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GOREAN ECONOMY & PRICING
The Gorean economy is not depicted in great detail in the novels. The monetary
system can be confusing and there are scant references on the prices of many
items. Norman had little need for an extensive pricing list. But, we are able
to make some useful generalizations and deductions based on what references
do exist. Hopefully this scroll will guide people to a more realistic understanding
of the economic world of Gor.
The basic Gorean coin is about 1 ½" in diameter and 3/8"
thick. There is either the image of a tarsk or tarn on one side of the coin
and a letter on the other side. The letter signifies the city of origin of
the coin. The coin is surprisingly heavy for its size though no actual weight
is given. The books mention several different types of coins including the
tarsk bit, the copper tarn, the copper tarsk, the silver tarn, the silver
tarsk, the gold tarn, and the double gold tarn. But, there is some confusion
over whether all of these coins should actually exist within the currency
system. The primary problem is that though the copper and silver tarns are
mentioned in the early novels, they seem to vanish in the latter books. The
latter novels are also the primary place to find detailed currency conversion
references and these passages fail to mention the copper and silver tarns.
By analyzing the references to these coins, it appears that Norman may have
phased them out during the first ten books. It seems that Norman tried to
make a more coherent currency system in the latter books and chose to jettison
the copper and silver tarns. It appears he chose to make those coins to be
copper and silver tarsks instead. This is supported by the more detailed currency
conversion information provided in the latter fifteen books. The latter books
in a series are often the more authoritative on issues as they benefit from
more careful consideration. Thus, in this scroll I will be substituting the
tarsk coin for any reference to a copper or silver tarn in any pricing reference.
The currency system is thus, from lowest denomination to highest: tarsk bit,
copper tarsk, silver tarsk, gold tarn, double tarn. This makes a logical and
coherent system.
There is little standardization in currency exchange rates on Gor. At each
Sardar Fair, the bankers try to pass a motion standardizing coinage rates
but it never passes. Bankers are a sub caste of the Merchant Caste and are
literally known as "coin merchants." The particular currency ratios
vary from city to city and region to region. From four to twenty tarsk bits
equal one copper tarsk. From ten to one hundred copper tarsks equal one silver
tarsk. It does seem standard though those ten silver tarsks equal one gold
tarn. A double gold tarn is worth two gold tarns. The most detailed description
of a currency equivalency system is in Magicians of Gor (p.469). Though this
may hold only for some cities, it is of benefit none the less. Eight tarsk
bits equal a copper tarsk, one hundred copper tarsks equals a silver tarsk,
and ten silver tarsks equal one gold tarn. In Port Kar and the Vosk basin
region, there are ten tarsk bits to a copper tarsk, and 100 coppers to a silver
tarsk. Certain coins though are respected and accepted in most cities. These
include the golden tarn disks of Ar, Ko-ro-ba, and Port Kar, the silver tarsk
of Tharna and the golden stater of Brundisium. A stater is simply another
term for a gold coin and it derives from ancient Greece.
Paper currency does not exist on Gor. These places a burden on someone wishing
to carry a large amount of money as so many coins would be extremely heavy.
Luckily, there are alternatives. Banks also deal in notes, letters of credit,
drafts and checks. This vastly reduces the burden in large purchases, especially
for Merchants who might be making large purchases of stock. Most cities have
a Street of Coins, either a street or district, where all sorts of financials
services are available. Money lending, loans, is one of these available services.
Little else is said though concerning the services offered by Gorean banks.
We need to place the currency system into a perspective that can be understood.
This will give us a better framework to understand prices and wages. An excellent
starting point is this quote: "A gold tarn disk is more than many common
labourers earn in a year." (Tribesman of Gor, p.158) This helps show
the value of a gold tarn and it is supported by other quotes. "Five pieces
of gold, in its way, incidentally, is also a fortune on Gor. One could live,
for example, in many cities, though not in contemporary Ar, with its press
on housing and shortages of food, for years on such resources." (Magicians
of Gor, p.468-9). "A golden tarn disk was a small fortune." (Tarnsman
of Gor, p.191). The value of silver tarsks is also generalized in the novels.
"A silver tarsk is, to most Goreans, a coin of considerable value."
