The Vortex Parallel Rifts® Megaverse®
Cash, Coins, and Credits
Cash, Coins, and Credits
So this is another of the major holes in the original game. There is
no concept of economy, trade, raw material supply, or how the ordinary
person lives, at least outside the mythical Mega City of Chi-Town, and
in reality even that is completely glossed over. There are allusions to
basic laser rifles being out of the pocket of ordinary individuals,
which basically means that the means to employ mercenaries or anyone
else to protect them is out of the question, so how then do the heroes
earn enough to buy, repair, replenish, damage destroyed equipment.
There is a currency of sorts, the Coalition Credit, but why would anyone outside of the Coalition recognize it or use as their currency base, especially the independents?
Prices quoted in the books are for the “Black Market”, but this is
for inside Coalition Territory. There is no “Black Market” outside the
Coalition there is only the “Market”. A Black Market is “is a
clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of
illegality or is characterized by some form of noncompliant behavior
with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the set of
goods and services whose production and distribution is prohibited by
law, non-compliance with the rule constitutes a black market trade
since the transaction itself is illegal” (Wikipedia).
Since outside of Coalition territory, trade in most of these goods or weapons are not illegal they can’t be considered part of a “Black Market”, just the market. Book prices should therefore be adjusted(significantly) to reflect this reality
Since there is no reason in reality to use the Coalition credit
outside of Coalition territory, the only recourse is to revert to what
everyone in history has reverted to; Gold, Silver, and Barter.
Sure there are currencies, in fact in addition to the Coalition, Lazlo, Tolkeen, Ishpeming (North Gun), and the Manistique Imperium, all issue their own currency, all tied to an approximate gold standard. There are also 2 other issued currencies, those of Atlantis and Phase World. They have value only to those who recognize and can use them; otherwise they are considered “fake” or “toy” money. All of the states that issue currency work on a base rate of 1 troy ounce (32.10g) of 0.995 pure gold = 1000cr.
The buy rate (state
purchasing gold) varies between 50% (black-market) and 97% of base. The
sale rate varies between 103% and as much as they can get away with.
Typical large independent towns will buy at 75%->85% and sell at
115%->130%. Depending on their location and who they fear/trade with
most will determine what currency they will accept and at what rate.
The big 4 will take Coalition credit at between 25% and 40%. The
Coalition on the other hand doesn’t recognize any other credit, but the
black market does and depending on market conditions will offer between
35% and 55%. Note the Coalition will seize and destroy non-Coalition
credits, and may optionally seize or confiscate gold and silver. Note
also that neither Atlantis nor Phase World recognize Coalition Credits.
Atlantis will trade in Lazlo, Tolkeen, and Ishpeming credits but only
offer a base 15% of face value, except for Ishpeming where they will
offer between 10% and 15% higher.
The base rate for silver is 300cr per Troy Ounce.
In my campaign Shiftsville currently buys gold at 82% and sells at 118%. Silver is bought at 69% and sold at 141%. They will take Lazlo, Ishpeming, and Manistique Imperium credits at 95% of value, Tolkeen at 80%, and Coalition at 40%. They issue their own local currency which they pay all town employees (including the militia) and Iron Hands Irregulars employees in.
The Legal Bit Rifts®, Megaverse®, and Rifts Books® are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda and rifts Books, Inc. © 2002 Kevin Siembieda; © 2002 Palladium Books®, All rights reserved world wide. No part of this work may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity to characters or persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.