Argo uses a two-denomination money system, with a `large coin' and a `small coin'. The names of these denominations is set by the staff. It might be `dollars' and `cents', `stellars' and `credits', or `silver pieces' and `copper pieces'. While the system parameters controlling money refer to `large coins' and `small coins', the actual currency might be coins, bills, electronic records, or some other form of exchange appropriate to the world. Regardless of the names and forms of the currency, on `large coin' unit is worth 100 `small coin' units.

Handling Money

When purchasing items with the +buy command (discussed below), it does not matter which denomination your money is in: the program will convert between denominations as needed. When giving money to other players with the +give command (also discussed below) you need to have the currency that you enter with the +give command. You can convert money from one denomination to the other with the +exchange command:

The +give (syntax +give <num> <denom> to <player> command is used to transfer money between players.

Using Banks

You do not have to carry all your money with you. Because players with the Pickpocket skill can take money from you, you might want to use the bank-related commands to keep your money in a bank:

+account	Show your balance at current bank
+deposit <num> <currency>	Deposit specified amount
+withdraw <num> <currency>	Withdraw specified amount
+banks	List available banks

You must be at a bank location, as shown by +banks in order to deposit or withdraw money, or check your balance.

If you die because of IC events, any money you are carrying is left in the room where you met your death. Any money in the bank silently disappears into NPC bankers' pockets, unless you have left a will:

+will

Follow prompts to create a will

You can leave your money to a single player, in which case he or she will inherit all of it, or to multiple players, in which case it will be divided evenly among them, with the bank getting a small cut. Or, you can leave your money to `charity'.

Prices and Purchasing

The RP staff is completely free to set prices as they wish. Searching the online manual for prices (+man #s price) or looking at the manual entries for specific items such as weapon is one way to get a sense of prices on your world. Another is to browse through the +info command for the `objects' category. However, prices listed here will be the `standard' or `suggested' prices: actual prices at specific locations may vary widely.

Buying Argo-generated objects such as weapons requires an expenditure of money: the price is automatically deducted from the amount you are carrying when you use the +buy command. To see a list of all items that you can buy at your current location, type either +buy or +browse, without arguments. Typing +browse <object> will show the price and description of the specified object. To buy a specific object, type +buy <object>. The +get command is for objects that do not cost anything.

Getting Money

Characters get money primarily from three sources: a starting allotment, a regular income, or payments from other players.

The amount of money players get during chargen is determined by system parameters set by the RP staff. The default amount is 1 large coin and 100 small coins (the equivalent 2 large coins). Selecting the Wealth advantage during chargen increases your starting allotment. Selecting the Poverty disadvantage decreases it.

Characters may have a regular income. The RP staff can set an income for you based on your character's background or (more rarely) set a global default income for characters for whom no specific income has been set. If you do have an income, it will be defined as an amount of money per time period, where the time period is controlled by the income_interval system parameter. The staff may also +define a number of jobs: positions that require certain qualifications and pay a certain amount. Some jobs are hazardous; some jobs are more difficult to get than others. Your chance to get a job is determined by a roll against your Presence modifed by the hiring modifier for a specific job. You can type +list jobs for a complete listing of jobs on your MUCK. Typing +info jobs/<job> will display complete information about pay, hiring modifiers, chances for and amount of injuries. An income specified by a staff member will override the default salary for a given job. Use +job #find and +job #quit to find and quit jobs. To collect your income, simply type +income. This format of requiring you to actively collect your income, and allowing you to do so only once per specified time period, rewards players who log on frequently and who pay close attention to their income. This is intentional.

Payments between players are unregulated by the Argo system: if you have a desirable skill or object, feel free to barter with other players.