Currency and Economy

Master the EverQuest economy. Learn how to acquire, manage, and use platinum and other currency for gear, spells, and travel expenses.

The EverQuest economy is a complex and dynamic system, driven by player interaction, supply and demand, and the constant influx of new items and currency. Understanding how to acquire, manage, and leverage your wealth is crucial for character progression, whether you're aiming for the best gear, rare spell scrolls, or simply enough platinum to cover your travel expenses and reagents.

The Currencies of Norrath

EverQuest utilizes a tiered metallic currency system, with smaller denominations converting into larger ones. While platinum is the most commonly discussed and sought-after currency, understanding the full hierarchy is important for managing your finances efficiently.

• Copper Pieces (CP): The lowest denomination. 10 CP = 1 Silver.
• Silver Pieces (SP): A common mid-tier currency. 10 SP = 1 Gold.
• Gold Pieces (GP): Often used for smaller vendor purchases or trade. 10 GP = 1 Platinum.
• Platinum Pieces (PP): The primary high-value currency in EverQuest. Most significant transactions, such as high-end gear, rare spells, and player-to-player trades, are conducted in platinum.

Conversion Rates:

From	To	Conversion
10 Copper	1 Silver	10 CP = 1 SP
10 Silver	1 Gold	10 SP = 1 GP
10 Gold	1 Platinum	10 GP = 1 PP
100 Copper	1 Gold	100 CP = 1 GP
1000 Copper	1 Platinum	1000 CP = 1 PP

Acquiring Wealth: Early Game Strategies (Levels 1-30)

In the early stages of your EverQuest journey, accumulating wealth can feel slow. Focus on consistent income generation through reliable methods.

1. Grinding and Vendor Trash

The most fundamental way to earn money is by defeating creatures and selling their drops to vendors. Prioritize zones with high mob density and easily accessible vendors.

• Step 1: Choose a suitable grinding spot.
  • Levels 1-10: Crushbone (Orcs drop Orc Scalp, Orc Pawn Picks), Lesser Faydark (Pixies drop Pixie Dust), Commonlands (Gnolls drop Gnoll Fangs).
  • Levels 10-20: Befallen (Skeletons drop Bone Chips, various armor pieces), Blackburrow (Gnolls drop Gnoll Hides, Gnoll Fangs), Upper Guk (Frogloks drop Froglok Legs, various weapons).
  • Levels 20-30: Highpass Hold (Orcs drop Orc Scalps, various weapons), Lake of Ill Omen (Sarnak drops Sarnak Berserker Clubs, Sarnak Battle Shields), Mistmoore Castle (various undead drop Bone Chips, various weapons/armor).
• Step 2: Loot everything. Even seemingly worthless items like "Ruined Pelt" or "Rusty Dagger" add up over time. Prioritize items with a high weight-to-value ratio to maximize your inventory space efficiency.
• Step 3: Sell to vendors. Locate the nearest general vendor or a specialized vendor (e.g., weapon vendor for weapons, armor vendor for armor) as they sometimes offer slightly better prices for relevant items.
• Strategy Tip: Invest in a Large Bag or Backpack early to increase your carrying capacity and reduce trips to vendors.

2. Skill-Based Crafting (Early Stages)

Certain crafting skills can be profitable even at low levels, especially if you gather your own components.

• Baking:
  • Combine: Bat Wing + Flask of Water (vendor bought) = Bat Wing Pie.
  • Location: Bat Wings drop from bats in many starting zones (e.g., Commonlands, East Karana).
  • Profit: Low, but consistent. Good for raising baking skill cheaply.
• Tailoring (Ruined Animal Pelts):
  • Combine: Ruined Animal Pelt (x2) + Pattern (vendor bought) = Ruined Leather Armor.
  • Location: Ruined Animal Pelts drop from almost any animal mob (e.g., wolves, bears, lions) in starting zones.
  • Profit: Minimal, but can turn otherwise worthless drops into sellable items.

3. Questing for Coin and Items

While not all quests offer significant monetary rewards, some provide valuable items that can be sold to other players or vendors.

• The Bone Chips Quest (Freeport/Neriak):
  • NPC: Guard Shilster (Freeport, West Commonlands gate) or Guard Valon (Neriak, Foreign Quarter).
  • Reward: 1 Gold Piece per 4 Bone Chips.
  • Strategy: Bone Chips drop from almost all undead skeletons. This is an excellent early-game money maker, especially if you're grinding in zones like Befallen or Estate of Unrest.
• The Gnoll Fangs Quest (Qeynos):
  • NPC: Captain Tillin (Qeynos Hills).
  • Reward: Small amount of coin and experience.
  • Strategy: Gnoll Fangs drop from gnolls in Qeynos Hills and Blackburrow.

Mid-Game Wealth Accumulation (Levels 30-50)

As you gain levels, your options for earning money expand significantly. Focus on higher-value drops and more efficient farming methods.

