Purchase DC for a Nuke?

[Storyteller01]

Rumor has it that Tomahawks or some other cruise missle system (one method of nuke delivery) goes for about 1 mil each. The YF-22 stealth jets go for just under 250 mil each, I believe. Large range, but it gives an idea of the amounts being spent for military equipment.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

What it costs the government to CREATE a weapon and how much it would cost to BUY that weapon are very different things.

I really don't think there should be a purchase DC because, as far as I know, a nuclear device hasn't been bought or sold in an open or even underground market situation. Governments like North Korea spend millions and billions of dollars on trying to CREATE a nuke, and most of the time (in Korea's case) it's actually worth more NOT to make one and just hold the rest of the world responsible for giving them money to cease production.

--fje

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

I did a little bit of checking around, and according to popular theory, a FAKE nuclear weapon could go for around 20 million, and a real for closer to 100 million.

BUT...

If you've seen/read the Tom Clancy novel (I can't remember the name of the book or the movie) the bad guy bought one for $500 USD from 2 farmers who dug it up.

Any nuclear weapon on the open market probably hasn't had good care taken of it, and will need refurbishing. This includes decay to the isotope, damage to the cage, and damage to the firing mechanism.

I'd put repairs on 2-6 scientists (which are usually watched over closely by thier respective governments, who like to keep tabs on the nuclear weapon trained) and then 2-4 wealth checks at DC 30.

A 125kt Tomahawk tactical warhead would probably run the PC's around 200 million by the time they are done.

 

[Storyteller01]

What it costs the government to CREATE a weapon and how much it would cost to BUY that weapon are very different things.

Agreed, but the equipment has to be coming from somewhere. It's generally less risky to purchase a nuke from a failing goverment than it is try and create one on your own. The goverment in question will do its best to regain as much as possible. Governments either contract out the production or own the production facilities. Either way, the cost trickles down to the end buyer.

As for a Purchase DC, I wouldn't give one. One man won't be heard when groups are bidding. Now, if you can get an organization to back you...

EDIT: GIven the supply/demand or the nuke, you could just skip the DC check and simply RP an auction...

 

[Falkus]

EDIT: GIven the supply/demand or the nuke, you could just skip the DC check and simply RP an auction...

And don't forget the resultant firefight when the losers of the auction go for an alternative method of purchase.

 

[tjoneslo]

Given the enormous cost and risk of buying a nuke, it may be cheaper to hire a small team of infiltration and technical experts to steal one....

You still haven't described why you (rather your PC's) want one. If there is one thing that would scare the general public, Federal intelligence and law enforcement more than anything it's knowing that there's a rogue group with a nuclear device on the loose.

 

[RangerWickett]

It bolsters my spirit that people aren't just giving numbers. You're genuinely interested in how dramatic it would be to acquire one of these things, and about the story that would occur, not just the rules and numbers.

Thank you. This restores a bit of my faith in this community of roleplayers. *grin*

Honestly, I was just trying to see how much one of the most expensive and powerful things in the world would cost, to compare it to how much powerful magic items might cost. Right now, a device that can do something akin to a meteor swarm once per day is worth more than an M1A1 Abrams tank, which I suppose is appropriate.

In the last session, a villain offered the party $60 million for a magic item they have that allows for teleportation.

Honestly, though, I don't want my PCs having enough money to buy these things. Stealing them is much more fun.

 

[Storyteller01]

And don't forget the resultant firefight when the losers of the auction go for an alternative method of purchase.

Ever hear those rumors about folks bidding on e-bay for pieces of paper with numbers on them?

 

[haakon1]

DC30 if you're doing a Gather Information in the right place (with a Russian mafia leader who knows you, or at a Russian Strategic Missile Force base), with possible modifiers:
-2 for not being Russian
-2 for not speaking fluent Russian (no deal at all if you need a translator, since witnesses are no good)
-10 if you're someone who's going to bring down a world of hurt on the Russian mob (Al Qaeda, as opposed to Superman or some other benign force)
-10 if you've got a record with the KGB of being a spy for any Western agency
-10 if you don't clearly have $1 billion in liquid assets (Bruce Wayne could get their interest; Peter Parker, no way)

Oh, and if you miss the DC by 1 or more, the Russian mob rats you out to the CIA, KGB, Her Majesty's Secret Service, Mossad, the Peruvian National Guard, the Illinois State Police, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Green Peace, NBC Nightly News, The Super Friends (form of a gazebo), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Pope's Swiss Guards, all at the same time. That should make for a good case scene!

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

It bolsters my spirit that people aren't just giving numbers. You're genuinely interested in how dramatic it would be to acquire one of these things, and about the story that would occur, not just the rules and numbers.

Of course, they could always go to Los Alamos and get one. Given the security they've shown in the last few years, the PC's could probably just wheel one right by the guards.

I'd say... Ohhhh...

Hide DC: 4
Sleight of Hand DC: 6

They could just wander in, go downstairs, borrow someone's keycard, open the locker, get it, put it on the dolly, walk it past the guard and into the parking lot, and drive off.