|
iainuki
Gargantuan
Italy
25 Posts |
 Posted - 11/10/2006 : 08:39:53
|
Q: I hope I am not overlooking this in the rulebooks, but is there a standard for coin conversion? An example would be if it costs 5sp to stay at an inn and you pay with a gold piece, how much change would you expect?
--Brian
A: Actually, you are overlooking this in the rulebook -- just flip to page 112 of the Player's Handbook, and consult Table 7-2: Coins. 1gp = 10sp, so in your example, you would expect 5sp in change. Of course, that's easy to calculate now that coins have gone "metric". That is: 1pp = 10gp = 100sp = 1000 cp.
Compare that to 1st edition, where 10cp = 1sp, 20sp = 1gp, and 5gp = 1pp. There was even the electrum piece (a natural, yellowish alloy of silver and gold), worth 1/2 gp. Thus, the full formula was: 1pp = 5gp = 10ep = 100sp = 1000cp. So in your example, you would have received 15sp in change. (Lousy inflation...) Back then, a battle axe cost 75gp, a two-handed sword 250gp, a suit of plate mail 400gp, and a pint of ale 1sp.
In 2nd edition, the formula was: 1pp = 5gp = 10ep = 50sp = 500 cp. So then you have received 5sp change. A battle ax dropped to 5gp, a two-handed sword to 50gp, plate mail rose to 600 gp, and an ale cost 2sp... per gallon!
--Anonymous Wizards |
|
Ask Wizards 2006/10/11
