We were working on our first acquisition last night and the whole thing just seemed weird. Maybe I'm playing things wrong but...

Anyway, I'm looking for advice. One of my players, after having been in a fight that kinda scared them, decided that the ap3 xeno mesh that he had wasn't worth it. So he goes looking for new armor and I figured we'd run it as an acquisition since we hadn't tried that mechanic yet and he WAS trying to acquire the armor.

So basically, he wanted a single suit of carapace armor... Huh... Ok, maybe I just figured it out. But I'll finish it to permit discussion...

Anyway, single suit of carapace armor. At the time, they are in a system that is officially theirs. They founded the colony, they own the space stations... it's all theirs(Well, the dynasty's). So we start figuring out what the numbers are and start thinking of what the roll will be. And with their crappy PF they come up with a target of 30. Or something. But, this really is basically them (in game terms) rooting around inside their own holds and space stations and seeing if they can "buy" their own armor. We're thinking that if one simple exists in the solar system anywhere... it already belongs to them... why do they need to buy it?

Then, another player goes... hey wait... this Refractor field(Yes, I might be getting the name wrong. might be a different item) has the same availability as this carapace armor, you should get that instead. Now I'm thinking... What the hell? Advanced ancient technological item that projects a force field... vs a suit of ceremite and armorplast armor... A miracle of the Omnissiah's technological bounty available at the same rating as Enforcer light carapace...

Eventually, I said that the field simply wasn't available... and they rolled to see if they could get the armor and could. But the use of an acquisition test for a suit of armor really just seemed to lower the feel of the game from Merchant Prince houses to "Do I got a $1.50?"

Ephinany that I just had...

But it's "acquiring" it not "buying" it. Doesn't matter if you have a hold full of the things, if someone doesn't remember it and know where it is... you haven't acquired it. If the quartermaster doesn't like you and hides the fact that he's got 20 in his bedroom... you haven't acquired it. If you make an enemy of the Master of the Forge... you haven't acquired it. The test is to get your hands on one(or a thousand)... not if you already technically own one.

Thrantor said:

From the corebook's section on Acquisition, P.273:

Acquisition is a tool for the GM to map the aspiration of the Explorers and measure their mercantile power, and it should not become a stumbling block every time an Explorer wants to find a new suit of flak armor. Therefore the GM should relax these rules for personal items, especially those with Average availability (or more) and Common Craftsmanship (or less). Explorers should be able to buy personal weapons armor and gear as often as they like, provided they have access to the goods they seek and the time to acquire them.

The developers gave you an out to avoid this.

Also, just as an aside because I thought of it after the edit button timed out, PF is not a measure of money, it's a combination of the networks and contacts needed to be able to communicate "Is there a fine set of Carapace armor available out there?" (In the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium, there is no Ebay), the command of subordinates to inspect said armor and make sure that it is worthy of a member of the command staff of a Rogue Trader, the capabilities of transporting it from here to there, and finally yes, the matter of payment, which is almost never in actual Throne Gelts but usually a bill of sale or invoice that is astropath-faxed to whatever Counting House qualifies as the Rogue Trader's administrative headquarters.

When you fail a PF roll, it doesn't mean that you lack the funds necessary to acquire said item. It simply means that at this current point in time, said money or assets are tied up in other things. Perhaps a corporate merger/acquisition is occurring in the Calixis Sector requiring most of the administrative efforts to be focused on the massive amount of paperwork required, or a lucrative trade route is currently experiencing a high demand for products, causing a shortage of available shuttles. It takes money to make money. It takes PF to make PF (and maintain it!).

FFG made PF a VERY abstract concept. I disliked this, and when I described PF to my players when they were awarded their initial Warrant of Trade I described it in the form of a large invoice (text file) from their Temporary Administratum-appointed Exchequer basically reading them off a list of accounts, securities, loans, administrative buildings (a counting house in Port Wander), support staff, and real estate properties deeded that they had been awarded as starting-out assets. Then at the end I stated "This gives you a PF of 40, comparable to a Planetary Noble, Weak Imperial Governor, a Planet-bound Merchant House, or a Lesser Rogue Trader", to give them the abstract comparison of just exactly what the hell all these stupid roleplay details meant in game terms.

As a real-life comparison, check the estimated revenue of any large corporation with their actual net income, or even their operating income.

Wal-Mart for instance:

Revenue US$408.21 billion (2009)
Operating income US$ 23.95 billion (2009)
Net income US$ 14.33 billion (2009)

The top line looks really awesome. Yes, they earn a crapload of money every year. 408 billion as of 2 years ago. Then check the second line. That's the amount they have after factoring in expenses. All those income earning assets, in the form of employees, real estate, and purchased goods factor into it. That's a nearly 95% difference. Then look at the final number which is after loan interest and taxes. That's a 97.5% difference!

• Assuming PF of 30
• Storm Trooper Carapace Armour (Very Rare) -20
• Single Item +30
• Common Quality +20
• You are at a target of 60 now...so I'm assuming they wanted BEST quality Storm Trooper Carapace Armour. Cheeky

I use the following system for Acquisitions

Its a combination of Core rules, Into the Storm and home rules I've gathered off other sites.

And you came to the right conclusion, if you don't want them to have it their acquisitions test will fail. If they are on a Forgeworld and have good relations with the Mechanicus it MIGHT be possible but those guys are like squats with a bucket of gold and jewels, hard to part them from their chosen booty.

bobh said:

?

Common Craftsmanship is +0.

Fortinbras said:

You know, I really like this idea. I think I shall steal it. And it'll work wonderfully. The dynasty is currently trapped in a solar system in a warp storm. Has been for 500 years or so. When the warp storm passes(about the time we've worked through the base rule set), they will have the warp routes to port wander through the maw and not much else.

When they get back to port wander they will find their dynasty in shambles with a PF of 20. I think about that time, I will have the seneshal come through with the list of their holdings and present it to them. Included will be the listing for a planet that lead to the GM screens mission with the whisperer.

Thanks. And thanks on the quote from the book. I hadn't seen that.