💰 Wealth & Lifestyle: The Price of Survival
🪙 Wealth Points (WP)
In Grimhowl, money isn't stacks of coins. It's influence, assets, and the grit to keep yourself fed, armed, and respected in a world that wants you dead.
Every character starts with 5 Wealth Points and a Wealth Die of 1d4.
Wealth Die reflects your financial strength---higher dice mean more reliable access to goods, services, and a comfortable life.
Wealth Points (WP) are a narrative currency gained from treasure, rewards, or business ventures. Players use WP to:
Buy starting equipment.
Invest in Wealth Tiers (upgrading your Wealth Die and unlocking perks).
Secure safehouses, hire help, or purchase luxury items later in play.
🏛️ Lifestyle: How You Live
Each morning, you declare the Lifestyle your character attempts to maintain for the day. This isn't just cosmetic---it shapes recovery rates, reputation, and how NPCs treat you.
🎩 Lifestyle Tiers & Effects
Tier Upkeep DC Short Rests/Day Bonus Die Perks
Squalid --- 0 --- Reroll 1 die overnight (HP/MP)
Poor 2 1 +1d4 Reroll 1 die overnight
Modest 3 2 +1d6 Reroll 1 die per rest check
Comfortable 5 3 +1d8 Reroll 2 dice per rest check
Prosperous 6 4 +1d10 Reroll 2 dice per rest + 1 overnight
Opulent 8 5 +1d12 Reroll 3 dice per rest + 2 overnight
✅ Short Rests/Day: Number of times you may take a short rest.
✅ Bonus Die: Added to recovery checks while in this lifestyle.
🏚️ Upkeep Check
To maintain your chosen Lifestyle for the day, roll:
Wealth Die + 1 die per Wealth Rank
Compare total ★ to the Lifestyle's Upkeep DC.
✅ Success: You live comfortably in your chosen tier.
✅ Extra Successes: For each ★ beyond the first, gain 1 additional Short Rest that day.
❌ Fail Once: Drop to Squalid for the day.
❌ Fail Twice: Your Wealth Die downgrades 1 step until you spend WP equal to the failed Lifestyle's DC.
😴 Rest & Recovery
In Grimhowl, healing isn't automatic. Recovery depends on skill, resources, and how well you live.
🕐 Short Rest (10 Minutes)
Take a 10-minute break to recover either HP or MP (not both).
Recover HP: Endurance Check (DC 3)
Recover MP: Willpower Check (DC 3)
✅ Each ★ success restores 1 HP or 1 MP
✅ Apply ★ multiplier if Expert (×2) or Master (×3) in Endurance or Willpower
✅ Lifestyle's Bonus Die and perks grant extra dice and rerolls
✅ Limit: As per Lifestyle's Short Rests/Day (+ extra from Upkeep Check successes)
🌙 Overnight Rest
At the end of each day, your character sleeps, meditates, or otherwise recuperates. Make two checks:
Recover HP: Endurance Check (DC 3)
Recover MP: Willpower Check (DC 3)
✅ Each ★ success restores 1 HP or 1 MP
✅ Apply ★ multiplier if Expert or Master in the respective Skill
✅ Lifestyle perks grant bonus dice and rerolls for both checks
📝 Delianna's Note:
"Trust me, sugar---when you're Master Rank, you don't just rest. You command your body to heal. It listens."
📦 Buying Gear & Services
When purchasing items or services, roll a Purchase Check:
Wealth Die + 1 die per Wealth Rank vs. Item's Wealth DC.
✅ Success: You acquire the item or service.
First purchase of the day: no penalty.
Subsequent purchases (of same or higher DC): lose 1 die per attempt.
📝 Bypass Option: Spend WP directly to auto-succeed on a purchase (if it makes narrative sense).
🏆 Wealth Path: Investing in Your Future
Tier Cost Example Benefits
I 5 WP +1 Rank, minor perks (e.g., Packrat, Hoarder, Work for a Living)
II 10 WP +1 Rank, Wealth Die → 1d6, improved recovery bonus
III 15 WP +1 Rank, Wealth Die → 1d8, enhanced social influence
IV 20 WP +1 Rank, Wealth Die → 1d10, access to rare or free items
V 25 WP +1 Rank, Wealth Die → 1d12, convert 1 failure → ★ per day
✅ Players may buy Tiers at character creation or later in play whenever the GM awards WP.
⚖️ Daily Wealth Flow Summary
Start of day: choose Lifestyle → make Upkeep Check.
Spend WP or roll Purchase Checks as needed.
Take Short Rests or Overnight Rest as allowed.
End of day: reset penalties unless prolonged failures occurred.
📝 Delianna's Note:
"Spend your coin right, and Chondara lets you heal like a noble. Get sloppy, and you'll wake up in mud with rats chewing your boots."