Level Up.pdf

More Wealth Than You Can Imagine! 371
Use color to clarify your treasure’s value like the old standbys of copper,
silver, and gold. Or use different shapes like coins, bags, and gems. Don ’ t
get too diverse or crazy, otherwise players will mistake treasure items for
power- ups.
Does your treasure have encumbrance, meaning there is a limit to what the
player can carry? If so, then how are they going to carry it? Many RPGs and
MMOs have a limit to encumbrance, forcing players to find other storage
solutions such as magical bags of holding or a bank. Whatever the solution,
make sure that the player doesn ’ t have to shuttle cash from their storage to
the store. Just have it come out of the player ’ s account to avoid all of the
hassle.
Your treasure doesn ’ t even have to be money. Treasure can be bolts as in
Ratchet and Clank, studs as in the Lego games, souls as in God of War
series — even trash, such as the bottle caps in Fallout. It doesn ’ t matter what
it looks like, as long as it ’ s sparkly and makes a satisfying cha - ching! sound
effect when you collect it!
Speaking of all that treasure, where is your player going to spend it? Most
RPGs have friendly (and not so friendly) stores that sell all manner of