Precious metal values in Middle Ages...

[sjard]

Originally Posted by Christian

For those poor souls unable to read german, here a shortened list:

453 gramm are one american lbs

So a horse was almost 2 lbs of silver (or in later time 3-4 lbs of coins, due to less silver in the coins), or 1 1/3 ounces of gold.

The only problem I have with this is that even in the US today we don't use standard measures for precious metals, we use the Troy measurements.

So while 453 grams = 1 US standard pound (16 ounces), 1 troy pound (12 troy ounces) weighs in at only about 369-370 grams.

So, at least here in the US, when you hear about 1 oz. of silver or gold being worth x amount, they're talking about (roughly) 31 (30.8) gram troy ounces as opposed to the roughly 28 (28.3) gram US standard ounces.

For game purposes that may not mean much, but, to use your example of the simple laborer, at the end of a month using the US standard weight system Mr. Peon has been cheated out of roughly three days wages.

[Christian]

Well, I did calculate the ounce with 30 gramm, soo ... ok I did cheat as well ^^.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by sjard

So while 453 grams = 1 US standard pound (16 ounces), 1 troy pound (12 troy ounces) weighs in at only about 369-370 grams.

To be precise, the Avoirdupoids pound is 454 grammes (by definition), and the Troy pound is 373 grammes.

[sjard]

Originally Posted by Christian

Well, I did calculate the ounce with 30 gramm, soo ... ok I did cheat as well ^^.

Fair enough. (Not sure how many letters/words long this needs to be to get through the minimum limit filter.)

[sjard]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

To be precise, the Avoirdupoids pound is 454 grammes (by definition), and the Troy pound is 373 grammes.

That's what I get for trying to do the math myself.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

To be precise, the Avoirdupoids pound is 454 grammes (by definition), and the Troy pound is 373 grammes.

Well no. To be *precise* an international avoirdupois pound is .45359237 kilograms, since the US and Commonwealth compromise definition in 1958. Previously they had differed by a fraction of a part per million. I confess I had to look that up, the number I had to memorize mumblety years ago is 453.6 grams, which is pretty close.

A troy pound is 5760 grains by definition, and since this agreement also redefined the grain it redefined the troy weights too, the troy pound is .373241721 kilograms.

[Anaraxes]

And boy are the peasants going to be mad when they notice that you clipped the ninth decimal place...

[Christian]

^^, actually the most german GURPS players I know are a bit more generous. We usually count like this

1 mile = 1.5 km / 1500m
1 yrd = 1 m
1 foot = 0.3 m OR 1/3 m
1 inch = 2.5 cm

1 qrt gallon = 1 l
1 gallon = 4 l

1 lbs = 0.5 kg
1 ounce = 30 g

and so on. As you can probably calculate this diverges from real values by 10% and more sometimes. So "german" GURPS chars usually don't run 5 yrds per second, but 5 m, which is a whooping 5.47 yrds. But usually the distances are also simply converted from yard to meter 1:1.

I'd say a derivation of 10 or even 20% isn't much of a hassle as long as the conversion is consistent. Problems start once you get over that 10-20% limit.

[Mr Frost]

Originally Posted by Christian

^^, actually the most german GURPS players I know are a bit more generous. We usually count like this

1 mile = 1.5 km / 1500m
1 yrd = 1 m
1 foot = 0.3 m OR 1/3 m
1 inch = 2.5 cm

1 qrt gallon = 1 l
1 gallon = 4 l

1 lbs = 0.5 kg
1 ounce = 30 g

and so on. As you can probably calculate this diverges from real values by 10% and more sometimes. So "german" GURPS chars usually don't run 5 yrds per second, but 5 m, which is a whooping 5.47 yrds. But usually the distances are also simply converted from yard to meter 1:1.

I'd say a derivation of 10 or even 20% isn't much of a hassle as long as the conversion is consistent. Problems start once you get over that 10-20% limit.

Download Convert.exe if you want an easy to use and comprehensive unit measure coversion tool .
It is freeware and very simple not to mention well made .

[Gudiomen]

Originally Posted by Christian

^^, actually the most german GURPS players I know are a bit more generous. We usually count like this

1 mile = 1.5 km / 1500m
1 yrd = 1 m
1 foot = 0.3 m OR 1/3 m
1 inch = 2.5 cm

1 qrt gallon = 1 l
1 gallon = 4 l

1 lbs = 0.5 kg
1 ounce = 30 g

You can add brazilian players to that account. The translated version of GURPS Basic 3e has the same assumptions, so it's not just players. Particularly
1 yrd=1m=1hex
1 foot = 1/3m = 1/3 hex
1 qrt gallon = 1l
1 gallon = 4l
1 lb = .5kg

Because the above are used in formulas, yards in distances in the range table, magic, etc... the same with lbs (wich is used to calculate encumbrance). Miles and ounces though can be converted mathematically, as they have almost no common usage in game mechanics.