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2 years ago ::
Feb 16, 2011 - 4:43PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Apr 18, 2010
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I just gave my level 3ish PCs a lair within the Chaos Scar (as suggested in The Lost Library), they've decided they want to start a business. They're talking about opening up a distillery to gain some extra income in town, or maybe brew their own potions. On the one hand, I really like the idea of them taking this extra initiative and having a reason for characters not to be on adventure when players don't show up. On the other, I'm not sure how I should go about this. I figure some set cost they should put into making the distillery, then they can make potions at 80% cost? Maybe subtract some of the treasure from adventures to give them income from this? Any ideas? - Kevin
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2 years ago ::
Mar 02, 2011 - 9:48AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Mar 27, 2008
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Just make this the adventure, perhaps a side quest.
Sure they start producing potions and making a mint, but that then pisses off the local guild of potion makers and they take action, hiring a group of adventurers to take out the competition.
Or perhaps the potions they make are somehow cursed (bad water) and those who bought the faulty potions now come looking for revenge or at least a refund.
You could make it so that as they make more and more money, they unbalance the local economy or the economy of the nearest settlement. Inflation is rampant, and eggs now cost 12 gold each! The lower classes are up in arms and they decide to revolt. The local ruler blames you, of course, and the players are now persona non grata.
Have fun with it.
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2 years ago ::
Mar 22, 2011 - 7:57AM
#3
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there was a DDi article about strongholds and lairs.
It would be a good way to introduce NPCs and stuff. So say they rescue a wizard/alchemsit. His tower has been looted by orcs or whatever. He could stay there, offer discount potions in return for lodging and space to do research. He could even provide a plot hook. (go to my ruined tower and fetch the Orb of Xandar!)
My player type: Storyteller - You're more inclined toward the role playing side of the equation and less interested in numbers or experience points. You're quick to compromise if you can help move the story forward, and get bored when the game slows down for a long planning session. You want to play out a story that moves like it's orchestrated by a skilled novelist or film director
100% Storyteller 100%" Method Actor 100% Casual Gamer 67% Tactician 25% Power Gamer
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2 years ago ::
Aug 02, 2011 - 12:29PM
#4
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there was a DDi article about strongholds and lairs.
It would be a good way to introduce NPCs and stuff. So say they rescue a wizard/alchemsit. His tower has been looted by orcs or whatever. He could stay there, offer discount potions in return for lodging and space to do research. He could even provide a plot hook. (go to my ruined tower and fetch the Orb of Xandar!)
And, you as the DM can control it. If you're worried about income balance there's plenty of ways to fix that:
- demand drops due to a variety of possibilities: lower population, a tax on potions not sanctioned by the wizard's guild, a competitor opens up across town, etc.
- Their store gets broken in to. There's an adventure hook.
- A customer promises to pay a significant sum for a very rare potion. The trouble is that the key ingredient is very difficult to obtain.
- The PCs go questing for lost books containing additional, rare potions.
- Someone who is upset with the PCs sets them up for fairly by tampering with the PCs potions or framing them for a poisoning of a key noble.
The list could, literally, go on! Have fun with it! Embrace it. And remember that you can impose all sorts of legitimate externalities on them to control the impact is has on your campaign.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 01, 2012 - 12:54AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Dec 29, 2011
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Why make it complicated? Have them put an initial sum into it to start the business then let it run itself, surely they're not going to want to spend their days RPing the running of the company. Simply keep track of a daily income and add it too their storred gold deposits. Treat it as a reward for good RPing and start giving them rewards that are worth more than just gold.
As light_wing suggested it leads to a whole chest full of adventuring ideas, simply have a message arive from which ever NPC is employed to run thier business day to day. Either they can respond for an adventure, or they can let it go and risk that their business is going to disintergrate in their absence.
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