Irrespective of your particular flavour of FRPG the Gold Piece is one of the defacto fantasy standards, and is accepted the world over (whichever world it is that you play in). The implicit reliance on a Gold Standard, the intrinsic value of gold itself, means that a GP acquired in one nation has an equivalence to one acquired somewhere else ensuring trade is not stifled and that PCs can still buy what ever they need irrespective of what nations coinage they choose to use.
But what if that wasn't the case, some interesting plots and fun could be had from playing around with the Gold Standard and the ubiquity of the GP
1. Gold is Commonplace - The Gold Standard only really works because gold is rare and therefore valuable. In a society where gold is commonplace its value will be reduced and some other rare commodity will take its place. This concept is explored to a degree in post-cataclysm Dragonlance where steel currency replaces gold. However, this is the case throughout Krynn rather than just single region. Consider a party visiting a nation which has access to vast amounts of gold (like the conquistadors encountering the Atecs), the PCs will no doubt struggle at first and will need to convert their existing wealth into whatever is used as the local currency. Greedy PCs might try to exploit the difference in commodity prices by frequent trips across the border which could bring them to the attention of local law enforcement or worse border bandits.
2. Not Legal Tender - Imagine that two bordering nations are in dispute over something or other and their respective governments refuse to accept their neighbours coins as legal tender. A coin minted in one nation does not automatically become worthless on the other side of the border, as it still has an intrinsic value thanks to the gold standard, it just becomes really hard to spend it and stay the right side of the law. Local law enforcement may be on the lookout for strangers trying to infiltrate or subvert the locals with coins from across the border. PCs may be forced to turn to the blackmarket in order to buy simple provisions. They could even be approached by criminals offering to launder or re-mint their illegal coinage for a fee.
3. This gold's been watered down! - We've all seen those pirate movies where a character tests a coin by biting into it. This crude form of assaying tests that the coin has the correct amount of gold in it, but if a nation state changes the amount of gold in its currency this be reflected in the gold standard for that currency. For example Nation X is going through tough times financially and its unscrupulous leader decides to change the gold content in the GP it mints. Everything goes swimmingly until import prices start to go up and the population is in revolt. Enter the PCs with a fat wedge of foreign "pure" gold and suddenly the corrupt local sherrif is looking at ways he can relieve them of their burden and smelt it down for a fat profit. However, the local sherrif might be the least of their problems if the Thieves Guild's coin clippers and forgers find out that they're loaded.
4. Ripped Off! - Wandering into a town over the border can get PCs into all sorts of trouble when they are trying to spend unfamiliar coin with the local merchants and their chances of getting ripped off increase dramatically. Any difference in size or shape of a coin will result in differences in the coins value and exchange rate. One nation's GP might be twice the thickness of anothers and therefore worth twice as much. The first time they get a handfull of change, they might be pleasantly surprised or falsely accuse a merchant of ripping them off.
5. Accused of Forgery - The Gold Standard ensures that the intrinsic value gold is preserved but that doesn't mean that the local merchants gleefully accept foreign coin and trust it like their own. They might try to take advantage of the situation and accuse the PCs of forgery, particularly if they are using coins acquired from a distant land and not a neighbouring one. If the case goes to trial the local magistrate may be in on the swindle. This is also where an Adventurers or Merchants Guild can provide a valuable service to its patrons by operating a coin exchange program, for a fee of course.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Monsters of Dual: Brain Vine and Fungaloid Lurkers
In a recent session of The Lands of Dual, I wanted my players to be harrassed by some plant minions during their exploration of a tunnel network like my favourite flamethrower wielding heroine Ripley.
This is the fruit of my labours:
The Brain Vine
This plant is only ever found in subterranean locations and therefore does not rely on sunlight for energy, instead it has evolved a mechanism to secrete a highly acidic enzyme from its tendrils which breaks-down the soil and rock to release minerals which it then consumes. Once the plant has grown to a huge size its energy needs soon outstrip it's surroundings and so it sends out its tendrils to find new sources of minerals, eating through solid rock and anything else which stands in its way. The plant often encounters small quantities of Gold within the rock it consumes which solidify and become trapped within the plants heart like gall stones.Although the majority of its diet is made up of processed rock, it is actually omnivorous in nature and equally suited to extracting nutrients from other plants or animals. This unusual feeding mechanism also provides the brain vine with its only defence mechanism. When attacked the plant exudes a cloud of acidic poison gas for 1d4 / 1d6 or 1d8 rounds (depending on the size of the plant). In the first round the gas cloud has a radius of 10ft and expands by 10ft each round after that. The gas causes all creatures within the cloud to suffer 1d6 damage unless they make a save against poison.
