A realistic economy for C&C

[Andred of Albans]

We're missing one of the most important occupations... prostitute. Many females would be forced to enter the occupation for no other reason than they had no means otherwise once their husband(s) failed to return from some war in some far-off place.

A prostitute could, depending on what social class she comes from and her relative beauty and...erm... skills could realize incomes varying from those of a cottar to those of a sergeant.

Of course, this wasn't the only option for widows. If her children were grown she could rely on her sons. If not, and if there was something more or less analogous to Catholicism around there was the nunnery. Even in polytheist settings, there were female cults and societies she could join and gain support from. She might even become an adventurer herself

Heh. Interesting stuff. I won't use any of it, but it is fun to discuss anyway.

What's geekdom without having such pointless discussions from time to time

[serleran]

We're missing one of the most important occupations... prostitute. Many females would be forced to enter the occupation for no other reason than they had no means otherwise once their husband(s) failed to return from some war in some far-off place.

A prostitute could, depending on what social class she comes from and her relative beauty and...erm... skills could realize incomes varying from those of a cottar to those of a sergeant.

Of course, this wasn't the only option for widows. If her children were grown she could rely on her sons. If not, and if there was something more or less analogous to Catholicism around there was the nunnery. Even in polytheist settings, there were female cults and societies she could join and gain support from. She might even become an adventurer herself

Sure... assuming sons did not also die off in the same war. I suppose that depends on the society and time in question. Does not really matter as the point was to bring up something else...

If there is one thing from the real world I find useful to include in a game's economy it is the enforcement of sumptuary laws as players find those most annoying and that's always a fun ride. Anything to control how and where funds are expended can make for an interesting night of "what the holy Lilith?!"

[Andred of Albans]

If there is one thing from the real world I find useful to include in a game's economy it is the enforcement of sumptuary laws as players find those most annoying and that's always a fun ride. Anything to control how and where funds are expended can make for an interesting night of "what the holy Lilith?!"

Sumptuary laws are always fun - different societies have had different things subject to sumptuary laws. Common things restricted to the noble class are furs, riding a horse, purple cloth (but in some places blue or green was restricted instead of or as well as purple), certain foods (sugar and pepper in Europe, for example).

Other things might be subject to monopoly - where a favorite of the king gets to demand a cut from every producer of a certain thing which would make prices artificially high. Salt, metals, and jewelry were common targets.

[treant_on_fire]

IMO the OP should submit articles for the Crusader mag...

[Andred of Albans]

IMO the OP should submit articles for the Crusader mag...

That's kind of you to say, how does one do that?

[treant_on_fire]

IMO the OP should submit articles for the Crusader mag...

That's kind of you to say, how does one do that?

Check the threads in the forum 'The Crusader', there's actually more than one on that subject.