(Rogue of Gor, p.155) "My financial resources, the ten silver tarsks,
such a sum would last a man months on Gor." (Rogue of Gor, p.59)
Let's try to translate this into U.K. pounds then. If we assume a common labourer
made minimum wage or a bit above that, then a gold tarn would be at least
between £15,000 to £25,000. For simplicity's sake, we can average
this to £20,000.
Now that we have a starting point, we can use it to translate the other Gorean coins into U.K. currency.
If we assume ten silver tarsks equal one gold tarn, then a silver tarsk is worth about £2000. If we then assume 100 copper tarsks equal one silver tarsk, then a copper tarsk is worth about £20. If we then assume eight tarsk bits equal a copper tarsk, then a tarsk bit is worth about £2.50. Please remember that these are only rough approximations. They give you a relative comparison between Gorean and Earth prices.
The wages of a common labourer would then be about 1-2 copper tarns a day.
More skilled labourers would earn more money. For example, a sail-maker in
Port Kar earns 4 copper tarns a day. A High Caste Builder, such as a fine
shipwright in Port Kar, could earn as much as 1 gold tarn a day. Based on
my above Earth comparisons, this shipwright would be earning over seven million
dollars a year. To hire an average mercenary, a price of a silver tarsk a
month would be a good wage and many would not even get that much. If this
is a Gorean month, he would average 4 copper tarsks a day.
Obviously, a person's wage is determined by several different factors. The
type of Caste, the skills of the person, the knowledge level required for
the job, the city, rarity of one's skills, wealth of one's employer and more
will help determine the wage. Most wages for Low Castes will be in copper
tarsks per day. There will be few who receive silvers tarsks per day and even
fewer that receive gold tarns per day. Try to think about the matter realistically.
If an average mercenary's wage is less than a silver tarsk a month, would
anyone pay a mercenary 10 gold tarns a week unless that mercenary happened
to be Dietrich? Make comparisons in your wage calculations. If you pay a mercenary
1 gold tarn a month, is he really worth ten other mercenaries? Gold tarns
should generally not be the common currency of your role-play.
In online RP, everyone can be as rich as they desire. Cyber-money is infinite.
If you wish to have one million gold tarns, there is nothing stopping you
from claiming to have that much. Thus, we have seen some outrageous prices
paid for wages or other items such as slaves. Gold tarns are tossed around
as if they were pennies. If this were a table-top RP game, we would have a
monetary system to help limit such outrageous spending. Though a monetary
system for online RP would be helpful, logistically it is a difficult system
to enact and enforce. The best we can ask for is for players to be more realistic
in their spending, more appropriate to their Caste and likely income.
There are few fixed prices on Gor. Haggling is the norm when you wish to purchase
an item. In haggling, the buyer and seller negotiate a price that is acceptable
to both parties. Sometimes they are not successful in reaching an agreement
on the price and no transaction occurs. Most Goreans enjoy haggling and see
it as an entertaining game. A buyer who is able to negotiate an extremely
low price for an item may give the seller extra money anyways. A seller who
is able to negotiate an extremely high price for an item may give the buyer
part of the purchase price back. These are simple rewards for excellent haggling.
Part of the game sometimes involves insults to the other party. A buyer may
accuse the seller of being a thief who is selling shoddy material. A seller
may accuse a buyer of being a miser who wishes to cheat the seller out of
a fair price. This is taken in good stride as people understand that it is
only part of the game.
When haggling, each side begins at an extreme position. A seller asks for
far much more than the item is worth and the buyer offers an amount much less
than the item is worth. From those points, a series of offers and counteroffers
work toward some middle ground. Most items have a standard range of values
and the buyer and seller are usually aware of that range. Each then tries
to get the best value within that range. A number of factors will affect that
standard value range though.
Each city has different pricing. For example, Ar is one of the most expensive
cities to live in. Venna is another expensive city. The rarity of an item
will also help to determine its price. In general, it will be more expensive
in areas where it is rare. This leads to another related area, demand. No
matter how rare an item, it is worthless unless there is a demand for it.
