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Can my character collect royalties from being an author? [on hold]
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My character is a half-elf, aged academic globetrotter researching ruins, fauna and flora - anything he can get his hands on really. In his 100+ year career it stands to reason that along with any research papers or the like, he would have additionally written some material for public consumption. Encyclopaedias, books of fact etc., along with perhaps an autobiography or two as he's pretty well renowned.
My group has never played D&D before but we're playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign, set in the world of Toril, which is a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties, what would be the most likely way my character would physically collect the money, and how much would be reasonable amount be per week to not break the game? My group currently has no idea about the value of currency at the moment.
dnd-5e
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by PJRZ, SeriousBri, KorvinStarmast, JP Chapleau, Miniman 1 min ago
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
My character is a half-elf, aged academic globetrotter researching ruins, fauna and flora - anything he can get his hands on really. In his 100+ year career it stands to reason that along with any research papers or the like, he would have additionally written some material for public consumption. Encyclopaedias, books of fact etc., along with perhaps an autobiography or two as he's pretty well renowned.
My group has never played D&D before but we're playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign, set in the world of Toril, which is a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties, what would be the most likely way my character would physically collect the money, and how much would be reasonable amount be per week to not break the game? My group currently has no idea about the value of currency at the moment.
dnd-5e
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by PJRZ, SeriousBri, KorvinStarmast, JP Chapleau, Miniman 1 min ago
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
2
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
3
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
My character is a half-elf, aged academic globetrotter researching ruins, fauna and flora - anything he can get his hands on really. In his 100+ year career it stands to reason that along with any research papers or the like, he would have additionally written some material for public consumption. Encyclopaedias, books of fact etc., along with perhaps an autobiography or two as he's pretty well renowned.
My group has never played D&D before but we're playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign, set in the world of Toril, which is a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties, what would be the most likely way my character would physically collect the money, and how much would be reasonable amount be per week to not break the game? My group currently has no idea about the value of currency at the moment.
dnd-5e
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My character is a half-elf, aged academic globetrotter researching ruins, fauna and flora - anything he can get his hands on really. In his 100+ year career it stands to reason that along with any research papers or the like, he would have additionally written some material for public consumption. Encyclopaedias, books of fact etc., along with perhaps an autobiography or two as he's pretty well renowned.
My group has never played D&D before but we're playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign, set in the world of Toril, which is a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties, what would be the most likely way my character would physically collect the money, and how much would be reasonable amount be per week to not break the game? My group currently has no idea about the value of currency at the moment.
dnd-5e
dnd-5e
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 11 mins ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
69.5k16217383
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
asked 55 mins ago
E Jacobs
163
163
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
E Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by PJRZ, SeriousBri, KorvinStarmast, JP Chapleau, Miniman 1 min ago
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by PJRZ, SeriousBri, KorvinStarmast, JP Chapleau, Miniman 1 min ago
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
2
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
3
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
2
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
3
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago
1
1
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
2
2
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
3
3
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
Simplify it as a downtime activity
There are no official rules for being an author, and while I can tell you, for example, that Volo (you know, the one who writes monster guides) will sell players a signed Volo's Guide to Monsters copy for 50 gold in the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, that kind of information doesn't really help you. Instead, this kind of thing is better simplified as a downtime activity.
Page 187 of the Player Handbook mentions practicing an occuptation:
You can work between adventures, allowing you to maintain a modest
lifestyle without having to pay 1 gp per day.
This could be showing up at schools of learning to hold a lecture, or sending out messages to other scholars who in turn allow your character to stay at their place. If your DM is feeling particularly generous, they could increase the 'modest' lifestyle part and make it an even better lifestyle, but I'd strongly advice against asking the DM for actual gold.
Once your DM allows you a constant gold income, it becomes really hard to deny other players who come up with reasons why they should be allowed 'x' from their background and while gold is not nearly as important in 5e as in earlier editions, it's still going to unbalance the game to an extend, especially when players start mentioning that their family of nobles has several magic items and they'd surely be allowed to borrow them.
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your character can make money from publishing
I would set this up as the character running a publishing business. The DMG gives a guide under Running a Business in down time activities (p.129).
