Being a renter

[rafial]

Can someone explain the intent of the following sentence under Rent in Mannish Gear? "This purchase gives the character a place to live and counts as an Ob 2 Resources maintenance test"

Does this mean:

a) the character is considered to be maintaining an Ob2 lifestyle without have to roll, by virtue of investing their resources in renting

or

b) is this just a repetition what it says in the list of lifestyles in the Resources chapter in BWr, that the renter lifestyle requires an Ob2 maintainance test?

or

c) something else?

[Kublai]

I BELIEVE it would be "b."

[kaomera]

I had assumed from that wording that paying the 10rps gave you access to rooms to live in (without having to go "apartment hunting") and would also count as one Ob2 Test recorded for advancement... But you would still need to make Lifestyle / Maintenance Tests as appropriate. Does that make sense, or am I off base?

[stormsweeper]

I believe the price is a way to "fudge" a starting Resources, since it counts as property.

[luke]

kublai and stormsweeper are correct.

-L

[Russell Hoyle]

I am struggling to understand...

Why would anyone pay for rental digs when you could buy a nice place (property) for the same points?

Rusty

[donbaloo]

I'm a little confused as well but I think that they're saying that when you can't afford a place of your own you can "purchase" a rented place. You're not really purchasing it though because its actually free as far as resource point expenditures are concerned. However, its listed as a 10 cost property because it counts towards your final Resource skill tally as property bought. So, like a free 10 resources worth of property. On the down side, it mandates that the renter pass no less than a B2 resource maintenance test when he has to make his resource cycle maintenance test. That's what I'm getting out of it right now.

[kaomera]

You're not really purchasing it though because its actually free as far as resource point expenditures are concerned.

:?: How did you come up with that? From reading it, it seems like you do, in fact, pay the 10rps...

[donbaloo]

That's just the impression I was getting from the posts here. I agree, when you read it, it sounds like you have to pay the RPs on it. But if that's true then that leads me back to Russell Hoyle's question. Why pay the 10 to rent when you can pay that much and own?

Edit to add: Maybe when you purchase "Rent" you're actually buying a property that includes renters? In essence buying yourself a landlord status? And the income it provides ensures that you automatically pass a Resource Maintenance test of B2? Maybe? :?

[stormsweeper]

Property doesn't exempt you from a Resources test for Lifestyle, as far as I'm aware. Buying the cottage would then be a Ob3 Resources test for maintentance, I believe.

[donbaloo]

Buying the cottage would then be a Ob3 Resources test for maintentance, I believe.

Aaahh, if that's true then it clears up the question of why you'd choose to rent for 10 versus buying for 3. That makes sense.

[rafial]

I think the other point is that buying "renter" status for 10 rps is a way to inflate the number of RPs spent on property type stuff, thus potentially providing a boost to your starting Resources exponent.

[kaomera]

I think the other point is that buying "renter" status for 10 rps is a way to inflate the number of RPs spent on property type stuff, thus potentially providing a boost to your starting Resources exponent.

Yes, this has been mentioned; however, the question was "Why would anyone pay for rental digs when you could buy a nice place (property) for the same points?". Spending 10rps on a House or cottage industry would have the exact same effect on your starting Resources exponent.

[rafial]

Uh, but having 10 rps of palatial mansion might not fit with your character concept...

[kaomera]

Uh, but having 10 rps of palatial mansion might not fit with your character concept...

Wait... Now I'm confused again. 10rps would get you a house or a "cottage industry", whereas a "manor or estate" would be a whopping 40rps, right? Or am I missing something?

[stormsweeper]

There's also the matter of setting - in a city, you're not really going to find little cottages, contrary to Stuart Little. :P

[rafial]

Ah, I was also reading the chart wrong, I thought 10rps was "a villa or a knight's fee"

[luke]

Rent is offered as a choice because ownership doesn't fit every campaign concept.

Rent was, far and away, the more common conditions in the middle ages. Ownership was an absolute rarity for the majority the population. However, this conflicts with our modern mind, so I didn't stress it too much.

However, for the 10 rps for Rent, you get a reduce obstacle maintainance test. A house or small business would be Ob 3 for Maintainance.

See how thoughtful I am?
-L