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MisterX
Learned Scribe
Germany
118 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Sep 2011 : 08:16:48
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I recently started an Underdark campaign. Since I did not find any material related to the coins the Drow and the Duergar mint, I wonder if any Sage here has heard of such.
Otherwise: Do you have any fancy ideas how Drow, Duergar or other inhabitants of the Underdark might call their coins?
(Disclaimer: The Group decided to have have minted coins in the campaign, since this rends trade much easier. Since trade is more of a sidekick in our game and not the main focus, I agree it might be uncomfortable to just have gems of different value. Also, I'm perfectly fine with Duergar and Drow that mint coins in their cities, given the comparable level of technology to the surface world.)
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I've lost track of recent realmslore, since my campaigns are still in the 1370ies. :-)
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When talking about rules (and related stuff) I always refer to 3.5e unless explicitly noted. |
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Salacar
Acolyte
Denmark
33 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2011 : 10:04:29
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Not entirely certain on this, but I would guess that gold and platinum coins would be quite a common currency in the Underdark, they do have access to a lot of natural resources that would make a valuable metal currency a possibility. Duergar economy is most likely based on valuable metals or gems.
Otherwise, Drow has been known to use both pleasure slaves, favors and blackmail as a currency ;) |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2011 : 12:46:05
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| MisterX, please take a look at Menzoberranzan boxed set. The drow names for the coins were supplied there, even though I can't remember them from the top of my head. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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MisterX
Learned Scribe
Germany
118 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:03:32
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| @Zireael: Didn't find them. ;) But the Menzo'-box confirmed what I've suspected: They accept all currencies, the rarer, the better. If you might take a look at the text passage you've intended me to read? I might've missed something… |
I've lost track of recent realmslore, since my campaigns are still in the 1370ies. :-)
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When talking about rules (and related stuff) I always refer to 3.5e unless explicitly noted. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4702 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 04:07:19
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In general, coins are struck in metal. I believe Ed spoke on this. As I recall, weight and purity set exchange value. An ounce of gold is gold no matter the shape it is in.
The wise money changer has scales and water displacement to verify the purity. Oh might be able to cheat the water displacement test if push silver , copper not worth it, however not many metals in Realms heavier then gold.
Coins of the realm, likely would only be scaled, foreign coin, displaced and scaled. All metal and dust subject to both tests. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Kyrel
Learned Scribe
151 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2011 : 21:59:06
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Menzoberranzan Book One: The City, p. 38, Moneylending.
"Menzoberranyr accept all surface coinage, but prefer metal or gems of intrinsic value. a drow is happier with silver or gold coins than copper pieces, because the metal can be melted and reshaped for use where the coinage is not honoured. The moneylenders of Menzoberranzan also deal in trade bars, rare shells, the jarred and jellied eyeballs used by some mind flayers, all known types of gems, perfumes, and even rare foods and plants. The more exotic the currency or collateral, the higher their rates."
Additionally I recall reading somewhere that the major houses all mint their own coins (at least in Menzoberranzan), though I can't remember where I came across that, nor having read anything about particuler "names" for the different types of coins and currency.
Hope you can use that for something.
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Edited by - Kyrel on 25 Sep 2011 22:00:03 |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2011 : 04:18:22
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Except for major trade centers, I don't think metal coinage would be preferred. Too bulky, and too traceable to other regions (both underdark and topside). Most drow prefer low-profile, no fuss trades and sales, and don't want to generate questions based on the origins of their currency.
Mostly, we used trade-quality gems and bartering when we had extensive adventures in the Underdark. One of the major drow supplements comments quite a bit on the use of trade gems, which is what we went with for ages.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Underdark Minting