A tarn would be rare in the polar region but there would be little demand
for one as the red hunters does not know how to control tarns and tarns would
not do well in the cold temperatures. Pricing will also vary based on the
individual's desire either to buy or sell an item. A buyer who truly desires
an item may pay more than it is worth to possess it. A seller who is selling
a treasured item may be unwilling to part with it except for a far greater
amount that it may be worth. Being aware of all the relevant factors when
you are haggling will aid you in obtaining the best possible price.
Some mercantile transactions, especially outside of the cities, do not use
currency. Bartering is the alternative method used to buy and sell items.
Bartering is essentially the trading of items of equivalent value. G generally,
you trade an item you have many of to obtain an item you need. For example,
hunters may trade the pelts they have obtained for weapons or manufactured
goods. Bartering also occurs in the cities, though most often when a person
from the barbaric lands comes to the city to trade. That person will bring
common, but valuable, items from their homeland to try to exchange them for
items that are rare to them. The red hunters trade often for Bazi tea and
sugar. Panther girls trade for candy and arrow heads.
There is some pricing information on certain Gorean items, at least allowing
us to consider general pricing guidelines. Though for some items, we have
very little to go on. For example, we have no real information on the price
of weapons. As Norman was not creating a world for role-play, he had little
need for such details.
Food and drink prices: Most of the price information we have for food and
beverages is based on prices in taverns. It is standard in most paga taverns
that a copper tarsk will get you a cup of paga, some basic food and the services
of a paga kajira. A dancer is extra, costing about two copper tarsks. In one
tavern in Port Kar, they have huge paga bottles, kept in a pouring sling,
from which the serving slaves pour cups of paga. One of those bottles sold
for a silver tarsk. Kal-da, a Low Caste beverage, is said to be cheap and
likely costs less than paga. Thus, it likely sells for only a few tarsk bits.
A cup of water from a street vendor in Tor sold for a copper tarsk. Wines
come in many varieties and qualities, just like Earth wines. Examples include
Ka-la-na, Ta wine, Palm wine and more. Prices for them will vary from cheap
copper tarsk wines to superb gold tarn wines. The most expensive wine on Gor
is Falarian wine. It is so rare that some believe it is only a legend though
references show that Marlenus possessed some. Though no actual price was given,
it is said that a bottle would cost as much as a small city. This would place
it out of the reach of most Goreans. Another expensive drink is blackwine,
Gorean coffee. Blackwine comes from beans grown only in Thentis and they zealously
guard this product. Even in Thentis, it is generally only the High Castes
who can afford it. A cup of blackwine was sold in Ar for a silver tarsk and
eighty coppers. This is not an item that most taverns would be able to keep
in stock and it is not an item most Goreans, especially Low Castes, could
afford.
Inn prices: An inn differs from a tavern in that an inn has rooms for one
to stay the night. In Renegades of Gor (p.51), a price list is given for an
inn's available services. But, due to the Cos/Ar war, many of the prices were
inflated by the inn's owner by about a factor of five.
The price list was thus:
"Bread and paga 2 C.T. (copper tarsk) other food 3-5 C.T.
Lodging 10 C.T. Blankets (2) 2 C.T. Bath 1 C.T.
Bath girl 2 C.T. Sponge, oil and strigil 1 C.T.
Girl for the night 5 C.T. T. (Tharlarion), Greens and Stable 2 C.T. T. (Tarn), Meat and Cot 5 C.T."
In an average inn, you might be able to negotiate the prices. The average
price for lodging, food and paga is only two to three copper tarsks a night.
A bath, bath girl, oils, strigil, and sponge all normally cost one price.
The prices may vary seasonally though, which would thus depend on supply and
demand. In Tarnsman of Gor (p.165), a tarn keeper is asked to house, groom,
and feed a tarn. He is also asked to have it ready immediately when it was
needed. He was initially given silver but he grumbled a bit and then was given
second silver. This seems like an exorbitant amount though it may be excused
as it is from the first book when the monetary system was a rough and incomplete
idea.
