A healthy economy keeps players engaged. Poor economy management kills servers. Master economy design to build sustainable servers.
Economy Fundamentals
A good economy balances money supply, income sources, and sinks.
#Key Principles: - Money supply should remain stable - Income should align with effort - Money sinks prevent inflation - Progression should feel earned - Rich players and poor players both need content
An economy tilted toward too much money causes inflation. Too little money frustrates players.
Income Sources
Players need multiple ways to earn money.
#Legitimate Work: - Jobs with varying salaries - Business ownership - Service provision - Skill-based activities - Bonuses for exceptional play
#Illegal Work: - Drug running - Robbery - Theft - Hacking - Smuggling
Both career paths should be viable. Balance risk vs reward appropriately.
Money Sinks
Money disappears through various mechanisms to prevent inflation.
#Essential Sinks: - Housing costs (rent/mortgage) - Vehicle insurance - Business upkeep - Fine payments - Hospital bills - Customization costs - Raid/robbery losses
Create multiple money sinks. Single sinks become exploitable.
Progression System
Money shouldn't be the only reward. Create progression goals.
#Progression Elements: - Job ranks and increases - Business expansion - Property acquisition - Vehicle collection - Skill development - Reputation increases
Players should see progress even when money plateaus.
Banking System
Professional banking improves immersion and creates security.
#Features: - Account balances - Transaction history - Transfer capability - ATM networks - Loan system - Interest rates
Banks should feel like real institutions. Maybe charge fees or offer interest on savings.
Business System
Businesses provide income and ownership goals.
#Business Options: - Restaurants and bars - Shops and stores - Garages and dealerships - Security companies - Clubs and entertainment - Transportation services
Businesses should require management. Profits come from good decisions, not just time.
Property Values
Property should appreciate based on improvements and location.
#Factors: - Location desirability - Property improvements - Condition maintenance - Market demand - Rental income potential
Players should feel real estate is an investment, not just a money sink.
Inflation Prevention
Inflation kills servers slowly but surely. Prevent it early.
#Anti-Inflation Measures: - Progressive money sinks - Difficulty tier systems - Account resets (rarely) - Money cap options - Server wipes (controversial)
Monitor total server wealth. If it grows endlessly, adjust sinks.
Illegal Economy Balance
Criminal activity provides roleplay variety but needs balancing.
#Considerations: - Risk vs reward ratio - Detection likelihood - Punishment severity - Competition among criminals - Police ability to stop it
Criminal activity shouldn't be obviously optimal. Legitimate work should be competitive.
#Criminal Consequences: - Wanted level escalation - Police pursuit - Arrest and jail time - Property seizure - Reputation damage
Consequences should feel proportional to the crime.
Event Economy
Special events create economy spikes and dynamic gameplay.
#Event Types: - Double money weekends - Flash sales - Business bonuses - Robbery protection weeks - Holiday specials
Events break monotony and give meaning to certain times.
Wealth Gap Management
Extreme wealth gaps create hierarchy but can cause frustration.
#Balance Approaches: - Tax systems for wealth redistribution - Difficulty increases with wealth - Endgame content for wealthy players - Progression paths for poor players - Community goals benefiting all
Some gap is healthy. Extreme gaps are problematic.
NPC Labor and Supply
NPCs provide baseline economy activity.
#NPC Systems: - Store restocking - Service availability - Price fluctuation - Supply and demand - Market dynamics
NPCs should create the feeling of a living economy beyond just players.
Economy Monitoring
Track economy health through metrics.
#Key Metrics: - Average player wealth - Wealthiest player total - Money circulation rate - Total server wealth - Job salary costs - Business profitability
Monitor these regularly. Adjust when imbalances appear.
Rebalancing Strategy
All economies need occasional rebalancing.
#Rebalancing Options: - Increase money sinks - Decrease income - Create new spending - Adjust business costs - Modify job structure
Communicate changes to players. Surprise economy changes create frustration.
Conclusion
Economy building is an art. It requires constant attention and willingness to adjust. A healthy economy makes your server feel alive and engaging.