Councils: A Currency That Doesn't Come Easy
Project Gorgon's currency is called Councils, and unlike more generous MMOs, the game doesn't hand it out just for showing up. Because Project Gorgon uses a free-form skill system instead of fixed classes, funding experiments with new skills (Lycanthropy and other unusual skill trees included) can get expensive fast, and the economy leans heavily on player-to-player interaction to actually move goods and money around.
Dungeon Looting as a Starting Point
The most straightforward way to earn Councils is the classic approach: enter a dungeon, kill everything, and loot everything — armor, weapons, even items that look like trash. Serbule Crypt is the commonly recommended starting dungeon for new players, with easier low-level dungeons available for true beginners. The key habit to build early is looting indiscriminately, since Project Gorgon has a reputation for turning apparent junk into valuable player-market items.
Pacifist Gathering: Surveying, Skinning, and Cooking
For players who'd rather avoid combat, three gathering skills stand out early: Surveying (mapping gems and crystals, starting with Rubywall Crystals, which sell well to both players and vendors), Skinning (turning animals you're already killing for XP into leather, the backbone of armor crafting), and Cooking (hunting pigs and deer for meat that sells to vendors, with high-tier meals commanding a premium from other players). These let you build income while also leveling useful skills simultaneously.
Know What Sells to Vendors vs. Players
One of the easiest ways to lose money in Project Gorgon is selling something to a vendor for a handful of Councils, only to later discover it would have sold to players for a thousand times more. Checking item values before dumping inventory on a vendor is a habit worth building early, since the gap between vendor and player prices can be dramatic.
Building Favor With Merchants
NPC merchants share a common mechanic: the better your relationship (Favor) with a specific merchant, the bigger their money pool and the more they'll pay for your items, eventually letting you sell loot at full value. Consistently trading with the same merchants over time pays off in better prices, rather than spreading sales thin across every vendor you pass.
Common Farming Mistakes
The most common mistake is vendoring items without checking if they sell for more to players — that "junk" habit costs new players real money. The second is ignoring gathering skills like Surveying and Skinning, which double as both income and skill leveling. Third, don't spread your merchant relationships too thin; building Favor with a smaller set of vendors pays better than shallow interactions with many.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way for a new player to start earning Councils?
Combat looting in a starter dungeon like Serbule Crypt — kill everything and loot everything, including items that look like junk, since Project Gorgon's economy often values things vendors pay little for.
What are the best pacifist gold-farming skills in Project Gorgon?
Surveying (mapping gems and crystals), Skinning (turning killed animals into sellable leather), and Cooking (selling meat and prepared meals) all provide steady early income without focusing on combat.
Why does Favor with merchants matter?
The better your relationship with a specific NPC merchant, the bigger their money pool and the more they'll pay for your items — eventually letting you sell at full value instead of a discounted rate.