Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jm11744 01-17-05, 11:28 AM	I have a thief in my gaming ring who wants to start a tavern and theives guild business. I was wondering if any of you guys have experience with player run businesses and any rules / suggestions on something like this. I have been tossing it around in my mind for a while, as for the tavern part. I was thinking that I, the dm should roll something per month for expenses incurred (maybe a d20 to keep that fair), and a percentage role to represent money incoming. Leaving it to chance would be fair I suppose. Also, as for the theives guild, maybe some kind of role per month for recruitment, i'm not sure. Any ideas?
Bringslite 01-17-05, 11:47 AM	All I can suggest is that you keep in mind that most businesses fail. The chance to make a profit should be set at 30% or less. It could be increased by how much effort the PC puts in personally or who he hires to run it. After that, the profit gained will be eaten up (like candy) by overhead costs. Labor, waste, theft, low volume, repairs after bar fights, etc... will be all too real and draining. Everything will be a factor in it's success from cost of goods, pricing, customer volume, quality/training of staff, management, etc... The guild would want a large cut (or wouldn't waste it's time) but could help with such things as customer base, employees, cost of goods, and local taxes.
Thoronmir 01-17-05, 12:40 PM	The simplest method for calculating your profit from operating a tavern is to take a Rank or two in Profession: Tavernkeeper and use the rules governing other “service” industries. However, if you want a more customized system, you can set varying DCs that represent varying amounts of profit. Just decide what DC of success you want to achieve (rather than the using the set DC and set profit in the RAW). Since increasing your profits usually requires increasing your investment into the business (better ale, a more skilled cook, cuter barmaids, etc.), failing to meet the DC you chose can result in a net loss. Build in financial losses at various levels of failure (say, perhaps you lose a little more money for every increment of 5 by which you fail your roll). Big risk, big rewards. As for the Thieves’ Guild. I’d make a player roleplay it. First, you’ll have to deal with the established rivals who might not welcome new competition. You would have to recruit members (it’s not as if Larry the Yegg will just suddenly know that you’re hiring). I’d make the player plan his Guild’s jobs. After all, why bother to lead a Guild if you’re not involved in running it?
spasheridan 01-17-05, 02:45 PM	IMO I would offer the player 2 choices: 1) Spend some largeish amount of money to start this "business". Say 5k. We'll assume that the business breaks even after that but offers you some contacts in town (+2 to gather info checks in that city). A few RP moments now and then and probably a plot hook or 2. In 10 years or so you'll have paid off the loans and you'll start making some money. 2) Lots of math with a large chance that the business will fail, will eat up lots of your cash, that you will have to stop adventuring to keep it going. This one has a chance of making money. I would really hope the PC took option 1 because option 2 is a huge headache and not really what D&D is all about.
jm11744 01-17-05, 03:42 PM	We were definately discussing something like option one. I think he's wanting the tavern to be totally run by the thieves guild, so the tavern would fund the guild in a way along with contracts. We're looking for more RP elements really. I need to strike that balance between RP elements and difficulty / moneymaking.
Goblinslust 01-17-05, 04:54 PM	I think that the player should come up with a business idea Let him make a business draft, considering the following: 1. who is the clients. (local thugs+1, drunks+1 or decadent nobles and like coming here for an evening extraordinaire+6.) 2. What are the prices. (low+1,med+3,high+6) 3. does he have entertainment (fighting arena+6, brothel+3, a bard+1/pr bard) 4. does his name contribute to the inns reputation.(+/- 1-5) 5. etc.... When he/she at the next roleplaying session shows up with the plan, you evaluate it and give a circumstance bonus +/-. For the income you do some kind of math e.g.: Avg price level(??sp)*avg nr of customers(3d4/pr Stronghold space integrated+circumstance bonus)=income Then you do the math for real profits Sales -Wages -Maintenace -Cost of goods sold -Other costs -taxes =real profit But i have to warn you many of my players characters have retired because of great business success. They have made any enterprise imaginable. Slavetrade, smuggling, :confused: Farming, assasination-corp., though never a tavern. I my opinion you should not try to hinder your players in making businesses, it is most often a lot of fun. (I excuse for spelling mistakes and other difficulties as english is my third language)