From: tbarnes@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes)
Subject: Re: Cost of Slaves
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 02:44:10 GMT

In article <ldomerINN4g@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> mcgrew@ichthous.Eng.Sun.COM (Darin McGrew) writes:
>Is there a good rule of thumb for determining a reasonable price
>for a slave?  (I'm using GURPS, but that shouldn't matter much.)
>I'm looking for something relative to the income and/or living
>expenses of a free laboror who performs the same job.  Variations
>based on the age, health, attractiveness, etc. of the slave might
>be important too.
>

Hoo boy! Youre risking a flame with this one!

Some years back in Adventure Gaming magazine (yet another gaming mag
that croaked, about 8-10 years ago) there was a price list of various
Roman goods, listed in silver pieces (denarii). Included were the prices
of a few different slaves.
	Here are the things that I think would influence price.

	a) attractiveness (multiply cost exponentially for each level of
attractive appearance that a slave has).
	b) skills (multiply the number of points the character has in
valuable, socially acceptable skills by  $X. Obviously rare or valuable
skills will be worth more. Known anti-social skills will decrease the
price. High levels in entertainment skills will also increase the
price.)
	c) Age (too young or too old decreases price)
	d) language (most Roman slaves were P.O.W.s or foriegners and
didn't speak the language. The ability to speak Latin was a selling
point).
	e) strength and health
	f) obedience/attitude (a bad attitude would lower price, a
tractable attitude might raise the price a little. Of course blatant
hostility combined with rippling muscles and a good left hook are
desirable characteristics in a gladiator. In this case a bad attitude
would raise the price of the slave.)
	g) other attributes - being blind/crippled, otherwise
handicapped would drastically lower the price of a slave. Mental
advantages or disadvantages would be harder to see so they wouldn't
affect the price as much. (Multiply the number of points the character
has put into easily demonstrable advantages by $X, Divide the cost of
the slave by the number of point gained from Disadvantages by $X)
	i) other marketable qualities - if the slave has a "bundle" of
skills and advantages that make him ideal for a job the price goes up.
If the slave is unique in some way (identical twins, blonde in a culture
that's mostly dark haired) the price might go up too). If the slave
chooses to use it psionics could be used to lower or raise his selling
price. Charisma could also be used but only to raise the selling price.

	In antiquity most slaves fell into three broad classes,
entertainers, laborers and artisans.
	Entertainers were either musicians, singers, dancers or
concubines. Attractive appearance, charisma and entertainment/social
skills would be useful. Some physical disads. might be overlooked if the
character was outstanding in some other way. Entertainers, especially
the sex toy type, could go for very high sums.
	Gladiators were a sort of entertainer. High ST is the basic
requirement (weapon training was provided) Good weapon skills and good
DX helped ensure a long career. Some very successful gladiators earned
their freedom or were rewarded with freedom by the emperor.
	Laborers worked in factories and fields. They composed the bulk
of the slave population and they had a very hard life. Costs of buying
slaves must have been low, because slave operated factories and farms
put many free artisans and farmers out of work after the Punic Wars and
hastened the downfall of the Republic. Basic requirements to be a
laborer are strength and lack of any obvious major defect. Immunity to
disease and a high HT are prerequisites for long-term survival.
	Some laborers worked as house servants. They were the porter,
cooks and chambermaids for wealthy Romans. Here the life was a bit
easier, but still hard. Requirements to be a house servant are: Ability
to speak the dominant language fluently, lack of any obvious physical or
mental defects and a good reaction roll from the owner. Overt displays
of hostility mean the slave goes back to the salt mines. Useful skills
help (cook, child rearing, hair dressing/barber, housekeeping) as does
charisma.
	Artisans were skilled laborers. They produced most of the goods
that the Roman empire produced. Since they were skilled labor or
"talent" they were treated reasonably well. Basic requirements to be and
artisan are the same as those for a house servant, but a good level with
a craft skill is required. Some physical defects will be overlooked if
the defect doesn't interfere with the slave's job.
	Tutors were very often slaves. Mostly of Greek origin, these men
taught the sons of wealthy families. They were very educated and often
were treated as part of the family. Often they were rewarded for service
by having their freedom granted to them. Requirements to be a tutor are
skill with Greek, teaching, math, bard (rhetoric), history and any other
academic subject. Literacy is required. Physical and mental
disadvantages will be overlooked as long as they don't interfere with
the tutors job, or the good health and morals of the students. Fluency
with the latin language is also required.
	Scribes acted as secretaries to merchants and other wealthy men.
Requirements to be a scribe are Literacy, fluency with Latin and
possibly accounting. Other requirements are as for a house servant.
Physical or Mental disadvantages that don't interfere with the slaves
job, or the owner's well-being can be overlooked. 
	Scribes also were sometimes rewarded with freedom.

In early America (c. 1620-40) the Jamestown colony found it cheaper to
use indentured servants (essentially people who agreed to be "slaves"
for 7 years in order to get passage to Virgina and land at the end of
that time), because the average life expectancy of a field hand was
about 1-2 years. Indentured servants were more expensive in the long
run, but cheaper in the short run, than African slaves.
	As conditions got better, African slaves (and Indian slaves)
became more cost effective). By the time of the U.S. civil war (after
importation of slaves had been outlawed for about 20 years) a healthy
male field-hand was selling for $100 U.S. (1860 $). This is a tremendous
price. Life expectancy of slaves was about 60 years.

	In Norse and Germanic societies if a man was killed his killer
had to pay "weregeld" to his family/owner. The weregeld for a thrall
(slave) was less than that of a freeman, but would be an approximation
of the slave's market value.

	Whew! I didn't intend to write so much! I hope that the info
helps. I'd be interested to see the system you come up with.

Good Luck,

Tom