Economy¶
Under revision
This chapter is being updated. The game will run on Solana (Metaplex Core NFTs); Ethereum/Polygon references below are out of date. Any staking, yield or APY figures are design placeholders, not offers or promises. The rebalanced economy will replace them.
Overview¶
The ROOT Kingdom runs on two resources: $ROOT5 (the web3 cross-chain digital token) and Aether (the rare resource available only to Mage-tier players). A healthy economy depends on players farming, trading, and using their resources wisely — hoarding too much disrupts guild balance.
$ROOT5 Token¶
$ROOT5 is the official digital currency of the ROOT Kingdom — a web3 cross-chain token that exists both inside the game and on supported blockchain networks. It bridges the in-game economy with real-world value and ownership.
The name $ROOT5 honors the Fifth Root — the deepest, most powerful root of the Tree of Life. Every token carries a fragment of that Aether.
What Makes $ROOT5 Cross-Chain¶
$ROOT5 is not locked to a single blockchain. Players can hold and transact $ROOT5 on:
| Network | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Ethereum Mainnet | High-value trades, Legendary card transactions, large transfers |
| Polygon | Everyday in-game purchases, market listings, Sprite minting fees |
| Other supported chains | Additional networks added via governance vote by the Grand Counsel |
Bridging $ROOT5 between supported chains is available through the in-game wallet interface. No third-party bridge required.
Earning $ROOT5¶
| Activity | $ROOT5 Earned |
|---|---|
| Winning a Gate Battle | 20 $ROOT5 |
| Completing a Side Quest | 10–25 $ROOT5 |
| Completing a Tier Quest | 50–100 $ROOT5 |
| Completing a Final Quest | 150–250 $ROOT5 |
| Completing the Fifth Root Quest | 1,000 $ROOT5 (one-time) |
| Farming (daily greenhouse activity) | 5–15 $ROOT5 |
| Training another player | 8 $ROOT5 |
| Selling an item at the Guild Market | Variable |
| Selling a Card NFT peer-to-peer | Variable |
| Staking $ROOT5 (see below) | Variable APY |
Spending $ROOT5¶
| Item / Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sprite Seed | 50 $ROOT5 |
| Dewleaf (healing) | 10 $ROOT5 |
| Rootbark Poultice | 20 $ROOT5 |
| Tidewater Vial | 35 $ROOT5 |
| Common Accessory | 40–60 $ROOT5 |
| Re-roll Token (birth, one-time) | 100 $ROOT5 |
| Physical Card Print Order (per card) | 75 $ROOT5 + real-world shipping |
| Flag Ransom (guild-wide pool) | 500 $ROOT5 |
| Guild Market listing fee | 5 $ROOT5 |
| Ability Scroll (cross-guild) | 80–200 $ROOT5 (peer pricing) |
| Crystal Condenser | Crafting material converter; combines 3 raw materials into 1 refined crystal |
$ROOT5 Staking¶
Players can stake $ROOT5 to earn yield while contributing to the game's liquidity and governance.
| Staking Tier | Minimum Stake | APY Range | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 100 $ROOT5 | 4–6% | +5% XP gain from all activities |
| Grower | 500 $ROOT5 | 6–10% | +5% XP, priority market listings |
| Elder | 2,000 $ROOT5 | 10–15% | All above + 1 extra Ability Scroll slot |
Staked $ROOT5 is locked for a minimum of 7 in-game days. Early withdrawal incurs a 5% penalty returned to the Guild Fund.
Farming¶
Farming is the daily act of working the land in the Guild Territory to generate $ROOT5 and materials.
How Farming Works¶
- Claim a Farm Plot — plots are available near the Guild Village.
- Tend Daily — visit the plot once per in-game day to harvest.
- Harvest — earns $ROOT5 and may yield seeds or healing materials.
| Plot Tier | Unlock | Daily Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Plot | Squire | 5–10 $ROOT5 |
| Upgraded Plot | Warrior | 8–15 $ROOT5 |
| Aether Plot | Mage | 12–20 $ROOT5 + chance of Rare material |
| Tier | Max Farm Plots |
|---|---|
| Squire | 1 |
| Warrior | 2 |
| Mage | 3 |
A Seedagon/Rootagon Sprite assigned to a farm plot tends it automatically — yielding a flat 8 $ROOT5/day without player action.
