Bob World Builder Presents

Rules Supplement
 *this sample ha
s 1 base and
10 businesses. Fo
r all 4 bases,
Bob World Builder Presents 40 businesses, maps, an
d more,
check out the fu
ll version
available in the
BWB Patreon sh
and DriveThruRPG op
on 12/20/2023!

Bases & Businesses

As fantasy roleplaying game characters advance in level, they should also advance in station within the
game world. While magic swords are enduring rewards that technically increase a hero’s power and
influence, they tend to lose their novelty quickly. For game masters and players who want to truly invest in
their world, there is no better reward than a base or a business. These shops and strongholds serve not
only as physical seats of power and places of respite, but they also allow loot-laden adventurers to spread
their wealth, attract hirelings, and raise their status in other helpful ways. This supplement provides simple
rules for building and maintaining four types of bases and forty businesses that grant unique 5e character
features adaptable to any d20 fantasy RPG. Each base is linked to a core character archetype and includes
both a sample location map and a table of nonplayer character hirelings ready to drop into your game.

Building Bases
Base Details
Bases are seats of power and/or places of
business where characters can gain information, Build Cost Build Time Hirelings, Perform.
train their skills, heal, craft, and more. Any Base Type
(Gold) (Months) Minimum Die
character can own any base, but each of the four
types provides features for particular 5e
Tavern 5,000 1 2 d4
character class groups indicated in the Base
Details table. Furthermore, the party can share Fort 15,000 3 5 d6
one base, or build several and combine them. In
any case, each character may only own one base, Temple 20,000 4 1 d8
and each base needs to have one character as its Tower 10,000 2 1 d4
primary owner.

By design, these establishments are too expensive Tavern - Bard, Thief/Expert Temple - Cleric/Priest
for first level characters, but GM-willing, a brand Fort - Fighter/Warrior Tower - Wizard/Mage
new party of adventurers could inherit or invade
an existing location and turn it into their own
base.

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 This owner sustains a loss representing a lack of
income against normal expenses, equal to one
500th (1/500) of the base’s build cost. For
example, the owner of an understaffed tavern
loses 10 gold pieces (5000 gold build cost x 1/500)
at the end of the month. Until the hirelings return
or are replaced, the owner loses any benefits that
depend on their base’s reputation or ongoing
productivity. Benefits a character gained by
training or working at the base are unaffected.

Buying an existing base costs half as much as the If a base had at least the minimum number of
build cost listed on the Base Details table, and hirelings for the majority of the month, the
the minimum number of hirelings needed to keep owner rolls their base’s performance die on the
the establishment functioning come with any Monthly Performance table below. This roll
newly acquired base. determines their profit, if any, and other events
that occurred during the month. Owners who
The range of build costs noted in each base’s spent the lowest or highest build cost roll twice
description (Tavern: 0.5-10k; Fort: 10-20k; and take the lower or higher result, respectively.
Temple: 10-30k; Tower: 5-15k) reflects its If it’s fun for the group, these events can be
available range of appearance from humble to briefly improvised and roleplayed by taking on
extravagant. Appearance impacts a base’s the roles of the base’s hirelings.
performance die roll as explained below, and its
build time, where every 5,000 gold spent to build
a base equals one month of construction. It is
assumed that nonplayer character masons and
carpenters complete the base’s construction in a Monthly Performance
timely manner whether or not the player
characters are present, though the game master (1d4-1d8)
may choose to introduce complications.
1. Lost a hireling because… 1) the base was attacked,
robbed, or vandalized, 2) of an important family
matter, 3) they needed a change, 4) you inspired
Base Performance them to adventure.

2. Minor loss: 1/1000 x build cost.

A base’s success depends on two factors: the
number of hirelings on staff and the base’s 3. Stable business
performance die roll. The GM should check these
factors at the end of each month in-game during 4. Minor profit: 1/1000 x build cost.
an unobtrusive scene, like the party settling down
for a rest in a safe location. 5. Minor profit: 1/1000 x build cost.

