AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic - A Player-Run Tavern. Whatchathink?

So with the additions of the rentable houses and the many opportunities with the job system, I've decided that it might be fun to establish a player-operated tavern. Hire staff, establish shifts, maybe pay the workers (not much, of course, but enough to get the RP point across that it is a job) and host events.

I just thought I'd throw the idea out there before I actually start recruiting people for this, as I plan to run the tavern staff like a faction. I also want to get an idea from the general player base as to whether or not this would be worth my time, considering the "Inns Aren't INNportant" topic which is floating around in this same forum.

The advantages here would be pretty obvious. Something to do when nobody wants to hunt, an established group of people to RP with, an added bit of story for your character, and if the place is player-run and hosting events and things it might just be enough to encourage more people to come RP with us and give them more IC reason to hang out in a tavern.

The disadvantages, I'd say, are just as obvious. Firstly, it's a tavern. Nobody uses the ones already in-game, and that's been established in the aforementioned post. A lack of interest is another one, as most people would rather run around and kill things than to work at a tavern and serve drinks.

However, despite these things I think that while it may be difficult to pull off, it's worth the effort. After all, most adventuring parties in PnP games start in a tavern, and in my experience tavern role play is actually pretty good. It also provides something for those non-combat RP-only characters, and it offers a potential RP hot spot. If the entire staff is made up of players, it's hard to walk in and not get RP out of it, I'd think.

So. Given that bit of information... Questions? Comments? Violent reactions?

((Also, I'll be putting up IC fliers for it, but if you're interested in helping out at all feel free to PM me about it beforehand.))

I like the idea. It might attract more players than NPC run taverns. The current taverns only really attract people when it's known there's someone playing the barkeep, so a pub with staff "alive" all the time might fare better all the time.

I like the idea personally, and would be glad to see it go in. Who knows, might actually come and see it if it happens?

Fools Rush Inn.
Give us the key, Sauce!

It has the full flavour of a great idea, but the IC player cost would (or should) be immense for the proprietor if business didn't go well. Stocking your Inn for inn-stance would only be the beginning of your terrors.

And what happens if whoever started such an inn decided to do something else, or got bored of the idea? It's a good idea and it could be a lot of fun - but I'm a ~glass half empty~ kind of guy, or just a really wise Jedi who takes failure into consideration.

I have taken cost into consideration, but since I plan to use one of my higher-level characters, that's not something that can't be remedied by a few hunting trips. And as I said, the pay for the employees would be basically just a pinch of gold to say that you work here. Unless I become obscenely rich somehow, in which case it'd become a bit more substantial. I'm hoping people would join more for the RP element, rather than that.

And as for keeping it stocked, I'm planning to recruit multiple brewers, farmers and cooks to work with me. It'll generate exp from the job system, give a -reason- to generate that exp, and it will also provide some good business RP.

I want to become the new Bill Jordan!

It will work.

As long as its not out of the way. And theres a sign outside to clue passers by into whats inside.

I'm absolutely positive a large number of players will respond. The number of characters willing to part with their hard earned GPs to buy useless food items from my character is enough to convince me of that.

And I'd be willing to work there. Part time at least.

Personally I like the idea. And with some job system jobs it should be possible to earn xp while working there. Or perhaps some more specific job could be created for it. Just throwing out a very unrefined idea, but here it goes.

People need motivation for getting people to visit the inn. So say the Hin Inn becomes player controled. Well I'm sure the Bendir Government would like to see rent paid. Well there's your reason for getting players there, no players, no income, no rent, no inn. As for earning xp. Perhaps there is or could be some way to devide the profit as xp under players. Like the beggar job does. You get money for begging and both sides get some xp.

I'm sure it's possible to organize some entertainment to draw in customers. Prayer evenings, philosophy circles and sermon to Oghma, perhaps. :twisted:

See, the issue with that is that IC, my character has no interest in running the Hin Inn.

It would be interesting, yeah, but I think we can attract a good amount of people by hosting opening events like brawls, story nights, bard contests, and things like that. And that's in addition to the novelty value of a fully player-run tavern.

But yes, it'd be entirely possible to earn exp just for working there. It implements use of the job system, and it also creates an active RP environment, meaning greater chances for DMs to spirit by and drop DCs and other shiny gifts on patrons who are enjoying it. *sagenod*

Finding the right location is the hardest part, I suspect.

1. Don't put it in Cordor.
2. Don't put it in Bendir Dale.
3. Don't put it in Winya Revana.
4. Don't put it in Kohlingen.
5. Don't put it in Tarkuul.
6. Don't put it in Underport.

Well the Hin Inn was just an example, though you have to admit it's a central area. I'm sure if the location is right my bard character would love to hang around there, and I still got a trader and a begger. So either way I'm sure I could help out with the work or RP there at times.

Bendir Dale is an awesome area, but the hins living there are quite frenzied in banning those who they disapprove of.

You want to put the Inn at a location where everyone could have access to it.

Otherwise I'll weep. Or kill someone. Or both.

I do think the most practical way of going about this would be to team up with the NPC inn owners. There's existing and famous inns around Amia, everybody knows how to get to them. That's a good place to start.

