How to Design a Game Economy: Choosing Coins for LARP, RPG and Board Games
Coins are one of the most powerful – and most overlooked – tools in game design.
The right coins help players understand value, make decisions naturally, and feel immersed in the world. The wrong ones break immersion instantly.
This guide explains how to build a functional and believable coin system for your game.
What makes a good game coin system?
A good system is:
- easy to understand
- consistent with the world
- scalable (small to large transactions)
- durable and practical
👉 It doesn’t have to be historically perfect.
👉 It has to work in gameplay.
How to structure coin values
Most game economies follow a simple structure:
| Level | Coin Type | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Copper / Denar | small purchases |
| Medium | Silver / Groschen | everyday use |
| High | Florin | larger trades |
| Premium | Gold / Ducat | major transactions |
👉 If you lack different designs, use the same coin in multiple finishes (copper / silver / gold).
Example coin systems by setting
Medieval Central Europe
| Value | Coin |
|---|---|
| Copper | Denar (iron) |
| Silver | Denar (silver) |
| Large Silver | Prague Groschen |
| Gold | Florin |
| Large Gold | Ducat |
Vikings
| Value | Coin |
|---|---|
| Copper | Raven Penny (copper) |
| Silver | Raven Penny (silver) |
| Gold | Raven Penny (gold) |
👉 One design, multiple values – simple and effective.
Pirates & Corsairs
| Value | Coin |
|---|---|
| Copper | Real (copper) |
| Silver | Real (silver) |
| Large Silver | Taler |
| Gold | Real (gold) |
| Large Gold | Louis d’or |
Fantasy Worlds
| Value | Coin |
|---|---|
| Silver | Tri-leaf |
| Gold | Dwarven gold coin |
| Special | Ritual / magical coins |
👉 In fantasy settings, consistency matters more than realism.
How to translate coin values into real-world equivalents
Players often struggle to understand value.
👉 A simple conversion helps:
| Coin | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Copper | ~€0.05–0.1 |
| Small Silver | ~€1–2 |
| Large Silver | ~€5–10 |
| Gold | ~€50–100 |
| Large Gold | €200+ |
👉 This is not historically accurate – but it makes the system intuitive.
How many coins do you need?
| Game size | Coins needed |
|---|---|
| Small (10 players) | ~100 |
| Medium (20–30) | ~300 |
| Large (100+) | 1000+ |
👉 Always use more low-value coins.
Fixed prices vs. negotiation
Markets / festivals
- fixed prices
- strict value system
LARP
- flexible prices
- negotiation is part of gameplay
Can coins have meaning beyond money?
Yes – especially in fantasy settings.
Coins can be:
- ritual objects
- magical tokens
- story elements
👉 This connects economy with storytelling.
Conclusion
The best game coins are not just props.
They:
- define value
- shape player behavior
- and make the world believable
👉 Design them well, and your game will feel real.