Business

Ability Score INT

This skill encompasses foundational knowledge of production theories, distribution mechanisms, supply and demand principles, advertising strategies, inventory management, and business planning. Skill checks are required when a character seeks to participate in stock market activities, utilize business expertise in negotiations, conduct potentially unlawful transactions, assess the value of goods within their society, identify commodity markets, or calculate fair market values for goods and services. The Gamemaster assigns appropriate modifiers based on the contextual circumstances present during each skill check.

When a character employs the Business skill to negotiate the purchase or sale of commodities, the other party’s Intellect modifier plus 11 is used to determine the Difficulty Class (DC). If both parties possess the Business skill, the Gamemaster may choose to resolve the negotiation as an opposed skill check. Additionally, this skill may be utilized to positively adjust an opponent's attitude towards Friendly or higher, which can confer a bonus on subsequent Business skill checks.

Penalties are typically imposed when engaging with rare, exotic, or unfamiliar goods, conducting illicit transactions, or negotiating with individuals from unfamiliar cultures. These penalties vary in severity—Ordinary, Good, or Amazing—depending on the specific scenario. Conversely, bonuses may be awarded if the character possesses insider information that offers a transactional advantage, or if they are dealing with familiar commodities or cultures.

Illicit Business

Business skills enhance a character’s ability to navigate the less conventional sectors of commerce. It provides insight into practices such as extortion, smuggling, fencing stolen goods, and participating in black-market operations. Acquiring ranks in Business equips the character with the knowledge necessary for interaction with unlawful enterprises, without guaranteeing success in criminal endeavors. Examples include white-collar crimes such as embezzlement, insider trading, and corporate espionage.

Small Business

The Business skill improves a character’s ability to succeed in small-scale commercial ventures. Small-business owners and merchants leverage this skill to enhance their operational effectiveness and to negotiate successfully at the consumer level.

Modifiers

With sufficient ranks in Business, you earn the following.

• 5 Ranks: Increases locality’s available credit limit increasing available Purchase DC by 1 and decreases a specific items availability DC by 1 or decreased DC by 2 if illicit business.
• 10 Ranks: Increases locality’s available credit limit by increasing available Purchase DC by 2 and decreases a specific items availability DC by 2 or decreased DC by 4 if illicit business.
• 15 Ranks: Increases locality’s available credit limit increasing available Purchase DC by 3 and decreases a specific items availability DC by 3 or decreased DC by 6 if illicit business.
• 20 Ranks: Increases locality’s available credit limit increasing available Purchase DC by 5 and decreases a specific items availability DC by 5 or decreased DC by 10 if illicit business.