building a mansion
- Thread starter calighis
- Start date
darthkilmor
First Post
calighis said:
designing one or the actual labor of constructing it ?
Lord Slaw
First Post
This is completely dependent upon how big, how elaborate, and how sturdy this thing would be. Bear in mind, the character would most likely be hiring labor to do the actual work. I think that a character would most likely act as foreman, directing the manual (primarily unskilled) labor.
Well, you can always go by the fact that, since there are plenty of mansions in the world, that a low-level expert would be able to figure out how to build one. I'd say that 3rd level would be fair for an experienced Expert. Furthermore, we can assume that they're fairly bright (say, 12 Int or so), and have maxed their ranks in Knowledge (architecture and engineering) and Craft (carpentry). Furthermore, they've probably taken Skill Focus (Knowledge [architecture and engineering]), along with Skill Focus (Craft [carpentry]). So, we have a dedicated carpenter / construction worker here, with a +10 modifier to each skill. Odds are, to ensure a steady rate of success, they'd be taking 10 for the most part. I'd say that a DC 20 check for directing the labor would be sufficient, with a lower result impeding progress and a higher result expediting it.
As for how long it would take, perhaps price the total mansion, and use a combination of each worker's Profession or Craft checks GP result to determine progress, with the mansion being completed when the total price is met or exceeded. Each worker would probably gain a favorable circumstance bonus (+2 or so) for being guided by an Expert in the field, assuming he makes his DC 20 check. I'd say that they get a +2 bonus for the Expert making the two DC 20 checks (+1 each), with an extra +1 bonus for every time the Expert exceeds the DC 20 check by 5 (5 over = +3, 10 over = +4, etc.), and no bonus if they fail the check. So, if the Expert took a chance and didn't take 10, and rolled a total of 25 for each check, then the workers would each get a +4 bonus to their Craft/Profession checks, which would speed up progress considerably.
Complicated, yes, but base-building is a pretty intense thing to undertake.
Well, you can always go by the fact that, since there are plenty of mansions in the world, that a low-level expert would be able to figure out how to build one. I'd say that 3rd level would be fair for an experienced Expert. Furthermore, we can assume that they're fairly bright (say, 12 Int or so), and have maxed their ranks in Knowledge (architecture and engineering) and Craft (carpentry). Furthermore, they've probably taken Skill Focus (Knowledge [architecture and engineering]), along with Skill Focus (Craft [carpentry]). So, we have a dedicated carpenter / construction worker here, with a +10 modifier to each skill. Odds are, to ensure a steady rate of success, they'd be taking 10 for the most part. I'd say that a DC 20 check for directing the labor would be sufficient, with a lower result impeding progress and a higher result expediting it.
As for how long it would take, perhaps price the total mansion, and use a combination of each worker's Profession or Craft checks GP result to determine progress, with the mansion being completed when the total price is met or exceeded. Each worker would probably gain a favorable circumstance bonus (+2 or so) for being guided by an Expert in the field, assuming he makes his DC 20 check. I'd say that they get a +2 bonus for the Expert making the two DC 20 checks (+1 each), with an extra +1 bonus for every time the Expert exceeds the DC 20 check by 5 (5 over = +3, 10 over = +4, etc.), and no bonus if they fail the check. So, if the Expert took a chance and didn't take 10, and rolled a total of 25 for each check, then the workers would each get a +4 bonus to their Craft/Profession checks, which would speed up progress considerably.
Complicated, yes, but base-building is a pretty intense thing to undertake.
I like the DC 20 for modifying the workers pace. You may also consider giving him a price break (either via efficiency (less wasted materials), haggling bonus (because he knows his stuff he'll have an advantage on not getting cheated), or not having to hire as many workers for as long (due to his increasing efficiency).
You could make it a skill challenge where he need to get 6 20's before 3 misses or something of the sort.
I wouldn't worry too much about the letter of the rules here, just let him be useful to the group without making it complicated.
You could make it a skill challenge where he need to get 6 20's before 3 misses or something of the sort.
I wouldn't worry too much about the letter of the rules here, just let him be useful to the group without making it complicated.
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
This is the Production Formula I use DC= gp value/Labour/Time
A Mansion is worth 100000gp (10 - 20 rooms)
Using a calculation where Labour is 100 basic labourers and time 50 seasons*
(Four seasons per year 50/4 = 12.5 years!*) if we spread the gp value over the 50 seasons we get 2000gp per season (ie each season the gp value is reduced by 2000gp and a new DC can be rolled)
DC = 100000/100/50 = DC 20
Time = gp value/Labour/DC
This assumes that raw materials etc are being processed from scratch of course gp cost should be reduced if prefab materials are available (by magical or other means) and time can be further reduced by hitting a higher DC (eg having an expert builder come in to lead the project who rolls 30 thus reducing time to 8 years and gp reduced by 3030gp) or by getting more labour
so if you wanted to roll each season
to roll higher than DC = reduced time and bigger reduction in gp value
to roll lower than DC = increased time and less reduction in gp value (explained as cost overruns, reduced work due to bad weather, worker downtime)
* OF course a Grand house only cost 5000gp so with 20 labourers
5000/20/20 = 12.5 seasons = 3 years
A Mansion is worth 100000gp (10 - 20 rooms)
Using a calculation where Labour is 100 basic labourers and time 50 seasons*
(Four seasons per year 50/4 = 12.5 years!*) if we spread the gp value over the 50 seasons we get 2000gp per season (ie each season the gp value is reduced by 2000gp and a new DC can be rolled)
DC = 100000/100/50 = DC 20
Time = gp value/Labour/DC
This assumes that raw materials etc are being processed from scratch of course gp cost should be reduced if prefab materials are available (by magical or other means) and time can be further reduced by hitting a higher DC (eg having an expert builder come in to lead the project who rolls 30 thus reducing time to 8 years and gp reduced by 3030gp) or by getting more labour
so if you wanted to roll each season
to roll higher than DC = reduced time and bigger reduction in gp value
to roll lower than DC = increased time and less reduction in gp value (explained as cost overruns, reduced work due to bad weather, worker downtime)
* OF course a Grand house only cost 5000gp so with 20 labourers
5000/20/20 = 12.5 seasons = 3 years
Last edited:
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