A Taxonomy of FRP Goods & Services

Illustrative non-slop AI photo of Goods & Services

Things

Thing Type 1 — Unitary

A single item that can be used over and over again.

Examples:

• Bedroll
• A 10 foot pole

Note that all “single items” can be sold as multiples, e.g. you can buy 5 bedrolls. But it is not sold as a bundle of bedrolls (except if there’s a Fantasy Costco in your world)

Thing Type 2 — Consumable

A single item that can be used once and then it is gone forever.

• Candle
• A mug of beer

Thing Type 3 — Rechargable

A single item that can be used once and it is gone. However, it can be be e.g. picked up and added back

• Arrow
• Crossbow Bolt
• Wand (assuming takes new charges!)

Thing Type 4 — Depletable

A single item that can be used once and transforms into another type of item.

• Flask of Oil (transforms into a Flask)

Thing Type 5 — Asset

A single item that you can buy but you don’t carry it, and thus doesn’t add to your weight limits

• Barrel
• Rowboat

Thing Type 6 — Extensible

An item that can be extended

• A 10 foot chain — you can e.g. also buy a 100 foot chain for 10x the price
• A 1 sq. yd of Canvas — you can buy 25 yards of Canvas

Note that Firewood is not Type 5 — it is type 2, bought perhaps as bundle or as a multiple

Transactions

Transaction Type 1 — Service

A single service provided by another person:

• Creating a scroll
• Casting a Cure spell
• Giving a ferry ride across the river

Transaction Type 2 — Charter

A “continuous” service provided by another person

• A taxi ride (per mile)
• A boat trip (per day)
• A hotel stay (per night)

Transaction Type 3 — Membership

Something you join and pay dues for on a regular basis

• Guild membership
• Citizenship (e.g. taxes)
• Church membership

Transaction Type 4 — Intangible

Something you buy on a one time basis, but doesn’t actually exist as a physical object

• Fishing License
• Entry Fee to a Village
• Docking Rights

Variants

Variant 1 — Bundled

A group of items sold together as a bundle:

• 3 Candles (Thing Type 4)
• 10 Arrows (Thing Type 3)

Variant 2 — Fuelled

An item that requires another item to work

• Crossbow (requires a Bolt)
• Lantern (requires a Flask of Oil to make light)

Tables with Examples

Things

Transactions