PFS2: Bargain Hunter and Default Task Level for Earn Income

[BryanH]

Does the Bargain Hunter skill feat allow you to attempt Earn Income with a task level equal to the item level of the item you are trying to get a discount on instead of the default society task level (character level -2)?

Here are the relevant texts for reference.

Earn Income Text from Organized Play Foundation Player Basics wrote:

Earning Income is the most common Downtime activity. If you are using your Downtime for any other purposes, they must be completed first before you attempt your check to Earn Income. For each 8 day unit of Downtime you spend (including units where you complete multiple activities, such as spending 7 days retraining and then 1 day Earning Income), you attempt one check to Earn Income, using the result to calculate your total earnings for that block of Downtime. The Task Level of your Earn Income check is equal to your level – 2 (minimum 0) by default (GMs should check Table 10–5: DCs by Level on page 503 of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook to calculate the DC), though some boons may allow you to attempt checks against higher-level tasks as a special reward. A check to Earn Income does not carry beyond the 8-day cycle for which you attempt the check.

Bargain Hunter wrote:

You can Earn Income (page 236) using Diplomacy, spending your days hunting for bargains and reselling at a profit. You can also spend time specifically sniffing out a great bargain on an item; this works as if you were using Earn Income with Diplomacy, except instead of gaining money, you purchase the item at a discount equal to the money you would have gained, gaining the item for free if your earned income equals or exceeds its cost. Finally, if you select Bargain Hunter during character creation at 1st level, you start play with an additional 2 gp.

[Nefreet]

Looks like it's just a regular Earn Income check to me.

Task Level = Character Level–2

[Gary Bush]

Kriptini wrote:

Finally, if you select Bargain Hunter during character creation at 1st level, you start play with an additional 2 gp.

I find it interesting that the extra 2 GP bump is allowed in Organized Play. Usually things that change the wealth curve gets excluded.

[Gary Bush]

I agree with Nefreet. It is an Earned Income check where the money earned is used to lower the price of the item. If the check is more than the cost of the item, the excess is lost however.

[Nefreet]

Gary Bush wrote:

Kriptini wrote:

Finally, if you select Bargain Hunter during character creation at 1st level, you start play with an additional 2 gp.

I find it interesting that the extra 2 GP bump is allowed in Organized Play. Usually things that change the wealth curve gets excluded.

I initially thought the same thing, but back in PFS1, a wealth bump could buy you significantly more powerful starting gear.

In this edition magic items and consumables are also restricted by level access, so it's harder to start off with much of a wealth gap.