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# System prepended metadata

title: Waterdeep building cost

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# Waterdeep building cost






Class A: The Palace, Castle Waterdeep, other public structures (e.g. the Arena), Major Temples (including The Plinth), Noble Villas. These buildings are unique, generally large and grand.

Class B: Grand Houses (without grounds or walled gardens; villas always have such), Large Warehouses, prosperous businesses, Guildhalls. Buildings in this class have up to four storeys, and may have extensive cellars (usually connected to the sewers at some point). Most inns in the City fall into this class.

Class C: Row Buildings. This class describes the great majority of City buildings, of two or three storeys, and usually having shops on the ground floor, with offices above and apartments above that (or just apartments). This class includes most of the taverns and rooming houses in the City.

Class D: Lesser Buildings (hovels, sheds, small warehouses). This class consists of one-storey buildings, usually of wood, and are mainly found in Dock Ward, with a few in Southern Ward and The Trades Ward, and a handful in the part of the docks which lies in Castle Ward.


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Class D Buildings: 1,000 gp per 18' square lot/building site + 750 gp/floor of building built (new) or 500 gp/floor when purchasing a building.

Class C: 2,000 gp per 30' square lot/site + 1,500 gp/floor (new) or 1,000 gp/floor.

Class B: 4,000 gp per 30' square lot/site + 2,400 gp/floor (new) or 2,000 gp/floor.

Class A: 10,000 gp per 50' square lot/site + 7,500 gp/floor (new) or 5,000 gp/floor.



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These ratings are also adjusted by any changes or additions made to the Representative Floor Plans in City of Splendors, any expensive materials used, etc. For these, add trade charges for the labor (see Guild prices on Building and Stone). If the building has a business or trade use, fees come from the respective guilds (about 5% of lot costs + guild membership fees) and the City (an additional 2% based off lot costs), payable at the Palace.

All of these fees come together and are finally adjusted by their placement.

Dock Ward No change to price
South Ward +2% to total price
Trades Ward +5% to total price
Castle Ward +10% to total price if south of the Castle
Castle Ward +20% if north of the Castle
North Ward +25% to total price
Sea Ward +40% to total price

If any side of the building is......

On a main avenue (pavement): +25% to total price after ward adjustment
On a secondary avenue (cobblestones): +10% to total price after ward adjustment
On a lesser avenue (corduroy/logs): +5% to total price after ward adjustment
On a minor avenue (dirt road): No change to price


Class D buildings: Land = 5000 gp per 18' square lot/building site

Class C buildings: Land = 10000 gp per 30' square lot/site

Class B buildings: Land = 20000 gp per 30' square lot/site

Class A buildings: Land = 50,000 gp per 30' square lot/site

Modifiers:
Dock Ward: No change to price
South Ward: +2% to total price
Trades Ward: +5% to total price
Castle Ward: +10% to total price if south of Castle, +20% if north of Castle
North Ward: +25% to total price
Sea Ward: +40% to total price

If any side of the building is:


On a main avenue (pavement): +25% to price after ward adjustment
On a secondary avenue (cobblestones): +10% to price after ward adjustment
On a lesser avenue (corduroy/logs): +5% to price after ward adjustment
On a minor avenue (dirt road): No change in price

Note that the costs above are land only - actual cost for structures are extra. However, land costs include all applicable fees, including permits, preparation work, sewer connections, etc - everything needed to make the land suitable for immediate building - both upwards and downwards (sublevels).

"Yes, this makes real estate in Waterdeep horrendously expensive, but that's life in the biggest city in the North..." - Steven Schend

I added a couple of other things:

## Outside of City Walls:
Within 12 miles of the city walls, land prices are 1/5 of the above, per acre. Between 13 and 25 miles of the city walls, land prices are 1/10 of the above, per acre. Beyond 25 miles is usually "free land" - settle and defend at your own risk!

The above is for Waterdeep and other metropolises (such as Calimport, Skuld, Athkatla, and Dhaztanar). 

For other large cities, base prices are 1/5 of the above.

For smaller cities and larger towns, base prices are 1/10 of the above. For villages, base prices are 1/15 of the above.