Slave prices: There are dozens of references in the novels to the prices of
slaves. The prices range from a copper tarsk to many gold tarns. A mere list
of these references is not that useful due to the great variation involved
in such pricing. Luckily, an analysis of the references does indicate some
general guidelines. "In a sense a woman is worth as much or as little
as someone is willing to pay for her." (Magicians of Gor, p.338) One
man might feel a girl is worth only a silver tarsk while someone else might
see her as a gold tarn girl. Slave preferences vary greatly. Like all other
Gorean prices, there are also a multitude of variables involved.
The general class of slave will affect one's price. Fighting Slave of Gor
(p.163-165) gives some useful guidelines in this area. The most inexpensive
slaves are female work slaves purchased for public kitchens, laundries, mills,
etc. These are the kettle-and-mat girls, the pot girls and other such lowly
slaves. The next levels of slaves are the male work slaves who commonly work
on cargo galleys, wharves, fields, and quarries. They are often criminals
or war captives. The next general levels, the most common type of slave, are
the ones who can be used as a pleasure slave. These slaves are not all trained
pleasure slaves per se but only slaves for whom part of their duty is to sexually
please their owner. The next level is the male silk slaves, a rare breed on
Gor. The most expensive slaves though are generally special pleasure slaves,
dancers, exotics and passion slaves. These slaves are generally all highly
trained.
Slaves who were once High Caste generally are worth more than Low Caste ones.
Pierced ears, once a mark of degradation, now also increase a girl's value.
Individual slaves also often appreciate in value over time. "Slavery,
for example, marvellously, subtly, tends to bring out the beauty in a woman.
Many women, after a year or two in bondage, become so beautiful that they
can double or triple their price." (Players of Gor, p.23) If a slave
is young when she is initially sold, her value may increase once her body
matures into a more womanly figure. As a girl's training level and knowledge
increases, her value also appreciates. Pleasure slave training and dance training
are key elements in raising a girl's price.
The place where you purchase a girl may also affect the price. The most expensive
girls are sold at the Curulean, the most prestigious auction house in Ar.
Slaves desire greatly to be sold here because they are often guaranteed to
be sold to a wealthy owner. A slave girl is seldom sold here for less than
two gold tarns. A beautiful, High Caste woman commonly sells for thirty to
fifty gold tarns while a Low Caste woman will sell for half that amount. Based
on the above mentioned Earth conversion rates, a High Caste woman might be
sold for up to £1,000,000. In other auction houses, the slaves would
sell for much less. A gold tarn in such other places might purchase a girl
worthy enough for a Ubar's
Pleasure Gardens.
The most expensive slave would likely be the daughter of an Ubar or even an
Ubara herself. In a private sale, she might bring up to 10,000 gold tarns.
In a public sale, where her status was unknown, such a woman might only be
worth a few copper tarsks, dependent on their beauty. Exotics also get top
prices due to their rarity, special abilities or talents. Passions slaves
are one of the more common exotics and they garner high prices. Exotics such
as poison girls or women who are raised never knowing the existence of men
would be very expensive commodities.
Auctions generally bring the highest prices for girls due to the number of
bidders. An auction brings out the competitive nature of man and can cause
girls to be sold for amounts higher than they are worth. Other girls may be
sold for set prices at a slaver's house. Purple booths are also used to girls
in private sales though generally only to important or wealthy buyers. These
booths are commonly set within the courtyard of a slaver's house or at a fair.
In each booth there will be a special slave, one of a slaver's best. A potential
buyer can examine and try out the girl in the booth and then negotiate a price
with the slaver.
Certain physical types also garner higher prices in areas where those physical
types are a rarity. For instance, blue-eyed, blond women are rare in the Tahari
region so they are more valuable there. Other physical types are not so much
as rarer but more desired in certain regions. For example, in Torvaldsland
they prefer large breasted women so pay more for them. In general, auburn
hair increases the value of a slave in many areas.
Most male slaves are inexpensive and usually will not garner more than a silver
tarsk. The exception is male silk slaves whom commonly sell for four to six
silver tarsks. A silk slave is a pleasure slave for a free woman. They usually
bring higher prices than basic female pleasure slaves only due to their rarity.
Most Gorean men make poor silk slaves.
