Megacelebrity: 10% Off UPBs?

[Isaac Zephyr]

This seems stupid, but it is semi important.

If an Icon wants to make their own gear, they need the UPBs. However as a trade good, UPBs have a 1 to 1 credit exchange. This means that if you give them 10% off, it's free 10% profit. A game-y exploit.

However, it also means if you wanna make gear as an Icon, sorry. Your theme ability doesn't work, so you're spending full price.

"Purchased goods" is the terminology Megacelebrity uses. Which is unhelpful, since if you purchase UPBs they are a purchased good. Same if you wanted to purchase a special material for crafting.

The only safeguard against the exploit is as follows from the Trade Goods section. "Trade goods can normally be sold for their full value, subject to the GM’s discretion." So it's the GM's job to nip the exploit in the bud.

This is something so minor as a specific interaction that I don't think it deserves book space in future printings. And I feel the intention is not to gimp Icon crafting, just a minor overlook that GMs need to keep an eye out for. However, I could be wrong. The phrase from the Pathfinder Vigilante of "if you sell something earned with this ability you lose it forever", or if it's not intended to work for trade goods "this discount does not apply to trade goods" or the final one, "goods you crafts also cost 10% less when determining the number of UPBs required" could clarify. Though again I'm not sure the RAI on this one.

[BigNorseWolf]

Since the 10% is 10% off of EVERYTHING I don't see the difference between getting 10% off of your bought gun your bought armor and your bought cybernetic implant and getting 10% off of your UPBs which gets you 10% off your made gun your made armor and your made cybernetic implant. So Space Maker should be good to go.

But definitely banhammer them if they try to get an infinite wealth loop.

[Metaphysician]

Yeah, there's nothing broken about a 10% discount, as long as you prevent infinite loops. Which is to say, yes, its the trade goods that are the concern, not the UPBs. I would allow the PC to get the discount, but if they tried to immediately sell them in the same place ( ie, act in a manner which only makes sense as a mechanical exploit, not real trading ), either:

1. They'd only get back the amount they paid, as the merchants know the famous dude got a discount.

2. They could make their 10% back *once*, and soon they'd have a reputation for exploiting their fame to cheat people. Suddenly no one is offering discounts in this locale anymore.

Fair, non-metagame use of this trait and trade goods would be if one were actually engaged in *trading*: buying goods to sell elsewhere or at a later date, to exploit changes in demand. So, buy on one planet, sell on another. Or buy now, store in a warehouse, sell six months from now. Stuff like that.

[Claxon]

The only problem is if you let trade goods be included in purchased goods.

Just don't do that.