Smaller Work Forces

If money is a factor, but time is not, the designer may wish to consider cutting his work force. For each man removed from the labor pool, the cost of the castle will be reduced by 10 gold pieces per work for the duration of the project.

If enough workers are removed to reduce the work force to 75% of its standard value, then construction time is doubled. If the work force is cut to half its standard value, then construction time is quadrupled. No reduction below 50% in the work force is possible.

It is possible to reduce the work force to below its standard number without increasing the time required so long as the contributions of heroic characters, magical objects, and monsters (as detailed in the following three sections) return the work level to it’s standard number. For example, if a group of PCs is able to do the work of 100 men, then 100 laborers may be cut from the work force and the money normally spent to hire them saved.

Once you have determined the new duration of the project (in weeks), multiply it by 10 to determine the savings that is made per cut laborer. Subtract this savings from the cost of the castle now and don’t worry about a weekly payroll.