The base rules say :
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 FAQ says:

Miscellaneous
Q: Exactly where, when, and what can investigators
trade?
A: Investigators may trade any time they are in the same
location except during combat. They may trade before,
during or after movement, which means trading does not
end a move.
They may trade Common Items, Unique Items, Money,
and Spells. They may not trade Clue tokens, Allies, and
Monster and Gate trophies.

Based on a strict reading, it seems like I could read my encounter card, and then say to someone on my space "oh hey, let me borrow that item".

It reads like they MEAN you can only trade during movement, but I can't find anywhere that says that.

Any thoughts?

Also, I always play that you can trade exhibit items too, but afaik that isn't spelled out anywhere.

Locutus Zero said:

You can borrow something before you draw your encounter card, but after you draw it, it gets resolved without interruption.

"Q: When can a character perform actions during a phase?
For example, if a player with the ally Duke (“discard to
immediately restore your Sanity to its maximum”) draws
an encounter and has to roll a die and lose that much
Sanity, when can he discard Duke to restore Sanity: not at
all once the encounter card is drawn, before the roll, or
after the roll?
A: Actions can be performed at any time during their
listed phase as long as any given conditions are met.

However, once an encounter is drawn, it must be resolved
before any more actions can be performed. So, in the
case of Duke, you can use him before or after drawing an
encounter card, but if you draw the encounter card and it
inflicts Sanity loss that reduces you to 0 Sanity, you go
insane before you can use Duke. Flesh Ward is one exception
to this rule because it prevents a Stamina loss and is
intended to be used in response to such events." (FAQ, 5-6)

Premonition Spell is another that is allowable to use (shifting sliders).

So you can trade items mid-mythos? You can trade between encounters?

So I can take any and all items you have that might help me in my encounter, and then give them to you plus some of mine for your encounter?

When a mythos card makes players fight or make some kind of check, we can trade around items after we learn this?

Locutus Zero said:

No.

No.

No.

No.

Can you point to a rule that explains that?

Locutus Zero said:

The base rules and the FAQ mention actions that can normally only happen during the Movement phase. It stresses "except during combat" without covering other single character situations where you should not be able to trade items (like during Arkham encounters, Other World encounters, etc).

Locutus Zero said:

That's mean, I can trade BEFORE combat (Movement Phase)

Example:

RIVERTOWN: Carolyn Fern ; 2 Monsters

1. Dexter Drake moves to RIVERTOWN

2. Carolyn give him Dark Cloak (+1 Evade check) and Pallid Mask (+2 Evade check)

3. Dexter makes Evade checks

4. Dexter gives back Dark Cloak and Pallid Mask and go

5. Carolyn makes Evade checks and go

It's absurd...

sirafin said:

Why is that?

It's one of the cases you can actually work togetter. I find it more absurd you can't fight a monster together when you are at the same location...

That said, there aren't that many occasions you can benefit from that, and there is still the turn order to respect, not to mention the time you may loose. Just imgine that Dexter has to past that monster but Carolyn goes first? Than she has to stay there 1 round trying to hide from the monster... etc

But they don't FIGHT togther, they EXCHANGE equipment. Just like that! Before fight, ater fiht, between figts, monsters everywere, but who cares, we always have as many time we need to. Mosters are there, and we can trade with no difficulties? We can in safe location, but like this...

I really don't like this idea, feels like cheating to me :/

sirafin said:

Well, you can also read a Tome (or two or three...) in the same space with monsters. Guess they just politely wait for you to finish reading those Tomes?

Can investigators trade items during the Final Battle? They are all facing the Great Old one but they are not in the same "square" if I have understood it correctly. So, how is this ruled?

The quick answer is yes, you can trade items during final combat.

The exact upkeep phase goes like this:

Upkeep:

1. Refresh Exhausted Cards
2. Perform Upkeep Actions
3. Adjust Skill Sliders
4. Trade items

After the Upkeep, you either attack the AO (if you're not using Epic Battle cards) and then the AO attacks; or you flip the Epic Battle card and follow its instructions.

One question that has not been answered is whether or not investigators truly share a region during final combat. If so, that means that Minh Thi Phan's special ability applies, and the Paranoia madness card still harms the investigator. I say, since you can trade items, you are in the same place.

Dam said:

Vague thought: those locations are actually pretty large chunks of real estate. Maybe a couple of the houses are smaller, but most of them seem to have multiple stories, attics, basements, not to mention yards and grounds. The Woods can hardly be "full" of monsters, can it? The Unvisited Isle has plenty of room. Even the Historical Society and Science Building have dozens of rooms and hallways. And the Streets are blocks and blocks of alleyways and shadows:

1. Dexter Drake moves to RIVERTOWN

...and bumps into Carolyn, who informs him that there's "something out there". Ever the gentlemen, Dexter says he'll go check.

2. Carolyn give him Dark Cloak (+1 Evade check) and Pallid Mask (+2 Evade check)

...some stuff she found that might hide Dexter's pale skin, just in case.

3. Dexter makes Evade checks

...Dexter indeed spots some "things" that would be best avoided, and steals his way back to Carolyn. "They're over there. If you go that direction, and circle around those warehouses, you should be able to avoid their attention."

4. Dexter gives back Dark Cloak and Pallid Mask and go

..."Thanks for these. They were very useful. Unfortunately, I have things I must attend to in a different neighborhood, so I wish you good luck and a good night."

5. Carolyn makes Evade checks and go

...Carolyn follows Dexter's advice, and escapes without incident.

That fits both the rules and the theme. Honest question: did it make sense?

Exactly. He passing location three times (1. with Mask and Cloak, 2. back to Carolyn, 3. without Mask and Cloak and leave location), but evade monsters once. How can he be sure, it's still safe there? If he leave location, and back (same turn!) he must take another evade check, but he needn't if he runing there and back exchaning equipment...

I preffer "monster priority" rule, and exchange items AFTER fight/evading, it's more logical to me. (Live long and prosper )