The most inexpensive of slaves are infants. It is not unusual in the cities
for free women to sell their infant daughters into slavery. Some women even
do it on a regular basis, as an added form of income. Two tarsk bits is a
standard price for an infant. The price could be higher depending on the qualifications
of the mother. The women doing actually make a pittance when you consider
all of their time and labour. Based on the above mentioned Earth conversion
rates, they average £5 for their infant.
Most men cannot afford to own more than one slave at a time. But, a slave
is often a good investment. As many slaves appreciate in value over time,
a man can eventually sell his slave for a profit and either buys a more expensive
slave or multiple slaves. Once you can afford a single slave, you will likely
then always be able to own a slave. A buyer must realize that his costs are
not contained to the original price of the slave. Upkeep costs are constant
such as food, clothing, equipment or whatever other items a slave might require.
Upkeep costs can be closely monitored by the owner though, spending only what
he desires. He could obviously keep a slave naked and feed her only the cheapest
foods. He could on the other hand keep her in fine silks with a jewelled collar.
It is all a matter of personal preference.
Miscellaneous Prices: The novels contain a scattering of price information
on a number of other items. They also ignore the prices of many others. I
will list the items with price information here but please note that these
are general prices only, subject to many other factors. Use these as a guide
and not as an absolute.
Tarn: The price for a tarn will depend on the type of tarn, be it a draft
tarn, saddle tarn or war tarn. A tarn might cost as little as a gold tarn
or up to four gold tarns. A tarn is worth five to ten slave girls. (Tarnsman
of Gor, p.191)(Tribesman of Gor, p.43, 106)
Sleen: Trained sleen are expensive. They might cost one hundred times the
cost of a slave. (Savages of Gor, p.29)(Dancer of Gor, p.161) Even the rental
of a sleen would be more expensive than the rental of a slave. Sleens are
often rented by the Ahn while a slave would be rented by the day or hand.
(Kajira of Gor, p.250-1)
Tarsk: A prize tarsk is often worth more than a slave girl. (Savages of Gor,
p.29)
Snow Lart: The snowy white pelt, in good condition, of this arctic animal
could sell in Ar for half a silver tarsk. (Beasts of Gor, p.74)
Kailiauk: A robe of yellow kailiauk, even in average condition, can sell for
up to five silver tarsks. (Savages of Gor, p.141)
Perfume: A vial of perfume will depend muchly on its quality. It might be
very cheap, such as five two-hort vials for a copper tarsk or as much as a
gold tarn or "eight stone of gold" for an exceptional perfume. The
books do not explain though what a "stone" of gold constitutes.
(Marauders of Gor, p.114)(Fighting Slave of Gor, p.218)
Slave rental: To rent a slave for a quarter Ah in Ar costs one copper. (Assassin
of Gor, p.156)
Slave manuals: These books on the feeding, care and training of slaves are
relatively inexpensive. (Maurauders of Gor, p.144)
Slave boarding: To board a slave costs a copper tarsk a day and training would
cost extra. (Tribesman of Gor, p.53)
Branding: It costs a copper tarsk to brand a slave. (Explorers of Gor, p.74)
A Metal Worker was given a silver tarsk for two brands and to saw off a metal
collar. He was very pleased with the payment. (Beasts of Gor, p.137)
Slave collars: In general, slave collars were not made of precious metals
and did not have expensive gems on them. First, few could afford to do that.
Second, such items are much more valuable than the slave and would leave her
even more tempting to a thief. Some would feel no compunction with killing
a slave to steal her bejewelled collar. The few girls that possessed such
items were the personal slaves of the wealthy and those girls did not wander
around a city unaccompanied.
Slave locker: It costs a tarsk bit to use a slave locker. You put your coin
into a machine and receive a key to the locker. You can then leave your slave
girl here and lock it. (Magicians of Gor, p.67)
Bath girl: The cost for a bath girl with vary depending on the quality of
the bath and the quality of the bath girl. The cost generally ranges from
a copper to silver tarsk for their use. (Assassin of Gor, p.160-1)
Camp slaves: These are girls owned by merchants who hold contracts to supply
girls to soldiers. They rent the girls to the soldiers for a fixed fee, usually
a very nominal amount. (Kajira of Gor, p.193)(Mercenaries of Gor, p.216) This
would likely be a copper tarsk or less.
