maybe needs a bit of balancing.  killing a troll army is no easy task and should be reflected in an equivalent reward.  i also agree with wolves not carrying coins.

Maybe require researching a special Questing tech before killing monsters yields large amount of money ? You might need to know monsters' habits to know where their stashes might be. And in case of intelligent monsters, you might need to know their languages to understand notes or letters they carry.

I don't mind that you get gildar for killing monsters. Its nice to get something for killing them apart from XP (especially given the fact champions could be a bit stronger and worth the time and effort). I'm sure if Stardock feels the gildar amount is unbalanced they can change it and they probably will since as most other mechanics are looked at and tuned.

What I'd like to see is a drop system from monsters for items and maybe even items that start a quest. Hardly the most original idea as this is standard RPG fare but it'd definately add to the game in a positive way and would not be difficult to implement.

"Monster Economy" ruins game - this is an Adventure game not a strategy/wargame

What? I thought it was a turn based strategy game with RPG elements.

I think this kind of solution is the best, for many reasons:

1st: Why do society acumulates any kind of money? It's a measure of your possessions and the value of your work, that you trade for stuff that you don't have, so the society gets balanced: people work to offer a service and in return they get something so they can enjoy the services of others as well. Why would monsters acumulate gold, if they are not organized in any kind of society? What's the point for them? Specially in the world of Elemental, where the most inteligent races are just restarting the civilization almost from scratch. So it's valid to assume that if the most inteligent races are just starting to rebuild the world, the lesser races would have absolutely no society at all, and if no society, no reason to carry heavy stuff like piles of gold.

2nd: One wisely told this already: it's ridiculous that you kill some wolves and gain more money than a GOLD MINE CAN PRODUCE IN SEVERAL TURNS (witch can represent a month? a week? whatever).

3rd: You don't have to bury the idea of killing wandering monsters being lucrative, you just have to admit that they way you can do it need to change. Some people are arguing that in the late game armies cost a fortune cos they need the best items that are expensive. So what if those awesome monsters with 100 in atack droped the weapon they carry that makes them have 100 atack, instead of money? So you can equip your late game army with a late game equipament in a more logical way? Is that a new idea? Everyone that plays any RPG knows that it is exactly how it works. You bust your ass to kill the powerful guys not for money, but for the rare equipament that makes them powerful. And in case of monsters that have "natural weapons", they can provide other valuable stuff that can perharps create items otherwise unavailable: killed a mighty dragon? Then get his claws, or teeth, and make a rare sword with it. Get his scales and make an armor with elemental resistances. Killed wolves? Get enough hides and recruit troops with leather armor for a cheaper price. Killed trolls? Get their blood in vials and make rare potions of regeneration in the next city that has the apropriate building. There are many things that can be done, much more interesting things than just give you gold, that will add to the game's lore and experience greatly.

4th: Since the pursuit of quests can also be a winning option, to focus in monster hunting should remain a viable way to keep your empire going somehow.

Well, there is a lot more that can be added, but I think this 4 arguments are the most basic and stronger ones to justify an overhaul on the monster loot system.

Cheers everyone.

Noteworthy observation + recommendation.

The best balancing mechanism would be to condition the amount of loot by the relative combat rating of your army and the monsters, just like xp is modified in DnD. That way you can’t plunder thousands at low risk, if you want big loot you have to risk your army

Good idea.

Didn't mean for my Title line to sound overly harsh.

I think my point is this: my economy is so small it just feels cheap and ludicrous to have monsters be "the" source of income..... would much rather see multiple paths through the game to a healthy economoy - not one that forces you to monster farm.

The last thing I want to do is have to micro all of my heroes and drag them back to cities to sell things.

I don't really get why we get income for killing spiders.  The cost of upkeep for an army to patrol the forest is much higher than the value of what a bunch of miscellaneous monsters are going to have on hand.  The fact that your troops get experience, and your kingdom is defended, is reward enough.  I think if the monsters were more aggressive, attacking cities and improvements, this would further the need to kill monsters.

lol.  was just making a suggestion.  as in "if you don't like this style of game, go play something else".  like "if you don't like first person shooters, go play tetris" or "if you don't like a game that blends adventure with civilization building, go play civilization".  

condescending piece of intertrash.

If it weren't for the MOBS I would have no economy (9 cities, two gold mines, OUCH!)