchange for goods and services? Benefits would be that you could realistically run an economy, have it faked and whatnot. But the downside would be how many you could reach with it.

Exactly the problem. I mean, I like this idea but I'm not a GHI user either. I think it unfortunately wouldn't work in a broader sense.
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Post by Feydor Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:52 pm

Trouble with GHI currency.
Have it so -
100copper coins when right clicked becomes 1 silver.
If you have >=100 silver coins, convert to 1 gold, if less, make 1 become 100 copper.
1 Gold can be converted to 100 silver coins.

The trouble comes when you are loaded with gold, but have to pay 50copper for something. You'll convert a gold coin to 100silvers, but you'd be forced to delete a silver in order to convert that to coppers. Quite an annoyance.

But I have created the coins, and they work as I described.
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Post by Gahalla Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:53 pm

I wouldn't say it has no uses... while applying to pricing is difficult at best... it can be applied to how we treat values ingame. How we talk about money and services. How we react to prices.

We can use it on an "Ic theory" level, if not a practical one.
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Post by Rhygel Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:54 pm

But but, everyine should have GHI! :<

More seriously, a very nice idea, but maybe too much hassle indeed, for certain businesses on an OOC basis.

Edit:

We can use it on an "IC theory" level, if not a practical one.
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Post by Muzjhath Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:10 pm

Why should I have GHI? I have absolutely no need for it.
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Post by Melnerag Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:24 pm

There is absolutely no need for GHI money or GHI-driven economy in my opinion. First of all, imposing such a system means that you want to 'balance' things and prevent unfairness, but whenever some RPer acts unfairly he only shoots himself in the leg, robbing himself of a degree of realism.
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