Buying and Selling items

[Balamor]

Hi. I just read that buying and selling items takes place during downtime.

Why can't it be done during exploration mode in a city? Doesn't this take away some of the role playing aspects of interacting with the shopkeepers and such?

[beowulf99]

You can really interact with whoever you like in any mode. The only difference would be how time is tracked. There is nothing wrong with shopping in downtime or exploration mode. I likely wouldn't move to encounter mode though. Not unless there was an element of danger to the transaction.

[Jared Walter 356]

Generally speaking any activity could be handled in a more controlled environment like downtime --> exploration --> Encounter mode.

The main reason I'd recommend it be done it downtime it for "screen time". If this were a movie would it be happening on screen? In other words, if you have limited time with all players present is it worth every players'
time for something as trivial as selling or buying gear?

[Wheldrake]

Some people enjoy roleplaying their shopping sprees. Some don't.

PF1 had some optional rules for haggling.
Also, sometimes shopping isn't about shopping at all. It's about getting information or surveiling someone or tracking them. It can even be about casing a joint prior to a heist.

In my group, we only get to play once a month, if that. So we don't generally want to spend table time on shopping. Simple as that.