Swashbucklers Companion 1


The Swashbuckler's Companion
a Compendium of Useful Information


Part 1: Money and Prices


By Paul C. Pinkosh


Copyright  1991 By Paul C. Pinkosh. All Rights Reserved

Money in the Swashbucklers Campaign
Starting Wealth for the Swashbuckler Campaign

Average Starting Wealth for the Swashbuckler campaign is $1000 in Gurps
dollars.  The English equivalent is 10 pounds (10) or 200 shillings (200 s). 
Wealth and poverty levels for the campaign are as follows:

Starting Wealth:	In Pounds	In Shillings	In Gurps $
Dead Broke	0	0 s	$0
Poor	2	40 s	$200
Struggling	5	100 s	$500
Average	10	200 s	$1000
Comfortable	20	400 s	$2000
Wealthy	50	1000 s	$5000
Very Wealthy	200	4000 s	$20,000
Filthy Rich	1000	20,000 s	$100,000

Multiple monetary systems

English Money

English money used to be very interesting, if a trifle difficult for the
uninitiated.  The key to remembering the English money system (as it was before
it was decimalized) is L.S.D.  The L., or as it is traditionally written, ,
is the symbol for the British pound ( stands for the Latin word for pound). S
similarly stands for shillings.  The dits used lower casestands for
denarius or denariithe Greek words for penny and pence.  Thus, ң3/4s/6d
means three pounds, four shillings, and sixpence, or 774 pence or sixty-four and
a half shillings. Just how much are a shilling or a pound?  There are twelve
pence in a shilling, and twenty shillings in a pound.  Its easy to see that
there are 240 pence in a pound. 

But it gets a little weirder.  There was, during the period of the campaign, no
such thing as a pound unit of coin or currency; the pound was an accountants
unit only.  There were gold coins, guineas, that were worth 21 shillings (252
pence) but that was as close as any coin came to a pound.  There was also a coin
called a crown worth 5 shillings or sixty pence or one-fourth of a pound. 
There were also half-crowns, half-pence and quarter-pence (called farthings), but
too much detail just gets confusing. Heres a table to make the main coins
clearer.

          Guinea    Pound     Crown     Shilling     Penny     GURPS
          (Gold)    (Acct)   (Silver)   (Silver)    (Copper)     $
1 Guinea    1                             21          252      $105
1 Pound               1         4         20          240      $100
1 Crown                         1          5           60       $25
1 Shilling                                 1           12        $5
1 Penny                                                 1         .40

(Source: Gurps Swashbucklers)

Spanish Money

Spanish money was very important because it was the only minted money that was
present in any significant amounts in the New World.  Thus, it became the main
medium of exchange in the Caribbean and a great deal of the rest of the
swashbucklers world.  Certainly, if one plans to plunder Spanish gold, one
should have an idea what the stuff is worth.

The key units of Spanish coinage were the silver real  and the peso de ocho, or
piece of eight (the term peso is still in use in many former Spanish colonies). 
There were eight reals to the pesoas one might guessbut the really interesting
thing was that they actually would cut up the peso into eight edges, or bits as
change.  Even today, two bits is a quarter of a dollar.  There was also the
gold doblon, or doubloon, and so on and so forth.  Heres another table:

                            Doblon     Peso       Real      Maravedi     GURPS
                            (Gold)   (Silver)   (Silver)    (Copper)       $
1 Doblon or Doubloon        1         4          32        1088        $80
1 Peso or Piece of Eight              1           8         272        $20
1 Real or Bit                                     1          34         $2
1 Maravedi                                                     1          .10

(Source: Gurps Swashbucklers)

Miscellaneous Notes

Modern American Equivalents

Modern American equivalents in so-called Gurps dollars to money values and
prices have been given in this guide to help facilitate comparison and to allow
estimation of prices of items not listed.  If one is able to divide or multiply
at all, one will see that the Gurps dollar equivalents are only estimates,
rounded off.

