Volo's rating system

Volo's Ratings System is the means by which Volothamp Geddarm ranks taverns, inns, shops, alleyways, and so forth in his well-known guidebooks. The categories are as follows:

Pipes
Used to rate the quality of inns, which are defined as any establishment that rents beds to travelers. The rating takes into account such things as decor, comfort, service, food, et cetera. The criteria do not include pricing.

An inn will receive a number of pipes from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest quality and 1 being the lowest.

Tankards
Used to rate the quality of taverns, defined as any public establishment that serves alcoholic beverages. The rating takes into account such things as atmosphere, watering of the drinks, service, decor, food (if any), et cetera. The criteria do not include pricing.

An inn will receive a number of tankards from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest quality and 1 being the lowest.

Coins
Used to rate the pricing of all businesses. The rating compares the general prices of goods or services against the average for the city/country/region in which the business operates. The rating does not relate to the quality of the goods or services offered.

A business will receive a number of coins from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most expensive and 1 being the least expensive.

Daggers
Used to rate the dangerousness of alleyways, courtyards, et cetera. The rating takes into account such things as crime rates and the general propensities of the denizens of the area in question.

An area will receive a number of daggers from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most dangerous and 1 being the least dangerous.