getting a job for cash on hand

[gooderguy]

1. how do other people deal with 0 resources + failed resources maintenance?

2. how do other people deal with character's getting a job for cash on hand?

all the character's in my game have zero resources, so they tend to spend a lot of time going hungry. after they failed their first 3 month resource maintenance test, i gave them a penalty of a +1ob for all rolls for the whole next resource cycle due to hunger, and also didn't let them practice for that resource cycle. once they realized how bad this is, they all decided to get jobs to make some cash on hand.

there are no rules for getting a job for cash on hand, so i came up with a rule off the top of my head. basically, an applicable ob 1 skill test (ob 2 'cuz they're hungry), and the successes over the obstacle count as cash on hand. is this realistic? 3 months of work, essentially translating into cash for food and crappy living...

[luke]

That is BRUTAL.

[stormsweeper]

That is BRUTAL.

Ouch, yes.

As to the topic at hand, I had thought of similar stuff when the Thac0 and Thac0 crew were destitute. Here's the two options I had:

1: Get a Job as a linked test to the lifestyle maintenance. Same ob as whatever the lifestyle test would be.

2: Get a Job as an open test, with every 2s getting a die of cash on hand.

[The_Tim]

Solutions for the poor group:

1) The job linked test to a Resources test (maintenance or otherwise). This is simple and works nicely, when glossing things over it is what I tend to do.

2) The job as a way to convince the boss to give you some sort of help on your Resource tests. Basically you do the work and that is a linked test for some sort of persuasion to get some sort of mechanical help on Resources out of your employer in whatever form. Works pretty well, is totally in the rules as written, and gives plenty of opportunities for tests and complications. If everyone wants to get on to other stuff though it isn't the best option.

3) Skip the working and go directly to securing financial help via social (or anti-social) skills. This is a very popular option with certain players.

[jchokey]

1. how do other people deal with 0 resources + failed resources maintenance? ..... after they failed their first 3 month resource maintenance test, i gave them a penalty of a +1ob for all rolls for the whole next resource cycle due to hunger

I haven't actually done this in the actual game (because it hasn't occurred in my campaign), but I've also thought about applying the principle that failed resource maintenance when you have 0 Resources represents "starvation", resulting in the equivalent of a +1 Ob. penalty (essentially the equivalent of a superficial wound) for all stat/skill tests for the next resources cycle. Great minds obviously think alike! :)

This could, of course, be removed by a successful "Get a Job" roll for that next cycle.

I hadn't thought about refusing to let them practice, but that's not an entirely bad idea. If they're starving, they ought to be using their time by working, not trying to hone skills.

I've seen some other suggestions for possibilities, though, as well-- such as that doing this could result in new traits at the trait vote (e.g. "eating maggots" or "wretched poverty" or some such).

[Dwight]

The way I've handled it is only done the penalty (+1Ob) on second failure in a row where they didn't have cash on hand to clear up the tax immediately. Regardless of what their Resource exponent is. Refusing Practice? Ouch. Not taking a job to clear up debts or get some money to help make the next roll seems to be punishment/encouragement enough to make that choice.

[pants10]

my characters suffer from the same problem. But since one bought a family relationship with a tavern owner, they consistently mooch off of her. They also work "give me food" into almost every work deal they make. The have been collecting bounties for cash on hand. It basically is the same think as the burning thaco idea I think, but I've been giving out multiple cash on hand dice in relationship to the price they strike for the bounty. Usually its 2 dice based on the money values given in the book.

[Azral]

Our players are in a setting where starvation doesn't really make sense. So if our destitute warrior with B0 resources fails her next lifestyle test, we've agreed that her gear will start to deteriorate.

Maintaining your armor and travel gear and so forth requires a few commodities that she is apparently unable to procure. It's going to suck for her if she has to go into battle with a sword that has rusted and a set of plated leather armor that has degraded to Poor Quality.

(I feel bad for her, though, because she's gotten a job several times to pull together some cash, but the cash hasn't done her any good!)

[luke]

That's also a great use of Resources.

[DarthMidget]

So, gooderguy, how do your games go after you get through beating your players? :p

[gooderguy]

haven't beat 'em yet. resourceful little fuckers.