D20 Modern and Cars...

[garyh]

I've been looking at the wealth and equipment rules, and something strikes me very odd:

It seems virtually impossible for a PC below 5th level to own a car.

Am I wrong and just not reading things correctly? Or is this the impression you get, too? If so, does this seem odd to you, too? Or is just that I'm from Southern California and "nobody walks in LA"?

 

[Crothian]

I've been looking at the wealth and equipment rules, and something strikes me very odd:

It seems virtually impossible for a PC below 5th level to own a car.

Am I wrong and just not reading things correctly? Or is this the impression you get, too? If so, does this seem odd to you, too? Or is just that I'm from Southern California and "nobody walks in LA"?

Well, you are from South Cali, but dispite that you are right. The used options can sort of be used here, but even that really does not work that well. I suggest going for a car at level one, the cheapest car there. Then roll really well.

 

[garyh]

I guess so. Even a desktop PC is pushing it (DC 22), too.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Wealth system is a neat concept and that it will work better for modern settings than counting gold pieces. I just think some of the execution could be a bit better...

 

[Crothian]

I'm just waiting for that one PC who has bad luck and fails all the wealth checks, and in the process his wealth bonus becomes extremely low.

 

[Buddha the DM]

Or you can have a character that starts with a high wealth bonus.

I created a Lv 1 Smart Hero that had a starting Wealth Bonus of +16 (rolled 6, +6 dilettante, +1 (profession 4 ranks), +3 Windfall)

 

[RangerWickett]

Remember, you can Take 20 on Wealth checks to purchase things, so even a person with a crappy roll for his Wealth (3), can afford a car if he has the Profession skill (+1 for Wealth 3) and is a blue-collar worker (+2 for Wealth 5). After you get all the basics for him, you buy a used car or truck by Taking 20. It's likely to reduce him to 0 Wealth, because most of his money will be going paying off the car and keeping it fixed.

Nah, the only time the Wealth rules get freaky is once your Wealth is above 20, because of the little rule that says anything with a purchase DC of 15 or higher automatically reduces your Wealth by 1. If you take that too literally, Bill Gates (Wealth 50) can buy a Lear Jet that costs millions of dollars, or a used car that costs a couple thousand, and either purchase would cause his Wealth to drop to 49. However, he couldn't buy a hundred used cars individually, even though together they cost less than a tenth of just one lear jet.

But most PCs won't reach that level of Wealth, and if they do, the GM can just use common sense.

 

[garyh]

Here's another equipment question regarding those unfortunate PC's who can't afford a car:

Where are the bikes on the equipment lists? You know, a good ol' Schwinn or something? That seems to be a glaring omission.

 

[digitaldark]

I'm just waiting for that one PC who has bad luck and fails all the wealth checks, and in the process his wealth bonus becomes extremely low.

actually you only loose wealth if you succeed...if you don't get to buy it you still keep your money..