Rupees: Not Just Currency!

You see, when the Magic Armor in TP started using my Rupees to save me from damage, it all started to make sense. Rupees are nothing like our dollars: they are a renewable power source!

Indeed, Tingle is an example of an individual who is also able to utilize them to extend his lifespan.

This theory helps explain away any inconsistencies about how their economy avoids crippling inflation. It is also an example of a concept of Michael Ende about decaying currency.

Thoughts?

For the magic armor, you have to pay for protection, kinda like the mob. You give them money, they'll protect you.

For Tingle, your right. He use rupees to keep living.

Originally Posted by Pinto545

For the magic armor, you have to pay for protection, kinda like the mob. You give them money, they'll protect you.

You're right. In this sense it comes to be like currency. You buy things in the market.

For Tingle, your right. He use rupees to keep living.

Another good point, Tingle may be harnessing a 'secret' Hyrulian energy inside of them.

Well, in Tingle RPG, Tingle's lifesource is rupees. (look up Tingle RPG on wikipedia)

Whether or not we take that as canon, it's rather interesting.

this is something I learned today too. I wanted to post this thread but I didn't know tingle used rupees as a source of energy.

Originally Posted by alexome12

this is something I learned today too. I wanted to post this thread but I didn't know tingle used rupees as a source of energy.

Only in Tingle RPG, the rest of the games we aren't really sure...

for some reason i never really used the magic armur.i guess i never really needed it. i always had to many rupees

This whole thing would make sense, I guess. Just one question:
In what way are people using this renewable power? I can't figure out why the common hylian (or human) would need this power. Thoughts?

Well...when you say renewable,the first thing that comes to mind is accessible...
While,in the real world,not all renewable sources are accessible by all,in the video games,I think everyone would be rupee hungry...
Just my thoughts..

You're a smart cookie HurriPen.

A couple of questions to help you 'fill out' your theory:

1 how would rupees be manufactured?
2 what powers the rupees and what things can they power?
3 why would Hylians, even if they did use rupees as some kind of power source, then use them as a currency?
4 if that was the case. wouldn't it be prudent to see all Hylians using said power source?
5 or if not, wouldn't Hylians who could not use said power source opt for a different type of currency? (namely, everyone who was not Tingle or could not harness the power of the Magic Armor, the only two examples of any 'power' coming from the rupees)

Originally Posted by quick_silver20

You're a smart cookie HurriPen.

Tell me something I don't know

1 how would rupees be manufactured?

This one is easily attributed to the Minish: they are the ones who hide them in odd places according to TMC, so they are probably the source. If you ask how they did it . . . just slap a wizard label on them.

2 what powers the rupees and what things can they power?

That's the thing: the rupees are power! As to what they can power, I think that the TP Gorons might be using them. Also, they were being converted into arrows in LoZ, but I am not sure how that would work. I am not sure I have observed any other use of Rupees by characters in-game. However, it may happen off-screen, like their bathrooms and ingestion of food.

3 why would Hylians, even if they did use rupees as some kind of power source, then use them as a currency?

It could have evolved from something like the barter system. People trade things of value instead of going through the middle-man. The Rupee, due to its overall usefulness for their tech, might have usurped this function.

4 if that was the case. wouldn't it be prudent to see all Hylians using said power source?

Not sure what you are saying here.

5 or if not, wouldn't Hylians who could not use said power source opt for a different type of currency? (namely, everyone who was not Tingle or could not harness the power of the Magic Armor, the only two examples of any 'power' coming from the rupees)

This point you make is interesting: perhaps this means that it is not as simple as I first thought.

Perhaps they once were able to use them as energy, but gradually lost the idea of them as power source and went on to view them as mere currency. This can be seen in irrational hoarding behavior that we have seen in OoT, WW, and TP.

Or maybe, big corporations usurped the energy conversion process (making only wealthy people able to afford this). This could cause inflation, but not too quickly, seeing as how not many people go out adventuring with swords.

Come to think of it, you could see gold coins in the house of that guy who needed the souls of Poes . . maybe this is the alternate currency you are looking for?

I have only some suspicions, but I think that the rupees indeed are a power source. They are some kind of crystals and they aren't made of gold. But why did Jovani in TP have gold in his house?

I suppose it's like in real life. Gold is worth alot. And instead of having the house full of rupees, Jovani had gold.

In terms to rupees being a power source, I can see it happening, I mean gold only really turned very valuable because its a great condutor, and since it was expensive old, rich ladies wore it all the time, after that it lost its meaning as a conductor and became jewelery so as said earlier...

Perhaps they once were able to use them as energy, but gradually lost the idea of them as power source and went on to view them as mere currency.

perhaps, just like gold, people just forgot

Ah HurriPen, I am pleased to see you did make this thread.

OK so let us sum up the roles Rupees have played other than standard currency.

In LoZ, we see a rupee is used for a single arrow.

Alttp, we see Rupees seem to have some use for Great Fairies, as for every 50 Rupees thrown into a certain fountain you receive an upgrade of either bombs or arrows.

In OoT, the silver Rupees are used as parts of puzzles to advance further.

Tingle uses Rupees to extend his lifespan, as mention previously.

The Magic Armor consumes Rupees in exchange for defense, also mentioned above.

Alttp, we see Rupees seem to have some use for Great Fairies, as for every 50 Rupees thrown into a certain fountain you receive an upgrade of either bombs or arrows.

I don't really see it like that, I always saw it as her rewarding you for your "generosity"