Brothel: The prices of brothels depends on the quality of the place. There
are cheap tarsk bit places but also very expensive brothels. A common price
would be a copper tarsk, the same amount you would pay at a paga tavern. (Mercenaries
of Gor, p.312)(Magicians of Gor, p.154)
Coin girl: These slaves go out into the streets at neck seeking to earn money
for their use, generally only a tarsk bit. The money is placed into a small
locked box. Satisfaction is guaranteed or you can get your money back from
the girl's owner. (Rogue of Gor, p.89-90, 234-5)(Guardsman of Gor, p.143-50,
157-8)
Whip: The basic five-bladed whip will cost one to two copper tarsks. (Magicians
of Gor, p.468)
Body chain: A simple body chain will cost a tarsk bit. (Rogue of Gor, p.71-2)
Slave goad: This is similar to a tarn goad but designed for humans. Almost
only professional Slavers own these because they are very expensive. It is
probably safe to assume their cost is in gold tarns. (Assassin of Gor, p.84-5)
Physician: Little is said about the cost of a Physician's services. There
was only reference where a Physician earned a tarsk bit for cleaning, sterilizing
and dressing a wound. (Beasts of Gor, p.104)
Sardar Fair: At the Sardar Fairs, the prices of many things are much higher
than normal. For example, rental sleeping space at a public tent costs five
copper tarsks. Normal cost would likely have been one tarsk. (Beasts of Gor,
p.50) The cost for a reserved seat during the Kaissa match of Scormus and
Centius cost two gold tarns. (Beasts of Gor, p.82)
Sea Passage: To book passage from Port Kar to Schendi, it cost one silver
tarsk and it cost a copper tarsk extra for the keeping and feeding of livestock
such as a slave. (Explorers of Gor, p.73, 76)
Barge Passage: To book passage on a barge crossing the Laurius River, it costs
one silver tarsk for a free person and a copper for an animal or slave. (Captive
of Gor, #7 p.80)
Musicians: A group of musicians each earned a silver tarks for their performance.
(Raiders of Gor, p.117)
Repair: It cost a tarsk bit to repair a door (Beasts of Gor, p.136)
Bride price: A girls' bride price will vary with her family's wealth, their
Caste and position. The cost might be in gold, tarns or other valuable items.
T he daughter of an Administrator might get 100 tarns while the daughter of
an Ubar would get 1000. (Tarnsman of Gor, p.71)
Clothing: Like most things, the price will vary dependent on the quality of
the item. Rep-cloth is a very cheap fabric, popular with the Low Castes. (Raiders
of Gor, p.11) Silks and fine wools would be much more costly materials.
Energy bulb: These are similar to the light bulbs of Earth but better. They
will last for years but they are expensive items so few Goreans can afford
them. (Nomads of Gor, p.203-4)
Insula: To rent a room in these tenements commonly costs one tarsk bit a night
(Mercenaries of Gor, p.274)
Advertising: In Tor, young boys were paid a copper tarsk for every customer
they could convince to come to a café. (Tribseman of Gor, p.45)
Gems: A variety of gems exist on Gor including sereem diamonds (red, sparkling
and white flecked), opals (including common opals and flame opals), amethysts,
sapphires and rubies. Sereem diamons appear to be unique to Gor. Opals are
rare on Gor than they are on Earth but still are not as valuable as diamonds.
No price comparisons are given for these gems. The only matter even close
is when Tarl was in the Tahari trading some gems for pressed date bricks.
Items without Prices:
Here are a few common items that have little, if any, price information in the books. At best, we can only try to estimate the potential costs of these items.
Arms and Armour: Despite the prevalence of weapons, shields and helmets in
the books, there are no prices for them. Basic items likely cost a few copper
tarsks or so, an amount that would be within the reach of the average warrior.
A fancier or better made item would obviously cost more maybe up to a few
silver.
Ships: These are large items that would be quite valuable. They would obviously
cost gold tarns but exactly how many is questionable. Most ships would probably
sell for a few hundred gold tarns, depending on the size, quality and type
of ship.
Houses: House prices again would vary considerably depending upon if it was
a small shack or a tall, fortified cylinder. It would vary from a couple coppers
to hundreds of gold tarns.