r/WarhammerOldWorldRPG • u/Vonatar-74 • 11d ago
Coin, rewards and status
Something I’m not quite grasping is how rewards work. I get that a Brass character always starts with 3 coin and, if they have more during downtime, it gets spent if they don’t invest it.
But, let’s say the party sells off some loot and gets 3 silver coins each. What happens to that? Surely the Brass character doesn’t spend all 3 silver during downtime unless he invests it? That’s what p.90 of the PG seems to suggest. Doesn’t make sense to me that a Brass character burns though 3 silver fixing his cottage or whatever.
Is it possible for him to eventually accumulate enough to become a Silver character even if he is a labourer for example?
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u/Spartancfos 11d ago
But, let’s say the party sells off some loot and gets 3 silver coins each. What happens to that? Surely the Brass character doesn’t spend all 3 silver during downtime unless he invests it? That’s what p.90 of the PG seems to suggest. Doesn’t make sense to me that a Brass character burns though 3 silver fixing his cottage or whatever.
But this is basically what happens in real life. People who are poor and win the lottery almost inevitably lose the money. They got a windfall - they didn't suddenly acquire the skills and ability to budget at a higher tier. This absolutely makes sense, and as u/sigmumar says, there are a hundred ways that money is frittered away.
For them to become Silver Tier, they need more than a bit of cash. They need an income to support that lifestyle. That is what endeavours are for - including investing and changing careers. At the end of a day, no one regularly pays a labourer enough to join the middle class. They need to do something more.
This game is trying to capture a particular grounded style of play that Warhammer is famous for. These characters are ordinary people. This is an extraordinary bit in their lives. Even a long campaign should be a few years. If the character doesn't make significant changes ie Pippin becomes a Tower Guard of Gondor, then they come back at the Social Tier they had before ie Sam is just a particularly honoured Gardener.
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u/sigmumar 11d ago
Great reply, and thanks for the mention. There's another thing that struck me though, an "alternative" interpretation if you will, or addendum to what we've said until now: While the difference between being Brass or Silver is enormous - actually just Having 3 silver coin for once isn't _that_ big a fortune even for a Brass tier character.
First of all, 3 silver coin represents "disposable cash at hand" for a Silver tier character. Disposable cash at hand isn't THAT much compared to a persons total holdings and lifestyle, as people tend to spend proportionally to their income. That means that even though a Silver character is much richer than a Brass character, a Silver coin may not represent a corresponding difference in value.
This is somewhat supported by the example in the book, where they state that "if a Silver expense is buying a round for the table, buying a round for the Tavern is a Gold expense". How many fully occupied tables does an average Silver-tier tavern have? Maybe between 5 and 10 on an average night? And the relationship between Brass and Gold expenses is probably meant to be about the same.
To me, this makes it even more probable that the money will be squandered in some way.
(I have an upcoming article on the Glorious Portents blog about the relative value of the coins and tiers in TOWR, will probably post it tomorrow.)
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u/sigmumar 11d ago
As to the last part, can you become silver tier while a labourer...
My opinion is "maybe", the labourer career with a tier upgrade could potentially represent something like a farmer who owns his own land and has some employees beyond his immediate family.
I would require him to get at least a silver asset suitable for it though, such as getting a Silver tier Farm With Grazing Herd, and to pay the XP for "changing careers" to represent building up the skills necessary for maintaining a Silver personal economy.
Getting the Asset will take time, it will require using the Invest Money Endeavour whenever 3 silver coins are available. Its going to take time and a lot of effort. Possible, but might feel out of reach. Which is as it should be, or everyone would be doing it.
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u/GoblinLoveChild 9d ago
I envisage a silver labourer as someone who would provide high end contract services. maybe a fleet of rickshaws that is rented to nobility traversing the wizards way. etc
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u/sigmumar 9d ago
Good idea. Your example would to my mind still require a silver asset though, no noble is going to get into a Brass tier rickshaw - what would the neighbors say!
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u/obaobaboss 11d ago
This rule is the cause that we have a big shopping session at the end of the roleplay, because they can keep equipment.
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u/sigmumar 11d ago
Yes, the money disappearing IS what happens. (Though he could also try to bank it.) If they want to use it, they should do so before the end of downtime.
He might not spend it though, it might get stolen, he might try to invest it or save it but fail - getting scammed or just betting on the wrong horse. Putting his savings with the Lehmann Brutters Totally Safe Banking Company.
He might also get some "real" medicine for his sick mother, pay down a behind-the-scenes debt, etc. He might have replaced his badly worn work tools, finally had the rats in his cellar eradicated, or bought his daughter a REAL TOY for once. PCs should be real people, and real people do things like that.
Or do what a lot of poor people do with a windfall: Have a party.
Even when banking or investment is attempted and fails, I find this highly realistic: Being Brass tier isn't just about being low income. It is also about lacking the knowledge and connections to really make use of any money you do come by, and always having a ton of things you need money for.
Great question! :)