Money & Equipment

To understand commerce and equipment in Dark Sun, one must understand that Athas is a metal poor world. In game terms, all metal items - swords, armor, coins are worth considerably more. Virtually all Athasian city states issue coins minted in tribute to their sorcerer-kings. Also, some in dependent dwarven communities and some wealthy merchant families mint their own coins when the precious metals are available to them. Though the currencies vary (a gold coin minted in Tyr might be a bit heavier than the square gold coins that bear the Ryharian family crest), they all fall under the standard exchange rates.   All nonmetal items cost one percent of the price listed.   The universal coin in Athas is called ceramic piece which is equivallent to a copper piece in other campaign settings. 50 ceramic pieces weight one pound. Only merchants and dune traders use silver or gold pieces.