Starting Resource Points for Trav/Firefly-ish TE

[buzz]

Okay, I've got some PCs being created for a TE campaign that's in the ol' "Free Trader Beowulf" mode of heroes making a living on a merchant ship hauling cargo and passengers. 75+75 heroic game. In another thread, I was persuaded to go with Resource Points instead of money, which seems a good choice. (RPs seem, IMO, the way to go with Heroic games.)

So, in DC, PCs start off with 60 Equipment Points, and then 5-10 for Vehicles and Contacts. Is this reasonable for my TE campaign? I was thinking that I ought to lower the points a bit and have the players work towards increasing them (by spending points) over time. Basically, doing so to model that they're workin' stiffs at the outset of the game.

Thoughts on whether lowering the points is a good idea, and what good amounts are? I was thinking maybe halving what's in DC, but that may prove too harsh.

[Nolgroth]

Figure at 60 points, they have a Kit and starting Armory at 90 points. For a "poor" group of characters, you could probably get away with a 30 - 40 point Equipment Resource Pool (giving an Armory at 45 - 60 pts). That should be plenty for the starting characters. The important thing is that most heroes have a weapon or two. Just make sure that they can afford to have some laser pistol or similar item in both the Kit and Armory.

Vehicles should be 0. If they are starting out as hands on a ship, you may give them the option of "buying" into the ownership of the vehicle over time with XP.

Contacts may be low, probably 3-5 pts. Everybody knows somebody. Not sure if a group of starting charactedidn't know someone who could get them a higher paying job elsrs would, but you have options.

Special. Not sure where that would come in, but I don't think that new characters would have much in the way of Special Resources

[buzz]

Good stuff, nolgroth. FYI, they have a ship; one of the PCs basically inherits it, the rest are essentially employees. The ship is really the "set", though.

The only PC who wanted a vehicle of their own was one guy who badly craved a cargo mecha. That one he's paying for with his own points.

[Nolgroth]

If he's paying with points, can't argue there. :) If the spaceship belongs to the characters, then that would be their vehicle points. No matter what the ship actually does cost.

[Scarlet Drake]

Resource Points? Is this the "Equiptment Pool" system form Dark Champions?

How does that work?

[buzz]

Resource Points? Is this the "Equiptment Pool" system form Dark Champions?

How does that work?
Yep, DC p.150.

Basically, it's a pool of free points you can use to purchase equipment. It replaces money, which is a smart thing to do in heroic campaigns.