Can prestige points be used to discount items?


Pathfinder Society


Can I use 2 prestige points to take 750 GP off of a more expensive item? The rules seem to not allow it based on how they are written but I guess I don't see why it wouldn't be able to work that way.

5/5 5/55/55/5

No

Sovereign Court

Guide to Organized Play wrote:
Once per session, you can acquire any single item of this cost or less from your faction by spending the appropriate number of Prestige Points. Items purchased this way are worth 0 gp and cannot be sold.

The bolded section explicitly limits it to items that have a cost of 150/750 or less, which excludes your possibility.

Grand Lodge 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.


kinevon wrote:

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.

I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

Scarab Sages

Not allowing discounts cuts down on words and complex rules, probably. For example, if you use a discount on a not always available item, what cost do you use to figure out minimum Fame? If I can spend 2 for a discount of 750, why not 4 for 1500? Or 6 for 2250, and so on.

It also helps power balance. You know easily that it's 4 (or whatever) sessions of gold for a magic weapon. If you had a discount with PP, you might get it a session or two earlier, but other characters might save PP instead, which means you can't plan on magic weapons at certain points, and...

It's just simpler.


I don't really see this as being any more complicated. It just allows another avenue for the use of PP. The person who spends all their prestige points on a magic weapon then doesn't have those points to spend on something else that someone who is saving them will use them on. It just lets you craft your character more.

They clearly already have intended for PP to hold some kind of financial benefit. It's only a small side step to allow you to apply it to whatever you want instead of just items of specific value. Applying a certain amount to anything of any value is actually a simpler and more streamlined system then is in place now.

It's obviously explicitly ruled on, so this is neither here nor there. I just think it's a dumb rule.

Sovereign Court 5/5 *

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

It is already an option to spend prestige on lots of low cost items. It could be quite disruptive for prestige to discount big ticket items.

After getting a several characters to 10+ with 40-50 unspent prestige I have gotten into the habit of spending it quite regularly on things like: Level 1 wands, 5x level 2 scroll, 2x level 3 scroll, level 3 potions, ect. It is a great resource for getting consumables that can make a great difference in overcoming challenges.

Other people really like the ease of mind of having 21+ prestige (enough for a body recovery and a raise dead).

One of my characters spent basically all of her prestige on vanities, titles, and followers.

5/5 5/55/55/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Its to encourage PP as flavor: they're favors from your faction , not a sack of gold.

2) they don't have a set value. How much each PP is worth varies by what you get.


Using up all your favors to get an awesome magical item that no one else at your level has seems like a pretty cool addition of "flavor" to me.

All the other Pathfinders huddled around "Oh man that is awesome! where did you get that?!"

Grand Lodge 4/5

@Zauron: Using PP to buy an item means that its resale value is 0, but its value for Fame limitations remains the normal price.

@Adagna: I believe that there is a player boon out there, from previous conventions, called Expedition Manager or something like that, that let's you spend 2, 4, or 6 Prestige to fund an expedition, then get a free item worth up to X amount, X varying by PP spent, at the end of your next game.

Might be worth checking out the boon trading thread to see if you can get one...

Grand Lodge 4/5 **** Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento

Adagna wrote:
kinevon wrote:

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.

I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

I assume the 850 includes the masterwork cost?

Not the most efficient way, but...

2 pp for non-masterwork version:
60gp + 150gp spellcasting services: masterwork transformation
1000gp for +1

5/5 5/55/55/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Also, its a deliberate attempt to get you to spend OUT and diversify rather than pouring all of your money into one big huge thing.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Adagna wrote:


This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

Of course it's an arbitrary rule. All rule design is at some level, a process of arbitration. The cutoff was decided this way so that people would have quick access to the wands parties most demand, but not more than that.

5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

If anything, the current system allows characters to accumulate a mound of cheap expendables without cutting into their wealth-by-level, much as they don't count towards WBL in home campaigns.

I see it as working as intended.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

Adagna wrote:


I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

What is it trying to do? The people around here are very creative.. they might be able to help with a solution...

Scarab Sages 4/5

FLite wrote:
Adagna wrote:
kinevon wrote:

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.

I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

I assume the 850 includes the masterwork cost?

Not the most efficient way, but...

2 pp for non-masterwork version:
60gp + 150gp spellcasting services: masterwork transformation
1000gp for +1

This should work.

Adagna, also, what type of armor do you have currently? If it cost 230 gp or more, then you could sell it for half price and you would have enough gold.

5/5 5/55/55/5

Spellcasting services isn't an item. You could get the masterwork version for 2 pp the mw transformation for 2 and then enchant it with cash.

Grand Lodge 4/5 **** Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento

BigNorseWolf wrote:
Spellcasting services isn't an item. You could get the masterwork version for 2 pp the mw transformation for 2 and then enchant it with cash.

Why would you do that? you would be spending 22 for 210 gp?

Are you saying you cannot buy spellcasting services with gold? Because the guide dissagrees with you.