If a player wishes, she may ignore pounds, shillings,  and doubloons and simply
keep track of her money in Gurps dollars.  This is less romantic, but much
simpler.  Better yet, keep track of both.  For simple transactions use your Gurps
dollars, but in some situations it may be important how much of what kind of
money you have.  Thirty Guineas and 3 reals in your pocket may be equivalent to
$3162, but in a Spanish port you would only have $12 you could spendsafely, that
is.

Money: Pounds and Ounces
As an arbitrary rule, let $1000 worth of silverin coins of any nationweigh 1
pound, and $32,000 in gold weigh 1 pound.  The same applies to bullion.  Carrying
a fortune in silver can require a strong back.

Letters of Credit
Paper money as we understand it is non-existent, but letters of credit are
available.  Issued by a bank or other financial institution, they are the
forerunners of paper money, but are more like a cashiers check.  They are not
legal tender, and the average shopkeeper wont accept them (well, sometimes) but
another lending house, bank, or major merchant will.  Most such people wish to do
only legitimate business with respectable merchants, but some are not so picky;
the governor of Tortuga, for example, was not a government official, but an
official of the French West Indies Company.  He frequently issued letters of
credit on the company to people who came in with ships loaded with Spanish gold
and goods.  If you don't believe me, see Rafael Sabatinis "Captain Blood.

Colonial Confusion
As one might expect, the New World ports can be a confusing mish-mash of mixed
coinage.  A shilling is roughly equivalent to two reals, but some places you can
get three reals for a shilling, while in othersSpanish ports, for
exampleshillings wont be taken except on the black market.  Supply and demand,
as ever, play a big role in determining the relative value of coinage.


Swashbucklers Campaign: Goods and Services

The items below include, in most cases, listings for the prices in English money
and Gurps dollars, weight, and other notes.  please note that the English
column is in shillings and pence only.  This was for purposes of neatness and
simplicity only.  Convert larger sums into pounds by dividing by twenty.  The
prices below are approximate.  Location, supply and demand, and need all help
determine prices.  Television has not yet replaced haggling as everyones
favorite pastimefeel free to negotiate.

Price Tables

Adventurers Equipment

Armor
Item            English   Gurps$     Weight    Note
Breastplate      100 s     $500      25 lbs    PD 4; DR 5.  Covers torso
Buff Coat         30 s     $150      15 lbs    PD 2; DR 2.  Covers torso and arms
Chausses           5 s      $25       4 lbs    PD 3; DR4.  Covers legs.
Gauntlets         20 s     $100       2 lbs    PD 3; DR4.  Covers hands
Gloves, Leather    5 s      $25         	   PD 2; DR 2.  Covers hands
Helm              18 s      $90       3 lbs    PD 3; DR4.  Covers head
Full Plate Suit 1000 s    $5000      85 lbs    PD 4; DR 5.  Rare.  Only worn by nobles in formal battle. Impractical.


Clothing
Item                English    Gurps$	 Weight	   Notes	
Boots                16 s       $80       3 lbs.   PD 2; DR 2	
Cloak, light          5 s       $25       2 lbs.   Can be used with Cloak skill: PD 1	
Cloak, heavy         10 s       $50       5 lbs.   Can be used with Cloak skill: PD 2	
Coat                 10 s       $50     5-9 lbs.   DR 1 Added to clothes or armor beneath.	
Gloves, cloth         2 s       $10     1/2 lb.    PD 1; DR 1	
Hat                   3 s       $15       1 lb.	   PD 1; DR 1	
Pants                 2 s       $10     1-2 lbs.   no PD or DR
Sandals/slippers      2 s       $10        	   no PD or DR	
Shirt                 2 s       $10       1 lb.    no PD or DR
Shoes                 8 s       $40       2 lbs.   PD 1; DR 1	
Clothing sets:                                     Clothes below  are PD 0; DR 0	
Peasant rags          5 p        $2       1 lb.    Random, dirty scraps.	
Lower-class clothes   2 s       $10       1 lb.    Tunic & pants. Indifferently clean.	
Middle-class clothes  8 s       $40       1 lb.    Tunic & pants or robe, decorated.	
Upper-class clothes  40 s      $200       1 lb.    Various types, elaborately decorated.	
Noble dress         200 s+    $1000+      1 lb.    Various types, elaborately decorated & jeweled.	

