Prosperity
Prosperity represents the goods that circulate in the steading, the number and variety of tradesfolk, and how often merchants pass through town.
While Surplus represents how much food and trade goods are in the town, Prosperity reflects the quality and variety of food and household goods, tools and weapons, finery and little luxuries.
Stonetop's Prosperity starts play at +0, and can range from -1 to +3.
When Prosperity is low, essential trades are lacking or done poorly. Roofs leak. Goods and tools are shabby, old, or just plain unavailable. A merchant might stop by once per season, if that.
As Prosperity increases, there are more full-time tradesfolk, more visits from merchants, more specialized tools. Homes are cozier. Goods are finer, herbs are more potent, and iron is stronger.
PCs can increase Prosperity by completing the Expanded Trades or Market improvements. If they want to raise it even higher, or raise it through some other means, then sit down with them and Make a Plan.
Players roll +Prosperity when they Trade & Barter (page 540) to acquire or sell special items. Prosperity also impacts the PCs' gear and inventory, affecting:
- How many small items they get when they Outfit (page 306)
- How many uses they get from supplies
- How many HP they regain when they Recover in the field (page 328)
- The x piercing value Gear terms & tags of their iron weapons