RUNNING A BUSINESS
d1OO+Days (30 days max)
01-20 You must pay one and a half times the business's maintenance cost for each of the days
21-30 You must pay the business's full maintenance cost for each of the days
31-40 You must pay half the business's maintenance cost for each of the days. Profits cover the other half.
41-60 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days
61-80 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 1d6 x 5 gp.
81-90 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 2d8 x 5 gp.
91 or higher The business covers it s own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 3d10 x 5 gp.
Since the max days you can add is 30, I'd run a monthly income instead of weekly. As far as maintenance costs, I'd equate it to a town guild: 5 gp per day (DMG p.127)
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
... a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties ...
Stop right there
On Earth, the medieval period broadly runs from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The first printing press dates from 1439 and is primarily a renaissance development. The first state copyright act to protect authors was the UK’s Statute of Anne in 1710 although there had been protections granted to publishers prior to that.
You can run your world as you like but if you are basing it on our history, medieval authors have patrons, books are copied by hand and “royalties†are the people who rule kingdoms.
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
Simplify it as a downtime activity
There are no official rules for being an author, and while I can tell you, for example, that Volo (you know, the one who writes monster guides) will sell players a signed Volo's Guide to Monsters copy for 50 gold in the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, that kind of information doesn't really help you. Instead, this kind of thing is better simplified as a downtime activity.
Page 187 of the Player Handbook mentions practicing an occuptation:
You can work between adventures, allowing you to maintain a modest
lifestyle without having to pay 1 gp per day.
This could be showing up at schools of learning to hold a lecture, or sending out messages to other scholars who in turn allow your character to stay at their place. If your DM is feeling particularly generous, they could increase the 'modest' lifestyle part and make it an even better lifestyle, but I'd strongly advice against asking the DM for actual gold.
Once your DM allows you a constant gold income, it becomes really hard to deny other players who come up with reasons why they should be allowed 'x' from their background and while gold is not nearly as important in 5e as in earlier editions, it's still going to unbalance the game to an extend, especially when players start mentioning that their family of nobles has several magic items and they'd surely be allowed to borrow them.
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Simplify it as a downtime activity
There are no official rules for being an author, and while I can tell you, for example, that Volo (you know, the one who writes monster guides) will sell players a signed Volo's Guide to Monsters copy for 50 gold in the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, that kind of information doesn't really help you. Instead, this kind of thing is better simplified as a downtime activity.
Page 187 of the Player Handbook mentions practicing an occuptation:
You can work between adventures, allowing you to maintain a modest
lifestyle without having to pay 1 gp per day.
This could be showing up at schools of learning to hold a lecture, or sending out messages to other scholars who in turn allow your character to stay at their place. If your DM is feeling particularly generous, they could increase the 'modest' lifestyle part and make it an even better lifestyle, but I'd strongly advice against asking the DM for actual gold.
Once your DM allows you a constant gold income, it becomes really hard to deny other players who come up with reasons why they should be allowed 'x' from their background and while gold is not nearly as important in 5e as in earlier editions, it's still going to unbalance the game to an extend, especially when players start mentioning that their family of nobles has several magic items and they'd surely be allowed to borrow them.
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
Simplify it as a downtime activity
There are no official rules for being an author, and while I can tell you, for example, that Volo (you know, the one who writes monster guides) will sell players a signed Volo's Guide to Monsters copy for 50 gold in the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, that kind of information doesn't really help you. Instead, this kind of thing is better simplified as a downtime activity.
Page 187 of the Player Handbook mentions practicing an occuptation:
You can work between adventures, allowing you to maintain a modest
lifestyle without having to pay 1 gp per day.
This could be showing up at schools of learning to hold a lecture, or sending out messages to other scholars who in turn allow your character to stay at their place. If your DM is feeling particularly generous, they could increase the 'modest' lifestyle part and make it an even better lifestyle, but I'd strongly advice against asking the DM for actual gold.
Once your DM allows you a constant gold income, it becomes really hard to deny other players who come up with reasons why they should be allowed 'x' from their background and while gold is not nearly as important in 5e as in earlier editions, it's still going to unbalance the game to an extend, especially when players start mentioning that their family of nobles has several magic items and they'd surely be allowed to borrow them.
