Magic Based Businesses

While other businesses can produce minor magical Items (often through mundane rather than pure magical abilities) the magic profession deals almost exclusively in magic. At the lower end of the scale it might just be magical components, but as the business grows, casting service and eventually magical items are added to the list of products.

Unlike many other businesses, producing magic items is very level and class dependent. For example a CL1 Mage can Scribe Scrolls, that are only usable by other arcane casters. By CL3, they are able to Craft Wondrous items, and Brew Potions (Yes, I know there are exceptions), but they have a limited number of spells available. By CL5, Crafting Wands is a possibility, and they have more spells available to them. The majority of these casters (in my world) will be Arcane Adepts whose spell selection is even more limited.

I like to keep PCs as the stars of the game - for me the PCs should be among the richest and most successful people in their field, and that means there are very few NPC Casters beyond L5 - and they will be Senior Entourage Members (Cohorts, Counsins or Allies) or significant NPCs that the DM controls. Which means there are some demographic restrictions as well.

• Component Shop - A shop that supplies components for the manufacture of scrolls, potions and other minor magical items. It probably employs a CL1 Arcane Adept and sells a few low level arcane scrolls.
• Magical Services – While they still stock components, the there is a thriving trade in spell casting services. Employs CL2 casters, capable of casting a range of spells (Arcane Mark, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Mending, Read Magic, Comprehend Languages, Detect Secret Doors (Secret compartments in chests, boxes etc), Identify) that can provide a valuable service to non-casters.
• Magic Shop - This covers Components and Spell based services - but they also buy, manufacture and sell minor magical items. Probably employs CL3/4 casters with Craft Wondrous Item and Brew Potion - to make a few minor magic items. A Magic Shop(3) employs a CL5 adept with, possibly with Craft Wands as a feat.
• Casters Tower – Similar to a magic shop, but also home to a skilled caster. Their apprentices often do the bulk of the work. It is able to produce mid-range magical Items. Requirements: PC, or a Senior Entourage Member with a PC class (Cohorts, Cousin or Ally), who is a CL5 Arcane caster.
• Great Tower – Only the very best Magical PCs or Families (Such as the Caratan and the Ventus families in Restov) can support a Great Tower. It is generally home to a higher level caster, their assistants and their apprentices - as well as operating as a business that produces powerful magic items. Requirements: PC, or a Senior Entourage Member with a PC class (Cohorts, Cousin or Ally), who is a CL7 Arcane Caster.

See Residential Classifications for a description of the ★ rating system.