Guild Market¶
Each guild has a Guild Market where players list items, cards, and Ability Scrolls for sale. Market listings are visible to all guilds (cross-guild trade is permitted for most items). All transactions settle in $ROOT5.
Market Rules: - Listings expire after 7 days. - A 5 $ROOT5 listing fee applies to each item posted. - The Treasurer (Guild Counsel seat) can adjust fees and set price floors/ceilings on essential items. - Rare+ Accessories and Sprite Cards are listed in a separate Premium Market — default 5% commission goes to the Guild Fund.
Guild Fund¶
Every guild maintains a Guild Fund — a shared pool of $ROOT5 managed by the Treasurer and subject to Guild Counsel approval.
| Source | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Premium Market commission | 5% of every sale |
| Gate Battle win bonus | 5 $ROOT5 per win |
| Patrol Duty completion | 2 $ROOT5 per patrol |
| Staking penalty fee | 5% of early withdrawals |
Guild Fund Uses: - Paying out a Flag Ransom (if voted by Counsel) - Funding Group Training sessions - Purchasing shared Sprite Seeds for the Guild Greenhouse - Guild cosmetic improvements (village decorations, Training Arena upgrades) - Governance proposals submitted to the Grand Counsel
Aether Economy (Mage-Only)¶
Aether is not farmed and cannot be bought, sold, or converted to $ROOT5. It flows through Mage-tier players naturally and is spent by gifting it.
- Mage Aether abilities draw on internal Aether reserves (represented by SP for ability cost).
- Gifting Aether (see 10-counsel-structure.md) costs the Mage WIS−2 for 24 hours.
- Aether gifted to Sprites or players is gone — it does not return.
The Tree of Life replenishes Aether reserves passively over time (24-hour cooldown per gift).
$ROOT5 Governance¶
$ROOT5 holders above a minimum threshold can participate in governance decisions through the Grand Counsel's on-chain voting system:
| Decision | Who Can Vote |
|---|---|
| Adding a new supported chain | All $ROOT5 holders |
| Adjusting staking APY tiers | Elder stakers only |
| Approving new in-game items or market rules | Grand Counsel + Elder stakers |
| Emergency economic freeze | Grand Counsel unanimous vote |
Governance votes are announced 72 hours in advance and run for 48 hours.
Anti-Hoarding Mechanics¶
- Farm Decay: Unharvested farm plots lose 20% of accumulated yield after 3 days of inactivity.
- Sprite Carry Cap: Players beyond their carry limit must store extras in the Greenhouse.
- Market Expiry: Listings expire in 7 days, returning items to the seller's inventory.
- Guild Fund floor: If any guild's fund drops below 50 $ROOT5, Premium Market commissions are paused for that guild until it recovers.
Trading and Gifting¶
Beyond the Guild Market, players can engage in direct peer-to-peer trading and Aether gifting. These interactions are not mediated by the market system and carry their own rules to prevent exploitation.
Player-to-Player Trading¶
Two players may exchange $ROOT5, items, Ability Scrolls, or Sprites directly, without listing on the Guild Market.
Trading Rules: - Both parties must be in the same Guild Village or Training Arena to initiate a trade. - Trades are confirmed by both players and cannot be reversed once accepted. - Ability Scrolls can only be traded to players of the same guild or higher tier (Scroll Library rules still apply — grayed-out Mage Scrolls cannot be traded to Squire/Warrior players). - Sprite trading is permitted but subject to a 5% marketplace commission deducted from the receiving player's $ROOT5 equivalent, to maintain parity with listed market sales. - Each player may complete a maximum of 3 direct trades per in-game day.
Aether Gifting¶
Gifting Aether is a core Mage privilege that strengthens the community. See Gifting Aether (Mage Privilege) for full rules. Key points:
- Gifting costs the Mage WIS − 2 for 24 hours.
- The Tree of Life replenishes Aether reserves passively over time (24-hour cooldown per gift).
- Gifting Aether to Sprites or players is permanent — it does not return.
Cross-Guild Trade Agreements¶
For larger or recurring cross-guild trades, players may draft a Trade Agreement — a simple in-game contract visible to both parties' Guild Counsels.
- Duration: Must specify a start and end date (max 30 days).
- Terms: Item(s) exchanged, $ROOT5 amount, and any conditions.