Quote:

Generally speaking, you can pay to have spells cast on

you at any time during the scenario so long as you’re in a
settlement or have access to a temple, shrine, or wandering
mystic. Page 163 of the Core Rulebook covers the rules for
purchasing spellcasting services and the associated costs
are listed in the Spellcasting and Services table on page 159.

Grand Lodge 2/5

kinevon wrote:
@Zauron: Using PP to buy an item means that its resale value is 0, but its value for Fame limitations remains the normal price.

So I can't buy a wand of cure light wounds after I finish my first session because I only have 2 fame and a limit of 500g?

Scarab Sages 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

That is correct. You could receive a Wand of CLW from your faction by spending 2 prestige points on it, but you cannot buy one with gold, because wands are not always available and the cost is over your fame's gold limit.

Grand Lodge 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber
claudekennilol wrote:
kinevon wrote:
@Zauron: Using PP to buy an item means that its resale value is 0, but its value for Fame limitations remains the normal price.
So I can't buy a wand of cure light wounds after I finish my first session because I only have 2 fame and a limit of 500g?

Small correction here, you need 5 fame to have a limit of 500 gp, 9 fame for 1500 gp limit. So until you have 9 fame you cannot buy wands with gold.


Ferious Thune wrote:
FLite wrote:
Adagna wrote:
kinevon wrote:

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.

I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

I assume the 850 includes the masterwork cost?

Not the most efficient way, but...

2 pp for non-masterwork version:
60gp + 150gp spellcasting services: masterwork transformation
1000gp for +1

This should work.

Adagna, also, what type of armor do you have currently? If it cost 230 gp or more, then you could sell it for half price and you would have enough gold.

I have masterwork studded leather and I am trying to buy +1 Darkleaf lamellar leather. Unfortunately I already thought of that and the limitations in funds is with selling my current armor. Unfortunately my unchained rogue seems to have a habit of ending up at tables where he is the group tank, which doesn't always work out so well so I am trying to bolster the AC by a couple of points without taking dex penalties.

Grand Lodge 4/5

claudekennilol wrote:
kinevon wrote:
@Zauron: Using PP to buy an item means that its resale value is 0, but its value for Fame limitations remains the normal price.
So I can't buy a wand of cure light wounds after I finish my first session because I only have 2 fame and a limit of 500g?

Using PP to buy an item means that its resale value is 0, but its value for Fame limitations for upgrading it remains the normal price.

Sorry, I was unclear.

You can use 2 PP to buy anything legal valued up to 750 gp, even if you don't, yet, have 9 Fame.

You cannot use it to, say, buy a dragonhide breastplate (600 gp normally), then use 1,000 gp to upgrade that dragonhide breastplate to +1, since it is not an always available item, you would need the Fame (13, I think?) to allow purchases over the 1,600 gp it would be valued at, but not sellable at.

Scarab Sages 4/5

Adagna wrote:
Ferious Thune wrote:
FLite wrote:
Adagna wrote:
kinevon wrote:

There is a way around it, mainly for things that can have enhancements added.

Buy the base item (e.g. masterwork composite darkwood longbow, Str +3, for 2 pp instead of the 730 gp it normally costs), then enhance it to +1 for 2,000 gp, etc.

I was kind of hoping to do something like that if I could but unfortunately the armor I want is 850 gp and then the +1 is 1000 GP and I have 1735 GP...

This seems like such an arbitrary rule. If someone was about to give you something worth 750GP why would they not then be just as happy to give you that much off a more expensive item...

I assume the 850 includes the masterwork cost?

Not the most efficient way, but...

2 pp for non-masterwork version:
60gp + 150gp spellcasting services: masterwork transformation
1000gp for +1

This should work.

Adagna, also, what type of armor do you have currently? If it cost 230 gp or more, then you could sell it for half price and you would have enough gold.

I have masterwork studded leather and I am trying to buy +1 Darkleaf lamellar leather. Unfortunately I already thought of that and the limitations in funds is with selling my current armor. Unfortunately my unchained rogue seems to have a habit of ending up at tables where he is the group tank, which doesn't always work out so well so I am trying to bolster the AC by a couple of points without taking dex penalties.

A Mithral Chain Shirt will have the same weight and same armor bonus as Dark Leaf Lamellar with a higher max dex. You would have to wait to enchant it until you have more gold, but on a pure numbers basis, it's the better investment. If you have another reason for wanting the dark leaf armor, then either waiting one scenario, finding something else to sell, or going the masterwork transformation route FLite suggested (which does get you the armor with the resources you have) appear to be the best options. Dark leaf is always available, so there's no fame limit issue (if that was a worry).

Grand Lodge 4/5 **** Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento

Ferious Thune wrote:


or going the masterwork transformation route FLite suggested (which does get you the armor with the resources you have) appear to be the best options. Dark...

Sadly, my solution won't work for Dark leaf. Dark leaf includes masterwork in it's 750 gp price tag. So, yeah....

But yes, for a rogue, Mithral chain shirt will pretty much always be a better bet.

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