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
Simplify it as a downtime activity
There are no official rules for being an author, and while I can tell you, for example, that Volo (you know, the one who writes monster guides) will sell players a signed Volo's Guide to Monsters copy for 50 gold in the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, that kind of information doesn't really help you. Instead, this kind of thing is better simplified as a downtime activity.
Page 187 of the Player Handbook mentions practicing an occuptation:
You can work between adventures, allowing you to maintain a modest
lifestyle without having to pay 1 gp per day.
This could be showing up at schools of learning to hold a lecture, or sending out messages to other scholars who in turn allow your character to stay at their place. If your DM is feeling particularly generous, they could increase the 'modest' lifestyle part and make it an even better lifestyle, but I'd strongly advice against asking the DM for actual gold.
Once your DM allows you a constant gold income, it becomes really hard to deny other players who come up with reasons why they should be allowed 'x' from their background and while gold is not nearly as important in 5e as in earlier editions, it's still going to unbalance the game to an extend, especially when players start mentioning that their family of nobles has several magic items and they'd surely be allowed to borrow them.
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
answered 28 mins ago
Theik
9,7553757
9,7553757
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your character can make money from publishing
I would set this up as the character running a publishing business. The DMG gives a guide under Running a Business in down time activities (p.129).
RUNNING A BUSINESS
d1OO+Days (30 days max)
01-20 You must pay one and a half times the business's maintenance cost for each of the days
21-30 You must pay the business's full maintenance cost for each of the days
31-40 You must pay half the business's maintenance cost for each of the days. Profits cover the other half.
41-60 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days
61-80 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 1d6 x 5 gp.
81-90 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 2d8 x 5 gp.
91 or higher The business covers it s own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 3d10 x 5 gp.
Since the max days you can add is 30, I'd run a monthly income instead of weekly. As far as maintenance costs, I'd equate it to a town guild: 5 gp per day (DMG p.127)
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your character can make money from publishing
I would set this up as the character running a publishing business. The DMG gives a guide under Running a Business in down time activities (p.129).
RUNNING A BUSINESS
d1OO+Days (30 days max)
01-20 You must pay one and a half times the business's maintenance cost for each of the days
21-30 You must pay the business's full maintenance cost for each of the days
31-40 You must pay half the business's maintenance cost for each of the days. Profits cover the other half.
41-60 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days
61-80 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 1d6 x 5 gp.
81-90 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 2d8 x 5 gp.
91 or higher The business covers it s own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 3d10 x 5 gp.
Since the max days you can add is 30, I'd run a monthly income instead of weekly. As far as maintenance costs, I'd equate it to a town guild: 5 gp per day (DMG p.127)
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your character can make money from publishing
I would set this up as the character running a publishing business. The DMG gives a guide under Running a Business in down time activities (p.129).
RUNNING A BUSINESS
d1OO+Days (30 days max)
01-20 You must pay one and a half times the business's maintenance cost for each of the days
21-30 You must pay the business's full maintenance cost for each of the days
31-40 You must pay half the business's maintenance cost for each of the days. Profits cover the other half.
41-60 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days
61-80 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 1d6 x 5 gp.
81-90 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 2d8 x 5 gp.
91 or higher The business covers it s own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 3d10 x 5 gp.
Since the max days you can add is 30, I'd run a monthly income instead of weekly. As far as maintenance costs, I'd equate it to a town guild: 5 gp per day (DMG p.127)
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
Yes, your character can make money from publishing
I would set this up as the character running a publishing business. The DMG gives a guide under Running a Business in down time activities (p.129).
RUNNING A BUSINESS
d1OO+Days (30 days max)
01-20 You must pay one and a half times the business's maintenance cost for each of the days
21-30 You must pay the business's full maintenance cost for each of the days
31-40 You must pay half the business's maintenance cost for each of the days. Profits cover the other half.
41-60 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days
61-80 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 1d6 x 5 gp.
81-90 The business covers its own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 2d8 x 5 gp.
91 or higher The business covers it s own maintenance cost for each of the days. It earns a profit of 3d10 x 5 gp.
