What are the signs of wealth in your world? Extravagant hairdos? Long flowing white robes? Special shoes? Or maybe the wealthy live in different houses. Please share your world's signs of wealth.

I don't usually have "wealthy" per se in my world. My culture values warriors and wisdom above physical possessions. Though, I suppose I could say that my wealthy are my strongest soldiers. Which means that the wealthy in my world are usually very stuck-up. The cultural differences might be that they have people that hunt for them and etc. Servants, of sorts. As opposed to having to do all of that by themselves, but - since my world has no currency - it would be hard to distinguish the wealthy from the poor except for these minor details.

Bethany,

How does your world's division of labor function without currency? Is a barter system used, or is there some kind of communal order a la socialism or communism, or what?

Usually, one would trade labor for an item or food, but - since you can get pretty much everything you need by yourself - the people would just usually go out and get what they need (I.E. Food, cloths, water, etc.) Sometimes, though, you can trade an item of worth for another item or labor. The only really "valuable" thing in my world, per say, is jewelry, since jewelry makers are rare and require a lot of "pay", so to speak.

Then your world essentially requires each individual to be a 'jack of all trades'. Either he must go out and grow or hunt food, fetch water for himself and build his own well, grow his own cotton or what have you and sew it himself, or he must work for others to gain these things. Since the surplus of these things will be divided among different members of society, he'll have to labor for any number of people, all with different needs. Either way, he has to be a jack of all trades. If you have weapons or indeed any metal objects at all, add mining and metalworking to that list of tasks. The vast number of tasks that everyone will have to be able to do preclude any great specialization or the mastery of any task on anyone's part and will ensure that your society remains quite primitive until a medium of exchange is generally agreed. Is that what happens in your book?

Erm...I suppose, yeah...they aren't that advanced of a civilization, obviously...

Good point, Sam.

I just use the usual one, fat. Rich people can afford lots of food and sit around a lot so they get fat.
Many of the not so rich people also try to gain weight just so they appear richer than they are.

That is an excellent, and very historically accurate, point, Joe.

In Erde, color is a sign of wealth. Because everything fades as it ages, things with color are viewed as newer and, therefore, more valuable. The rich can afford to buy longer-lasting materials and replace faded objects; the poor have to make do with faded, though still usable, objects.

This poses an interesting problem for Carter, whose American goods never fade. Therefore, they are viewed as extremely valuable even if their practical purpose is useless.

This is one of the many fascinating twists that fading brings to Erde. Carter's "wealth" will be both a help and a hindrance.

Indeed, that is the plan. Thank you, Jonathan.

Another I thought about using, but didn't was finger nail length. The longer the nail the richer. Because the rich can just sit around and do no work therefore not using their hands.

Houses are the main representation of reputation and wealth. Also; expensive clothes and spiritual artifacts, along with artwork and historical scrolls are found in the houses of the wealthy.

Historical documents would be rare and very expensive because all the time it takes to create them.

I agree with Sven. Possessing art and cultural objects of value demonstrate wealth...whether the society is primitive or advanced.

Even primitive societies had art. To procure art indicated disposable wealth.

In Morancis, wealthy people are fatter and less fit than poorer people. Also, rich people wear clothing that is less practical than what the lower class people wear.

In Agrotha, a sign of wealth is neat and tidy hair, worn down, each curl falling just perfectly. Working class people tie their hair out of the way. Also, rich people own lots of horses, while poor people have one, or none.

That is an awesome twist, Philli! Knowing some background on Faded, I love hearing this tidbit.



That's a good observation, Joe. I mean, any girl who does manual labor knows that her nails suffer for it.

That is really cool!

That makes me really want to read your book! Really good plot idea!

Merci.

In my world, while this varies from culture to culture, showing off one's wealth is generally frowned upon, but one of the most common luxuries is to employ musicians. (For some reason, even after the arrival of several dozen people from our world sparked an explosion of science and technological advancement, recorded and broadcast music never caught on.) Other major luxuries include other art, somewhat more spacious houses, more frequent travel, and books (that last especially among the dwarves).

The signs of wealth in my world are fairly simple. The "upper class" tend to be incapable. They wear extravagant clothing, have large houses, many servants, and many possessions of different kinds. But they do no work and they hardly ever go through a town on foot. Their servants do everything for them. Although filled with knowledge of many things, if put out in the battle field or abandoned in the wood, they would be completely helpless. They tend to play slow games, for instance (and to cause no offense) like golf and chess. A game like chess is more likely to be found in my world, though.
Pretty much, they're a bunch of lazy chickens ready to be slaughtered.

As for the "lower class", they are the warriors. Fit, some tall with others not so tall, and capable. If a lower class person got into a fight with an upper class person, the lower class person would win even if the higher man set his servants upon the lower one. The lower class is what makes up the armies. It is rare that you find an upperclass man who has learned the ways of the lower class man.

As for the king or queen, they are not so incapable. They know how to fight a good battle, yet they have a sort of strong wisdom. (Most of the time, unless you get a really dumb king....which happpens every now and again.)

I think that about sums it up.
God Bless,
-Donn Q.

(PS. If you see any blue double-underlined words, ignore them and don't click them. I have no idea why it's like that.)

I guess I made them a little too helpless, didn't I? -laugh- But I think I figured something out, which makes them a little less helpless.

Could it be that the upper class are great strategists? Although incapable of fighting and surviving outdoors without extreme help, give them the factors of a problem and they can find a good solution? Seems like they need to play an important role in the society that makes them a wanted part of it, instead of just "being there and getting in the way." Yes?

It could be that the "lower class" tend to be rash in making decisions without an upper class person guiding them. So if I did this, I mistakenly said the lower class man would win if in a fight with the upper class man, but really it would depend on the argument or fight. Correct?

I'm not too sure at the moment. I seem to be still planning this out. What do you think? Flaws?

Thanks,
God Bless,
-Donn Q.

Good idea. I like it. Thanks Inesdar!

God Bless,
-Donn Q.