The following will be included in “Fictive’s Talents and Templates 2″ to be released before the end of the year.
Wealth Management allows a character to invest in something that is not totally safe, but can generate money on a quarterly basis.
Upon leveling, the character can forego the +1 to an attribute, and invest up to 1,000 gold pieces in an enterprise at Risk 1. Once a quarter, the investment generates 5% earnings (or succumbs to Risk.)
The enterprise can be an orchard, a coaching inn, a share of a trading ship, or whatever seems to be a good opportunity at the time.
Before generating profit, the DM rolls 1d10; rolling above the Risk rating, income is generated as normal. Rolling equal to or less than the Risk rating, the DM rolls 1d10 x 10% and that’s the loss the investment takes.
The default Risk is 1. However, each additional Risk point the character adds also adds another 5% earning every quarter. A character with Risk 4 would be generating 20% profit a quarter–assuming Risk didn’t wipe out the investment.
An advantage to this background is that the character can own part of the game world, and make profits based on that (or accept risks, possibly leading to adventures). Sometimes characters can’t spend their loot fast enough, and they are carrying around sacks of gold; well, there are no banks as we know banks, and it is inconvenient to hide the money in a hole in the ground in the woods. Investing can look like a safer option. And they periodically get paid! (If you play long enough.)
Is it for everyone? Well, no. But it’s a cool option to have available in the background for the adventurer who may someday retire or has a great opportunity open up during game play. Like buying the inn they usually use in their travels, or refurbishing a dungeon environment as a prison, or building a watch tower in a dangerous mountain pass.
