GURPS mahadlika Character Creation

Character Creation Parameters.
Game Date: 2nd week of Jun 2008
Power Level: (Exceptional Individuals) 125cp, -75 disadvantages, +25cp only on social advantages.
Character options: Realistic (no exotic advantages.
Genre: Historical shifting to Heroic
Theme: Heroes against the Odds
Wealth: See Below

Here is some GURPS-ified economic breakdown of 19th Century Philippines.
Word of Warning, this is just for a game.

Economically, the TL of the Philipines is 2. Its no surprise that the average height of a roman was very similar to the average height of a filipino (5ft!). Double the Cost of TL5 equipment.

P1 (1865) is equal to $12 (2004). The exchange rate was roughly $1 to P1.

Signature Gear is at TL5. $2500 per point.

Shared Assets: Wealthy Characters who are part of families will have a (shared)annual income of $40,500 (P3,375) with a $36,000 (P3,000) Cost of Living. This leaves the Character $9,000 for his own personal assets. The character on the other hand has shared assets equal to 5x his annual income. This assumes the character is part of a household. He could be married, w/ or w/o children, living with inlaws or parents... or any combinations.
Wealthy [20]; Status 2 [5].
Starting Assets: $9,000 (not including basic necessities for his status and that of his group)
Pros- Higher Standard of Living.
Cons- Duties, Obligations and Responsibilities; Conflicts within families,

Independent Assets: An Independent Character is a wealth level lower than his "corporate" counterpart but still is in the same status and needs only the Cost of Living of 2 levels below his own. An Independent would have an income of $16,200, and a Cost of Living equal to $7,200 (that of a middle class family) but has $18,000 of personal assets. This assumes the character is an individual who is able to generate his own income exclusively.

Bottom Line:
Comfortable [10]; Status 2 [10].
Starting Assets: $18,000 (not including basic necessities for his status)
Pros- Independence!
Cons- Lower Standard of Living and with no access to the much larger
assets of a "corporate partnership".

You still have family but the strength of your family ties will cost points. Of course you have a default set of close friends or family who will come to your aid and you feel obligated to for free based on your background.

At $9,000 you may be able to own a number of horses. Guns imported from America etc. costs x8 more. Remember that horses that can do many tricks cost x4 to x10 more.