Economies Part III; Accounting Methodology

    Having run a huge open-ended campaign before that fell apart after seven years under the weight of the economic system I have decided to impose a standardized accounting  method on all of the players (people who know my political persuasions are allowed to gasp at this point; Regulations, oh my!). The last campaign I failed to do this and was confronted with a different and unique method of accounting by each player. Some were magnificent edifices of clarity (kudos top R.U.P. there) others were, to be generous, inadequate.  This may not be the best system but it is one that gives me instant clarity into the local economy and prevents errors from compounding.



      Each player will name each and every area that they take control of (last campaign I had an outburst of creativity and named them "1", "2" and so on)/ Once they have taken control of an area they will create a 3x5 card for the area (see below) They will list  any resource present in the territory and then list the improvements made  along with the costs paid as well as the normal upkeep. Below that will a space for notes regarding any special considerations. At the bottom of the card they will note the gross income minus the upkeep costs and then the net income.

    Take a look at the sample below.


TERRITORY NAME:                  NeuAltberg
RESOURCE PRESENT:              copper
TERRAIN TYPE:                         hilly

ASSETS:                                     cost                    income        
Copper Mine                              15                        6                      
1" of railway                               2                          -
Outpost                                       5                          -
Initiated farming                         2                         3
TOTAL                                       24                       9                    normal upkeep 2.4

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:  The mine must donate 1 pt to the Temple of Bhagga Nasha  for a monk to  bless the mine-workers each year.

Gross Income - upkeep etc  =  Net Income
          9            -       3.4       =   5.6


     As the campaign continues players are encouraged to group areas that are safely under control into administrative districts that can then be left on autopilot and not need to be addressed every year in detail. This will save everybody a lot of work. Particularly the GM who is also in charge of things like plagues, epidemics and natural disasters (if you get my drift).

      A yearly accounting will be made after the campaign season is ended and players will have their budgets set for the following year. From this they will retain troops, hire new ones, and buy all those cool toys that VSF games are all about.