Wealth bonus and "treasure"

[Runesong42]

I'm probably the only person having issues with the Wealth system as presented in D20 Modern . I believe that this system works well in regards to "actual" savings, ie banked cash, creds, what have you. The problem I'm having is awarding items of value to PC's. For example, say a PC finds a gem that equates to a Wealth value of 10. How does this translate to its 'actual' value? What happens if a PC wants to convert it into a Wealth bonus they can use immediately? How do you 'bank' a piece of art? Am I looking to be too specific in a deliberatley vague system?

I guess I suffer from some kind of instant gratification 'loot' system - you find 100 GP, you got 100 GP. Now, you find 100 bucks and it's 'really' a Wealth bonus of, what, 3? What does this mean? Does the PC in question have five 20 dollar bills or a wealth bonus in her pocket?

Call me crazy... but has someone used this system with success and, if so, can they suugest something in order to clarify this system for me?

 

[Dismas]

The easiest thing to do is work backwards.

The players find a Gem worth $500

To find out how much that really effects their buying power (Wealth Bonus) work out the bonuses to wealth as if they were going to sell it. So the DC for selling is 12 (DC15 -3 for selling).

One of the thing to remember with the wealth system is that it is non-linear. A +2 bouns to your Wealth check is the equivielent of doubling your purchasing power.

 

[Squidibus]

Finding a gem worth 500$ doesn't give you a +3 wealth bonus for just selling the thing...it gives you a +3 wealth bonus for an assumed selling the thing and investing the profits, or taking out insurance on it and then using it to build up credit, or...

That sort of thing. Which I why I generally don't use Wealth Points.

 

[Runesong42]

don't use Wealth points?

Say, if you don't use wealtt points, then what DO you use? Cash equivalents, GP, creds? I'd very much like to use a combination of "real" cash and Wealth bonus (ie cash for on hand, Wealth for savings), but not sure how to swing it yet. Any ideas?