SamhainIA wrote:
Funny, I also don't roll making a living rolls either
LOL! My main character Eisener doesn't either...both because I don't like keeping track of the extra paperwork and because earning a mundane living seems to be "below" a Holy Champion of Nier. I like to think that between modules he is ... essentially doing the same thing off camera ... out roaming the world looking for a (just-ish) fight.
OTOH I do try to remember to make rolls with Tukufu, because he's supposed to be hip deep in the "antiquities" trade and a busy busy little bee. Tukufu would definitely "live large" if given the opportunity.
On the whole,
in theory, I have no real qualms about a lifestyle cost in the LA campaign. To me its not that big a deal either way...Though it would help me remember if the CPs had a dedicated line for them.
Njal Val'Assante wrote:
Low lifestyle: No cost/-2 to all social interaction rolls
Regular lifestyle: 4 Sc (5 Sc w/Expensive Taste) / No bonuses or penalties
High lifestyle: 12 Sc (15 Sc w/Expensive Taste) / +2 to all social interaction rolls
Exalted lifestyle: 25 Sc (31 Sc w/Expensive Taste) / +5 to all social interaction rolls
These bonuses are Lifestyle bonuses, and would stack with any other social bonuses or offset any penalties you may possess.
Okay,
in practice I think these numbers are off. Both the bonuses and the costs.
(A) I think the bonuses for
low and
high lifestyles should be +/-1 rather than +/-2. Again, because the game creates a bell curve of probability rather than a straight 5% for each +/-, I would be conservative in giving out bonuses and penalties.
(B) I think buying an Exalted lifestyle should hurt the pocketbook and 25 sc doesn't do that. There is no real reason why my PC Tukufu couldn't/wouldn't take it every time it was available. He'd still make money in most adventures. That seems wrong to me since doesn't have access to any nifty "richness/connectedness" talents or paths despite the fact he calls himself Ambassador. IMO an "exalted" lifestyle should cost around 50 sc since that is more or less the default earnings of an adventure (individual adventures vary a great deal). I think at that point the cost begins to have bite. At this "price point" Tukufu would currently only purchase this life style when he felt flush.
(C) I think
exalted life style should only grant a +3 bonus. Bell curve, blah blah blah.
(D) I think there should be something beyond
exalted. Maybe the naming conventions could be rejiggered, I'll call it
ridiculous ... but really maybe we should call it
legendary (and change the other lifestyles to fine and exceptional). This is moving into powerful noble/rock star level. Not sure what this price point is but it should be measured in gold coins (plural), not silver. Most players, most of the time, would not think this is a good deal ... though maybe some certs and favors could give them access to it at reduced/free costs. This is where I'd give a +5 bonus.
I like Southern Skies idea about integrating expensive tastes as a requirement (of sorts) to take high lifestyle where available. There is a Miserly flaw now as well. You should have to make the roll verses your own discipline to buy high lifestyle. Finally the talent Benefits of Station should have some impact on lifestyle.
On the whole, while I like the idea of differentiated levels of success, I do not think the most important element in social interaction should be how much money you outlaid at the start of the module.