**EDIT**

I've received a sufficient answer to my question regarding the Utility Belt talent. Thanks for the info. If you wish to continue discussing it, feel free, but if you are about to reply to give me an answer, no need

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Ok so, was listening to an Order 66 podcast recently, and they were talking about one of the specs that gets the talent Utility Belt. Don't have the book in front of me, so I may misquote the talent but, basically:

Spend a Destiny Point, you can pull an item out of your belt of a certain encumbrance, and rarity/etc.

....how is this any different from just flipping a Destiny Point by itself?

When I've heard the developers describe, back when EotE was the only line out there, how you could use Destiny Points, one of the most common examples they gave were things like "Oh crap! We don't have rebreathers!" *flip destiny point* "Yes, we do! Remember I packed them last time we were in port!"

So, it seems that Utility Belt is just redundant.

Can someone please explain why anyone should bother getting this talent? Because unless I am totally misunderstanding how people can use DP's to have tiny items like that, I really don't see the point of it.

There was another thread on it a few weeks ago.

A utility belt has a huge, long list of stuff you can pull - including, but not limited to an endless* supply of grenades.

A DP flip is a "Oh crap, we kind of need X and the GM doesnt want to bring the game to a screeching halt" usage. The GM can override this kind of usage or reign it in somehow. A GM cant** reign in the Utility Belt usage.

*Endless until you run out of Destiny Points - or the other players at the table smack you for hogging all the Destiny Points.

**Well, he can reign it in as much as any other talent in the trees.

So after reading the other thread, the general consensus is:

Generic DP Flip = Patching up minor plot holes due to lack of equipment/planning, so game can keep flowing.

Utility Belt DP Flip = I feel like having *Insert Cool Device X* right now, to make this scene more fun/amusing/awesome. But not having it won't impact the narrative flow at all.

Ok yeah, I can see that. Thanks.

I'd also add that the Generic DP Flip is not just to keep things flowing but I think it's primarily a way of encouraging PCs to contribute narratively to the game in a way not typically done in other systems but with a built in limiting factor.

Adding a context appropriate fact or piece of equipment is useful to smooth things along but it's also another great avenue for the players to add to the story.

The Utility Belt just takes this up a notch regarding equipment.

I'm away from my books right now but I think there is a Signature ability (Diplomat?) that lets the PC spend a DP and come up with (or have the GM come up with) some new fact in the game (I may be misremembering this and may just be going on how I'd use the ability).

I'd also add that the Generic DP Flip is not just to keep things flowing but I think it's primarily a way of encouraging PCs to contribute narratively to the game in a way not typically done in other systems but with a built in limiting factor.

Adding a context appropriate fact or piece of equipment is useful to smooth things along but it's also another great avenue for the players to add to the story.

The Utility Belt just takes this up a notch regarding equipment.

I'm away from my books right now but I think there is a Signature ability (Diplomat?) that lets the PC spend a DP and come up with (or have the GM come up with) some new fact in the game (I may be misremembering this and may just be going on how I'd use the ability).

Oh I know it's not the only use for Generic DP flips, but it is one way they can be used. And since this particular use was being replicated by a talent, it seemed redundant, and a waste of xp to get the talent, as I understood the usage. If it had used something other than a DP, like say, you burn 2-3 strain and have the item in your belt, then it would've made more sense to me, seeing as it wasn't using the same resource anymore. But since it still used a DP, and did the same functional thing as the Generic DP flip, it made no sense to get it. But I get the difference now, so it's good. It's just an example of how something is worded, versus how a brain interprets it.

The GM can say no to any regular DP flip request. Utility Belt takes that power away from the GM for most things, it's a form of protection from GM fiat.

To me:

The biggest benefit of the Talent is that the item need not be paid for...

With the generic DP flip, it's

1...

P: "I forgot to buy a grappling hook, so I'm DP flipping to have bought it earlier..."

N: "Ok, mark off the credits."

2...

P: "I have a grappling hook back at base... I would have known I'd need it. Here's a DP flip to have remembered to pack it."

N: "Ok, move it from stored to carried."

3...

P1: "It would be really nice if there were a pipe to hook to nearby."

N: "Flip a destiny, and there is."

P2: "It's worth it."

P1 flips.

Utility belt is (same situations

1, 2

P: "I need a grappling hook... don't have one..." Flip. "I use the grappling hook on my utility belt and attempt to cross the chasm"

3

P: "I wish there were a pipe to hook to. But, since there's not..." flip. "I have a glue head, and will hook to the far side..."

N: "Ok, you're across the 20m chasm. Now climb that 15m to the lip. 2 purple, plus the blacks for carrying your sister."

As a GM I would not applaud your option 1. If you don't own it the you can't dp flip it into existence at our table.

All your other bullet points? Definitely!

As a GM I would not applaud your option 1. If you don't own it the you can't dp flip it into existence at our table.

All your other bullet points? Definitely!

My players have all been reticent to use that one, and only have used it for filter-masks and vacc suits. It's a great solution to the «P1:"why didn't you tell us it was a vacuum world" N: "I did, on that handout." P1-4: "We all missed it."» issue. It's an even better fix for the GM having forgotten to mention that a particular listed system mainworld was a vacuum world..

Instead, they tend to use the reroll a pool, and make narrative declaration.

For example, "Inquisitor Tybalt was too arrogant to think to back up the scan data."

But they have often discussed using it that way.

Yeah, my players are reluctant to use them at all really. Though I was very proud of my one player. I had them exploring a crashed ship, and they had to get up to a higher level in the engineering section of the ship. The Wookie tried to climb his way up, but the dice were not with him. So the other player looks at me, reaches across the table and says. "Good thing there is a still functional lift in the corner over there." and flips the DP.

I grinned at him and nodded. "Indeed! That is very handy!" And then I turned to the player of the Wookie. "As you sit there panting from the exhertion, you see a lift in the corner you could use to go up!"

And that right there is how to use DP's

My players are also really reluctant to use DP. Probably because they know that every Dark Side DP is a red waiting to happen...

Honestly a red die is one of the nicest things you can give them with a DP!

Honestly a red die is one of the nicest things you can give them with a DP!

I guess I watch too much porn...

Honestly a red die is one of the nicest things you can give them with a DP!

I guess I watch too much porn...

I was going to make a "Yeah, much better than soreness and a funny walk!" joke, but I figured I'd keep it PG