Wealth
Wealth plays a larger role in a character's life than simply what they can and can't afford. A character's wealth affects their social position, responses by social and legal systems to the character's actions, and the character's ability to traverse social boundaries. Wealth represents the social construct of accrued financial power as opposed to money the character may accumulate and have easily to hand. The two are related, but distinct.
A character's Wealth is represented by a rated value. For most characters, this value is 2 at creation, although players may allocate refinement dice to increase the character's Wealth rating, or trade Wealth for refinement dice to invest in other allocations.
Wealth
| Rating | Description | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Impoverished; Little or no money available, minimal items of any value, unhoused | 5 |
| 1 | Poor; Meager money available, few items of value, precariously housed | 25 |
| 2 | Proletariat; Some money available, few items of quality or luxury, stably housed | 100 |
| 3 | Prosperous; Money is available as needed, most items of quality or luxury, securely housed | 1,000 |
| 4 | Wealthy; Items of quality & luxury obtained without concern for cost, multiple homes | 100,000 |
| 5 | Opulent; Wealth is effectively unlimited | 1,000,000 |
Starting Money
To determine a character's starting money, multiply the character's Wealth Basis by their Connectedness
Starting Money = Wealth Basis × Connectedness
Income
In most cases, we don't play games like ’Verses to have our characters work mundane jobs and keep track of budgets, income, and the daily grind of finances. It is entirely reasonable for a game to completely ignore character income & expenses beyond the accumulation of adventure loot and the occasional "town time."
However, in some cases roleplaying the tensions between mundane life and the danger of adventure can add significant richness to a campaign. If the details of a character's income have not been specifically determined within the context of a campaign, the character's Wealth Basis can be used as an equivalence for their daily income. For each day spent on the character's occupation, the character accumulates an amount of money equal to their Wealth Basis.
Stop-Gaps & Loans
Many societies and social systems include mechanisms to buffer short-term needs for funds. Though these mechanisms vary in legitimacy, long-term harm, and accessibility, a character may periodically attempt to draw additional funds from these mechanisms. The amount that a character may draw in loan or gap assistance is equal to the character's Wealth Basis by their Connectedness, as with Starting Money
Stop-Gap Money = Wealth Basis × Connectedness
Drawing on this money may incur complications for the character, depending on what mechanisms are accessible to them. Different Whether that is a bank loan, predatory short-term paycheck advances, or mutual aid from their community,
Stop-Gap Money Availability & Consequences
| Source | Min Wealth | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Mutual Aid | 0 | Repayment typically unnecessary Excessive use may result in CN penalties |
| Short-term Loan (Bank) |
3 | Repayment with interest Failure to repay on schedule results in penalties to CN and Wealth |
| Short-term Loan (Black-market) |
1 | Repayment with predatory interest Failure to repay on schedule may result in physical threat |
| Short-term Loan (Commercial) |
1 | Repayment with predatory interest Failure to repay on schedule results in penalties to CN and Wealth |
| Short-term Loan (Social) |
0 | Repayment typically expected Failure to repay may result in penalties to CN |
Appearance of Wealth
As Wealth is a distinct concept from the money a character carries, it also is distinct from the character's visible presentation of wealth. The appearance of wealth can often have a siginificant impact on the social response a character may receive in various situations. A character's appearance of wealth is a transient subjective evaluation based on their dress, appearance, and overall behavior.
Apparent Wealth Ratings
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Impoverished; Tattered clothing, no or severely worn shoes, no items of any worth visible |
| 1 | Poor; Clothed and fed, but barely. No items of luxury visible, and clothing may be second hand or hard-used |
| 2 | Proletariat; Clothed and well fed. Items have seen use, but are well maintained |
| 3 | Prosperous; Clothing and items are of high quality, and one or more luxury items visible |
| 4 | Wealthy; Clothing and items are highest quality and look new |
| 5 | Opulent; Ostentatious & conspicuous displays of wealth and luxury |