6. Moderate profit: 1/500 x build cost.

If a base did not have the minimum number of
hirelings on staff for the majority of the month, 7. Moderate profit: 1/500 x build cost.
no performance die roll is required.
8. Major profit: 1/100 x build cost.
OR Gained 1d4 hirelings!
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Happy Hirelings
As long as a base’s owner maintains their
minimum number of hirelings, their revenue will
remain relatively stable, so it is in the owner’s
best interest to keep their staff happy. For
example, if the monthly performance roll results
in a lost hireling, an owner who pays normal
wages and treats hirelings fairly may convince
them to return with a DC 15 Charisma
(Persuasion) check. It is assumed that all hirelings
are paid about one gold piece per day (30 gold
pieces per month) covered by the base’s normal
income. Also, it is assumed that adding extra
hirelings increases productivity to account for the
extra wages.

Paying lower wages or docking monthly losses

from wages raises the DC by 10, while paying
higher wages (out of pocket) and awarding
bonuses may reduce the DC by 10. Ultimately, a
lost hireling’s decision to return must depend on
their treatment.

Taverns
From clubs and pubs in bustling cities to lonely
roadside inns, taverns are social hubs where
locals and travelers gather for merriment,
information, and rest. On average they are the
least expensive type of base to build, though the
cost ranges widely from 500 gold for a wayward
cottage to 10,000 gold for an upscale but quaint
hotel.

A tavern requires a minimum of two hirelings,

typically a server and barkeep who work together
as an assistant and manager. Taverns with a full
kitchen also have a cook and at least one more
server, and establishments with multiple guest
rooms keep a maid on staff as well. Let the player
design a few hirelings or use the Tavern Hirelings
table for inspiration.

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 While a player character of any class can enjoy
Tavern Hirelings (1d8)
what a tavern has to offer, thieves and bards
benefit most from these bases for the information 1. Snake: A sly elf covered in snake tattoos who
and atmosphere they provide. always wears a hood and prefers to cook
dishes with monstrous ingredients.
➛ Risky Business. A tavern is not likely to make its
owner rich unless the establishment offers 2. Grimm: A gruff dwarf who wears stolen
another, less scrupulous way to make money. If trinkets in his braided beard and crafts a
a tavern engages in one or more of the wicked brew with his family recipe.
following side hustles, add +1 to their monthly
3. Sable Thistlefoot: A nimble halfling who wears
performance roll: smuggling, rigged or illegal
a dark leather apron, moves in absolute
gambling, unregulated fight club, drug dealing,
silence, and bakes killer pastries.
or criminal hideout.
4. Nix: A mysterious silver-haired elf who never
➛ Live Music. Bard characters who own a tavern
reveals what goes into their delicious drinks.
always use a d6 instead of a d4 on their
monthly performance roll for scheduling or 5. Gruk Bloodmaw: A towering orc who attends
performing live entertainment. Once per day, to customers like his life depends on it.
these bards may also roll their monthly
performance die and add the result to one 6. Lilith: A pale human with raven feathers in
Charisma (Performance or Persuasion) check, her hair who wears all black and never speaks
leaning on their tavern’s reputation to please above a whisper, but provides impeccable
the crowd. service.

➛ Networking. Thief or rogue characters who own 7. Thrain Silvercoin: A dwarven grill master and
a tavern always use a d6 instead of a d4 on their gambler who wears too many rings and insists
monthly performance roll for providing a place on being paid in silver.
for their ilk to safely swap stories and
information. These player characters can add +2 8. Zarak Quickblade: A goblin whirlwind of
to their monthly performance roll if their tavern veggie-chopping fury who wears colorful
engages in more than one seedy side hustle, tunics and always impresses the customers.
meaning they may gain 1d4 loyal hirelings (to a
maximum of 8 per tavern) from the roll. All
tavern hirelings use bandit statistics with a
random alignment. These hirelings can stay at
the base or travel with the party at the group’s
discretion.

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 Unless otherwise stated, each businesses provides
Businesses the owner a 10% discount on their goods and
services, and they have the following build cost,
Although bases can serve as businesses, fantasy build time, minimum hirelings, and performance
settings include many unique types of shops that die. Business use the same Monthly Performance
cannot be easily reskinned as one of the four table and hireling requirements as bases,
bases detailed above. The list below covers a described in the Base Performance section.
broad range of medieval fantasy shops with brief
descriptions and simple benefits that the owner
character receives when the business is running
smoothly. As indicated in their descriptions, a few
businesses count as one of the bases described in Business Details
the previous sections, so a character can only own
one. Otherwise a character can own up to three Business Build Cost Build Time Hirelings, Perform.
total businesses, and any businesses shared Type (Gold) (Months) Minimum Die
among characters must have one primary owner.
Characters who work at their own business for at
--- 5,000 1 1 d4
least one month gain proficiency with the tools
associated with that business (e.g. brewery,
proficiency with brewer’s supplies).

