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Author Topic: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer  (Read 166355 times)

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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1860 on: May 15, 2023, 03:25:19 am »
Does the Connections talent give you access to items but not legal licenses, or items and the licenses as well? I'm talking about the first mentioned application, not the reduced cost when buying from the black market.

I think that the talent means you have Connections to the seller, so the seller sells you the item without all the bureaucracy. But I could see someone interpreting that it means you have Connections to the bureau granting licenses, so they give you the license and you are free to buy the item afterwards. The results are quite different, especially if you are playing something like Dark Times, as my interpretation gives you just the item and the Empire can arrest you now for carrying something that you don't have permission for.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1861 on: May 15, 2023, 09:59:11 pm »
When it comes to Connections there probably are two ways one might look at it.

Now the first, and way I see it, is that Connections will get you the licensing needed for equipment of the stated value or less; you may not need to pay the fee or make the check but you'd still need the time to get it.  Once you have it you are free to buy all the equipment you want although you might wonder about possession limits for individual items.  A 2nd-level character with Connections might have a source for Thermal Detonators but still might not want to have two of them in his possession if stopped.

I could also see reading Connections as being able to "explain away" that value of equipment without having a license for it.  This may be more of the "someone will just get you the time" but I really don't think this is the right interpretation.

As for getting stopped with questionable material you might be able to legally get an item but I'd question how many you might have (that 2nd level could hold one thermal detonator but two would get him in trouble) and then you may also run into "local restrictions" that don't actually care about any licensing and while it may be "legal" for you to have that item that doesn't always give you permission to carry. or especially use, it just anywhere.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1862 on: May 16, 2023, 04:17:58 am »
Thanks, StevenO!

Hmm, so your opinion is different to mine. I need to do some thinking about this. While I think that the good thing about my interpretation is that the licenseless items it provides produce excitement - will they catch you with the item or not? - the negative aspect is that it sort of forces the noble with the talent to break the law. That's something talents perhaps shouldn't do - they should be tools that PC's can use, be it for legal or illegal purposes. And Connections is a noble talent, and it isn't noble's "schtick" to break the law, the way it could be with scoundrel. And the talent's name is "Connections". A person with "Connections" probably wouldn't use said "Connections" to break the law in a way that he can be caught by a simple policeman on the street. Someone with "Connections" might want to break the law in a way that he can't be caught (at least easily). That's what "Connections" are - means to bypass regulations so that you give an appearance that you didn't bypass them. More like bending the rules than breaking them outright. Like I said, I need to do some thinking but I'm starting to see it your way. Especially since the waiting time would still be an issue, so that the licenses need still to be taken individually. I don't want to answer a player who says "I have a 1st level noble with the Connections talent. I go to a licensing office and get licenses for every Licensed, Restricted, Military and Illegal item in the galaxy that costs 1000 credits or less. Give me a list"...
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1863 on: May 16, 2023, 07:10:38 am »
In many ways the reduced black market modifier could be seen as using Connection to get things more easily without going through the proper channels.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1864 on: May 16, 2023, 01:31:16 pm »
Indeed, that came to my mind as well when I was thinking about this. That way the talent would cover both proper and improper channels.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1865 on: May 16, 2023, 08:24:04 pm »
Of course one must ask "why would I buy something on the black market if I could buy it legally with ease?"  There may be three answers to that:

1.  It's expensive enough you can't actually get it easily (ie it's too expensive for your Connections to get you permission.)
2.  You need it NOW but don't have the license for it yet.  Connections may save you the cost and the roll but not the time.
3.  You may not want a paper trail showing you've ever owned that item.  "No sir, those thermal detonators are not mine.  If they were you should be able to trace their purchase."
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1866 on: May 24, 2023, 10:56:36 am »
I see a different reason to go to the black market. You may have a license for a Lightsaber (during the dark rimes) if you are working with the Inquisition. But no one in their right mind would sell you one.

If you get a license for a heavy weapon, buying one is still not that easy. Manufacturers write contracts with planetary governments or other large companies. As a private citizen
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1867 on: May 24, 2023, 12:40:52 pm »
Quote from: MERC_1 on May 24, 2023, 10:56:36 am
I see a different reason to go to the black market. You may have a license for a Lightsaber (during the dark rimes) if you are working with the Inquisition. But no one in their right mind would sell you one.

If you get a license for a heavy weapon, buying one is still not that easy. Manufacturers write contracts with planetary governments or other large companies. As a private citizen

A lightsaber also runs into the "RARE" issue with I don't think Connections is really supposed to help you with all that much.

When it comes to those heavy weapons those "production contracts" may normally be with governments and other large organizations/companies but some of those would have a secondary market filling the "small orders" of legal buyers who do have limited needs.  This can leave us asking "who is the quoted price actually for then?"  If you want to say that the normal fee for a licensed purchase also cover any additional markup you might have Connections lower that a level although that is kind of defeating the talent's use at negating the fee and roll to get licenses.

Getting something you can legally have isn't necessarily going to be any easier or faster just because you go through the black market.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1868 on: May 24, 2023, 02:18:42 pm »
Quote from: MERC_1 on May 24, 2023, 10:56:36 am
I see a different reason to go to the black market. You may have a license for a Lightsaber (during the dark rimes) if you are working with the Inquisition. But no one in their right mind would sell you one.

