Currencies System

Some TTRPGs like Daggerheart simplify currency to focus on storytelling. West Marches campaigns tend to go the other way - currencies give players something tangible to carry between adventures and a real sense of progress over time.

West Marches Currency Philosophy

In West Marches settings, characters have access to banking systems and don't carry all their wealth on adventures. This practical approach means tracking interchangeable currencies separately becomes unnecessary. For example, in a D&D setting, a torch might cost 0.01 gold rather than managing separate copper pieces.

Less bookkeeping, same economic feel between sessions.

Distribution & Management

GMs can hand out currencies in two ways:

• Post-Adventure Distribution

  Quickly reward all participants after completing an adventure session

• Individual Adjustments

  Award or adjust currencies directly on character pages for specific achievements or penalties

Beyond Just Money

Communities can create custom currencies for various campaign mechanics:

• Special Reward Tokens

  GM-awarded tokens for good roleplay, creative problem-solving, or anything else you want to reward

• Crafting Resources

  Materials like Mithril, magic gems, or rare components used for purchasing or crafting special items

• Social Metrics

  Track reputation, fame, bounty levels, or other social standings that affect character interactions

• Downtime Actions

  Points that characters can spend on activities between adventures (see Currency Reset below)

Marketplace

Players can spend their currencies in community marketplaces between adventures. The platform provides proof of purchase rather than inventory management, as character sheets remain the authoritative source for equipment tracking.

• Purchase Receipts

  All marketplace transactions create receipts that players use to update their character sheets

• Purchase History

  All purchases show up on the character page, so GMs can see where items came from

Marketplace items can also cost or grant experience points. Additionally, items can have negative costs, meaning the player receives that currency or experience instead of paying it. This enables currency exchange systems e.g. converting downtime actions into experience or gold.

Currency Reset Events

You can schedule automatic resets that set a currency to the same value for all characters at once. Some examples of what communities use this for:

• Downtime Periods

  Grant all characters the same number of downtime action points to spend in special marketplaces

• Seasonal Events

  Reset event currencies for special occasions, festivals, or campaign milestones

• Campaign Phases

  Refresh certain resources at the start of new campaign arcs or time periods