A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement #1 With a Bullet Point: 15 Fantasy Fees and Taxes

#1 With a Bullet Point: 15 Fantasy Fees and Taxes by Owen K.C. Stephens is a role playing game supplement published by Rogue Genius Games (originally Super Genius Games) for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available as a three-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a bundle. One page is the Open Game License and credits.

The first page has some standard text for the #1 With a Bullet Point range explaining the philosophy and what the supplements contain.

The one page of actual content has the taxes and tithes, which are based on real-world fees and exist to remind characters that governments still want their cut. Some taxes are regular, some are charged under specific circumstances and some are charged when the king needs some ready cash.

Beard Tax is a fee to be allowed to grow a beard. Unpopular with dwarves.

Carucage is charged on the value of beasts of burden, steeds and animal companions.

Custom Duty is charged on items over 100gp, excluding those with war, entertainment or work uses, on imports.

Gabelle is a tax paid whenever a spell is cast.

Jizyah is a tax on anyone not a member of the state religion.

Heregeld is a land tax based on the value of land, building and livestock.

Maltolt is charged on materials considered important to local trade.

Pigouvian Tax is charged on things that have negative market or social consequences.

Poll Tax is for the right to vote.

Scutage is paid by those with combat useful skills who don’t serve a feudal lord.

Sumptuary is charged for being needlessly extravagant.

Tagzettel is a tax levied on a distrusted group.

Tithe is the 10% paid to state or church.

Turnpike is a toll used to maintain a road.

Wergild is the price paid for killing someone.

#1 With a Bullet Point: 15 Fantasy Fees and Taxes in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and at this length doesn’t need them. Navigation is fine. The text maintains the old three-column landscape format used by Super Genius Games and appeared to be free of errors. There are a couple of pieces of stock art. Presentation is fine.

The different taxes come with their costs, which for PCs will range from minor irritation to extremely annoying, yet unless they want to get into trouble with the law, they will have to pay them. In some cases, handing over a significant chunk of their money. One possible problem, though more in terms of realism, is that the taxes at the lower end are almost meaningless in cost to most PCs, yet would be cripplingly expensive to the average commoner. This may be intended as a Pathfinder supplement, but it’s easily adapted to annoy players in other systems. #1 With a Bullet Point: 15 Fantasy Fees and Taxes is a simple and cheap little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.