Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Larni Aug 30, 2010 15:07:45	Does any one else intend to use what was implied with the info on factions? My group are playing a merc team so they will have sponsors. I intend to limit the available wealth to avoid 'pots of cash' and the dreaded magic item economy. I imagine rather than getting pots of cash that seems to me not appropriate to the setting, the PCs would get the gp equivalent in 'faction favour'. Depending on the faction they can 'request' resources (which have a gp value) and get it as part of their teams of service. So if they were doing a job for the VA they could get a 'charm' in the form of a magical tattoo that mimics in effect and 'faction price' a magic item/weapon. The PC would not need to buy a magical ring of what ever, the magic is placed on them and remains until 'over written' by another. And why buy a vorpal weapon from magimart when it does not fit the setting? Do a job for the Xanyon of the Salt View slave tribe and he will teach you how to be vorpal! Another good thing is that pretty much any effect from an item can be 'unlocked' via a wild talent manifesting or by a teacher 'unlocking' for them after the advanture. Who knows what psionic abilities heroes will manifest through out their adventures? I hope this means that my group can have the nice side of magical effects normally derived from items without the magimart mentality of other worlds that does not seem (to me) fiiting on Athas (we will be using inherent bonuses). Good for RP situations with PCs making difficult faction based choices (while avoiding the pots of cash issues) or Larni making up stupid rules? What do people think?
#2 big_goon Aug 30, 2010 15:19:42	Does any one else intend to use what was implied with the info on factions? My group are playing a merc team so they will have sponsors. I intend to limit the available wealth to avoid 'pots of cash' and the dreaded magic item economy. I imagine rather than getting pots of cash that seems to me not appropriate to the setting, the PCs would get the gp equivalent in 'faction favour'. Depending on the faction they can 'request' resources (which have a gp value) and get it as part of their teams of service. Various Government agencies and the large merchant houses probably have an intricate method to provide writs of service, certificates of wealth - essentially functioning as banks for PCs of good standing. PCs could cash in writs for services or goods at any local. There would probably be a fair fee when the writs are cashed/issued. Government bodies could also hand out credentials. Don't get these stolen...
#3 ritorix Aug 30, 2010 15:22:36	I'm going to try using faction rewards for my new campaign.  Plan is to convert the 2 highest coin parcels to 'faction' for whatever group is related to the current quest. So for level 1 they will get parcel #5 200gp, and #6 180gp, but as faction for a merchant house. Later when they are penniless or need a mount or bribe or whatever, they can approach the merchants in any city and 'cash in'. Here is how I broke down the first 3 levels of rewards (and if you are playing in it, dont click) Show level 1 (CG intro encounters to Vault of Daron Madar@silver spring) 2 ilvl4: boon 3 ilvl3: item 5 200gp favor: stel 6 180gp favor: stel 7 120gp urik ceramic 8 120gp urik ceramic 9  2 survival days + 1 potion of healing 10 8 survival days level 2 (Vault of Darom Madar from Dungeon) 2 ilvl5: boon 3 ilvl4: item 5 290g favor: stel 6 260g favor: urik 7 170g nibenay ceramic 8 170g nibenay ceramic 9 40g + potion of healing 10 12 survival days level 3 (Dune Sea) 2 ilvl6: boon 3 ilvl5: item 5 favor: 380g 6 favor: 340g 7 175g + potion of healing 8 225g nibenay ceramic 9 110g nibenay ceramic 10 75g
#4 Larni Aug 30, 2010 15:35:18	Yeah, I was going to limit the 'real cash' to 10% of 'by level' rewards and the rest is in 'favour'. I really hope this leads to my group having to pay court to various factions that dislike each other; so if they are 'in' with the templars they run an massive risk if they also want to be 'in' with the VA, for example.  I can't stand magimart (being a 1st ed alumni) but I feel sad the mad wild talents of 2e Athas are gone. Having pretty much any magic item effect explained as a wild talent really seems workable.
#5 FlashbackJon Aug 30, 2010 16:18:59	I am absolutely including the favor system as a means to draw my players into the (until now) unfamiliar world of Athas.  They might balk, but we'll see.
#6 Larni Aug 30, 2010 16:54:08	Back in the day my group were wowed by Athas; deadly, novel, outrageous. I'm sure your group will be the same!
#7 citizencoyote Aug 30, 2010 21:48:53	My group wanted to start at a slightly higher level than normal (6th) so I replaced one of the starting treasures with 1000gp worth of "favor" with a faction of their choice, as long as it fit their character concept.  We'll see how well favor goes over during the game, but I like the idea of characters calling in debts when they need something rather than throwing money at the problem.  This also alleviates the bookkeeping inherent in having multiple currency types (even if they are mostly eqiuvalent).
#8 fiendish_dire_weasel Aug 30, 2010 22:45:59	I like the favor instead of gold idea myself, and so do some of my players, so will likely work out well. I guess for a more wilderness-based game it could be a little trickier than more city-based folk, but they also probably naturally consume more gold. Do you guys use the different coins from different states as a real hurdle or just for flavor?
#9 Larni Aug 31, 2010 6:48:04	I make 'money' as hard to use as I can. Barter seems more appropriate for Athasian society.