Running a small company in Fearūn. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Running a small company in Fearūn. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
rubenlinde
11-07-04, 12:30 PM Running a small company in Fearūn.

It's the DM's worst nightmare one of the player's decides that he wants to set up a shop or company. Most DM's would react with saying that there are no rule's for that or that it would turn the character into an NPC. However non of the previous has to be true.

Setting up shop doesn’t have to be the headache it seams to most DM's and it certainly isn't impossible within the rule's. And instead of keeping the character in town it could be a fantastic steady income providing the character’s with the fund's they need to go adventuring.

Apart from al that it can be interesting for DM's who use the economical and regional effects from the AaEG(Arm's and Equipment Guide) to take a look at the provider's side of the economy instead of the buyer's side.

The Phoenix Foundry

In order to make the rule's a bit more clear and to prove that the rule's aren’t that hard. A small example has been written on starting a Company.

Nebur Ednil a young cormyrian noble is looking for a way to make a few more coin's. He does however have obligation's to his other duty's and cant afford to spent al of his precious time in Suzail to manage the affair. After some interesting talk's with his friends he decides to put up a small smithy wish will make armour for the Army. In honour to his favourite magical animal he decides to name it The Phoenix Foundry

Building the black smith

Not knowing anything about either building or smiting he decides to not actually buy an existing building but to build one for his specific need's.

The building section follows the rule's from the SBG (Stronghold Builders Guidebook)

Component's SS Price
- Smithy, Fancy 1 2,000 GP
- Servant's Quarters 1 400 GP
- Stable, Basic 1 1,000 GP
- Storage, Basic 1 250 GP
- Common Area, Basic 1 500 GP
- Courtyard, Basic 1 1,000 GP
--------------------------------- -- ---------------
Sub Total of component's 6 5,150 GP

Other Component's
- Iron door 500 GP
- Wood door 80 GP
- Amazing lock 150 GP
- Good lock 80 GP
---------------------------------- -----------
Sub Total of other com. 710 GP

The wall's

The black smith exists out of 6 component’s
a quick glance at SBG table 2-4 reveals that 30% of the wall's are interior and 70% are exterior. This being a normal building he is where going to make the interior wall's of wood and the exterior wall's of masonry.

The interior wall's on ground floor don't cost money if there made from wood so we only have to calculate the value for the 2 SS on the upper floor.

masonry cost's 2,500 GP per SS so the total exterior wall's cost is going to be:
(2,500x6)x0.7=10,500 GP

wood cost's 1,000 GP per SS so the total interior wall is going to be:
(1,000x2)x0.3=600 GP

Sub Total wall's 11,100 GP

Total Building Cost's

To calculate the total building cost where going to count up al the Sub Total's
Sub Total of component's 5,150 GP
Sub Total of other com. 710 GP
Sub Total wall's 11,100 GP
-------------------------------- --------------
Total Building Cost's 16,960 GP

This is the total price of building the blacksmith we are however going to be building our blacksmith where the customer's are. And in this case we've chosen for Suzail in Cormyr. Because that is a metropolis it will ad 10% to the building cost. Making it 16,960x1.1=18656. So in the end Nebur end's up paying 18656 for the black smith,

The Staff
Being very impressed by there reputation Nebur decides to only hire dwarfs

Staff member LVL Wage
Groom COM1 1sp/Day
Smith EXP4 12sp/Day
Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day
Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day
Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day
Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day
Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day
-------------- ------------
Total 28sp/Day

This mean's that the smithy has a operating cost of 25sp/Day

Making the stuff
Now let's take a look at the product. Nebur decides that he wants to produce full plate's. The production DC of making a full plate is 10+AC enchantment so that make's for a DC 18 witch can be increased with 10 (several time's) to make the work go faster. Making a armour masterwork is a additional DC 20 craft check.