General Equipment

Item               English      Gurps$    Weight     Note	
Backpack                 4 s     $20     2-3 lbs.    Holds 20 lbs. 1 cu. ft.  PD 2; DR 2 against attacks from the back.	
Basics, group           10 s     $50      20 lbs.    Pots, rope, hatchet and the like.  Ordinary gearnothing rare allowed	
Basics, personal         1 s      $5                Very basic personal necessities	
Bedroll (heavy)          5 s     $25       8 lbs.    Wool/Fur blanket	
Bedroll (light)          2 s     $10       5 lbs.    Wool blanket	
Belt Pouch               2 s     $10       1 lb.
Bucket                   2 s     $10       2 lbs.    Holds 3 gallons	
Candle                   3 p      $1     .25 lb.     Burns 2 hours.  Lights 20 diameter.	
Case                    20 s    $100       1 lb.     Water resistant 12x6x3	
Cask                    10 s     $50       5 lbs.    Holds 4 gallons	
Chain                    3 s     $15       8 lbs.    10 foot iron chain	
Charcoal                 1 s      $5       1 lb.     Makes hot 4-hour fire	
Chisel                   4 s     $20       1 lb.
Climbing Pick           14 s     $70       2 lbs.
Compass                 10 s     $50     .25 lb.
Flint & Steel            6 p      $2.5o  .25 lb.
Frame Pack               6 s     $30       4 lbs.    Holds 45 lbs. 2 cubic feet.
			                                 	PD 2; DR 2 against attacks from the back.	
Hammer                   5 s     $25       1 lb.
Hammock                  1 s      $5       3 lbs.
Harness                 10 s      $5       4 lbs.    Includes bit and bridle	
Ink                      6 p	  $2.50   .4 lbs	
Ladder                   2 s     $10      15 lbs.    Perfect for eloping	
Lantern                  6 s     $30       2 lbs.    Lights 50 foot diameter	
Lockpick Set             5 s     $25      .5 lb.
Logarithmic Tables      10 s     $50      .5 lb.
Nails                    1 p     $.40     .5 lb.     20 nails.  Different sizes available.	
Navigation Instruments	20 s    $100      30 lbs.    Adequate Instruments for Navigation	
Navigation Instruments 100 s    $500      30 lbs.    Fine Instruments: +1 on Navigation roll	
Oar                      6 p      $2.50    5 lbs.    Wood. 6-8 feet.	
Oil Flask                2 s     $10       1 lb.     1 pint.  6 hour lantern refill	
Padlock                 15 s     $75       1 lb.     Comes with 2 keys	
Paper                    6 s     $30     .25 lb.     20 sheets	
Parchment                6 s     $30     .25 lb.     20 sheets	
Pegs                     6 p      $2.50    2 lbs.    10 wooden pegs	
Pitons                   1 s      $5       3 lbs.    10 iron pitons	
Plank                    5 p      $2      12 lbs.    10 foot wooden plank	
Pole                     3 p      $1.25    5 lbs.    10 foot wooden pole	
Pot (cooking)            4 s     $20       3 lbs.    Holds 2 gallons	
Quill Pens               3 p      $1.25  .25 lb.     10 Goose quills	
Rope                     2 s     $10       5 lbs.    50 feet.  Hemp	
Rutter                 125 s    $625       1 lb.	 Book of tables and charts for navigators	
Sack                     6 p      $2.50    2 lbs.    3 cubic feet. Holds 50 lbs.
Saddle                  25 s    $125      10 lbs.   Includes stirrups and blanket	
Saddle bag               4 s     $20       5 lbs.   1.5 cubic feet. Holds 15 lbs.
Saw                     10 s     $50       3 lbs.   Two-foot blade	
Slide Rule              15 s     $75       1 lb.     Speeds calculations ten times	
Spade                    8 s     $40       3 lbs.
Surgical Kit            20 s    $100       2 lbs.   Gives +1 to TL 4 Surgery roll	
Surveying Equipment     60 s    $300     300 lbs.
Tarp                     6 p      $2.50    5 lbs.   5 x 8 feet.  Canvas	
Telescope               20 s    $100       5 lbs.   Brass.  8-power.  3 feet long, extended.	
Tent                    10 s     $50      10 lbs.   5 x 8 feet.  Holds two people.  Canvas	
Tinderbox                2 p       $.80  .25 lb.     Holds tinder to start 7 fires.	
Torch                    6 p      $2.50    1 lb.     lights 20 foot diameter.  Lasts 3 hours.	
Vial                     1 s      $5     .25 lb.     Glass.  Holds half a pint	
Waterskin                1 s      $5     .25 lb.     Holds 1 quart	
Wedge, splitting         1 s      $5       3 lbs.    One iron wedge	
Wedge, wooden            1 s      $5       1 lb.     Five hardwood wedges	
Whistle                 10 s     $50      .5 lb.     Range over 1 mile.	
Wire                     5 s     $25       3 lbs.    100 feet.  10 gauge	