If you get a license for a heavy weapon, buying one is still not that easy. Manufacturers write contracts with planetary governments or other large companies. As a private citizen

A very good point about the lightsaber in Dark Times, MERC_1. I'm not sure I understand the second point about heavy weapons, though - it seems your sentence was cut short. But Dark Times games definitely have a feel of their own, a paranoiac and secretive feeling, because the Empire is watching you and it's everywhere! No other era does that so splendidly. If you buy strange things legally and then use them in an operation against the Empire, the ISB will be tracking the leads. It's chilling in the best possible way!
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1869 on: May 25, 2023, 02:15:27 am »
Yes, I was cut short somehow.

If you get a license for a heavy weapon, buying one is still not that easy. Manufacturers write contracts with planetary governments or other large companies. As a private citizen they may not give you the time of day. This all depends on the company in question, how tightly they are controlled by the Empire or some other organisation.

- So, you have a license you say? We will send a copy of the safety code to the ISB for good measure! We will get back to you when they tell us it's OK and that you are working for the Empire. Not working for the Empire AND have a license? That is very suspicious!

- Sure, we can sell you grenade launchers, but we sell in bulk. They come in boxes of 12.

- Sorry, we ONLY sell to government agencies. Have a nice day!

- Well, with your Connections we DO want to make things go smoothly. I'm sure one grenade launcher could have been scrapped du to faulty materials... Come right this way!

This are all examples of how things may go when trying to buy Military or Illegal equipment. If you have the right Connections things are much more likely to go smoothly, no matter if you have a license or not. You can "always" get a license later, you see? At least as long as you don't get caught with a restricted item before you do...

I base this on the Fluff text on page 118 of SECR:
Quote
Military: The object is sold primarily to legitimate police and military organizations. A military rating is essentially the same as restricted (see above). except that manufacturers and dealers are generally under tight government scrutiny and are therefore especially wary of selling to private individuals.
   
So, even with a license finding a seller can be difficult. Not everything in the books are available on every planet either, this goes double for Rare items.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1870 on: May 25, 2023, 12:53:13 pm »
Quote from: Ulic Qel-Droma on May 24, 2023, 02:18:42 pm
... If you buy strange things legally and then use them in an operation against the Empire, the ISB will be tracking the leads. It's chilling in the best possible way!

This was my #3 for still wanting to use the Black Market to get certain items despite being able to obtain a license to own them legally.

There may even be a certain irony where you may want a license for something but still buy it on the black market.  "Why yes I have the permits required to have Thermal Detonators.  What do you mean there's no record my purchase of those detonators?  There's some kind of mix up and we need to get to the bottom of this."  I could be wrong but I'm thinking you may be in a bit less trouble with something you could have than something there's no way you're supposed to have it.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1871 on: June 28, 2023, 01:06:47 am »
Delay Damage states "Once per encounter as a Reaction, you can choose to delay the effect of a single attack, ability, or effect used against you".  ¿Will this ability work against attacks/force powers that don't deal damage (Affect Mind, Force Stun, Fear, etc)?
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1872 on: June 28, 2023, 01:31:08 am »
Quote from: Mr. Satan on June 28, 2023, 01:06:47 am
Delay Damage states "Once per encounter as a Reaction, you can choose to delay the effect of a single attack, ability, or effect used against you".  ¿Will this ability work against attacks/force powers that don't deal damage (Affect Mind, Force Stun, Fear, etc)?

Although explaining just what happens may be a challenge (you should still suffer the effect even if it's delayed) the "or effect" probably should include many other things like Force Powers.  I believe we had this come up in one of the PbP encounters on this site where the NPCs with Elite Trooper used the power to temporarily negate certain Force Powers.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1873 on: August 04, 2023, 07:09:42 am »
Was there anything in the rules stating that vehicles and/or starships could only be damaged by heavy weapons at character scale?  In my mind that's how we always played it (admittedly, it's been quite a few years since we've played SWSE), at least on anything larger than speeders, but I pulled out the core book this morning and couldn't specifically find anything stating this.
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Re: Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
« Reply #1874 on: August 04, 2023, 04:13:49 pm »
Quote from: UrbanSniper on August 04, 2023, 07:09:42 am
Was there anything in the rules stating that vehicles and/or starships could only be damaged by heavy weapons at character scale?...

Not that I was ever aware of but don't forget that most vehicles and starships may have some relatively significant DR which may make many character scale weapons all but useless.  Throw up some SR as well and they may be untouchable.  Even if/when damage does get through it is likely to take a long time to eat up all of the vehicle's hit points; dealing "real" damage could require topping the Damage Threshold after overcoming DR/SR.

Shooting at an AT-ST (DR 10, DT30, hp 120) with a Blaster Rifle (average damage 14) would seem to take about 3 minutes of constant fire just to disable it.  Destroying will require getting it to zero hp with a shot that rolled 40+ damage to overcome DR then DT.  An AT-AT (hp 300, DR 20, DT 79) is mostly untouchable although you could occasionally scratch the paint with a great damage roll.

With that in mind it's often not really worth tracking those things unless it is very much an objective.
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