1. Dungeon Crawling and Rare Drops

Dungeons offer better experience and higher-value loot, including rare items that can be sold to other players.

• Upper Guk (Froglok Ghoul Lord):
  • Location: Upper Guk, near the "Dead Side" entrance.
  • Drops: Ghoulbane (2-handed sword, highly sought after by Paladins), various fine steel weapons, Froglok Skin.
  • Strategy: Camp the Ghoul Lord spawn point. Be prepared for a tough fight, bring a group if possible. Ghoulbane can sell for 500-1500 PP depending on server economy.
• Mistmoore Castle (various named):
  • Location: Castle Mistmoore, Faydwer.
  • Drops: Mistmoore Battle Drums (rare, valuable instrument), various fine steel weapons, spell scrolls.
  • Strategy: Many named mobs throughout the castle drop decent loot. The drums are the primary target for profit.
• Lake of Ill Omen (Sarnak Berserkers/Knights):
  • Location: Sarnak Fort in Lake of Ill Omen.
  • Drops: Sarnak Battle Shield (decent shield, often sold to players), Sarnak Berserker Club, various fine steel.
  • Strategy: High density of Sarnak mobs, good for consistent vendor trash and occasional player-sellable items.

2. Advanced Crafting and Gathering

As your crafting skills increase, more profitable recipes become available. Consider combining crafting with gathering for maximum profit.

• Jewelcrafting:
  • Components: Various metals (silver, gold, platinum) + various gems (e.g., Peridot, Star Rose Quartz, Sapphire).
  • Profit: High-end jewelry (e.g., Platinum Fire Wedding Rings, Platinum Velium Rings) can sell for hundreds or thousands of PP. Even lower-tier jewelry can be profitable for enchanters/mages.
  • Strategy: Purchase raw materials from vendors or other players. For gems, consider farming specific zones (e.g., Peridots from various humanoid mobs, Star Rose Quartz from Crushbone).
• Alchemy (Shaman only):
  • Components: Various roots, herbs, and other foraged/dropped components.
  • Profit: Potions like Spirit of Wolf, Enduring Breath, and various stat buffs are always in demand.
  • Strategy: Forage in zones like Toxxulia Forest, Lesser Faydark, or Steamfont Mountains for common components.
• Fletching:
  • Components: Various woods, feathers, arrowheads.
  • Profit: High-quality arrows and bows can be sold to rangers and other archers.
  • Strategy: Wood can be purchased from vendors or foraged. Feathers drop from avian mobs.

3. Farming Specific Spell Scrolls

Certain spell scrolls are highly sought after by casters and can fetch a good price in You market.

• Greater Faydark (Crushbone Orcs):
  • Drops: Various low-level caster spells (e.g., Light Healing, Minor Shielding).
  • Strategy: While low-level, these spells are always needed by new characters. Good for consistent, albeit small, income.
• Estate of Unrest (various undead):
  • Drops: Many mid-level caster spells.
  • Strategy: High density of undead, good for both vendor trash and spell drops.
• Mistmoore Castle (various named/undead):
  • Drops: Higher-level caster spells, including some rare ones.
  • Strategy: Combine spell farming with general dungeon crawling for maximum efficiency.

Late Game and End-Game Economy (Levels 50+)

At higher levels, the economy shifts towards raid drops, rare quest components, and highly specialized crafting.

1. Raid Drops and Epic Quest Components

Participating in raids is the most lucrative way to earn platinum in the late game. Even if you don't win the main item, many raid mobs drop valuable components or tradeable items.

• Velious Armor Drops: Pieces of Velious-era armor (e.g., Thurgadin, Skyshrine, Kael Drakkel armor) are often sold to players who haven't completed the quest lines or need specific pieces.
• Epic Quest Components: Many components for the 1.0 Epic Weapons are tradable and can sell for significant platinum (e.g., Screaming Orb for Enchanter Epic, Charred Scale for Warrior Epic).
• Rare Spells: High-level spells (e.g., from Plane of Hate, Plane of Fear, Velious zones) are always in demand.
• Strategy: Join a raiding guild or participate in pick-up raids. Understand the loot rules (DKP, /random, need/greed) and prioritize items that are tradable and have high market value.

2. High-End Crafting and Tradeskills

Mastering a tradeskill can be incredibly profitable at max level, especially if you can produce items that are difficult to obtain or have high utility.

• Fletching (Cultural Arrows):
  • Components: Specific cultural woods, feathers, and arrowheads.
  • Profit: High-damage, lightweight arrows are always in demand by rangers and other archers.
• Jewelcrafting (Focus Items, Resist Jewelry):
  • Components: Rare gems, platinum bars, specific quest components.
  • Profit: Focus items (e.g., from Planes of Power) and high-resist jewelry are essential for end-game content.
• Pottery (Baking Dishes, Vials):
  • Components: Clay, water, firing sheets.
  • Profit: While not as flashy, items like Small Clay Jar (for alchemy) or Pie Tin (for baking) are always needed by other crafters.

