Hi there,
sorry for spamming all those questions, but you're really, really helping. If I aquire an item like described on page 111+, do I have to make a profit factor test like explained on page 270? Or is it ok to make a commerce test for single items?
Our Rogue Trader dynasty really poor
and we've problem optaining a single handgun, but with comerce it would be at least a bit easier.
Single items are still purchased with aquisition, with a +30 modifier for quantity. However, failing the test doesn't mean the player CAN'T get the item, just that they were unable to aquire it as a matter of course. They can then attempt to get the item by finding contacts, performing services, spending large amounts of time looking for it, or burning PF to gain bonuses to a second role.
The Commerce check is unrelated, it is a skill not a way to purchase things. You may excersize your skill at commerce to increase your chance of succeeding at an aquisition check (bonus to roll), or as part of your continued actions in search of the item in question.
But no, you can't replace an aquisition check with a commerce check. The first represents your ability to aquire an item, the second represents your understanding of commerce. No matter how well you understand commerce you still have to find an pay for items, and if you can't find it or afford it you can't get it.
I would have thought so too, but why is on page 110-112 explained how to get an item via the commerce skill? In the example box on page 111, a character gets her new Bolt Pistol via the commerce skill. I'm totally confused and not yet ready to believe you, even though you've made your point very clear. The pages don't even state you need an acquisition test, only later in the "bulk-order-chapter".
It's just because it would make sense. Even our poor profit factor 25 is able to pay thousands of people working for them. Buy food for the ships crew etc, so a single Plasma Pistol would be a minor expense. A commerce test would succeed on >=50 but an acquisition test on >=25. But on the other hand the commerce and acquisition test paragraph on page 273 states the opposite. On the other hand, why is there a 3 pages long explanation how to use the commerce skill on p.110-112, if there is no real use for it in that way. Why am I able to use commerce for locating items and decreesing time, if don't get anything from it, because acquisition should be done in the downtimes and the only real profit related use of commerce is the opposing scrunity test. I think, commerce would help for finding the best seller etc, not only to take just one seller and try to bargain him to death.
ChaosPhoenix said:
I would have thought so too, but why is on page 110-112 explained how to get an item via the commerce skill? In the example box on page 111, a character gets her new Bolt Pistol via the commerce skill. I'm totally confused and not yet ready to believe you, even though you've made your point very clear. The pages don't even state you need an acquisition test, only later in the "bulk-order-chapter".
It's just because it would make sense. Even our poor profit factor 25 is able to pay thousands of people working for them. Buy food for the ships crew etc, so a single Plasma Pistol would be a minor expense. A commerce test would succeed on >=50 but an acquisition test on >=25. But on the other hand the commerce and acquisition test paragraph on page 273 states the opposite. On the other hand, why is there a 3 pages long explanation how to use the commerce skill on p.110-112, if there is no real use for it in that way. Why am I able to use commerce for locating items and decreesing time, if don't get anything from it, because acquisition should be done in the downtimes and the only real profit related use of commerce is the opposing scrunity test. I think, commerce would help for finding the best seller etc, not only to take just one seller and try to bargain him to death.
As previously mentioned by riplikash, the two things are related but they are not interchangeable. The commerce skill relates to the characters knowledge of business and trade. Using this skill allows them to increase their chances and reduce the time it would otherwise take to acquire an item or items. The act of actually locating and purchasing said item(s) relies on the acquisition test. Sometimes no matter how much money you are willing to pay there are just no such items available in the sector.
Remember that there are a host of modifiers to the acquisition test depending on the quality and volume of the item in question. While you only have a profit factor of 25, presuming you are after a single plasma pistol as a personal weapon, the difficulty becomes 55 (neglecting craftsmanship, rarity, etc.). Succeeding on a commerce test in would then help make this task easier and/or shorter.
Ok you both convinced me. Yes the single-item bonus helps a lot, but it's still 25 because I can't neglect the quality and availability. So the commcerce test to locate an item is pretty much not needed, right (at least in downtimes)?
ChaosPhoenix said:
Ok you both convinced me. Yes the single-item bonus helps a lot, but it's still 25 because I can't neglect the quality and availability. So the commcerce test to locate an item is pretty much not needed, right (at least in downtimes)?
It's not needed, but it could be useful. Using the commerce skill would be an investment of your character's time in locating the best item rather than doing other things with their downtime. Making the acquisition test alone could represent not spending that much time finding the best deal or delagating the task to a minion obviously less capable than a player character.