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Guidelines

Guiding Principles

  • Consistency: Strive for internal consistency in pricing decisions to maintain a believable and coherent economic system.
  • Plausibility: Ensure that prices make sense within the context of the campaign and align with the relative value of items and services.
  • Player Agency: Allow for player negotiation and decision-making in pricing, while providing a framework to guide those decisions.
  • Narrative Support: Use pricing as a tool to enhance storytelling and create interesting economic dynamics within the campaign.
  • Flexibility: Recognize that not every price will fit perfectly within the framework, and be willing to adjust based on narrative needs or player choices.

Pricing Decision Framework

When a player asks "how much does this cost?", use this step-by-step process:

Step 1: Identify Category & Tier

  • Category: Which pricing matrix category best fits this item/service?
  • Tier: What quality/condition level (I through V)?
  • Result: Base price range from matrix

Step 2: Check Price List

  • Existing reference: Is there an existing reference price, either from canon or our campaign log, for this specific item/service?
  • If yes: Use that price for consistency
  • If no: Use the base price range from the matrix as a starting point

Step 3: Apply Modifiers

  • Consider: Urgency, scarcity, risk, reputation, negotiation
  • Calculate: Multiply modifiers
  • Round: Use convenient numbers for play, if quick decisions are needed

Step 4: Sanity Check

  • Wealth Class: Which economic class should be able to afford this?
  • Canon Comparison: Does this make sense relative to canon anchors?
  • Narrative Fit: Does this price support the story you want to tell?
  • If something feels wrong: Revisit steps 1-3

Step 5: Log the Decision

  • Record to our pricelist: Item/service, price, tier, modifiers used, session number
  • Note: Any special circumstances or reasoning
  • Purpose: Build consistency for future reference