Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

[DataPacRat]

I note that a Follower has a minimum cost of 1 point; but no such restriction is mentioned for a Base (or Vehicle, or Computer), suggesting (at least to me) the possibility of a PC with a 0-point Base. Of course, it wouldn't be a very /good/ base, maybe just tucked into a U-Store-It lot, something that only a brand-new superhero still wet behind the mask would consider using... but 8 hexes is still better than none.

 

Is there any reason not to throw something like the following onto a character sheet?

 

[0] Vehicle: STR 10, BODY 10, Size 1 hex (motorbike), DEF 2, DEX 10, SPD 2, Movement 6" Ground (x2 NCM), 2" Swimming (x2 NCM).

[0] Base: BODY 2, DEF 2, Size 8 hexes, grounds 8 hexes (with 2 BODY, 2 DEF fence). Location: City.

Cubicle-type office: 1 hex. Bunk: 2 hexes. Garage for 1-hex vehicle: 2 hexes. Sink/toilet/shower: 2 hexes. Storage space: 1 hex.

 

 

Or, how about this?

 

[0] AI:

INT 8 (-2)

EGO 10 (0)

DEX 10 (0)

SPD 1 (-10)

Absolute Time Sense (3)

Eidetic Memory (5)

Lightning Calculator (3)

Speed Reading x10 (4)

CK City of New Babylon 11- (2)

KS Archived Recent News 11- (2)

KS Current News 11- (2)

KS Superheroes 11- (2)

KS Supervillains 11- (2)

Program: Scan and Enter Data (1)

Program: Search Reference Material For Information On A Topic (1)

Psych Limit: Self-Preservation Instinct (Common, Strong, -15).

[Super Squirrel]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

The lowest anything can cost will always be 1 point. It might not say it under Bases but it is stated in other locations.

[austenandrews]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

The bigger question is, what would be the point? Unless a character is poor, he can have a better vehicle & house and a decent computer for free anyway.

[Zed-F]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

Minimum cost for anything on the character sheet is one point. And with some 'creative accounting' involving selling off base characteristics, it's actually quite possible to make some very useful things with one point as a summon, follower, or what have you.

 

However, for things like a normal house, a normal car or bike, and so forth -- I agree, anything any normal person can have is basically free for my PCs. That doesn't mean it can't get wrecked/lost/etc. as easily as any other normal item, though -- which could in theory cause a problem, for instance if your car finds itself in the vicinity of superfights on a regular basis. If you want reliability, you get to pay points for it (assuming a superheroic game.)

[BobGreenwade]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

See TUV page 223, under the Vehicles header. A character may have a "standard civilian vehicle" for free. Presumably, when The Ultimate Base comes out, the same will be said of a "normal civilian home" (that is, a regular apartment or small house).

 

For anything else, as the others have said, the minimum cost is 1 point no matter what's done with Disadvantages and reduced Characteristics.

[austenandrews]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

For that matter, the last time it came up in a game, I allowed a PC to base his vehicle's stats off an existing vehicle, then spend points to add to it, as opposed to starting with the base-level stats in the book. Otherwise he was spending points to build a vehicle that wasn't as good as something the character could have for 0 points.

[DataPacRat]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

The bigger question is, what would be the point? Unless a character is poor, he can have a better vehicle & house and a decent computer for free anyway.

 

I've always been under the impression that that only applied to Heroic-level games, and that in Superhero games, the player has to spend points for even normal technology, like a flashlight or a radio-scanner from Radio Shack, rather than just assume it under the Money perk.

[austenandrews]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

You ever priced a flashlight in hero points?

[DataPacRat]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

You ever priced a flashlight in hero points?

 

I've used the Utility Belt multipower from 4th edition's Dark Champions more than once; I believe my usual cost for a flashlight is '1u'.

[Zed-F]

Re: Is a 0-point Base (Vehicle, Computer) Legal?

 

The difference between normal items bought with points and normal items bought with cash in a superheroic game is one of quality and reliability. If you bought a normal flashlight for 1 point in an MP, then you can be guaranteed that pretty much no matter what, if you have your utility belt then you have your flashlight and it's in working condition, no matter what. Doesn't matter if you've just slogged through 3 miles of marsh and you're soaked and coated with mud from top to bottom. Doesn't matter if you're in the desert and sand is getting into everything. Doesn't matter if you're climbing up the side of a building in the dark and need to use it to see. It won't break or get lost very easily unless it's dramatically appropriate.

 

Conventional tech bought with money in a supers game is nowhere near that reliable. It breaks. It gets lost. You forget it somewhere. You go out of cell coverage. Etc. It's cheap (read free) but you can't always depend on it, especially when the chips are down. But it can be a useful convenience, especially if you're using it in non-critical situations. If tonight's adventure is taking place in Boston, and your character lives in New York City, do you really think the GM isn't going to let you drive there, even if you don't have a car on your sheet? It's just a convenience to get you to where the adventure is.