3. Farming Platinum in Specific Zones

Certain zones are known for consistent platinum drops or high-value vendor trash, even at max level.

• Plane of Hate / Plane of Fear:
  • Drops: Many mobs drop platinum directly, and various fine steel/plate armor pieces sell for good vendor prices. Rare spell scrolls are also common.
  • Strategy: Bring a group. Clear large areas for maximum efficiency.
• Velketor's Labyrinth (Velketor's Golems):
  • Drops: Velium Ore (used in Velium armor crafting), Velium weapons, decent coin drops.
  • Strategy: Golems are magic-resistant, so melee classes excel here. Good for solo or small group farming.
• Crypt of Dalnir (Kly Imps):
  • Drops: Kly Imps drop decent coin and sometimes small gems.
  • Strategy: High density, relatively easy to kill for higher-level characters.

Managing Your Wealth: Tips and Best Practices

1. Use Containers Wisely

Inventory management is key to maximizing your farming efficiency. Invest in bags with high capacity and low weight.

• Small Bag: 4 slots, 0.5 weight. (Vendor)
• Backpack: 6 slots, 1.0 weight. (Vendor)
• Large Bag: 8 slots, 1.5 weight. (Vendor)
• Handmade Backpack: 8 slots, 0.5 weight. (Tailored, better than vendor Large Bag)
• Lightweight Backpack: 10 slots, 0.0 weight. (Rare drop, highly sought after)
• Traveler's Backpack: 10 slots, 0.0 weight. (Quest reward, often from Plane of Knowledge)
• Strategy: Fill your inventory with the largest, lightest bags you can afford. Organize items by type (e.g., one bag for vendor trash, one for player-sellable items).

2. Banking and Storage

Don't carry all your platinum on you, especially if you're going into dangerous zones. Utilize the bank system.

• Bankers: Found in major cities (e.g., Freeport, Qeynos, Neriak, Kaladim).
• Strategy: Deposit excess platinum regularly. Use your bank slots to store valuable items you're not currently using or items you're saving for crafting/trading. Consider creating "mule" characters on the same account to expand your storage capacity, especially for crafting components.

3. Player-to-Player Trading

You market is where the real money is made. Understand how to effectively buy and sell items.

• "WTB" (Want to Buy) / "WTS" (Want to Sell): Use these acronyms in general chat or specific trade channels (e.g., /trade, /auction) to advertise your intentions.
• Pricing: Research item values. Check popular forums, online price guides, or observe prices in common trade hubs (e.g., East Commonlands tunnel, Plane of Knowledge). Prices fluctuate based on server population, expansion cycle, and demand.
• Trade Hubs:
  • East Commonlands (EC) Tunnel: The classic EverQuest trade hub. Players gather here to buy, sell, and chat.
  • Plane of Knowledge (PoK): A more modern, convenient trade hub, especially for higher-level items and services.
  • Bazaar: A dedicated zone for player vending (introduced in later expansions). You can set up "traders" to sell items while offline.
• Bartering: Don't be afraid to negotiate prices or offer trades for items you need.
• Common Pitfall: Be wary of scams. Always double-check trade windows before clicking "Trade." Never trust someone who asks you to drop an item.

4. Understanding Supply and Demand

The EverQuest economy is dynamic. Items that are valuable one month might be worthless the next, and vice-versa.

• New Expansions: New expansions introduce new items, quests, and crafting recipes, which can drastically alter the value of existing goods.
• Class Popularity: The popularity of certain classes can drive up the demand for their specific gear, spells, or crafting components.
• Seasonal Events: Holiday events sometimes introduce unique items that can be sold for profit.
• Strategy: Stay informed by reading patch notes, forums, and observing You market. Anticipate demand for new items or components.

Common Pitfalls and Things to Avoid

• Overpaying for Vendor Items: Always check prices before buying from vendors. Some items are ridiculously overpriced.
• Selling Valuable Drops to Vendors: Many rare drops, especially those for epics or high-end crafting, are worth far more to players than to a vendor. Always research an item's value before selling it to an NPC.
• Carrying Too Much Platinum in Dangerous Zones: If you die, you lose a percentage of your coin on your corpse. Bank often!
• Ignoring Tradeskills: Even if you don't aim to be a master crafter, raising a few tradeskills can provide useful utility or a small side income.
• Falling for Scams: EverQuest has a long history of player scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never give your password, drop items for someone, or trust "GM" impersonators.

By diligently applying these strategies and understanding the nuances of Norrath's economy, you'll ensure a steady flow of platinum, allowing you to equip your character, purchase essential spells, and enjoy all that EverQuest has to offer.