☠ DOG TAGS
In Igura, the Dog Tags are everything. When you've collected all 52 of a deck of playing cards, you can exchange them for your life back. However, the Dog Tags aren't just your bargaining chips for winning the game, rather, they're your bargaining chips for everything in the game. There is no money in Igura, so what do you think you need to swap for food/booze/supplies? Dog Tags, of course. That makes the game all that much harder, doesn't it? Well, there's no fun in a game if it's just a cakewalk.
There are 53 types of Dog Tags in all, each Tag based off of a card in a deck of cards. Why 53, and not just 52? There's a joker, too. But if you get a joker, the joke is on you. Ha ha ha! But we'll get into that later.
Like a deck of playing cards, there are four suits, and a number for each suit, as well as face cards.
Tags are very easy to read, with a symbol of the kind (♦ ♣ ❤ ♠ ) as well as the number if it is a number card. If it's an ace, it will have an A on it. The only Tags that are different are Jack, Queen, and King, which in addition to having a J, Q, or K, also have a face on them. Basically, just imagine a playing card miniaturized and turned into a metal Dog Tag.
All of the suits have an equal amount of worth, but the worth of the Tag itself depends on the number it is! There are three types of tags in Igura:
✖ Junk Tags
Junk Tags are the Tags that there are a lot of, and they're the most often used for trading for food, supplies, or services.
Tags that are classified as Junk Tags are Aces, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
✖ Grab Tags
Grab Tags are Tags that are not quite so common, but not quite rare. There are less of them than Junk Tags, and thus, they're worth more. They're dubbed Grab Tags because you should grab them while you can.
Tags that are classified as Grab Tags are 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
✖ Royal Tags
Royal Tags are the Tags that most people end up killing others for. They're hard to get, hard to find, and hard to hold onto.
Tags that are classified as Royal Tags are Jack, Queen, and King.
✖ Finally, we get to the Joker Tag! There are a bunch of Joker Tags floating around Igura. They're completely useless when it comes to trying to collect 52 to get your life back, and a bartender will only take one in exchange for a drink if he's feeling generous. Though don't fret, if you have a bit of imagination, the Joker Tag isn't as useless as it may seem.
Upon arrival (or better, acceptance) your character will be given eight tags to start out with, chosen at random. From there, they're expected to play the game and get more tags in any way they can!
TAGS AS CURRENCY
In Igura, there is no such thing as "money" -- your dollar bills, yen, pounds, tooneys, or whatever your character is used to using as currency simply doesn't fly here. Instead, Dog Tags are used to pay for items your character may need, and other various things around Igura. Paying for items and services with tags is really very easy. We'll break it down as simply as possible!
✖ Junk Tags (Ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5)
Junk Tags are basically the dollar bills of Igura. Because there are so many of them floating around, they're not worth much, but they can get you a few items or drinks. They're the easiest to end up picking up again, after all!
One Junk Tag can usually pay for: two drinks at the bar, a few food items, a few first aide items, one night at the hotel in the neutral area, a shirt or pair of pants, etc. Generally, a few basic items.
✖ Grab Tags (6, 7, 8, 9, and 10)
Grab Tags are basically the 10 dollar bills of Igura. There are less of them than Junk Tags, so they're worth more! You're not quite as likely to come across a Grab Tag like you are a Junk Tag. However, they'll get you quite a few items if you're willing to trade 'em off!
One Grab Tag can usually pay for: Several drinks at the bar/better drinks, a decent stock of food items/better food items, shoes and other quality clothing items, a few days at the hotel, better first aide items, etc. Generally, a few good items or more basic items.
✖ Royal Tags (Jack, Queen, and King)
Royal Tags are essentially the 100 dollar bills of Igura. They're the rarest sort of tag, hardest to find and hardest to get your paws on. If you've gotten a Royal Tag, it's highly recommended that you try to hold onto it, but sometimes you may not be able to. Royal Tags are tags that people get killed over, after all.
One Royal Tag can usually pay for: A half a month's stay in the hotel, weapon upgrades, dinner in the hotel lounge, the best food and first aide items, several good items or a lot of basic items, etc.
We trust our players, and leave it up to your discretion as to how much your character gets from a tag, and what items!
However, please note that there is no such thing as “change” in Igura - if you only have a Grab Tag, and only want to buy a bottle of water, while that'd only need a Junk Tag, don't expect any Junk Tags in return to make up the difference of worth!
Keeping track of your character's tags is very important! We recommend creating a post in your character's journal where you can keep a general idea of what tags they have, and keeping that up to date!