So a young lass from a Nobel family is asking your adventuring party to delve into the deepest part of a local ruin to retrieve an ornate golden chalice bearing her family crest? Sounds like fun! Just, don’t get carried away and accept her request too eagerly. What is she willing to give you in exchange for this perilous endevor? Starting out, a young adventurer may be willing to accept whatever is offered by their quest bestower, however as your experience stacks you can decide to be more selective with your clientele.
So, if it’s acceptable to haggle your quest reward, how does it work? Just like with any haggling, it’s good to quickly figure out a minimum and maximum number considering your experience and the work requested. How far away is the dungeon? You can add coin on your price for tavern and camp costs if it takes multiple days to reach your destination. Don’t forget to double any transportation costs, since you will likely need to make the same journey back. Even if you have an instant teleportation spell on you, you still want to add on the traveling fees so they can expect the same price if you return to them
without the spell.
Other factors to consider is cost for equipment upkeep. If your sword breaks during this quest, you want to be able to repair it without fear that you fall in the red. This can be taken care of it you factor in a small depreciation cost with each quest you go on. It doesn’t have to be the full replacement cost, just a percentage of that to consider the wear this quest will take on your equipment.
What’s gold worth in your region? If you charge a flat fee no matter where you go, you’ll find yourself dealing with clients that find your cost radically high or low. The best way to consider the economic climate of your quest region is to check out the prices at the local general store. Are they higher than you are used to? Lower? Factor this into your proposed quest reward.
Finally, and most importantly, what is your experience? If you are a highly skilled adventurer, then you may want to charge a little more than normal, even for small quests. Your client is not hiring just any adventurer, they’re hiring you with your various titles and influence. Your experience may cause you to complete their quest in a quarter of the time it would take a newbie, so you should expect a higher payment. One way to figure out just how much your experience factors into a quest reward, especially in that region, is to look for an adventuring guild branch. They commonly post based on adventuring status, so you can use that to rank your additional charge.
And there you have it! Not a fully comprehensive guide, but definitely enough to get those cogs in your noggin to start moving. If you consider these factors during your next quest reward negotiation, then you’ll be rolling in coin before you know it!
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