Wasteland economics

Summary

Wasteland economics is the trading and payment system governing commerce in the post-apocalyptic setting of the campaign. The system operates through established markets that display goods and services with associated costs on boards or menus. Trade primarily involves exchanging scrap materials salvaged from the wastes for necessities like food and supplies. Technology and pre-wasteland artifacts command premium prices, particularly in settlements like Rex Tree where such items are scarce.

In Session 4 of the campaign, the party encounters this economic system firsthand during shopping and payment negotiations in New Smoke, where debates about fair compensation lead to fundamental disagreements about how markets function in the wasteland.

Details

The wasteland economy uses coins as its standard currency. Markets post visible boards listing available goods and services with their prices, creating a baseline for transactions. One documented rate is 54 coins per day for escort services along monster-infested roads, which appears on market boards as a listed price.

During Session 4, Louise Guzman challenges the notion that posted prices represent "standard rates," arguing that market economics don't work that way. When questioned about why a rate would appear on a market board if it wasn't standard, the distinction between posted prices and actual negotiated rates becomes a point of contention. Sucks specifically raises the question of payment for escort work, referencing the 54-coin rate and asking, "Wait, wait. Actually looking at this, are we escorts and how much are we being paid? Because you know, 54 coins."

The economic system reflects the scarcity and value hierarchy of the wasteland: scrap materials serve as tradeable currency for basic necessities, while technology and artifacts from before the apocalypse command significantly higher prices due to their rarity and utility.

History

Session 4

The party engages extensively with the wasteland economic system during shopping and payment negotiations in New Smoke. The group discovers the posted rate for escort services—54 coins per day—on a market board, leading to discussion about whether they are being fairly compensated for their own work.

Louise Guzman disputes the concept of standard rates entirely, stating: "I don't know how you think economics works, but there is no such thing as a standard standard rates." When challenged about the board posting, Louise's position suggests that posted prices represent starting points for negotiation rather than fixed costs. Safia questions this logic directly: "Well, why was it on the board outside of the market if it's not a standard rate?"

The session demonstrates how the party must navigate both the posted prices of wasteland markets and the reality of negotiating fair payment for their services within this economic framework.