IN PROGRESS PAGE
If you're considering a reign, it's essential to be aware of the potential financial commitments. Here’s a breakdown of costs you might encounter during your reign.
Clothing Expenses
One of the most significant costs during a reign is attire. You’ll likely need to create or commission several outfits for both yourself and your consort. Typically, each outfit requires about 2-5 yards of fabric per layer, and this can add up quickly.
Reducing Fabric Costs
A great way to save on fabric is by shopping at thrift stores. Goodwill and similar stores often have a range of fabrics if you look in the fabric, curtain, and sheet sections. With a little patience and persistence, you can often find high-quality materials like silk and linen in these stores, significantly cutting down on your expenses.
Additionally, take advantage of shopping deals and coupons from online and retail stores like FabricStore.com or Joann's. Joann's frequently offers discounts and coupons, while FabricStore.com often runs sales on linen and other fabrics. By planning your purchases around these promotions, you can significantly reduce your fabric costs.
If you or your fighter believe there’s a chance of winning the Crown, the best way to keep fabric costs low is to start collecting materials as early as possible. By gathering fabric over time, you can avoid the rush and expense of last-minute shopping while building a stash of suitable materials for your reign.
Reign Coins
Reign coins are a unique and personal expense during a reign. These coins are typically designed specifically for you and your consort, used to show appreciation or recognition for acts of service and great deeds. They’re often given out as small thank-yous or tokens of favor, but can also serve more creative purposes.
For instance, our current King and Queen, Baldric and Hurrem, have used reign coins to pay "bounties" when individuals miss being called up in court. This adds a fun and meaningful dimension to the coins’ use while still keeping them as a special part of the reign.
The cost of reign coins can vary depending on design, material, and quantity, so it's important to budget for this early in your reign planning. Custom designs can make these coins a memorable and valued keepsake for both you and the recipients.
Court Favors
Court favors are typically given out at the beginning of the reign and are also custom-designed to reflect you and your consort. These favors are presented to your court members and often differ depending on the role they hold. For example, specific favors may be created for positions like Guard, Champion, or Heads of House.
Court favors can take many forms, from small tokens to more elaborate items like capes, bags, or sashes. Their main purpose is to make members of the royal household easily identifiable, and they’re often worn at events to signify their position in the court. The cost of court favors will depend on the type and quality of the items you choose to create, so this is another important expense to factor into your reign budget.
Thank You Gifts
At the end of your reign, it’s customary to give thank you gifts to members of your royal court. These gifts are a way of expressing your gratitude to those who have supported you and helped with the countless duties and responsibilities that come with a reign. They can be anything from personalized items to thoughtful keepsakes and are a meaningful way to say, "Thank you for making our lives easier."
The size and scope of these gifts can vary, but it’s a nice tradition to include in your reign planning, as it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of your court members.
Travel
Travel is a significant cost during a reign, as you will likely attend many events and functions across the kingdom and beyond. Travel-related expenses include gas, hotel stays, site fees, and occasionally flights. Additionally, there are less obvious expenses like wear and tear on your vehicle, especially if you’re traveling long distances frequently.
The cost of travel can vary greatly depending on your location. If you are centrally located within the kingdom, your travel expenses may be lower compared to someone who lives on the outskirts and must cover greater distances. Travel for events on the opposite side of the kingdom can become quite expensive, especially when factoring in repeated trips.
Although many of these expenses can be reimbursed up to a certain point, you will still need to cover them upfront before you can request reimbursement. It’s important to remember that reimbursements might not cover the full amount or may take some time to process.
Another consideration is the personal cost of time. Attending events often means taking time off work, so it’s important to consider the potential for using Paid Time Off (PTO) or even losing wages if your employment does not offer PTO. This can add to the overall cost of your reign, especially when factoring in required or highly recommended events throughout the kingdom.
Effective planning, budgeting for these travel-related expenses, and understanding the full extent of the commitment will help you minimize financial strain during your reign.
Carpooling to Reduce Travel Costs
Carpooling is an excellent option to reduce the financial burden of travel during your reign. By sharing a ride with other members of the court or attendees, you can split the costs of gas, tolls, and wear and tear on the vehicle. Even when carpooling, travel costs can still be reimbursed through the kingdom’s travel fund, allowing you to stretch your budget even further.
Carpooling not only helps to share the financial load, but it also fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among those traveling together. It can also make long trips more enjoyable and lessen the strain on your vehicle. If you frequently travel for events, organizing carpools with others headed to the same destination is a great way to save money and reduce travel fatigue.
Largess
Largess is an integral part of being Crown, and while some largess is passed from reign to reign, there are times when additional largess is required. This can be especially true when traveling to large events or when specific gifts are needed for individuals or kingdoms.
Largess can be anything from handmade items to purchased goods, and while making largess yourself can help reduce costs, the expense can still add up, especially if the materials are costly or if you need to buy ready-made items. It’s important to factor in the potential need for extra largess in your reign budget to avoid unexpected expenses.
