Bargaining (sage ability)

Bargaining is a sage ability related to logistics that permits characters to buy items more cheaply than the vendor's listed price. Up to 1 item may be "haggled" for, per 5 points of logistics knowledge. For example, a character with 17 knowledge would be able to haggle over the cost of three items. These may be the same item or they may be different, it does not affect the ability.

Haggling

For each type of item the character haggles for, the character makes a charisma check. Success means that the character is able to knock 10% from the cost of the item. If three of the same item are asked for, only one check is made. If the check fails, the character is permitted to roll 1d8, enabling them to buy the item at -1% per the number on the die.

Each haggled-for type of item requires a total of ten minutes, so that characters able to haggle for a dozen or more items should be prepared to begin early that day. Remember that each different vendor visited requires ½-hour to locate and search before haggling can be commenced (and that commonly shops remain open only between sunrise and sundown). Time can be saved on haggling for multiple items from the same vendor.

Pressure Bargaining

The character may attempt an even better deal, haggling for 20-50% off, in the following manner. To start, the character should count only half their charisma ~ a demonstration that the haggling is being hard fought. Do not count fractions: a 17 charisma would count as an 8 for the purposes of a charisma check.

The character can then improve their chances of successfully haggling by buying more. The modifier here works upon a logarithmic scale. A purchase of 10-99 g.p. gives a +1 bonus to the ability check. A purchase of 100 to 999 gives a +2 bonus. A purchase of 1000-9999 gold gives a +3 bonus . . . and so on. By buying more, the character improves the chance of a deal.

If the character succeeds in the charisma check, then the character rolls a d4+1, indicating a saving of 20 to 50% of the original price. For example, the character with a 17 charisma haggles over items costing 1,200 g.p., gaining a +3 bonus to their roll. The character rolls an 11 on a d20 and succeeds in the bargaining. A 2 is rolled on a d4, adding one, indicating a saving of 30%. The character therefore receives 1,200 g.p. worth of goods for 840 g.p.

If the bargaining fails, however, then the character is banned from purchasing that sort of good in that sort of store (armorer, blacksmith, cobbler, grocer, etc.) in that market city for a period of one year. The character will need to send someone else to shop there.

For a lone character, the benefit of this is moderate. However, for a large concern such as an army, company or a political entity, which can afford to buy 100,000 g.p. worth of grains, meat, indigo or coconuts, a charismatic buyer with a +5 modifier can substantially help where a profit is concerned.

A pressure bargaining can require up to one hour per sale. Pressure bargainings are extremely exhausting, greatly reducing the potential for a character to act in peak form. For these reasons, no more than 3 pressure bargainings can take place in a given day.

See Logistics