Microlite75: Gold Standard or Silver Standard?

I’m going to add an equipment list to Microlite75 this weekend. Believe it or not, this has been one of the most requested additions for both Microlite74 and Microlite75. However, I have a problem. All editions I’m aware of of the world’s most popular fantasy RPGs are on a gold standard — that is, they have prices in gold pieces. I always use a silver standard with prices in silver pieces. This has always felt more realistic to me.

The question is, which standard should I use for Microlite75: the gold standard most gamers are used to or the silver standard I personally use in my campaigns? While I’m torn as to which way I should do it, I have to admit that it really doesn’t make that much difference within the game. The only real difference is whether the “base coin” is called a silver piece or a gold piece. Please tell me which you’d rather see Microlite75 use.

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Peter Fitz

13 years ago

Restless: I don't give XP for treasure directly, but I do allow characters to substitute gold for XP when they train to go up a level (up to a maximum of 50% of the XP required for the level). It's almost, but not quite the same; basically it means that players have to decide whether they're going to spend their money on cool stuff or save it to go up levels.

Randall

Fritz: If a GM can't handle converting a module from gold to silver, I wonder what he or she is doing running a game like Microlite75. However, you do have a good point. Staying with gold would make it more compatible with old published material.

Restless

Fitz, do you give XP per one gold or one silver? (…and if I like this idea, does it make me stingy?)

It really depends on the extent to which you want the game to fit in with existing resource material. The GP is standard throughout all versions of D&D, and anyone who wants to use a silver standard for the sake of realism can easily convert for themselves. I personally use GP in all my price lists and what-not, but 99% of the cash the characters get hold of is silver.

Anonymous

Silver

~Adaen of Bridgewater

Adam Thornton

Silver. Something that bugs me about Hommlet is how much wealth is sitting around there, if the average laborer's wage is 1 sp/day.

Peter G

What are the price differnces? AD&D has a back pack as 2 GP. Is yours just 2 SP? Point is are you doing a straight word replacement or actually going to create a new set of prices?

Restless above has a good point. change gold to silver in the text except for arms and armor.

Marcelo Paschoalin

Silver.

4×0 until now. 😉

Silver, but with weapons and armor still denominated in gold.

David The Archmage

SILVER!!

Unknown

I'd say silver, to be different.

RetroRoleplaying

Old School and OSR Tabletop RPGs

Microlite75: Gold Standard or Silver Standard?