Hello All!
I'm right now playing Rise of the Runelords campaign and one of my players wants to build a new lumbermill in Sandpoint.
I've opened Ultimate Campaign book and found out that Mill costs only 660 gp - and frankly speaking it's too low for me (I'm not trying to be realistic here, but 660 gp is just... cheap..)
I said that 660 gp is for small Mill that is hand-operated and if character wants water-operated Mill then he needs to cover costs for water-wheel and necessary machinery.
Please advice me how much should this tech cost in Golarion? Is it expensive or not?
Typical Mill from UC consists only from 4 rooms:
Mill Room
Office
2 Storages
1 Mill Room is typically 25 squares big. Let's say it's 6 х 4.16 squares room, it's 30 ft. x 20,8 ft. room. You know, it's not really big room. :)
Sometimes I doubt that a tree log can be squeezed to this room :)
For your information - sawmill from Part 6 (Chapter 2) of Rise of the Runelords has several floors, each one 9 x 6 squares = 54 squares.
That is why I'm sure that Mill that is presented in UC for 660 gp - is really let's say small, basic mill.
660gp is an enormous sum of money outside of adventuring.
I would avoid arguing about fantasy economy, cause it's silly.
660gp is an enormous sum of money outside of adventuring.I would avoid arguing about fantasy economy, cause it's silly.
But then what's the point of the thread? Kind of strange to start a thread on "how much should this cost?" and not assume people will discuss economics?
660 gp is equal to 660 chickens, 66 pigs, or 13 cattle. It's a big deal for most people.
Ok. compare it to House (small cottage for 2 adults or new family) - 1290 gp.
Why does it matter if the cost is only 660 gp? Do you expect this to have some other profound negative impact on the game otherwise?
It's 660 gp of role playing.
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Yeah, my group wanted to own a brewery in Sandpoint and all have rolls in the building up of it. I gave it to them as an inheritance. It was a struggling business with no customer base and they loved it because while going around town they would petition barkeeps to try out the local brews...they invested time in it. I had the business making enough to keep it afloat and put a few coins a month in their pockets (which they tossed back into the business to expand it and even more at times), and eventually when they started going to Magnimar they brought a few casks, got some interested taverns, set up a shipping schedule, hired a few people (including the semi-evil dude...Vandercaskin? who they reformed) to make the deliveries, and started gaining some note in the area as a good brewery. Mostly this had no real in-game effect but it was fun and they enjoyed having that aspect of the game going on. Excellent RP.
If they are looking to only gain money then lets talk about how easy is it to fail at a business, or how much money can be needed to be pumped into a business to get it to be profitable.
But if they are just looking to add flavor...who cares how much it costs? Hand-wave the operation tell them that they gain 25-50 gold a month and move on. The plot hooks and character investment is worth more than anything if you are a good GM.
Ok. compare it to House (small cottage for 2 adults or new family) - 1290 gp.
Yeah, about twice the price, which should seem fairly adequate if we assume the cottage is partially in stone, is sturdy enough to live in full-time, has two rooms, kitchen and lavatory as well as sewer access, likely a chimney, and furniture for all of it. Compared to a lumber mill that's all wood, not very protected from the elements, and has only a small office and milling equipment.
Well, the prices are as listed, you can of course house rule but I don't see the point. It's not outlandish prices and not a balance issue at all.