My original plan was to have the building constructed in a well-traveled area of the North Frontier. And it still may get there someday, if I have my way about it, but to avoid making Disco blow a gasket with another construction faction-area project, I've decided to use a rentable house instead.

Uhm is looking like a good option, at the moment.

There's a rentable house in the Skull Crags, by the carts, no?

I dunno. I mean, I think many player-run things would be a good idea, however the issue is whether or not people would hang out there much, and likewise if people were bored enough to bother attending the tavern instead of going out and adventuring.

In other words, I like the idea but I don't know how well it'd come together.

This is a good idea, be sure to put it someplace that the shady folks and the good folk can both get to, so they can have a tea party together.

I think it's more likely people will go to an Inn where they know there will be at least one PC hanging about, which they can interact with.

Still, the ideal location for an Inn, is Amia Forest.

Yeah. It would be perfect, if it worked out IC.

Wow. I'm thrilled by all the positive feedback and suggestions I'm getting here, so thanks for all the input.

I guess now it just comes down to picking a location and pulling things together IC.

After a bit of exploration, I think it's narrowed down to the loner building in the Crags that Mago mentioned or one of the many options in Uhm, as both places are neutral and don't have any bannings or alignment restrictions.

It's a great idea. All too often characters have no idea where anyone else is or what the heck is happening lately, at least not in an IC sense. A player running an inn can give you information an in character way, and then you can act on it in character.

At least, that's the theory. The proprieter of an inn can't give you (much) information about people who speed by without stopping at the inn. And even if they can give you information on travellers, it's inevitably going to be horribly boring as most players and their characters visit the same places over and over again.

For this to really work, people need to invest time in making the RP happen. If they don't, they won't get anything out of it and it will become useless.

People don't get anything done if they always worry about whether it will "work." How is RP supposed to "work"? From my experience, it works fantastically if there are but two people excited about something and role-play together. People flock to enthusiasm, and it's fantastic when several great role-players gather together. But even if that doesn't happen, at the end of the day: it's still been worth it. People should learn that they can have long-term goals to give them direction, but that the actual purpose and reward comes in the moment.

Yeah won't know till you try it. It's a good enough idea not to. Who knows if it catches on we might see a lot more player controled services.

Why is this an OOC post arranging IC behavior instead of just an IC post asking for people to help your PC manage a tavern?

Sounds like a good idea. Have fun doing it (and when you do I'll probably have Ame pop around for a looksee and your Occupational Health and Safety

)

Yossarin wrote:

Why is this an OOC post arranging IC behavior instead of just an IC post asking for people to help your PC manage a tavern?

Primarily because I didn't want to advertise and start asking without first knowing the general response level to avoid getting not enough interest or too much disapproval from the player base, and end up having to call it off.

Sandy beach cafe?
pro get the area more used
con drow raids

north fronitre
pro easy to get to
con goblin raids

but then then cons would jsut be fun DM events
or just players running amok!

An old Hin idea, further developed into something better and more reasonable. I like it. Good luck!

Expect visits from grouchy Werewolves and drunk sea dogs!

suggest Guldorand since the place has died a bit since the split, might help business there

or kempo's? since that area seems good for all types

The orc area south of Bendir.

Construction would be a good reason to finally drive teh orcs away for good.

I don't see why ... if thoroughly massacring them constantly doesn't drive home to them they're not wanted, I don't think an inn would have much of an impact to them.

Okay, evidently I need to be more clear and specific.

Building an inn would be a good reason for ADVENTURERS to finally drive the orcs away for good.

As in crusade, slaughter, tunnel collapsing. That sort of thing.

Tunnel collapsing could destabilize the stability of the land making it completely unsuitable for building any permanent structures on!!!!

*ahem* I kind of like this overall idea, kinda don't. Just kinda will depend on how well it's done before I can really say how I feel about this, because I don't have prior experience to base my opinion on. I think it has the potential to be really fun. It also will have a high potential for arson, if the owner has conflicts with the wrong people! >.>

All of which makes it ideal as an event/plot, rather than a *poof* alteration.

Trust me...the possible destabilisation was distinctly thought of and.....well, anyway.

Yes, the orc area was my original location of choice. I even had an interior designed and a spot picked out and everything, but Disco has decreed that there are no more construction projects for the year, so I'm compromising.

*shrug*

Kampos?

The Old Lowland Delta Cart Inn Stop?

Mr Mago wrote:

Bendir Dale is an awesome area, but the hins living there are quite frenzied in banning those who they disapprove of.

Fool's Rush Inn is a neutral zone concept just along the main road at Bendir.

Bad idea. Relies to much on the player's being on. Anything relying on players is gonna fail, mostly because players suck at being reliable.

Is that Inn outside of the actual Bendir Dale village (aka, not inside the gates)?

Sure is. Although it's only open every once in a while. It's a DM thing.

Yossarin wrote:

Why is this an OOC post arranging IC behavior instead of just an IC post asking for people to help your PC manage a tavern?

/thread

A Player-Run Tavern. Whatchathink?

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