1. Possible losses are based on business running costs, possible profit is the same for all business sizes. Therefore the less you invest the more profit you make ??? buy a farm it is the only choice.
2. Attended business, assuming that for the time period you are looking at (max 30days) your possible losses are based on the total cost for the time period, and the profit is fixed regardless of time period (this is what the table appears to say) [This is based on all the average outcomes multiplied by the chance of them happening -( ie a long term average) I have only looked at time periods 1,5,10,20,30] rural inn and trading post have generally increasing profit towards 30 days but have an odd blip around 10 days where it is a loss so if your average downtime is in the 10days region both these 2 choices will average a loss. everything else seems to average more profit the closer you get to 30 days, Again though the more you invest the less your returns
3. Unattended time periods, Adventuring, doing something else with your time, setting business up to cover costs of a large purchase, etc. Rural Inn unattended is in loss by day 5, urban inn by day 10, shop by day 20, Trading post by day 5. The farm stays in profit up to day 30.
Non of this makes sense buy 316 farms at 150GP ea. Total 47,400GP this will cover the costs of your 50,000GP castle, nothing else will.
So the outcome is invest less gain more, you are better buying multiple farms and leaving them unattended than you are buying any other business
I read this (section of the rules) quite some time ago and decided it was a half-hearted attempt to satisfy a small segment of the playing community.
Without looking up the information again, I agree with the sentiment of your post.
When I read this the first time it appeared it was equally likely you would lose money from any investment than to gain any money. I concluded that whoever wrote this wanted to make sure players didn't decide running a business was worthwhile compared to adventuring, and PCs would be adventuring and not pursuing other pursuits that would require rules and guidelines.
If you want to run a business, and I am attempting to do the same thing, you'll have to ask your DM to work with you in setting up the boundaries and the rules. I believe there is a general view that nobody wants you to be able to earn the money safely to purchase "that thing you want to get" to further your adventuring career. They want you to go on an adventure to acquire the money.
In my own efforts to run a company, I strive to reinvest my profits so the DM isn't worried that I am trying to fund some big purchase. I reinvest my profits in bags of spices, which I give away for information from people I meet. Some of these people are of modest means and appreciate the spices because they can't afford them. Others are folks I meet "on the trail" where money is of little immediate value, but spices can be put to use right away.
So, if you're trying to earn a pile of money, talk to your DM about how that might work and be prepared to hear "No" as an answer.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Yeah, the rules aren’t so great, that’s because D&D is not an economics simulator. (Running a business in a big city or a small town will have radically different costs, for example. So one set of rules would actually turn into a pretty large section.) If you really want to run a business, try the downtime rules in Xanathar’s for work, and maybe start from there.
Thanks for that, I was considering a selection of business to support running costs of a Small castle, but can't make it work without having 300 plus farms which would be a little tricky to justify :)
Please Help !! I can't make this make sense.
1. Possible losses are based on business running costs, possible profit is the same for all business sizes. Therefore the less you invest the more profit you make ??? buy a farm it is the only choice.
2. Attended business, assuming that for the time period you are looking at (max 30days) your possible losses are based on the total cost for the time period, and the profit is fixed regardless of time period (this is what the table appears to say) [This is based on all the average outcomes multiplied by the chance of them happening -( ie a long term average) I have only looked at time periods 1,5,10,20,30] rural inn and trading post have generally increasing profit towards 30 days but have an odd blip around 10 days where it is a loss so if your average downtime is in the 10days region both these 2 choices will average a loss. everything else seems to average more profit the closer you get to 30 days, Again though the more you invest the less your returns
3. Unattended time periods, Adventuring, doing something else with your time, setting business up to cover costs of a large purchase, etc. Rural Inn unattended is in loss by day 5, urban inn by day 10, shop by day 20, Trading post by day 5. The farm stays in profit up to day 30.
Non of this makes sense buy 316 farms at 150GP ea. Total 47,400GP this will cover the costs of your 50,000GP castle, nothing else will.
So the outcome is invest less gain more, you are better buying multiple farms and leaving them unattended than you are buying any other business
This has got to be wrong
Dum Vivimus vivamus
I read this (section of the rules) quite some time ago and decided it was a half-hearted attempt to satisfy a small segment of the playing community.
Without looking up the information again, I agree with the sentiment of your post.
When I read this the first time it appeared it was equally likely you would lose money from any investment than to gain any money. I concluded that whoever wrote this wanted to make sure players didn't decide running a business was worthwhile compared to adventuring, and PCs would be adventuring and not pursuing other pursuits that would require rules and guidelines.
If you want to run a business, and I am attempting to do the same thing, you'll have to ask your DM to work with you in setting up the boundaries and the rules. I believe there is a general view that nobody wants you to be able to earn the money safely to purchase "that thing you want to get" to further your adventuring career. They want you to go on an adventure to acquire the money.
In my own efforts to run a company, I strive to reinvest my profits so the DM isn't worried that I am trying to fund some big purchase. I reinvest my profits in bags of spices, which I give away for information from people I meet. Some of these people are of modest means and appreciate the spices because they can't afford them. Others are folks I meet "on the trail" where money is of little immediate value, but spices can be put to use right away.
So, if you're trying to earn a pile of money, talk to your DM about how that might work and be prepared to hear "No" as an answer.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Yeah, the rules aren’t so great, that’s because D&D is not an economics simulator. (Running a business in a big city or a small town will have radically different costs, for example. So one set of rules would actually turn into a pretty large section.) If you really want to run a business, try the downtime rules in Xanathar’s for work, and maybe start from there.
Thanks for that, I was considering a selection of business to support running costs of a Small castle, but can't make it work without having 300 plus farms which would be a little tricky to justify :)
Dum Vivimus vivamus
Dale,
Get a copy of Matt Colville's Strongholds and Followers. This well made book presents rules for exactly what you want to do. Matt has his own website.
His rules also give plenty of ideas for the keep or the castle too.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Thanks for that I'll have a look
Dum Vivimus vivamus