- Enforcement: If one party fails to deliver, the other may petition their Guild Treasurer to confiscate the defaulting party's listed collateral (if any).
- Cost: 10 $ROOT5 listing fee to register the agreement (goes to the Guild Fund).
Trade Agreements do not bypass the 3-trade-per-day limit for individual item exchanges; they simply formalize the terms of recurring exchanges.
Gift Economy Etiquette¶
While not enforced by rules, the community follows unwritten norms around gifting:
- Never ask for Aether — requesting Aether from a Mage is considered rude and may result in social consequences in the village.
- Reciprocate — if a player receives a gift (item, $ROOT5, or Aether), it is customary to return a favor within 3 in-game days.
- Tend the collective — gifts to the Guild Fund or Chad's roots are always welcomed and publicly acknowledged.## Guild Procurement & Bulk Orders
For larger-scale needs, guilds can place Bulk Orders through the Guild Market's procurement system. This is distinct from both the standard market and peer-to-peer trading — it aggregates demand across multiple guild members to achieve volume discounts.
How Bulk Orders Work¶
- A Guild Officer (Treasurer or Guild Master) posts a Procurement Request listing the item, quantity, target price per unit, and a deadline (min 48 hours, max 14 days).
- Other guild members may contribute $ROOT5 to the order; each contributor's name and amount are recorded on the order manifest.
- At the deadline, the request is broadcast to all Guild Markets across the Kingdom. Sellers fulfill the order at the listed price, filling from oldest bid first.
- Procured items are distributed to contributors proportional to their contribution.
Bulk Order Rules¶
| Field | Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum Order | 10 units of any single item |
| Price Floor | Cannot be less than 80% of the item's base market price |
| Contribution Cap | No single player may fund more than 60% of any Bulk Order (prevents cornering) |
| Listing Fee | 15 $ROOT5 per order (goes to Guild Fund) |
| Cancellation | Orders can be cancelled before the deadline; a 5 $ROOT5 cancellation fee applies |
Eligible Items¶
Bulk Orders are restricted to consumables and materials — they cannot be used for accessories, Ability Scrolls, or Sprites:
- Healing Items (all types)
- Sprite Seeds
- Crafting materials (Rootbark, Storm Crystal, Obsidian Shard, Permafrost Shard, etc.)
- Farm Plot upgrades (materials only)
Guild Tender¶
Once per season, the Grand Counsel may issue a Guild Tender — a Kingdom-wide Bulk Order for a strategic resource (e.g., "1,000 Rootbark for greenhouse reinforcement before Storm Season"). All four guilds may compete to fulfill the tender:
- The guild that fulfills the largest share earns +200 Guild Points.
- The guild's Treasurer receives a commemorative Tender Seal (cosmetic badge).
"One seed feeds one Root. A hundred seeds feed the whole guild." — Ground Guild Treasurer saying
Market Fair¶
Three times per in-game year, the Guild Market hosts a Market Fair — a special event where cross-guild trading is encouraged and market fees are temporarily reduced. Market Fairs are announced one week in advance by the Grand Counsel.
Fair Rules¶
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 in-game days |
| Listing Fee | Reduced from 5 $ROOT5 to 2 $ROOT5 |
| Commission | Reduced from 5% to 2% on Premium Market sales |
| Cross-Guild Trades | No location restriction — trades can occur anywhere in the Kingdom |
| Special Vendors | Grand Counsel invites NPC merchants who offer exclusive items not normally available |
Fair Offerings¶
Each Market Fair features a rotating selection of exclusive items available only during the event:
| Item Type | Example | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal Materials | Frostbloom Petals, Sun-Forged Ore | Limited quantities, restocked daily |
| Exclusive Accessories | Fair-exclusive Rare accessory (guild-themed) | One per Fair, limited stock |
| Discounted Consumables | All healing items at 20% off base price | All Market Fairs |
Fair Economy Impact¶
Market Fares inject significant $ROOT5 liquidity into the economy. Historical data shows:
- $ROOT5 trading volume increases by 40% during Fair days.
- Guild Fund revenues dip slightly due to reduced fees but are offset by higher transaction volume.
- Rare accessory prices temporarily spike due to scarcity of Fair-exclusive items.
The next Market Fair is announced by the Grand Counsel at the start of each season.
"When the markets breathe together, the Kingdom grows." — Grand Counsel opening statement at each Market Fair