*starts reading economic theory to better understand exactly what kind of capitalism @TheEdVerse referred to when coming up with the Shining Lands*
Like, is it a Liberal market economy or a coordinated one? How much of it is laissez-faire? What kinda 'free market' do they have?
— Torvtak (@Tobbun) May 21, 2019
1)
Hmm, being as real-world societies all mean slightly different things when they use terms like “Liberal market” or “laissez-faire” or even “free market” (there’s no such thing as a truly free market if there are governments…#Realmslore 2)
…involved, or even governing areas nearby), that’s a tough task you’ve set yourself.
The best way to think of the OLD Shining Lands (when Durpar controlled all three countries) was: merchants do as they please and the…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
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…government plays catch-up referee in disputes between merchants and in cases of REAL exploitation/gouging (i.e. merchants creating artificial famines to drive prices up and make desperately hungry folk who can’t travel pay… 4)
…them; yes, it happened). Inevitably, over time, what real-world Commonwealth countries and the USA would call “case law” accumulated to where merchants started to find it irksome, but before they could really push back, the…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
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…politics that caused the three countries to become independent of each other happened, and merchants again had freedom—but also curbs on their excesses caused by the wartime “forget your so-called rights, see this sword I’m… 6)
…waving under your nose?” behaviour of all three governments. The independence of the three countries from each other (“NEW” Shining Lands, if you will) shattered all that case law as each government made new rules and taxes…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
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…and interpretations (if you’re American, analogous to different states within the union having different laws; if you’re Canadian like me, different provinces, ditto), and ever since SOME merchants have tried to operate in… 8)
…the differences and gray areas of differing interpretations, which means over time that all three governments build up new rules and restrictions.
But as I’m always trying to design the state of things in the Realms to provide…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
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…lots of rich roleplaying opportunities for adventurers, those new rules still have lots of gaps and areas of dispute, and merchants are hiring lots of adventurers as bodyguards and cargo guards because things are still a bit 10)
…“Wild West” (as they are EVERYWHERE in the Realms, to various degrees, in the wake of the Spellplague and Sundering).
The simple way to describe conditions in the three countries around the Golden Water is: merchants there…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
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…still think they can do just about anything, not that they have to think hard about red tape or restrictions or taxes before they do anything.
Hope this helps!#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 21, 2019
Ah, thank you! One of my main questions is how do they track earnings for taxes/determining who sits on the Council of Chakas? How do they deal with mergers/splits of great trade houses? Do each of the bigger houses just naturally end up contracting mercenaries as security?
— Torvtak (@Tobbun) May 22, 2019
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Council seats are based on taxes paid (to cut down on merchants cheating on their taxes!). Any merger or split instantly loses the Council seats of all involved (they can earn seats after the next annual tax payment time). Yes, everyone needs/wants security and…#Realmslore 2)
…hires mercenaries and/or adventurers to provide it. Bigger houses run their own family recruitment and training programs, giving them a stake in company profits, to "buy" greater loyalty.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 23, 2019
It makes Mulhorand and Unther easier places to explore down at the daily life/"little common people" social level. Being as Old Empires doesn't really give a FEEL for how mortals think of the god-kings, and what their rule is like.
AND, water and access to it become treasure!— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 25, 2019