Hârnic Prices & BW's Resources
Burning
Wheel uses an abtract mechanic, called Resources,
to represent a character's buying power. In BW, when a PC wishes to purchase
something s/he tests Resources
against an appropriate target obstacle.
A character's Resources attribute reflects more than just 'cash on hand'. It represents broader factors, such as a character's possession of property, capital goods, income, reputation, and ability to call in favors or seek other financial help from family and friends.
Setting Target Obstacles for Resources Tests
The Resources obstacles on pp. 366-367 of the BWG rules can be used for Harn with relatively little modification. (I would recommend boosting the costs of armor and horses by +1 Ob. from what is suggested, as these items are a bit scarcer on Hârn; very fine armor and weapons might even be +2 Ob. higher.)
The chart below provides some suggests on setting Resource obstacles for some additional items, as well as guidelines on what sort of 'price range' (in Hârnic pence) correspondences to each level of obstacle.
Cost in Hârnic Pence |
Resources Ob. |
Examples |
8d or less |
Ob.1 |
Common room lodgings; a canvas sack/pouch, a bridge/gate toll, alms to a beggar, a small bribe, a prostitute, a quart of ink, tallow candles, leather sandals, a pewter/plate or cup, ragged used garments. |
8d - 80d |
Ob.2 |
A private room & bath at an inn, a linen/leather garment, a piece of kurbul armor, an ounce of perfume, commoner weapons (daggers, spears, reinforced clubs, handaxes, bows, a dozen arrows), simple furniture. |
80d - 200d |
Ob.3 |
An ox or mule, an evening with a courtesan, most chivalric weapons (swords, lances, battleaxes, maces, etc.), an ounce of dye, a piece of quilt armor, a plate halfhelm. |
200d - 500d |
Ob.4 |
A riding/plough horse, a common slave, ring hauberk or leggings, a plate great helm. |
500d -1500d |
Ob.5 |
Chain mail, a warhorse, a highly skilled slave, a compass or fancy cross-staff, a mill, a hovel or urban house in a slum. |
1500d - 3000d |
Ob.6 |
A middle-class house/shop. |
3000d - 5000d |
Ob.7 |
A grant of arms, a lucrative guild francise, a wealthy urban house. |
5000d - 10,000d |
Ob.8 |
A wooden manor house, or very wealthy urban house/estate. |
10,000d - 20,000d |
Ob.9 |
A stone manor house or fine villa. |
20,000 + d |
Ob.10 |
A keep or castle. |
For guidelines as to typical prices (in Hârnic pence) for other items, one can consult Fenhorn's downloadable PDF price list for Hârn at his Hârn webpage, Fenhorn's Hârnpage.