Ostoons

Ostoons are a fictional unit of currency used in various fantasy settings and role-playing games. They function as a standard medium of exchange for goods and services within a world, with value defined by the author or game designer. The specifics of ostoon value, coinage, and exchange rates vary between settings.

Coinage and denominations: In most depictions, ostoon coins come in several denominations, commonly including 1, 5, and 10 ostoon pieces. Lower denominations are often minted in copper or brass, while higher ones may be silver or electrum or exist as digital credits in game systems. Coins frequently bear local symbols, crests, or sun-like emblems that identify issuing authorities such as city-states or guilds.

Economy and use: Ostoon values are used to price goods, services, and labor, and price levels can reflect regional wealth or political conditions. Authors and game masters may define exchange rates with other currencies or implement inflation, scarcity, and taxation as plot devices or mechanics.

Variants: Some settings use ostoons exclusively as physical coins, while others use a fully digital currency with balances stored in a ledger. In some campaigns, ostoon economies are integrated with barter networks, markets, and credit systems, creating realistic trade dynamics.

In popular culture, ostoons are a convenient shorthand for currency in worldbuilding guides and RPG resources. They provide a scalable, language-neutral unit of value for writers and players to simulate economic activity.