Monetary Rules
Wealth Rolls
Wealth rolls are a simplified method of determining whether a character can afford any major purchase. The 'cost' of the purchase is reflected by the Difficulty assigned to the roll. If the character rolls the Difficulty or higher on his Wealth Roll then he can afford the purchase. If not, he can't.
Normally only 1 major purchase is allowed per week. A failed attempt does not use up this weekly roll, but it DOES mean that the character cannot afford the thing he rolled for at this time. The GM may allow the player additional attempts if they "shop around."
It isn't necessary to roll for any purchase where the Difficulty is 3 or more points below the character's Wealth Level. Such purchases are automatic, though only a limited number of them may be made, starting at 2 such purchases for 3 points below Wealth level, and doubled for each additional point under. If over half of the allowed free purchases are made, the character's weekly purchase roll is used up.
Characters may save up for purchases that would normally be beyond their means. Each week that a character's Wealth roll is NOT used, it adds to overall savings:
Once the character makes a purchase using his Savings roll, the savings are expended and the character must begin saving again from scratch.
Unused
Wealth RollsSavings Effect 2 Wealth +1 Level 4 Wealth +2 Levels 8 Wealth +3 Levels etc. etc.
Characters may also buy things on credit. Credit lowers the Difficulty of the purchase, but repeated payments must be made monthly to pay off the purchase. If the character fails to make a payment for any reason, the purchase is repossessed. Making a credit payment counts as a purchase in the week when it is made. Lowering the Difficulty Level of a purchase by 1 requires 2 Monthly Payments; each further point of reduction doubles the number of required payments.
Wealth may NEVER be used to purchase equipment that will be used more than once by the character's superhero identity (vehicles, bases, etc.) - it may only be used to pay for incidental expendable purchases, or for items to be possessed solely by one's pedestrian identity. (Though CPs can always be spent afterward to make a purchase permanent. -B.)
Incidental Expenses Price List
Transportation: Difficulty: Dining: Difficulty:
bus/subway fare 0* fast food 1*
cab fare 1 restaurant 2*
train fare 1* delivery 2*
car/truck rental 2 fancy restaurant 3*
limo/bus rental 3
local airfare 2* Entertainment: Difficulty:
interstate airfare 3* video rental 1
international airfare 4* movie 1*
live theater/concert 2*
Lodging: Difficulty: nightclub 1*
fleabag 1* host a party (2 people) 0*
motel 2*
hotel 3* Clothing (full sets): Difficulty:
resort 4* casual 1
fancy 3
Communications: Difficulty: elegant 5
pay phone (local) 0 survival 2+
pay phone (long) 1+ disguise 1+
classified ad 1
full-page ad 3 Medical Care: Difficulty:
telegram 1 routine checkup 2
postage stamp 0 emergency care 4+
overnight letter 1
package (small) 1 Donations: Difficulty:
package (medium) 2 dime fer a cup o' java 0
package (large) 3 charity dinner 3*
overnight package +1
newspaper 0
magazine 1
book 1+
fax transmission 1
radio commercial 4
television commercial 5
*Difficulty given is for 1 person; x2 people per +1 Difficulty.
Any other costs may be estimated from these examples. In general, doubling
the cost of a purchase adds +1 to its Difficulty.
It is not necessary to check for basic upkeep costs. Income and Rewards are presumed to pay for basic upkeep and maintain current Wealth. CPs spent on Wealth represent saving, investing, and so on.