The smith's craft check is pretty high, since he can take 10 on craft check’s making the total in this case.

change to craft check
- Take ten +10
- His own skill +14*
- Assistance +10#
- Smithy, Fancy +2
- Masterwork tools +2
- Magical, forge +20
------------------------ ---
Total check 58

*=(Level + 3 ranks)+(2 skill focus)+(Int 13)+(being a dwarf)
# the amount of people that may help on a craft check diver’s on this case (full-plate) the set number is 5 (one for each area of the body)

The check wil indicate that he make's (58x58) 3364 silver pieces worth of armour a week. And that making a complete full-plate takes them. (1500/336,4)= 4.5 Week's

Equipping the company

Being a adventurer himself Nebur know the importance of good equipment and decides to buy some extra equipment both magical and normal for his company.
- Magical Forge of armour smiting(RoS) 10,000
- Heavy horse (PH) 200
- Cart (AaEG) 15
--------------------------- -------
Total equiping cost 10,215

The profit
Small company’s generally have to purposes. The first being profit and the second being return.

The profit of the smithy is simple

Selling cost - (Row material’s+Wage's)
1500-(500+126*)=874 gp per armour
874/4.5= 194 gp profit a week

*Wage: Day (28)x Day's in a week (10) x amount of week's (4,5) = 1260 sp = 126 gp

The return is even more simple
(building+equipment)/profit a week=Time of return
(16,960+10,215)/194=140

So it's going to be 140 week's before Nebur sees his money back. (over a bit more than 3 year's)

If Nebur would want to cut down the return time than he can to decrease the total investment which will in turn decrease the total profit. So simply said it is possible to have a shorter return time but it is going to be at a lower profit. Generally it is the long term investment’s witch have the highest profit what make's a lot of sense.

Ruben van der Linde
CzarGarrett
11-08-04, 11:34 AM That sounds like a half-decent system and all.

Although a major part of that is the building of the building.

But it seems adaptable for other stuff.

I give it :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Phaerven
11-08-04, 04:38 PM Very interesting idea!
bobbynoclue
11-08-04, 05:39 PM Ah yes, but don't forget taxes... that will also reduce profit.
Plus all those miscellaneous costs.

