Just how Much is A septim Worth?

[ZZZ02]

Has anyone ever actually listened to the rumor that starts the quest "Corruption and Conscience". if you listen to it they say that they have trouble making I think it was 20 septims in a year. Are septims really worth that much and come to think about it, people are charging HALF that for for food, seriously! what are yor thoughts on that

[DoctorKaizeld]

a modern day iron short sword is worth about five-seven hundred dollars* (note these would be factory models pretty much, no special work). with that in mind an iron sword in game costs 25 septims.

 

so that means about 20-28 USD per septim.

 

buuuuut, considering the fact that not many people make swords in the modern era and guns are the actual modern counter part we should look at how much a simple rifle would cost. which is about 200-500 USD*.

 

so 8-20 USD per septim.

 

so with these numbers you can guess how much a septim actually is worth, it is about 20 USD.

 

in other words 20 septim in a year would be 400 USD. and with taxes generally being about 2-3 septims... yeah not being able to make 20 would be hard, but you could live off of it.

 

(* numbers are generalization and are gleamed from quick looks on the internet and in real life locations. these numbers are not exact and are capable of changing based on location.)

[ZZZ02]

I doubt it seeing as one drink could equal 20 septims, it is no wonder the poor are so plentiful in oblivion. Bandits are better off than those people, only reason they don't have much is because they are wanted. And arena combatants really are athletes in both work and especially pay but at one time gladiators where THE big athletes.

Edited June 12, 2015 by ZZZ02

[DoctorKaizeld]

yes but you have to remember alcohol (good stuff at least) is actually quite expensive in the time period. it takes quite a while for most of the stuff to be made and shipped. which is why it is a big item people are likely to steal. also it should be noted that at the time no one wants to carry around tons of septims (on average they weigh 0.1 pounds each) so the value of the coins are going to be high. also many people trade one thing for another instead of just the septims as well.

[3rdtryguy]

Hmmm.... it sounds to me like we need a mod to stabilize the value of a Septim throughout the game. If the people of Cheydinhal can't afford a littering fine of 5, ( "nearly a year's pay!" ) while a beer costs 2, then something is very wrong.

[DoctorKaizeld]

 

Hmmm.... it sounds to me like we need a mod to stabilize the value of a Septim throughout the game. If the people of Cheydinhal can't afford a littering fine of 5, ( "nearly a year's pay!" ) while a beer costs 2, then something is very wrong.

i thought it was twenty they could acquire? also you guys have to remember that the barter system is "broken" in that you have the same price everywhere, but the people in game act as though prices are far different in other areas. so where one beer would be 2 gold in another you could get 10 beers for 2 gold.

[3rdtryguy]

Well, that's true, but still, if you try to buy a beer in Cheydinhal, it still costs 2 septims. Don't you think it's odd that these people are having a fit over a 5 septim fine when many ordinary everyday things cost a similar amount?

 

Maybe someone should change the fine amount to 300.

[Aurasoma]

Don't forget that the price of thins has been going up for years.

During the American Revolutionary War the German soldered employed by the English where paid four bits a month. Four bits I've always been told is about .50 cents USD, so assuming that 2 septims = .25 cents. But that is only going by the old Spanish doubloon which I was raised to understand equaled an American dollar as some point.

[DoctorKaizeld]

 

Don't forget that the price of thins has been going up for years.

During the American Revolutionary War the German soldered employed by the English where paid four bits a month. Four bits I've always been told is about .50 cents USD, so assuming that 2 septims = .25 cents. But that is only going by the old Spanish doubloon which I was raised to understand equaled an American dollar as some point.

my point exactly. though by looking at the tech level of The Elder Scrolls series i have come to the conclusion they might very well be at the same point as the real world renaissance era.

[bben46]

Like many games there is not much rhyme or reason for the economy and the price of things. I went around with this when playing D&D many years ago, and eventually came to the conclusion there is no reason for the prices and no way to equate D&D gold pieces to USD. It just doesn't work that way.

 

I even went as far as to redesign the monetary system used to try to make more sense in my own campaigns.