How to make a profit?

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

I'm playing on Dev Build (completely different game from Main Build).

I tried all stages, now on 5. All in Normal difficult settings.

The tavern is full. The reputation is 100%. I have enough facilities to serve people. I'm not overdoing it neither underdoing it. Some people are waiting and bars are full, tables are full. Still not profitable. The only way to be profitable is when I get a premium from the inspector because of good reputation. Liquor is 15 (instead of 10). Hotel is 120 instead of 100. Food is 35 instead of 30. I charge 3 for restroom and 5 for entrance.

I literally did everything I thought it could be done. I was on stage 5 and lots of people leaving due to the fact I didn't have in the menu the food they wanted. So back on stage 1, researching right at the beggining. So on stage 1 I have everything they ask in the menu, no luck.

Max I can is is pay the bills, in a very good month. To do any other thing, literally, to buy a bench I need loan.

Any tips?

P.S: before you ask if I accept reservations, well yes, as said the tavern is full. I actually refuse some.

[soulsurfsublime]

I am litterally wondering the same thing. I just purchased this the other day and I enjoy the game. But I can't turn a profit no matter what I try.

[catsinarmour]

Same.

[burningmime]

Have played a few hours and so far I've found...

Gambling (card tables in particular -- slot machines *lose* money, so never have more than 1 slot machine, just have card tables and smoking chairs). If you have 4 card tables constantly being played, you can make 5000 or more per month just from gambling. The Express Shop is also a decent deal.

Until that point, guest rooms are the best deal, though they take a long time to turn a profit. If you have increased your price, check to make sure not too many people are walking away because the rooms are too expensive -- it's better to have them all occupied even if you're only making 90 a pop.

If mead quality is high enough, you can sell drinks for 20 or even 25. I always start at 12, and inch the cost up as mead quality increases. I never charge for bathroom, since people tend to leave a lot because of that. Food is never a great deal, but hopefully they'll eat and spend the night later.

Manage your staff carefully. Hire cheap ones (they'll ask for a mini raise, but if you hire tham at 7 and they ak for 17 you can just say "sure sucka"). Ideally, hire ones with potential which means they will gain skill as they level up (potential C will never get additional skill points). Sometimes it's helpful to have higher skilled ones, especially running the card table or bar. I don't know what difference it makes for maidens, clerks, or handymen so I generally just hire the cheapest of those three and expensive bartenders.

Also, I think most of the scenarios (before the dungeon), you're actually supposed to lose a bunch of money. You just need to survive until you get enough reputation, and can use loans to get to the required money ammount, then move onto the next tavern.

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by burningmime:

Also, I think most of the scenarios (before the dungeon), you're actually supposed to lose a bunch of money. You just need to survive until you get enough reputation, and can use loans to get to the required money ammount, then move onto the next tavern.

Well that is what I've being doing the entire game. Loan my way into the next stage. But that doesn't feel like a real tycoon game.
Weird that slots machine lose money as you can set the chance of win and default is 1%.

[burningmime]

Slot machines pay out 1000 when they win. Maybe they also have smaller payouts, but I've seen a few "-1000"s so I'm scared of them.

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by burningmime:

Slot machines pay out 1000 when they win. Maybe they also have smaller payouts, but I've seen a few "-1000"s so I'm scared of them.

In this case if you leave them at 1 gold, as is default you have no profit. 1% of chance to win while cost is 1 per game, and prize at 1000 is 0 profit or even less. I charge 5 per game.

Thanks for the other tips. My problem is getting loans at start, so I pay interest later on and that keeps me from growing.

[goblin.queen]

I've been playing on the Dev Build for the last couple of days, and yes, I am also finding that it is very hard to make a profit, especially enough to reach the winning condition of a certain amount in order to progress. I can just keep things ticking over so I don't go under. I generally don't use the gambling den, because the damn slot machine is a nightmare...big losses for me and suddenly I'm toast.
I do think that the balance on the Dev build is off and needs tweaking, but I expect that will come with time.

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by goblin.queen:

I've been playing on the Dev Build for the last couple of days, and yes, I am also finding that it is very hard to make a profit, especially enough to reach the winning condition of a certain amount in order to progress. I can just keep things ticking over so I don't go under. I generally don't use the gambling den, because the damn slot machine is a nightmare...big losses for me and suddenly I'm toast.
I do think that the balance on the Dev build is off and needs tweaking, but I expect that will come with time.

Have you tried charging more for the slot machine? They still play and the profit is higher.

[goblin.queen]

Most I think I've ever charged is 10 gold a go. Do you recommend hoiking that up? How far?