The Economy and Money in Wyld West

In Wyld West, in-game money plays a crucial role in bringing the world to life and enhancing character interactions. It serves as a medium for buying in-game items that help your character thrive in the game. Characters can also use their money to purchase components, ingredients, and consumables for crafting, alchemy, and religious rites, which might prove vital.

Whilst purchasing items, components, and consumables is not the only way to acquire them, it can often be quicker and more reliable. The post office, for example, will always be a place where you can buy or sell goods; however, it might not offer as good a deal as you could get elsewhere, as post office prices fluctuate. Additionally, money is used to pay stamp duty to send letters back home, allowing characters to communicate across the frontier, whether for personal or strategic reasons.

In Wyld West, money is not just important for individual characters—it is also a key factor in shaping the larger community and world around you. For example, funding the actions of NPCs is a significant way to influence the storyline. If you want to have a newspaper article published about you back home in Fortune City, you will need to pay for it. It is an investment that could boost your reputation or impact how your character is perceived. Money also comes into play in social activities, such as games of poker. If you are looking to gamble or take a risk in the saloon, you will need cash to join in on the fun.

But it does not stop there—money can be a powerful tool for the whole camp. If the community decides to take action, such as hiring a private security firm to protect an important package being sent back home or offering a cash reward for capturing a troublesome bandit, collective funds will be required. These initiatives can change the course of events and influence the prosperity and reputation of the camp, providing deeper layers of strategy and collaboration. In Wyld West, money is not just a personal resource—it is a powerful tool that shapes the fate of the camp, its people, and the larger world around you. The currency in Wyld West is dollars and cents, with denominations of 25¢, $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Characters start their first event with $100 (or $50 if the Wasteful flaw is selected), representing the funds they have acquired to begin their new life. In addition, characters may receive money at the start of each event based on their archetype or sub-skill—e.g., a Criminal or an Academic with the Sponsored sub-skill.

How characters acquired this money is left up to the individual player. I won big at poker, I stole it, I worked for it, or even I found it are all perfect examples, adding depth to the game. These starting funds and earnings can be a great way to develop your character's backstory and immerse yourself in the world. Whether through gambling, theft, or honest work, your character’s wealth could spark new storylines and interactions with NPCs and fellow players alike.

In-Character Businesses

Players are welcome to set up in-character (IC) businesses, whether offering goods or services within the game. There are no strict guidelines on this—everything is handled entirely in-character, allowing players to create immersive and dynamic trade opportunities. Businesses can take many forms, such as:

• A general store selling useful in-game items or crafted goods.
• Apothecary selling Tinctures and Elixirs.
• A bounty office where people can post or take on contracts.
• A gambling den running poker, dice, or other period-appropriate games.
• Selling Out-of-Character (OC) Goods

Players may also sell real-world, out-of-character (OC) goods for in-game money. These may include:

• Food and drink (strictly no real-world alcohol sales).
• Handmade items such as gloves, hats, or props suitable for the setting.

This does not include basic IC weapons, caps, or other such basic items required to use Archetype abilities or skills (a non-lammied Holy Symbol for example). We feel these are key to facilitate the game and want everybody to have access to them. These items can not be traded, stolen or pick pocketed. If there is any doubt please ask a member of staff for clarification.

To maintain fairness, we ask that each player selling OC goods keeps it to one type of product, allowing others the opportunity to run businesses as well.

If you are selling OC goods, please ensure they are fully immersive and fit the historical setting. Some suggestions:

• If using a gas cooker, try to disguise it within the setting.
• If selling packaged food, create an in-character label to replace modern branding.
• Store items in wooden crates, paper bags, or other period-appropriate containers.

Note: If you are selling food, please keep a list of allergens for everything you serve in case of emergencies.

Setting Up Your Business

We encourage players who wish to start an IC business to set up a shop front. This could be as simple as:

A table in front of your IC sleeping tent, displaying your wares. A large canvas tent with signage, props, and an immersive setup. A wooden façade with swinging saloon doors, giving your shop a true frontier-camp feel. If you’re planning a business, consider connecting with other players to see what’s already being run. You can do this through our:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wyldwest/
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/5YkeQSQe

These businesses bring the game world to life—so get creative, have fun, and make your mark on the Caldera!