But it does seem workable as a starting point.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rubenlinde 11-07-04, 12:30 PM	Running a small company in Fearūn. It's the DM's worst nightmare one of the player's decides that he wants to set up a shop or company. Most DM's would react with saying that there are no rule's for that or that it would turn the character into an NPC. However non of the previous has to be true. Setting up shop doesn’t have to be the headache it seams to most DM's and it certainly isn't impossible within the rule's. And instead of keeping the character in town it could be a fantastic steady income providing the character’s with the fund's they need to go adventuring. Apart from al that it can be interesting for DM's who use the economical and regional effects from the AaEG(Arm's and Equipment Guide) to take a look at the provider's side of the economy instead of the buyer's side. The Phoenix Foundry In order to make the rule's a bit more clear and to prove that the rule's aren’t that hard. A small example has been written on starting a Company. Nebur Ednil a young cormyrian noble is looking for a way to make a few more coin's. He does however have obligation's to his other duty's and cant afford to spent al of his precious time in Suzail to manage the affair. After some interesting talk's with his friends he decides to put up a small smithy wish will make armour for the Army. In honour to his favourite magical animal he decides to name it The Phoenix Foundry Building the black smith Not knowing anything about either building or smiting he decides to not actually buy an existing building but to build one for his specific need's. The building section follows the rule's from the SBG (Stronghold Builders Guidebook) Component's SS Price - Smithy, Fancy 1 2,000 GP - Servant's Quarters 1 400 GP - Stable, Basic 1 1,000 GP - Storage, Basic 1 250 GP - Common Area, Basic 1 500 GP - Courtyard, Basic 1 1,000 GP --------------------------------- -- --------------- Sub Total of component's 6 5,150 GP Other Component's - Iron door 500 GP - Wood door 80 GP - Amazing lock 150 GP - Good lock 80 GP ---------------------------------- ----------- Sub Total of other com. 710 GP The wall's The black smith exists out of 6 component’s a quick glance at SBG table 2-4 reveals that 30% of the wall's are interior and 70% are exterior. This being a normal building he is where going to make the interior wall's of wood and the exterior wall's of masonry. The interior wall's on ground floor don't cost money if there made from wood so we only have to calculate the value for the 2 SS on the upper floor. masonry cost's 2,500 GP per SS so the total exterior wall's cost is going to be: (2,500x6)x0.7=10,500 GP wood cost's 1,000 GP per SS so the total interior wall is going to be: (1,000x2)x0.3=600 GP Sub Total wall's 11,100 GP Total Building Cost's To calculate the total building cost where going to count up al the Sub Total's Sub Total of component's 5,150 GP Sub Total of other com. 710 GP Sub Total wall's 11,100 GP -------------------------------- -------------- Total Building Cost's 16,960 GP This is the total price of building the blacksmith we are however going to be building our blacksmith where the customer's are. And in this case we've chosen for Suzail in Cormyr. Because that is a metropolis it will ad 10% to the building cost. Making it 16,960x1.1=18656. So in the end Nebur end's up paying 18656 for the black smith, The Staff Being very impressed by there reputation Nebur decides to only hire dwarfs Staff member LVL Wage Groom COM1 1sp/Day Smith EXP4 12sp/Day Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day Apprentice EXP1 3sp/Day -------------- ------------ Total 28sp/Day This mean's that the smithy has a operating cost of 25sp/Day Making the stuff Now let's take a look at the product. Nebur decides that he wants to produce full plate's. The production DC of making a full plate is 10+AC enchantment so that make's for a DC 18 witch can be increased with 10 (several time's) to make the work go faster. Making a armour masterwork is a additional DC 20 craft check. The smith's craft check is pretty high, since he can take 10 on craft check’s making the total in this case. change to craft check - Take ten +10 - His own skill +14* - Assistance +10# - Smithy, Fancy +2 - Masterwork tools +2 - Magical, forge +20 ------------------------ --- Total check 58 =(Level + 3 ranks)+(2 skill focus)+(Int 13)+(being a dwarf) # the amount of people that may help on a craft check diver’s on this case (full-plate) the set number is 5 (one for each area of the body) The check wil indicate that he make's (58x58) 3364 silver pieces worth of armour a week. And that making a complete full-plate takes them. (1500/336,4)= 4.5 Week's Equipping the company Being a adventurer himself Nebur know the importance of good equipment and decides to buy some extra equipment both magical and normal for his company. - Magical Forge of armour smiting(RoS) 10,000 - Heavy horse (PH) 200 - Cart (AaEG) 15 --------------------------- ------- Total equiping cost 10,215 The profit Small company’s generally have to purposes. The first being profit and the second being return. The profit of the smithy is simple Selling cost - (Row material’s+Wage's) 1500-(500+126)=874 gp per armour 874/4.5= 194 gp profit a week *Wage: Day (28)x Day's in a week (10) x amount of week's (4,5) = 1260 sp = 126 gp The return is even more simple (building+equipment)/profit a week=Time of return (16,960+10,215)/194=140 So it's going to be 140 week's before Nebur sees his money back. (over a bit more than 3 year's) If Nebur would want to cut down the return time than he can to decrease the total investment which will in turn decrease the total profit. So simply said it is possible to have a shorter return time but it is going to be at a lower profit. Generally it is the long term investment’s witch have the highest profit what make's a lot of sense. Ruben van der Linde
CzarGarrett 11-08-04, 11:34 AM	That sounds like a half-decent system and all. Although a major part of that is the building of the building. But it seems adaptable for other stuff. I give it :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Phaerven 11-08-04, 04:38 PM	Very interesting idea!
bobbynoclue 11-08-04, 05:39 PM	Ah yes, but don't forget taxes... that will also reduce profit. Plus all those miscellaneous costs. But it does seem workable as a starting point.