Businesses
1. Alchemist: A mystical workshop for concocting potions and experimenting with the elemental
nature of different materials. See Tower for character benefits and building and maintenance
requirements.

2. Animal Shelter: A facility for housing and caring for mundane and fantastical creatures, that are
usually small and tame. After working here for at least 6 months, the owner may roll their monthly
performance die and add the result to one Wisdom (Animal Handling) check on a small or tiny
creature once per day.

3. Armorsmith: A smithy specializing in crafting and repairing armor, offering a range of protective
gear for adventurers. After working here for at least 12 months, the owner can increase their own
armor class by +1 when wearing armor or using a shield. The owner can only complete this training
once, including armor training at a fort. Rather than a d4, this business uses a d6 as its
performance die.

4. Artist Studio: A small studio for creating paintings, sculptures, or other fine artwork. The owner
decides what type of artwork is produced. For owning this business, the character becomes known
as a patron of the arts. After 6 months, this owner uses a d6 instead of a d4 on their monthly
performance roll, then a d8 after 12 months, possibly attracting hirelings using commoner statistics
to work in the studio (to a maximum of 5 per studio) or elsewhere in the local area.

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 5. Baker: A delightful shop that produces fresh bread and pastries. This business provides the owner
with free stale bread as rations, up to 10 rations each month.

6. Barber: A grooming establishment providing haircuts, shaves, perfumes, and other cosmetic
services. At the GM’s discretion, this business provides the owner with illicit disguise services.

7. Bathhouse: A facility for washing and relaxing. After working here for at least 6 months, the owner
may roll their monthly performance die and add the result to one Wisdom (Insight) check once per
day.

8. Beekeeper: A small farm of sorts that produces honey and beeswax products. This business
provides the owner with free bees, up to 1 jar of bees every 3 months. The jar of bees can be thrown
20 feet to release a swarm of insects (replace climbing speed with flying speed) acting on the
owner’s turn. The owner cannot control the swarm once released, and the swarm has a 50% chance
of fleeing at the end of each of their turns.

9. Blacksmith: A versatile metalworks. Rather than a discount, this business offers the owner free
repairs of metal items besides armor and weapons.

10. Butcher: A shop focused on the preparation and sale of meat products. This business provides the
owner with free jerky as rations, up to 5 rations each month. After working here for at least 6
months, the owner may roll their monthly performance die and add the result to one Wisdom
(Survival) check once per day to harvest parts from monsters.

on also includes:
*The full versi Jeweler
Brewer Leatherworke
r
Calligrapher Locksmith
Candler Mason
Carpenter Mill
Cartographer Mine
Cartwright Potter
Cemetery Restaurant
Cheesemaker Stable
Clothier Swordsmith
Farm Taxidermist
Fletcher Tea house
Gambling den Theater
Glassblower Tinker
Herbalist Trading post
Inn

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Credits
Thank You, Patrons!
➛ Writing & Layout: Robert Mason This project was fully funded by the amazing
➛ Editing: Grace Davies
Bob World Builder Patreon community!
➛ Cartography: Venatus Maps (Tavern Assests,
Whitescar Guild, The Wilted Tower, Shrine Of
Artio modified CC-BY 4.0) Want More Adventure?
➛ Illustration: Victor Hugo Julião Passos (Amra
Dayne, Lukas Halphen, Ursa’s Keeper), Pixabay Check out other Bob World Builder 5e
➛ Cover Art: Frans Wilhelm Odelmark (Bazaar In adventures and supplements here:
Cairo) Patreon -- DriveThruRPG -- DMsGuild

Legal Stuff
Bases & Businesses v1.1 SAMPLE © 2023 Robert Mason, Bob World Builder. All rights reserved.

This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the
Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

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