Questions on Resources

[Angaros]

So a character in my current campaign might be starting with B0 Resources. The player has been given the chance to rearrange his resource points as ge sees fit before bringing the character into play so he might drop some gear to get B1. Anyway, with a B0, can you still Haggle or use a Wise-skill and hope for that +1D or are you screwed if you can't get a loan or help?

Is a character with B0 considered to be starving? I mean, he won't ever be able to support even an Ob1 lifestyle (without several loans) and without a Lifestyle, then how does he get by? Can he use the Get a Job mechanics somehow or is there another way of getting by?

How many successful Resources tests does he need before opening the ability? What is the aptitude for Resources?

Selling stuff. Is it easiest to get the characters into town, haggle a bit and then translate the monetary worth in to some balance dice to be used as Cash on Hand? Seems like the natural solution. I am assuming here that the worth isn't substantial enough to qualify as a Cache. Loot from fallen enemies mostly.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Anyway, with a B0, can you still Haggle or use a Wise-skill and hope for that +1D or are you screwed if you can't get a loan or help?

You can use a Linked test to score +1D. You can get Helping Dice from your mates. You can get a loan. And you can spend Persona points to give yourself additional dice.

Is a character with B0 considered to be starving? I mean, he won't ever be able to support even an Ob1 lifestyle (without several loans) and without a Lifestyle, then how does he get by? Can he use the Get a Job mechanics somehow or is there another way of getting by?

He's not starving unless he fails his lifestyle maintenance test. It's an Ob 1 test. You should be able to get at least 1D from a Linked Test by using your job. You've got a 50/50 shot.

How many successful Resources tests does he need before opening the ability? What is the aptitude for Resources?

Use the same requirements that you have for advancing an exponent 1 skill. He needs 1 Routine, as well as 1 Difficult or 1 Challenging test. The Routine will be the hard one to get. You'll need 1D from a Linked test and at least 1D from Help, a loan, or a cache.

Selling stuff. Is it easiest to get the characters into town, haggle a bit and then translate the monetary worth in to some balance dice to be used as Cash on Hand? Seems like the natural solution. I am assuming here that the worth isn't substantial enough to qualify as a Cache. Loot from fallen enemies mostly.

If they loot their enemies, I'd just give them 1D of Cash on Hand.

[Angaros]

When translating the value of goods into Ob:s, what factors do account for? Coin price, avaliability, complexity? The small table on p 93 of BWR helps, but the curve is hard to follow. There is a huge step between the services/goods listed for Ob 4 and 5 for instance (from ½ year to 20 years of wages). I know there is more to Resources than monetary value but I need more info than what's given to be able to translate values from the setting into Ob:s.

I'm also not sure how to handle really small transactions. Buying a meal is listed as a Ob 1 obstacle, but it doesn't seem fair to require a Resources test every time a character needs to buy a meal or find somewhere to sleep (seems contrary to the Let them ride rule). Is it better to sort of lump stuff together that the PCs want to aquire over a few days (say food, lodging, some rope and some torches) and set an Obstacle for the total? Or maybe the characters doesn't have to test for Resources when getting such mundane stuff at all? Just slap it onto their lifestyle?

[Thor Olavsrud]

When translating the value of goods into Ob:s, what factors do account for? Coin price, avaliability, complexity? The small table on p 93 of BWR helps, but the curve is hard to follow. There is a huge step between the services/goods listed for Ob 4 and 5 for instance (from ½ year to 20 years of wages). I know there is more to Resources than monetary value but I need more info than what's given to be able to translate values from the setting into Ob:s.

I just use the table on page 83-84.

I'm also not sure how to handle really small transactions. Buying a meal is listed as a Ob 1 obstacle, but it doesn't seem fair to require a Resources test every time a character needs to buy a meal or find somewhere to sleep (seems contrary to the Let them ride rule). Is it better to sort of lump stuff together that the PCs want to aquire over a few days (say food, lodging, some rope and some torches) and set an Obstacle for the total? Or maybe the characters doesn't have to test for Resources when getting such mundane stuff at all? Just slap it onto their lifestyle?

Before you make them make a Resources test, ask youself: Is there a Conflict here? Will the possibility of not getting this item complicate the lives of these characters in an interesting way?

If the answer is "No," then don't make them roll. Rolling tests in Burning Wheel is currency. It's the way you Advance. You should never just let them test because they want to roll. It's gotta be a meaningful situation.

[luke]

Just slap it onto their lifestyle?

yes. if it's normal stuff, it's just part of their lifestyle.
if it's extraordinary or part of the conflict -- are supplies and a decen meal really important to what's happening at the table? -- then make a Resources test.

-L