How do you handle finding stuff to buy?

I mean, I know it's negotiation check based on rarity and planet, and streetwise for restricted items, but...

If a seller is found, do you give a boost dice to the immediate next item check because you already found someone who sells things? (I did.) I also gave a boost dice for negotiating price when that PC was also selling something while buying. Does that seem okay?

Also, how do you handle seller contacts? For instance, how do you develop and dealer for restricted items. I think the book said that a triumph would lead to possibly finding a contact when rolling to find an item, but does that "contact" just give 1 boost when rolling to find said item? or 2 boost? or handled differently?

I have PCs develop contacts through game play. I am structuring my campaign around the PCs establishing themselves and developing contacts as part of the sessions. I don't just have them throw dice and whip up arms merchants. I use the dice rolls after that for availability and costs, but not for making contacts. That's what I should be doing as GM.

I have PCs develop contacts through game play. I am structuring my campaign around the PCs establishing themselves and developing contacts as part of the sessions. I don't just have them throw dice and whip up arms merchants. I use the dice rolls after that for availability and costs, but not for making contacts. That's what I should be doing as GM.

Okay, that sounds good. Actually I am about to do that, I was thinking for the items this contact has, it's maybe everything in just 1 of the supplemental books, but at a higher price? or maybe you get 2 boost when rolling thru the contact to see if he has it, but the price in inflated. I don't know.

If it's going to slow the game down, don't roll for it. I almost never do for purchases and the like unless it helps move the narrative.

In most situations finding a buyer/seller is not going to be hard. Most open markets are going to be sectioned off into certain types of sales, have clear listings, and maybe even advertising. I'll usually have a rough guess as to what sellers will charge and buyers will pay for goods in a particular market ahead of time. I usually do listed price for sellers and around 30-50% listed price for buyers. Some markets I may deem oversaturated in which things sell cheaper, but no vendor will buy for a decent price. Others I may deem completely lacking where Vendors may charge crazy amounts but they will also buy over listed price from the start. Of course, if players want to haggle I allow it (whether narrative or rolls), but by default I usually have the face of the group just naturally find better deals or have one roll's results determine the result of all interactions that tip as rolling 100 times in a shopping trip is tedious and takes away from the campaign. For rarer items or bigger hauls I have rolled separately though.

As for black market, that can be more fun to roll for and can even make a side mission all of it's own in the more restricted cultures. However, I would never have players roll to see if someone is selling what they want. I would have them roll to make contacts, figure out what they need to do to earn favor, etc. Once in, I just do the searching narratively. If I deem that the characters don't have any contacts that would be willing to risk buying a stolen imperial shuttle, but the party is adamant about losing the heat but not without making a profit maybe I will have a contact know a friend of a friend who may be interested but it's risky...blam, mission time! I find this way to be more involving and entertaining.

Obviously not the only way to do things but I thought I'd share from a more narrative driven party's PoV.

I also have my PCs develop contacts via game play. The purchases of most items end up being story driven - they met Catrinna in a seedy cantina on Corellia and negotiated the sale of the imperial speeder bikes they stole over a game of Sabaac. Then she gave them a job - the Corellian Shuffle.

They met Gorn Vorrox on Duros because they had some ancient Jedi artifacts to sell and needed to find an interested buyer for such illegal product. Gorn gave them a contact and while they were in his shop he sold them some supplies like smuggler's vests, stun grenades, etc.

Resupply opportunities abound organically. I also encourage my players to make these purchases via slice of life role play cut scenes to be posted as adventure logs on our Obsidian Portal page. This helps develop a full, vibrant universe for us to play in and make our own.

I don't sweat it much. If a player tells me, "I want to buy [insert item here]" I look at the rarity. If the total (modified for remote location etc.) is 5-6 or less, I just let him deduct the credits and buy it. If it's something a little more unusual I let them make a Negotiation or Streetwise check as appropriate to locate the item.