Food and Lodging
Item             English	Gurps$	  Note
Beer/Ale           1 p      $ .40	  Pint
Brandy             6 p      $2.50	  Half-pint
Cider              1 p      $ .40     Pint
Mead               3 p      $1.25     Pint
Wine               4 p      $1.60     Pint
Cheap Meal         6 p      $2.50     Could either be small or of low quality
Average Meal       1 s	    $5.00
Expensive Meal     2 s +   $10.00+    Could be large or of better quality.  Prices can 
                                      go up from this.	
Weeks Rations     3 s     $15.00    14 lbs. Basic food for 1 person for a week.  Normal 
				spoilage rate	
Trail Rations      6 s     $30.00    14 lbs.Basic preserved food for a week.
Lodging (poor)     6 p      $2.50    Communal sleeping
Lodging (average)  1 s      $5.00    Separate bedding
Lodging (fine)     2 s+    $10.00+   Own room.  Can be more expensive with extras
Stable             1 s      $5.00    Care and food for one horse for one night.
                                     Weekly cost 10 s
Fodder for Horse   1 p      $ .40    Weekly cost 6 p
Grain for Horse    2 p      $1.00    Weekly cost 1 s
Hospitalization    2 s     $10.00    Food, bedding, basic care.  Doctoring extra.
Library Access     5 s     $25.00    When available.

Livestock
Item            English      Gurps$     Move     Wt (lbs.)     Note
Bull            1000 s       $5000       8      3,000
Calf              50 s        $250       8        150
Camel            300 s       $1500      10       1400        Drinks little, foul tempered
Cow              200 s       $1000       8      2,000 
Donkey           200 s       $1000       8        500        Pack animal; too small to ride
Elephant        2000 s     $10,000       8     12,000+       PD 1, DR 1.  Shipping not included.
Fowl               1 s          $5       4          3
Goat              50 s        $250       8         80
Heavy warhorse  1000 s       $5000      15      1,900        Usually vicious
Horse, cavalry   800 s      $4,000      16      1,400        Light  warhorse
Horse, draft     400 s      $2,000      12      2,000
Horse, racing    800 s+     $4,000+     18      1,100        Can be even faster
Horse, saddle    240 s      $1,200      12      1,200        Ordinary riding horse
Mule, large      400 s      $2,000       9      1,400
Mule, small      200 s      $1,000       8        800        Pack animal; too small to ride
Ox               300 s      $1,500       8      2,500
Pig               50 s        $250       7        400
Pony             300 s      $1,500      13        800
Sheep             50 s        $250       6         80

