when exactly can you trade equipment and money ?

i need someone to spell it out for me. as i think i've been doing it wrong for a long time. Ive been trading in all phases except during combat.

Please don't point me to the offical answers sticky, because i've been there, and the answer givenon this topic is is not very helpful.

[i think it's a rather lazy answer and still creates some confusion: which parts of the questions are they saying no to; all of it? if so then please word it so that it's crystal clear]

On page 23 AH rules:

An investigator in the same street area, Other World
area, or location as another investigator may trade
money, Common Items, Unique Items, and Spells. This
may be done before, during, or after movement, but not
during combat.

The Deputy Revolver and Wagon (but not salary card) can be traded, and so can Exhibit Items.

Tibs said:

Those are "when can you trade" issues ?

Dam said:

Yup. You can trade when you have the Deputy Revolver and Wagon

-Mariana the ex-nun cultist

Mariana the Ex-Nun Cultist said:

D'oh !

I was just annexing the rulebook quote.

Really, I'm of the opinion that you should be able to trade Rail Passes. We know it's not the case, but I always felt it would breathe more life into an ill-used mechanic. It's for this reason we have started to refer to them as "Photo IDs".

Citron said:

thank you for quoting the rule book.!

I have the rule book and i have indeed read it and re-read it and it's because of the rule book that i find my self confused over trading items. ( i do wish FFG proof read their rules thoroughly before publishing them and answer FAQ in a way that prevents the same questions from being asked again and again).

So... does "before movement "and "after movement" mean that trading can be done in the upkeep phase (clearly before movement) and the encounters phase (clearly after movement); incidently if this is wrong then every game i have played so far has been played wrong!

or did they mean trading can only take place in the movement phase; before a character moves, when a character is moving and/or after a character has moved

Question relating to trading in the "KW's answers" thread seems to indicate no trading during Upkeep (mainly to stop the Healing Stone abuse). But it is kinda silly that two people can trade money while they pass each other in the street (movement phase), but not if they are both shopping in the same store (arkham encounters phase).

yeah exactly.

we always trade money before shopping when in the same store. otherwise in the movement phase you'd have to predict what you may turn over in the shop and trade money accordingly. the idea is to go shopping not enter a raffle draw.

besides you can trade items during the final battle's upkeep can't you?

The Thing In The Attic said:

True, but that is specifically mentioned in the final combat rules, possibly just to make trading during final combat possible (since there is no movement phase).

Of course, Jealous Guardian Corruption is fun if that investigator is packing all the good weapons .

The Thing In The Attic said:

Sorry, didn't mean it to be rude. Movement phase it is - imho.

And yes, there are issues in the rule book that are explained in a "contradictory" way

"Question relating to trading in the "KW's answers" thread seems to indicate no trading during Upkeep (mainly to stop the Healing Stone abuse). But it is kinda silly that two people can trade money while they pass each other in the street (movement phase), but not if they are both shopping in the same store (arkham encounters phase)."

If this is the case then I have been doing it incorectly and will continue to do so. I have always allowed investigators to trade during upkeep and Arkham encounters but have (of course) never abused the healing stone. I actually did not know the the healing stone didn't have "Exhaust" on it since I always exhaust it to remind myself that I have already used it (so I don't accidentally heal both stam and san, I have a terrible memory). If more than one investigator is at the General Store, I'll absolutely let them pool money during purchases. It just doesn't make any sense not to. "I know we're trying to save the world from a terror beyond our ken, but I just can't let you have $2 right now." That would make no sense to me.

One other thing I do, is that during the character set up at the start of the game where you are pulling your random items, spells and skills- I let people trade their intial skills so they better fit the character and role they want to play. After all, Lore +1 doenst really fit the Gangster, wheras the Professors Marskmanship probably does.

SJE

placeboeffect said:

Could be abused for fishing though.. ("If nothing good comes, go for the low-priced mission (f.e.) and wait for the big fish")

Citron said:

This is true, of course. I guess it depends on how you play. We don't ever really "camp" anywhere. I think we're fairly inefficient and can't afford to waste turns hanging out at the stores. And we don't gear up for the final battle so that's not an issue either (and I removed all of the missions from the deck). The only time it really ever comes up is when we start with zero to few weapons. Then we all go to the store to try to get something.

Generally, I think many rules can be adjusted as the players (gaming group) see fit. This is such case. I am personaly against this pooled money thing but play it as you will

Citron said:

But of course. That is one of the best things about Arkham, fun if you play it as writen but very easy to house rule to fit any particular group.

As I said before, I can see why the rules exist as writen, you certainly don't want to make things easy on the investigators. But since we don't "shop" (take the cheepest thing and then wait again until next turn) and play to poorly to waste time at the stores, I don't think it gives us too much of an advantage.

placeboeffect said:

Healing Stone is exhaust, but since each player gets a Refresh first, you could do this (turn order A-B-C...):

Investigator A: Refresh and use HS, trade to B

Investigator B: Refresh and use HS, trade to C

Investigator C... you get the idea.

It's still 1 Sta or San per investigator per Upkeep and they have to be in the same spot (and HS is tossed if the GOO wakes up).

flamethrower49 said:

When I play solo, I don't trade rail passes, but when I play with my sons, we house rule that you can trade rail passes. It keeps my ten your old happy when he can borrow a rail pass (if he doesn't have the cash) and go to Dunwich to beat the crap out of a monster he doesn't like the looks of. Anything to keep the lad interested in something besides computer games within reason will get a house rule from me!

A simple house rule to stop the Healing Stone exploit, and still allow trading during upkeep: Make upkeep simultaneous for all investigators, with the addition that first everyone refreshes (step 1), than everyone performs upkeep actions (step 2), and then everyone adjusts their skill sliders.

HëllRÆZØR said:

But then everyone can't multi-use Voice of Ras and Alchemical Processes. How will they manage ?

Citron said:

No worries Dude, I never thought you were being rude, Absent minded perhaps but never rude lol.

I was just a little frustrated that you didn't go on further and explain the rules you quoted. But I do understand you were trying to be helpful so thankyou.

Thanks for your replies on this. I now understand things much better. Trading is only permissable in the movement phase. This is neccessary from a game mechanics stance rather that catering to a thematic sense of logic. I see now that it is a neccesary rule to prevent investigators from travelling in packs and beating all of the encounters faced by effectively pooling together their items and resources. The rules are kind of saying "sure pool your resources but do it with forethought, insight, planning and luck", not "'lets wait and see what i need to beat this encounter before we trade"' .

For my group we mainly do trade during the movement phase. we have traded in the upkeep phase but never in an abusive way and funnily enough we have only ever traded money in the encounters phase. We, as a group, tend to split up and spread out. we really only ever meet up in the shops, I wonder if they serve coffee in the Curiosity Shop?

House rules could work something like this: Trading can be done in the upkeep phase after refresh, skill sliders and retainers (basically at the end); during the movement phase as normal; during the encounters phase before the first encounter takes place.