Currency and Components
Components (sometimes called Reagents, Reggies, or CMP) are the main in-game currency for the World Beyond the Fall. These represent near-miraculous and sometimes magical materials that are needed to create items, perform rituals, and succeed in certain other processes. It is because of this versatility and power that they are highly prized by every society in the world, supplementing or even substituting money.
Each component subscribes to both Tier and Type, though many have multiple elemental types and are therefore more versatile. For example, a component might be a Minor Earth component and be of the lowest tier and of limited use. More valuable is a Rare component that is of the Metal, Lightning, and Fire Type.
Special Note: The World Beyond the Fall uses “Components” as currency and as reagent props. Rare and Pure Components from Seventh Kingdom IGE LARP are not recognized as legitimate currency — attempts to pass them off as currency will be met with harsh sanctions similar to those given to counterfeiters.
Tiers of Components
There are five different Tiers of Components:
MINOR (Green): This is the lowest Tier of Components and the most commonly found.
BASIC (Blue): These are the staple currency of the World Beyond the Fall and the standard through which goods and other currencies are measured. Generally speaking, a Basic Component is worth five Minor Components. Similarly, five Basic Components are worth one Rare component.
RARE (Red): This is the middle Tier of Components, utilized to buy or create more Advanced items or magics. Sometimes found within powerful monsters. Five Rare components are worth one Pure component.
PURE (Violet): This is the second highest Tier of components, used for Superior items or magics. Five Pure components are worth one Superior component.
SUPERIOR (Orange): This is the highest Tier of components. These are also extremely uncommon.
Types of Components
Components are also characterized by their elemental type, of which there are 12 kinds:
ABYSSAL: Monstrous and otherworldly. Usually found in places or creatures accursed by the Abyssals.
ASTRAL: Ethereal, bright, and tied to the stars. Usually found in places of sunlight or creatures made of magical flame.
DEATH: Lethal, poisonous, or shimmering with deadly energies, usually found with undead creatures or around death stones.
EARTH: Dirt, Stone, or crystal. Usually found underground or in earthen creatures.
FIRE: Ember-like and burning. Usually found in fiery creatures or pyroclastic domains.
HERBAL: Flowers, fungi, and other similar material. Usually found among plant and fungus creatures or similarly verdant areas.
LIGHTNING: Electric and stormy. Usually found in mechanical monstrosities and stormy environments.
METAL: Scrap parts or raw ore. Usually found underground or on mechanical creatures.
PRISMATIC: A special type of component that can be used in lieu of any other component Type. It tends to be more valuable in this way and thus is unavailable from most traders and merchants.
SHADOW: Dark, fell, and ever-shifting. Usually found in Abyssal creatures or supernaturally dark domains.
WATER: mercurial and liquid. Usually found in watery areas or in marine para-fauna.
WIND: ethereal, quick, and nigh intangible. Usually found in cloudy domains or in air-based monsters.
Uses for Components
Crafting and Rituals: The primary use for Components are in Crafting and in Rituals. Components are expended to create an item by using Skills like Weapon Maker or the Etheric Arcana skill. Alternatively, Components are expended to bestow special effects on others via the Brew Maker Skill or Spells like Obfuscate Material.
Furthermore, when Components are used in this manner, a Crafter or Ritualist may substitute a Component for up to five Components of a lower Tier. For example, crafting an Empowered Rune-Wand requires 5 basic Components of the Astral, Earth, or Metal Type. A Weaponer in this instance, may expend a Rare Astral Component to fulfill the necessary costs of making such an item.
That said, this Downgrading of a Component may not be used to create multiple items out of one Component.
Currency: Because of its value in Crafting and with Spells, Components are also accepted as currency in the World Beyond the Fall. Most lesser transactions are done with Basic Components.
Eating a Component: Eating a Component is ill advised. It has a bitter taste that cannot be disguised as anything else except a toxic substance. Ten seconds later, if it has not been spit out or regurgitated, it inflicts a death blow for 5 points of damage upon whoever consumed it.
Market Hour
This happens at least once during an Event. During a Market Hour:
A bell is rung or it is otherwise announced to all. This can be at the Cantina or elsewhere.
Component Barter: Several Trader/Merchant NPCs arrive to facilitate Component barter/substitution. Their supplies will be limited, although certain Town Expansions may improve this.
Improved Crafting/Rituals: Crafting and Rituals are Augmented for either bonus Output or bonus Quality.
Logistical Assistance: 1 or 2 Game Staff is present to facilitate signing off on these activities and receiving expended Components.
Self-Training: Characters may expend Components to engage in Self-Training, with Game Staff signing off on Skill gain.
Ways to gain components
There are many ways to gain components but the five methods below are the most common ways.
Game Start: At the beginning of every event, a Player Character is given 5 Minor components. Their type is chosen at random by Game Staff.
Scavenging from Foes: The monsters and outlaws of the World Beyond the Fall may be scavenged for Components or other wealth after they are killed. For the former, scavenging represents going through organs to find useful materials from their anatomies. For the latter, scavenging represents going through pockets and bags to find wealth and/or items.
Given from Players: As with most in-game items that they possess, a player may give a Component to another player. Although hostile actions against other players are discouraged, stealing Components from the unattended bags of other Players is another way to get Components.
Completing a Mission: The awards for completing a mission (a.k.a. a “Delve”) are usually more valuable than other activities, depending on the employer and on the scope of the mission. Fortunately, the dangerous and monster-infested areas nearby allow for profitable employment for those who are willing to brave hazard and horror for riches.
Performing an NPC shift: One of the more profitable ways to gain Components, performing an NPC shift awards 1 basic component per hour spent on the Shift, with possibilities for additional rewards for exceptional work and signing up ahead of time. Certain times and conditions may increase the amount of Components earned. Besides helping the game and being a fun distraction, NPC shifts also award XP and may help the local infrastructure, benefitting the town as a whole.
Clean up: Although it is another out-of-game activity, assisting the Game Staff in cleaning up the camp after the Event is highly appreciated. This can award 1 Basic Component for help and up to three Basic Components for those folk that keep helping until Game Staff leaves camp.