Transportation

Vehicles
     
Vehicle                 English    Gurps$       Weight     Note
Boat, large              200 s      $3000      2000 lbs.    30 foot boat.  7000 lbs. capacity
Boat, medium             200 s     $1,000       800 lbs.    20 foot boat.  4000 lbs. capacity.
Boat, small              100 s       $500       200 lbs.    10 foot boat.  1000 lbs. capacity.
Canoe                    150 s       $750       130 lbs.    15 foot boat.  700 lbs. capacity.
Gentlemans carriage     300 s     $1,500       350 lbs.    Carries 4 people (max) plus driver.
Gentlemans coach        500 s+    $2,500+     1000 lbs.    Carries 6 comfortably plus driver,
                                                              footman.  Two can ride on top.
Handcart                  45 s       $225       100 lbs.    4.5 feet long.  1300 lbs. capacity
Horse cart, open         150 s       $750       450 lbs.    6 feet long.  1300 lbs. capacity
Ship, brig, large     20,000 s   $100,000                   500-1500 tons capacity
Ship, merchant brig   15,000 s    $75,000+                  150-400 tons capacity
Ship, merchant, small 40,000 s   $200,000                   600-900 tons capacity
Ship, sloop, large    15,000 s    $75,000+                  50-100 tons capacity
Ship, sloop, small      8000 s    $40,000+                  80-200 tons capacity
Ship, war brig        40,000 s   $200,000                   150-400 tons capacity
Ship, war, large     160,000 s   $800,000                   1000-2000 tons capacity
Wagon, closed            400 s     $2,000       850 lbs.    9 feet long.  1300 lbs. capacity
Wagon, open              250 s     $1,250       600 lbs.    8 feet long.  1200 lbs. capacity

Transportation Services
Item                 English           Gurps$
Coach Service     1 s + 1 p/mi.     $5 + $0.40/mi.
Ferry Service     1 s + 2 p/mi.     $5 + $0.80/mi.
Ship Passage      5 s + 2 p/mi.     $25 + $0.80/mi.
Toll (general)    1 p                80


Weapons
Firearms
Weapon             English     Gurps $
Blunderbuss          40 s      $200
Boarding Pistol     100 s      $500
Musket               50 s      $250
Pocket Pistol       100 s      $500
Rifle               200 s     $1000

Melee Weapons
Weapon                    English     Gurps $     Dam.    Type
Boarding Axe                10 s       $50        Cut     Swing+2
Boarding Pike                8 s       $40        Imp     Thrust+3
Cavalry Saber              100 s      $500        Imp     Thrust+1  
                                                  Cut     Swing+1
Claymore                   150 s      $750        Cut     Swing+1  
                                                  Imp     Thrust+2
Cutlass                     60 s      $300        Imp     Thrust  
                                                  Cut     Swing
Dagger                       4 s       $20        Imp     Thrust-1
Dress Smallsword            60 s      $300        Imp     Thrust 
Fencing Saber               80 s      $400        Imp     Thrust+1  
                                                  Cut     Swing -1
Knife                        8 s       $40        Cut     Swing-2  
                                                  Imp     Thrust
Main Gauche                 60 s      $300        Imp     Thrust
Rapier                     100 s      $500        Imp     Thrust+1
Scimitar                    100 s     $500        Imp     Thrust+1  
                                                  Cut     Swing+1
Smallsword                   80 s     $400        Imp     Thrust+1
Truncheon or Belaying Pin                       Cr      Thrust

Weapon Accessories
Equipment             English     Gurps$      Notes
Bandolier               5 s        $25      12 Apostles.  Holds 12 paper cartridges with powder & shot.
Cartridge Pouch         2 s        $10       Holds 50 palls and 1 cleaning kit.
Cleaning Kit            2 s        $10       One size does not fit all.
Firearm Pouch           3 s        $15       Water resistant.
Powder (20 charges)     2 s        $10
Powder Horn             2 s        $10       Waterproof, holds powder for 40 shots.
Scabbard (Belt)        10 s        $50
Scabbard (Shoulder)    15 s        $75
Shot (20 balls)         1 s         $5       Varies in size depending on gun.
Weapon Belt             3 s        $15       Can hold two scabbards, 3 belt pouches

