A couple of crazy ideas...

["Sean L. McLane" <zodo@laf.cioe.com>]

After reading the mail so far today (do you people spend any time working? :)
I was hit with a couple of brainstorms. Let me toss them up to be chewed 
apart by the pack...

First, a rather simple, and elegant (IMO) solution to the money problem would
be local currency. Sure, there's lots of money around... but who knows if
it's real, or just something similar. Surest way to get around that is to
have a specific minting. This also makes it hard to throw around large 
amounts of cash by using GemStones. Picture this scene:

Joe Mungo, the Warrior goes to pick up the suit of custom-made Steel Plate
from Jack Munch, the Smith.

Jack: That'll be 100,000 Silver.
Joe: (place down a couple of gems) Here ya go.
Jack: Nice rocks. I only take cash. If it ain't got a Barritt's face on it,
	i don't take it.

This can put a nice limiting factor on economy as well, as money changers 
won't be able, or willing, to change millions' worth of Silver or Gold to
any individual. Gem Cutters will examine each rock, and give a value for it
(how are they so valuable if there are so damned many of them?). In fact,
each transaction with a moneychanger or GemCutter/Jeweler may well be 
run through >gasp< our Economy Coordinator, and initialed by him, in a 
note on the back of each Adventurer's card. It's actually be something to 
do in Town Actions.

-----

My other idea is one that I've griped about for a while... Rating does not 
necessarily reflect the true power of an adventurer. Those with a bag of 
handy items and gizmos are far more powerful than someone with equal rating
and no special items at all. 

That being said, I propose that each magic item be given a rating value, and
that this value be factored into an adventurers rating. The ratings should be
fairly easy to calculate, if standard magic items are being given out. Non-
standard items, which I believe we are trying to curb, can be given an 
approximate rating, approved by our illustrious campaign coordinators. This
can also be used to factor in minions and lackeys which tend to show up, like
armies of zombies, or rubber-coated undead monkeys.

I think that if we used this, we might well find out in a truer sense where
the real power lies.

-----

As the subject said, just a couple of crazy ideas. Flame at will.

Sean L. McLane    |     I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed,
zodo@laf.cioe.com |         briefed, debriefed, or numbered.
                                My life is my own!
                                        -The Prisoner