It is especially vulnerable to strong sunlight which causes any exposed parts to wither and calcify and is pale white yellow in colour topped by a purple-pink fruit resembling a giant brain, hence the name. PCs may confuse this growth as evidence of an evolved intelligence however this is not the case and the brain vine has only a plant-like intelligence.
The brain vine is asexual and once it reaches adult size produces a single seed every 2 years. This seed is contained deep within the fleshy brain fruit and resembles a spiky rugby ball. When planted the seed grows quite slowly taking 1 year to germinate and grow into a Young plant (Medium size), 2 further years to grow to a fully grown into an Adult (Large size) and a further 5 years to mature into a Great Brain Vine (Huge size). A Great Brain Vine can live upto 5d6 further years before it will wither and die.
Fugaloid Lurkers
These human sized fungal plants are an entirely seperate species which have evolved a symbiotic relationship tending to the Brain Vine and feeding off its decaying plant material and any other plants which inhabit its underground ecosystem. They are of low intelligence and appear to communicate with each other by releasing fungal spores from the pustules covering their bodies which they inhale through their tendril covered mouths. They are a mottled green colour, vaguely humanoid and each armlike appendage ends in two tentacles covered in vicious barbs. Fungaloid lurkers are immune to the Brain Vine's toxic gas.They are fiercely territorial and interpret anything that is not either another Lurker or the Brain Vine as a threat to the survival of their colony and they will attempt to grapple their prey to the ground and use their barbed tentacles to macerate the flesh in order to bleed it dry. They will then feed the remains to the brain vine's tendrils and consume whatever is left behind. They are relatively quick to grow to maturity but the size of their colony is entirely dependant on the size of the Brain Vine plant that they tend.
A young Brain Vine can support a colony of 15 Lurkers, an Adult Brain Vine supports upto 30 Lurkers and a Great Brain Vine supports upto 45 Lurkers. When a Brain Vine dies the Lurker population will consume the remains of the vine and then plant a vine seed in its place (if one is available). Once this process is complete they will consume each other until only a handful are left in order to tend the immature plant. As the vine grows in size more Lurkers will be created and so the cycle is repeated.
You can also download a free sheet of standees for use in your own adventures from RPGNow.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
On the Workbench: Ral Partha Djinn & Efreet
One of my favourite AD&D campaign settings is Al-Quadim: The Land of Fate and I've used the odd scenario or module on numerous occasions in my own campaign world. I picked up these two Ral Partha minis as a blister pair at least 20 years ago and I've had several abortive attempts at painting the Djinn (the turban wearing guy on the left) but never touched the Efreet. Hopefully this time (with an audience) I can push myself all the way to the finish.
Here's an updated shot after the efreet had a little accident. His blade bent and snapped off... Guess I'll have to do some sort of fix, but not sure what yet, the blade is too thin to pin so perhaps I'll have to build something up in milliput as a replacement. I do however like how the skin and face came out. I'm also trying to work out how to blend from red to white on his trousers to make it look like he's rising out of a pool of smoke.
Ral Partha (ES69) Djinn (left) and Efreet (right) |
Here's an updated shot after the efreet had a little accident. His blade bent and snapped off... Guess I'll have to do some sort of fix, but not sure what yet, the blade is too thin to pin so perhaps I'll have to build something up in milliput as a replacement. I do however like how the skin and face came out. I'm also trying to work out how to blend from red to white on his trousers to make it look like he's rising out of a pool of smoke.
Unworked Blue Djinn and Battle damaged Efreet |
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Sometimes I'm just in awe
This is the Golden Demon Germany 2011 Slayer Sword winning diorama and there's not much more you can say apart from... OMG!
Saturday, 19 November 2011
I'm a Chaotic Neutral Human Wizard
Been a while since I've done one of these cosmo style tests but everyone seems to be giving this a go, so...
Strength: 9
A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal. However, chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society.
Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)
I found this Dr Who alignment chart... oooh I'm the Ninth Doctor, Chris Eccleston
I Am A: Chaotic Neutral Human Wizard (4th Level)
Ability Scores:
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 12
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal. However, chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society.
Race: Human
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.Class: Wizard
Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard's strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)
Which makes me the Ninth Doctor
I found this Dr Who alignment chart... oooh I'm the Ninth Doctor, Chris Eccleston
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