Academy · Economy-building
How do I invent an economy?
Do I need to design an economy for my fantasy world?
Beginner
Mostly no, but you do need to know what your characters want that costs something. If a meal costs a day's wages, the reader feels the world differently than if a meal is free. You don't need to design currency or trade routes; you need to know what scarcity looks like in this world (food, fuel, water, magic, information, ammunition). Scarcity drives motivation. Once you know what people don't have enough of, you know what your villains will steal and your heroes will protect.
What to try
- Add an Economics entry for what's scarce
Related questions
- What's scarce in my world?
- How do I price things in fantasy?