How Economy Affects Your Campaign (DnD Other)

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Economy is a Huge part of your campaign[edit]

It will change your NPCs actions, determine what type of adventures you will include, and affect the rewards of each one (adventure).

The 5 Major Economy Types:[edit]


This nation will become stronger and stronger each day, and rewards for your adventures (from the leaders) will become larger as time goes on. The country also may challenge a larger, though failing country in order to continue to grow. This war would provide a perfect setting for large battles/combat that your PCs could become involved in.


Peaceful, prosperous, and with hefty rewards, including gold, titles, expensive items, land and much much more. Examples of adventures may be purging monsters who threaten the capital, or exploring new and dangerous lands.


The first step towards a failing economy. Land becomes cheaper,food increases in price,and resources slowly dwindle. Rewards from quests are less in quantity and quality.


This economy is falling quickly, and your characters should be told that their money value will soon go up. Adventure ideas may include desperate expeditions for food in unexplored lands, international warfare, or just plain surviving in a community that is quickly falling, desperate for money and food. However, rewards will consist typically of only xp and land, with occasional chieftain title for those who lead their tribe to victory.


The inhabitants are desperate, and will attack you if only for a scrap of bread. Crime is sky high, the government is being overthrown, and tribal warfare wages everywhere. Will your PCs join a tribe in hope of becoming victorious? Will prices for food and weapons shoot sky high, while land becomes cheaper than bread? Similar rewards as failing economy.


Ehgalad is sent by the the powerful King Seridor (of a Strong nation) to spy on the aspiring(growing) nation of Gilhad. When Ehgalad discovers their military bases' locations, the King quickly rewards him with 1000 gold and title of Knight in the king's army. As Ehgalad moves slowly up the ranks, he will become more powerful, UNLESS the economy begins failing and the citizens rebel, in which case he will be a prime target for mobbed attack.


Economy also affects your population's schooling, which in turn affects their social class (lower, middle, or upper). A poor economy will have minimal, if no schooling, and their class majority will be laborers and farmers. The city of Seridor, however, will have a strong education, resulting in a slew of skilled craftsmen, artists, entertainers, politicians, and much much more. These people will largely help their economy, with beatiful pottery, mosaics, and theatre productions boosting trade and tourism.

Influence on Crime/Criminal Activities[edit]

If a city, nation, or world's economy is poor, crime will be hugely increased, mainly because of unemployment from job layoffs. Even those who are payed will be payed very little, and crime will present a better option for supporting families. The most kind NPCs may be reduced to common thiefs, if only to support their family. Your PCs will have much more trouble in poor or failing economies because:

  • NPCs will be less likely to cooperate
  • Rewards will not be as high
  • They may be attacked at every turn by mobs, highwaymen, thieves, and mercenaries

However, in a strong or growing economy, crime will decrease because of low unemployment rates. Rewards will be higher, NPCs happier, and less vandals parading the streets wanting your PCs pocketbooks.

Major Factors of Economic Rise[edit]

  1. Trade
  2. Ore (gold, diamond, silver, etc.)
  3. lumber
  4. conquest (tributes, slaves, land)
  5. Labor enforcement
  6. Agriculture
  7. Schooling (skilled craftsmen) for increased tourism and trade
  8. Foreign aid
  9. Alliance/s
  10. Location near major trade route

Major Factors of Economic Fall[edit]

  1. Invasion
  2. Rebellion
  3. Corruption
  4. Lack of natural resource (mines empty, forests chopped down, etc.)
  5. Bad seasons for agriculture
  6. Boycotted by other countries, resulting in reduced trade
  7. Natural disaster which destroys a city/cities
  8. Overspending/funding

Effects of Leadership[edit]

Many economic decisions are influenced by the current and past leaders.Major decisions which expend the country's money will cause the economy to fail,while decisions to forward trade will cause it to grow.

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