Trading Posts 1 - Basic Information - Balance Of Powers: A5E

# Origin How did this trading post come to be? Some trading posts could have started as a collection of wagons, parked at a crossroads, while others may have been a farm house where weary travelers could take refuge from the weather, and purchase a few much-needed provisions. | 1d8 | Origin | | --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **Accidental.** The trading post came about due to an accident, such as a caravan breaking down or mistaken directions. What was set up to deal with the accident eventually became the trading post. | | 2 | **Business Venture.** The trading post was established by a wealthy entrepreneur specifically to be a trading post from the start. | | 3 | **Crossroads.** The trading post is at the intersection of more than one major trade route. | | 4 | **Military Outpost.** The trading post was built on the remnants of an old fortress or watchtower, the structures of which have long since fallen down or been repurposed by the locals. | | 5 | **No Man’s Land.** The trading post was established as a neutral place where opposing forces could purchase wares, without encroaching on enemy territory. | | 6 | **Native.** The trading post was started by someone native to the area, who saw potential in trade with passersby. | | 7 | **Overnight Stop.** The trading post was originally a single, large house for overnight stays for weary travelers, which soon grew, along with the demand for accommodations. | | 8 | **Wilderness Expert.** The trading post was started when a trapper, hunter or guide set up a camp, in order to aid those passing through the area. | ^50fb5c # Specialty The trading post’s specialty is the main thing that it is known for. Trading posts tend to favor things relating to the flow of goods and information. There may be a particular crop available, or the craft of a certain item. They may also be known for a kind of service they specialize in. | 1d6 | Specialty | | --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **Atypical Shipping Methods.** This trading post is known for having unique and effective ways to move goods. | | 2 | **Food & Drink.** This trading post is known for [d6]: 1-3: excellent and unique food. 4-6: plentiful and varied high-quality beverages. - (*Free Location:* Service - Tavern) | | 3 | **Hospitality.** The main inn here is particularly good, offering excellent service, comfortable rooms, and good food. (If you roll for the inn’s quality using the *Quality* table found in step 3, ignore results that would make it ‘poor’) | | 4 | **Information.** This trading post is known as a source for reliable information. They may not know everything, but your chances of finding solid gossip, lore, news, or an intriguing tidbit here is good. | | 5 | **Purchasing Connections.** This trading post is known for having folks who can find things. If they don’t have (or know about) what you’re looking for, they can direct you to someone who does. | | 6 | **Unscrupulous Contractors.** This trading post is known for having people who can get just about anything done, if the coin is right. (*Free Location:* Service - Hired Help [Roll 1d10]): 1: Brutes & Brawlers, 2: Cloak & Dagger, 3: Bows & Slings, 4: Scribes & Clerks, 5: Guides & Trackers, 6: Caravan & Mount, 7: Arcane Academics, 8: Magic Mercenaries, 9: Priestly Guidance, 10: Hands of the Divine | ^b53986 # Age Trading posts can vary greatly in age, depending on where in the world they’re located and how good business is. After all, the main purpose of a trading post is to provide a place to facilitate trade. Some may be brand new, or so old their founding date has been long-forgotten. Over time, a trading post could have grown and expanded. It could also have dwindled away, depending on the circumstances surrounding the location. | 1d20 | Age | | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1-3 | **Recent.** The trading post was established within the past year. (-1 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | | 4-8 | **Established.** The trading post has been around for at least a couple of years. (+0 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | | 9-13 | **Mature.** The trading post was originally built decades ago. (+1 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | | 14-17 | **Old.** The trading post was built around a hundred years ago. (+2 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | | 18-19 | **Ancient.** The trading post was built hundreds of years ago. (+3 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | | 20 | **Unknown.** No one really knows when the trading post was established. (+4 to *Visitor Traffic* roll) | ^cb7410 # Condition The condition of a trading post sends a message to travelers; one of welcome, or one of warning. The trading post may be beautiful, with fresh paint and clean walkways, or dirty and falling apart. The table below refers to the state of the buildings, roads, and other elements of the trading post. | 1d20 | Condition | | ----- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1-2 | **Ramshackle.** A few of the buildings look to be falling down. There are no formal roads, only trodden paths. (-6 to *Population Wealth* roll) | | 3-6 | **Poor.** The buildings and surroundings are rough and dirty. Roads are uneven dirt and dust. (-3 to *Population Wealth* roll) | | 7-14 | **Fair.** The buildings are clean and sparsely decorated. Roads are flattened earth, possibly with gravel. (+0 to *Population Wealth* roll) | | 15-18 | **Good.** Most of the structures are exceptionally well kept and moderately decorated. Roads are cobblestone or, perhaps, cheap brick. (+3 to *Population Wealth* roll) | | 19-20 | **Immaculate.** The shops and houses are spotless, and well-adorned with tasteful decorations. Roads are made of fine, smooth, well-placed flagstones. (+6 to *Population Wealth* roll) | ^f14282 # Visitor Traffic A trading post’s success is largely dependent on the amount of visitor traffic it has received. It encompasses the typical amount of non-residents seen in the trading post. How many folk are passing through? How crowded are the streets? **Modified by:** [[#Age]] | 1d20 | Visitor Traffic | | ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 1-2 | **Vacant.** No one seems to be visiting this place. (+0 to *Size* roll) (+2 to *Crime* roll) | | 3-6 | **Groups.** Visitors are a rarity, though a few might be around. (+1 to *Size* roll) (+1 to *Crime* roll) | | 7-14 | **Crowds.** It is typical to see some new visitors most days. (+2 to *Size* roll) (+0 to *Crime* roll) | | 15-18 | **Droves.** There are lots of new faces on a regular basis. (+3 to *Size* roll) (-1 to *Crime* roll) | | 19-20 | **Masses.** New people are everywhere, coming and going at all times. (+4 to *Size* roll) (-2 to *Crime* roll) | ^eb042f # Size A trading post’s size is largely dependent on the amount of traffic it has received. Rare is the trading post that is remote, but also great in size. As you roll on this table and find the size of your trading post, think about what that says about how well it is doing, and why it might be the size it is. | 1d20 | Size | | ----- | ---------------------------------------------- | | 1-2 | **Very Small.** Up to 20 standing structures. | | 3-6 | **Small.** Up to 40 standing structures. | | 7-14 | **Medium.** Up to 60 standing structures. | | 15-18 | **Large.** Up to 80 standing structures. | | 19-20 | **Very Large.** Up to 100 standing structures. | ^4e2d2a # Environment Trading posts can be found in all manner of environments. From a warm, coastal paradise, to a cold, harsh mountain passage, trading posts are scattered all over the world. The tables and options available in this book are designed to allow settlements to be placed anywhere, regardless of environment. If you have an environment in mind for your settlement already, feel free to skip, or manually select from, this table. | 1d10 | Environment | | ---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **Coastal.** The trading post is near a large body of water, such as a lake or ocean. | | 2 | **Forest.** The trading post is nestled among the trees. | | 3 | **Mountains.** The trading post is found on a stony pass or soaring peak. | | 4 | **Plains.** The trading post is in the wide, open felds. | | 5 | **River.** The trading post is near a steadily fowing stream, or other watercourse. | | 6 | **Swamp.** The trading post is in, or near, a vast area of stagnant water. | | 7 | **Underground.** The trading post is within a large network of caves. | | 8 | **Valley.** The trading post is found within, or on the edge of, an area of recessed elevation in relation to the landscape around it. | | 9 | **Tundra.** The trading post is in a very cold environment. | | 10 | **Desert.** The trading post is in a dry and arid environment, likely covered with vast sand dunes. | ^db6acd