Since the max days you can add is 30, I'd run a monthly income instead of weekly. As far as maintenance costs, I'd equate it to a town guild: 5 gp per day (DMG p.127)
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
answered 14 mins ago
ravery
6,1331947
6,1331947
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
I considered using the 'running a business' part for my answer as well, but the results don't really make a whole lot of sense. The maintenance costs for somebody who has written books in the past but doesn't produce them currently is essentially zero.
– Theik
11 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik -- yes, my answer makes the character the publisher,distributer, etc. not just the author.
– ravery
9 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
@Theik The publisher gets a cut, right?
– KorvinStarmast
8 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
I don't want to steal your thunder by immediately posting a separate answer, but if this is how much money the publisher earns then maybe work this out then send the player their 5% (Example) cut?
– SeriousBri
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
... a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties ...
Stop right there
On Earth, the medieval period broadly runs from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The first printing press dates from 1439 and is primarily a renaissance development. The first state copyright act to protect authors was the UK’s Statute of Anne in 1710 although there had been protections granted to publishers prior to that.
You can run your world as you like but if you are basing it on our history, medieval authors have patrons, books are copied by hand and “royalties†are the people who rule kingdoms.
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
... a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties ...
Stop right there
On Earth, the medieval period broadly runs from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The first printing press dates from 1439 and is primarily a renaissance development. The first state copyright act to protect authors was the UK’s Statute of Anne in 1710 although there had been protections granted to publishers prior to that.
You can run your world as you like but if you are basing it on our history, medieval authors have patrons, books are copied by hand and “royalties†are the people who rule kingdoms.
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
... a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties ...
Stop right there
On Earth, the medieval period broadly runs from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The first printing press dates from 1439 and is primarily a renaissance development. The first state copyright act to protect authors was the UK’s Statute of Anne in 1710 although there had been protections granted to publishers prior to that.
You can run your world as you like but if you are basing it on our history, medieval authors have patrons, books are copied by hand and “royalties†are the people who rule kingdoms.
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
... a stereotypical medieval world.
Assuming that the world has a publication system and royalties ...
Stop right there
On Earth, the medieval period broadly runs from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The first printing press dates from 1439 and is primarily a renaissance development. The first state copyright act to protect authors was the UK’s Statute of Anne in 1710 although there had been protections granted to publishers prior to that.
You can run your world as you like but if you are basing it on our history, medieval authors have patrons, books are copied by hand and “royalties†are the people who rule kingdoms.
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
answered 6 mins ago
Dale M
96.4k19247437
96.4k19247437
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
While I agree that medieval worlds don't have printing presses, they also don't have mechanical robots or wizards, or the ability to simply have a magical creation copy your books. This doesn't really help the OP figure out a way to model being an author into their campaign.
– Theik
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
1
As it stands, your question is very difficult to answer because it's not really even one question. It's a whole collection of questions, some which are fluff and depend on your campaign, some which are real-world history and some which are mechanical. (Getting money from downtime activities.) Try limiting yourself to a single question.
– Theik
48 mins ago
The above comments talk about it being too broad, but there is another concern that you need to think about. Anyone who has written an encyclopedia probably has a lot of knowledge, you need to think how this knowledge will impact the world as well. Some GM's don't mind their player characters having a lot of knowledge, others don't like it when players know the meaning of every symbol and the life cycle of the rare creatures that they may or may not encounter.
– SeriousBri
46 mins ago
2
All of these questions are really going to depend on your DM and the setting in which you are playing (the Lost Mines of Phandelver is Toril by default, but your DM could potentially set it anywhere). You have a lot of questions and many of them, by their nature, are unlikely to be answered in any official source book. You may want to research real-life medieval book publishing (but don't worry too much about details - it is a fantasy D&D world after all)!
– PJRZ
45 mins ago
3
I've edited the question to be what I actually wanted to ask, which is how much would be expected to be made. I always have had a problem being concise. As we're completely new to the game, our main concern is that having a weekly income for no effort will be game breaking, and that we're not sure how much it would be.
– E Jacobs
37 mins ago
What has your DM/GM advised you about this?
– KorvinStarmast
7 mins ago