MMOs also tend to have the absolutely insane hard leveled equipment (as opposed to a guide or skill requirement). "I'm level 5, so I literally cannot hold this level 6 sword in my right hand and swing it at a monster".
Almost all RPGs (and I would say all for which equipment really matters) have some method of introducing and adjusting equipment progression. Look at every video game RPG ever. Town X has an inn that cost 1 GP and has daggers and longswords, while town Z has an inn that cost 100 GP and has flametongues and catclaws. Why? because that's how they moderate the equipment (and also through treasure). But you could never do that with a system based around a central hub or space station.
And in a non-RAW (basically a non-SFS) game, negotiation and black markets can all come into play. Go nuts.
But since this is a discussion of the RAW, I cannot think of another way in a written rule (taking GM skill and observation out of it) to moderately limit the gradual accumulation of wealth by the players while at the same time still properly outfitting the opposing enemies that doesn't introduce massive complexity to achieve the same overall goal.
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But since this is a discussion of the RAW, I cannot think of another way in a written rule (taking GM skill and observation out of it) to moderately limit the gradual accumulation of wealth by the players while at the same time still properly outfitting the opposing enemies that doesn't introduce massive complexity to achieve the same overall goal.
The thing is, Starfinder already includes another written rule to moderately limit access to equipment besides WBL, in the form of the Item Level purchasing restrictions. Granted it won't change anything if the GM throws over-leveled equipment at you, but as far as purchasing it's a built-in limit.
But since this is a discussion of the RAW
Why is it?
@rook 1138 : Alright, let's stop it right there. The only reason you sell at 10% and can't buy at a discount is because "video game logics".
This sort of thinking was embraced by WotC when they made D&D 4th edition. Paizo has made it's fortunes by catering to gamers who rejected this design philosophy. Many of those same people have come to Starfinder, so it makes sense they would find this sort of logic unsatisfying (I know at least one of my players wasn't particularly happy).
Kapaalan has the right idea. Or think of it like 'everything' can't be checked immediately for flaws like bullet holes or melted barrels.
So they only give you 10 percent. That will still make sure they get a profit after repairs, disease scrubbing, computer maintenance, and washing the blood stains off.
Don't forget the biggest cost: wiping any ident chips in the device and putting a non-traceable fake ID that passes any checks by authorities within the Pact Worlds.
What about this for a houserule: Some arms dealers will give you double store credit, but the credit is only valid for that store and you're limited to whatever wares they have on hand? Obviously only valid at participating pawnbrokers.
Finally: You want to wait 4 weeks for the background check across the Pact Worlds and known colonies, you can sell item X for 25% of base value. But you better be selling something you got legitimately. Also there's a filing fee of 200 credits (payable regardless of whether the item passes or fails the background check).
If I bought a new rifle for $2000 then went and shot it a few times only to have somebody gift me something I liked a whole lot more, and the shop only offered to pay me $200 for it, I'd just hold onto it and sell it to somebody directly for $1000 and still make a lot more back, and they'd still be getting an insanely good deal on something that works just as good as the brand new one in that shop.
Sure. Put it on the Pact World Market(TM), and after 1d12 weeks you get to make a (diplomacy?) check to see if it gets sold. The DC escalates dramatically the higher price with anything beyond X% just completely unsellable.
I have already pointed out above how even if you accept WBL and the mechanics without question, the 10% sellback damages player investment in the setting and frustrates them far more than prior systems if they haven't gotten the item they wanted. Neither of these are conducive to a healthy playerbase no matter how mechanically sound the game happens to be.
Players are "entitled" to 100% of the WBL at any given level. As such each level should ensure that the players receive the wealth from the table. Making poor decisions should result in the player being punished by receiving less of the total value of the WBL (perhaps they fought recklessly and spent too much money on healing items). If they make good decisions, this should result in the player being rewarded by receiving more wealth then dictated in the WBL chart.
Regardless of how your players acquire their items, they should be at WBL every level, assuming they don't make particularly poor or particularly good decisions.
If you want to argue otherwise, you're entitled to. But you don't get to declare how the WBL works at all tables, only you're own. And it's important that you realise the reason why WBL is working so poorly at your table is because the GM of your table decided to make it so.
However, if you play without adhering to the WBL chart at all and instead ensure a level of wealth that makes your table's gaming experience more enjoyable, than that's also a perfectly valid way to play the game.
Starfinder seems to be all about getting the bigger better armor & weapons as you level. I play mostly SFS and I am worried about resource management. I am trying to figure out how to budget my credits since selling stuff back gets you so little and it is not like you can just pay the difference like you can in PFS. If I want to a upgrade my +1 Long sword to +2 All I need to do is pay 6000 gp. However I cannot upgrade my my D-Suit I (2980) to a D-Suit II (6900) by paying 3920 credits. With such a low sell back value I am worried it won't balance. Are my fears justified?
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Apologies for the serious necro, but I just had to comment here.
You're all totally missing the point of the 10% sell back. It's a *huge* player benefit!
With 10% sell back, the found treasure can be worth nearly five *times* as much as if it were to sell for 50%. That means the items you find and like and keep are worth tons more, and the cool ones you get to play with for a little while but still end up selling are *much* better. So many wonderful toys to play with. There's a lot of really expensive items that you never get to see in Pathfinder because adding 50-100K in treasure gets quickly unbalancing, just to have a neat moment.
Enjoy it folks!