By - Godfrey
On - 09 OCT 2016
"OUTSIDE OF COMBAT AND TACTICAL SKILL,
MONEY WINS A WAR."
Outside of combat and tactical skill, money wins a war. Track the flow of money, and you'll find deep reserves in warring groups that pool resources for wartime efforts. Since money is primarily a tool for training warriors and building armories, there is little to no room for a consumer economy in which luxury commodities are produced and traded, and they often go unknown until they cease to exist. It's simple supply and demand. No one is going to spend money on a vacation home at the Port or a new pair of shoes if they can use that same coin to buy a UV grenade, or another power that'll make them a better fighter. That's not a gripe. It's reality, and it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Based on the structure of Ravenblack City's economy, it can be confidently said that Ravenblack City has a permanent war economy. When there's a conflict, the flow of money is high. When there is peace, the tides settle and money stacks up for the next time weapons are flying. In fact, one could predict a major conflict on the horizon if they tracked the flow of money. Money, like most other things in Ravenblack City, has been meticulously organized for the use and aid of wartime efforts.
As a war economy, Ravenblack City could benefit from a bit of Military Keynesianism. Really, it's all fun and games until one side stops getting up out of the dirt, or moving at all. Then, things begin to get a bit dull. People are left to replenish their armories and go back to stacking coin for the next opportunity to use it.
Why not use it on educational efforts? Public works? Entertainment (even battle-oriented ones such as the 2016 Grand Duel Tournament)? When money is in circulation, things are happening. Usually, those things involve raising banners and spilling blood for a cause or revenge, but creating ways to get money into circulation outside of tension conflicts (like war) can make use of excess coin laying around during times of peace, and can potentially turn a profit. That same mobilizing power that makes war possible is the same mobilizing power that can build Ravenblack City into more than just a battleground.
That's not to say "put down your guns and let's all take hands". Ravenblack is a city of monsters that bathe in the blood and tears of enemies, lovers, mortals, and immortals alike. No one wants the bloodshed to stop. Only just want to point out the opportunity to charge tickets to see it live, and when opportunity knocks...
Don't be afraid to part with a bit of coin. Money might not be able to buy you happiness, but it can fund things to be happy about. Besides, if you play your cards right, you can get that money back with interest.