I have the Great Pendragon Campaign book and I was looking at Rules Expansion section - especially the Winter Phase Synopsis question since I don't get the whole economics thing from the 5th ed main book. I have the Book of the Manor (and I found it utterly confusing) and I know my group will want to deal with economics in BotM about as much as they want to deal with the bubonic plague...

So here goes..

Step 4a says to make a Base Starting Bad Weather Roll = 1d20 and modifiy it by the conditions listed underneath. Is this a "Double D20" system roll? For example: Lets say my Base Starting Bad Weather Roll is a 11 and none of the modifiers applie (no curses and such...) Do I then roll a different D20 to determine if the afore mentioned 11 is a Critical, Success, Failure or a Fumble?

For sake of example - lets assume I am correct (if not then....) and the Double D20 roll is 15 so this would be Failure.

The Steward/Wife rolls the Stewardship roll (lets say that either of them has a skill of 10) and the roll is an 8 - a Success.

Would I then compare the Bad Weather Result of a Failure to the Stewardship roll of Success to get a "Rich" result - and thus my PC would have an income of between 9 and 12 Libre to spend that year (obviously deducting the 6 Librum for ordinary standard of living.

Am I even close? I don't know why, of all things in this game, this whole economic area is giving me fits!!! I need something simpler than the Book of the Manor and yet I need to have some detail so as to give my players a feel for what is going on other than to say "you make enough money to cover your expenses and that it it..." I know that some of my players are going to want to see how "rich" they can get.

Oh and by the way....

I have not finished reading the GPC yet but does it go into how those conditions listed on page 12 under 4a and 4b come to be or is it by GM fiat that the Peasants are "More than usually unhappy" and but there is a happy Brownie and a Unicorn that is providing farming and animal mid-wifery advice?

Thanks - help me get this and I think I know enough to start running the game!!!

Thanks again!!!

First, yes, you got it right. :) That's how I handle the basic economics of my campaign (although I add in the specific benefits of manor improvements to income/expenses for greater flavor).

Each year will give modifiers to the starting bad weather roll in specific regions. Also, the rules about "squeezing" the peasants (in the Book of the Manor, I think) will increase their unhappiness and give you an idea of how upset they are (found it...p. 14 of the BoM). I go with a Hate (landlord) of 6-10 as a +5 to starting bad weather, 11-16 as a +10 and 16-20 as +15.

For the other modifiers besides Wasteland and the listed annual notes at the end of each year, I'd say they were up to the GM.

Thanks Dafydd!!!

This was driving me nuts!! I kept thinking that this can't be the most complicated aspect of the game but it was for me!!!

I am sure I will have other questions soon as I get ready to start and as the game progresses - so more to come!!!


Thanks again!!!

I have the Great Pendragon Campaign book and I was looking at Rules Expansion section - especially the Winter Phase Synopsis question since I don't get the whole economics thing from the 5th ed main book. I have the Book of the Manor (and I found it utterly confusing) and I know my group will want to deal with economics in BotM about as much as they want to deal with the bubonic plague...

So here goes..


Wait a minute.
I will first presume your group does NOT want to deal with the plague.
If this is universal, please please just use Narrative System on page 38, BoM.

The extended rules are 100% optional rules.
No one should use them if they don't want to.

ESPECIALLY if you are just starting your campaign.
Tell the players that the lord is "taking care of the land for now."
They don't have to worry about money, just have fun.

--G
--Greg

I would go with Greg on this, if your players don't want to get involved in econmics don't make it part of the game.

As it effects the winter phase rolls you may just want to decide what level their income is that year.

So if they don't do anything it they get regular (6L) this will cover all their expenses and spending money and give them a comfortable lifestyle, replace horses etc.

When they start getting rewards or go of lotting or get a prisoner to ransom etc then maybe for that year there std of living is better.

Also if they marry a rich wife the default for that knight may change for them to rich or even superlative.

Then again they may get captured or a plague may strike the land in which case it may drop to poor.

So instead of doing it via dice rolls and a system do it via roleplay.

Have a look at this thread, it's pretty good and covers a lot of this.

http://www.gspendragon.com/roundtable/index.php?topic=259.0

Following Greg and bigsteveuk, in our campaign we don't worry about the economics, instead as a GM I simply let them know how comfortable or not things are. We don't have the time in our sessions to dedicate to it, prefering to concentrate on the gameplay. Works just fine for us!

My advice is also to ignore the economic details to start with.

Once you get to the Anarchy you can introduce a few of the concepts:

"OK guys, both Cerdic and Aelle are taking tribute this year so you need to lay hands on some scratch to keep yourself going - anyone got any treasure? No? OK, who's going to squeeze their peasants? Right, well that'll get you part of the way but you're still short - either you're going to be poor this year or you need to get some more cash."

If the players enjoy this then add a few more - if they don't then just keep it vague, tell them that times are hard so they need to get out more and score some loot.

Regards
Luke