Making Money in Shadow Accord

So you want your character to make money in game? It's a pretty good idea to have some sort of idea, as there's a whole lot of things you might want to spend your money on. Everything from tagged items to taxes, food to fetishes, there's a lot of things worth paying for. There are three fairly common ways to earn pence and shillings within the game: paid positions, selling goods and services, and looting/theft.

Paid positions (things like Reeve and deputies, Judge, and so forth) are some of the most sure ways of earning coin but are also some of the most contested and thus not something you can count on for your character. Selling goods and services is the most common way of earning coinage, but can be difficult. A few points for the mercantile inclined:

Merchanting is another common way to make money. Remember to sell things that are wanted, or useful. While cartwrights, coopers and farriers make for very interesting character concepts, you're unlikely to get much work in game. Characters don't often find themselves in need of carts, barrels or having their horses cared for. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't play one of these concepts, just to keep in mind that you might want some other form of making money. For this reason, food and drinks tend to be the most common and popular, both for selling and purchasing. After a full 24 hours of running around in the woods, you tend to want something tasty to eat or drink.

• Remember that you're selling to players, not just characters. One of the unfortunate and unavoidable side-effects of LARPing versus real life is that it only takes place every two months. The kinds of things that a person needs for day to day living are generally always going to be brought to game with the player. Trying to sell vegetables, for example, is unlikely to make much profit as most players are already going to have brought anything basic that they want to put effort into cooking. Or, if they didn't, they probably don't want to put the effort into cooking in the first place.

• Remember that you're competing with others. Diversity is always a good thing. We've seen this time and time again at many LARPs; when there's only one blacksmith in town, he quickly gets more commissions than he can make. When there's three or four, they all struggle to make due. The same goes for the production or sales of any craft or skill. Being flexible in the kinds of things you can make or bring can give you a much greater chance of success.

• It's ok to turn real world money or time into in game coins, if you're able. The person who plays a seamstress character might actually be able sew or might just periodically check the local thrift stores, but in the end generally has to put in real world time or money into what she's selling. Those who sell food or drinks still have to make or purchase them from somewhere. It's perfectly ok to adjust your prices in game based on how expensive or difficult it was to make out of game. Just keep in mind that people might not be willing to purchase if too expensive.

The third common way of making money in game is crime, crime, crime. This is a dark fantasy game. There will be thieves who want your money, and there will be monsters to loot after slaying. However, keep in mind that playing a thief character goes from difficult to deadly if you get caught.

• Do not forget the game rules about theft. Taking someone's shillings is perfectly acceptable by the rules. Taking their real-world property is not.