How to maintain wealth?

[Eolin]

I have a PC who recently got a metric crapload of wealth. In cash. Also, from a deck draw, he got a Keep, which I got to model and it is a Wizard's tower. -- makes sense, as he is a Wizard.

Anyway, I find it really easy to piss away money. Really easy. But I don't want to do that right now. I want to find ways to invest the money and to make it worth more.

Its in Kalamar, which is a good midevil-eque (I think, more or less) setting. What is there for a rising pseudo-noble to garner wealth?

I've figured out land-owning. Makes sense, as land *is* wealth. Have peasants who work the land, then sell what they make. Rent the land to people who want to live on it, use the money. Etc.

Adventuring, obviously. And hiring out adventuring parties.

I don't think there are real buisnesses as we know them today around. If there were, I could invest and just live off the dividends. That plus some land sounds like inherited wealth to me.

There's also trade. But that's awful burgeoise.

Anyway, looking for advice here. I want to leave wealth to generation after generation, not just have it disapear after one or two. And I don't rightly know how the idle rich of generations past kept up the supply of moola. Anybody else know?

Thanks.

 

[Galethorn]

Step 1: Tax the peasants (i.e. take a percentage of the product of their farming)

Step 2: Tax local craft and trade guilds. Heavily.

Step 3: Use your amassed wealth to fund a few small conquests to gain more land

Step 4: Repeat steps 1 and 2 until ready for step 3 again; once you've got a small duchy, proceed to step 5

Step 5: Tax everything, but do it lightly...you'll have a happy populace and the money will just keep coming in, which will be good if you want to continue conquering, or if somebody else wants to conquer you.

 

[sukael]

Yeah--once you've got enough land, set the tax at a low fractional rate--10%-20%, maybe? I'm not sure of specifics--enough for maintenance and administration of the land holdings (including army/defence forces) and a small sum to add to the treasury. The more money the common people have, the better the local economy is, and the richer the area gets overall--and so the amount of money you're getting in taxes, going by the same percentage, starts going up.

 

[IronWolf]

Not only taxes, but become a venture capitalist of sorts. Invest in some new business, inn or tavern. Any of the common services necessary for a town could make some money on the side. Certainly with the backing of a wealthy adventurer the establishment in question to become very competitive.

 

[Eolin]

Investing in buisnesses that are needed in a town is a good idea. One I hadn't thought of.

Sounds like the basic thread going here is "act like a king, tax the peasants". Right?

 

[sukael]

Yeah, but do it lightly enough that they won't get resentful, and pour as much as you can back into public works etc. so that they get the idea that you're a noble benefactor who only takes what is necessary to keep everything running.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Not only taxes, but become a venture capitalist of sorts. Invest in some new business, inn or tavern. Any of the common services necessary for a town could make some money on the side.

SHOES. Back a nice variety of shoemakers and shoe repairers (cobblers). And the tanners and everyone else who makes the leather. Set up a whole conglomerate for shoes (and clothing maybe).

 

[Eolin]

why shoes? I understanding wanting a vertical monopoly, but why shoes in particular?

 

[Coredump]

Well, really it is 'do whatever you want'. Since DnD's economic 'model' is very fragile. So just pick something that would be fun, and run with it. If your DM doesn't mind you having money, you will keep it or make more. IF he doesn't something bad will happen and you will lose it.


Buy land

Shipping fleet.

Sponsor expeditions (searching for treasure or trade.)

start/buy several businesses

Find a small town on a river, buy it, and invest in infrastructure so more people come.

build a road/bridge, and charge a toll

Kalamar, so get involved in the slave trade.

Worship the Vicelord and start some brothels

Buy lots of platinum, and keep it under your mattress

 

[Eolin]

Coredump, a couple matters of concern.

Well, really it is 'do whatever you want'. Since DnD's economic 'model' is very fragile. So just pick something that would be fun, and run with it. If your DM doesn't mind you having money, you will keep it or make more. IF he doesn't something bad will happen and you will lose it.

First offish, the character is still adventuring and has an Empire to upset. He's busy. I may find a man of buisness to do the leg-work and take a chunk of the profits. But I dunno if any can be trusted.

Oh, and the game is actually hackmaster. But that only affects the discussion slightly.

Buy land

Problem: who would ever sell it?

Kalamar, so get involved in the slave trade.

Lawful-Good.

Worship the Vicelord and start some brothels

Lawful Good.

Buy lots of platinum, and keep it under your mattress

[/QUOTE]
That doesn't generate wealth, just makes it not reduce in amount.

Anyway, it sounds like a vertical monopoly on some important product is a good way to go.