Business

This broad skill provides a character with basic knowledge of the theories of production, distribution, supply and demand, advertising, inventory control, and business planning.

Uses

Skill checks are called for when a character wants to:

• Apply business knowledge to conclude a trade.
• Attempt an illegal business transaction.
• Determine the value of goods in their own society.
• Locate commodity marketplaces.
• Compute the local fair market value of goods and services.

Interaction and Haggling

If a character uses Business to haggle over the buying or selling of a commodity, the other party’s Intelligence resistance modifier is applied to the situation die.

• Character vs. Character: If the other party also has the Business skill, the Gamemaster may handle it as a contested check.
• Encounter Skill: Business can be treated as an encounter skill. If the target’s attitude becomes Friendly or better, it provides a bonus to subsequent cooperation checks.

Modifiers

• Penalties: Usually apply when dealing in exotic, rare, or unfamiliar goods; attempting illegal transactions; or dealing with an unfamiliar culture.
• Bonuses: Apply if the character has inside information or is dealing with a familiar commodity or culture.

Corporate

This specialty skill improves a character’s ability to function in the realm of large-scale trade and commerce. It covers stock markets, mergers, corporate acquisitions, and speculative business. It also provides an understanding of how large organizations and corporations operate.

Rank Benefits

⊗ Rank 1, 4, 7, 10 [Art of the deal] Gains a number of situation bonus steps based on the ranks in this specialty skill (-1 step at Rank 1, -2 steps at Rank 4, -3 steps at Rank 7, and -4 steps at Rank 10) when making deals, haggling, or bargaining within the scope of corporate finance.

Illicit business

This specialty skill allows a character to function in the underside of the business world, providing knowledge of extortion, smuggling, fencing stolen goods, and the black market. It is the primary skill of white-collar criminals (embezzlers, insider traders, corporate spies).

Rank Benefits

⊗ Rank 1, 4, 7, 10 [Art of the deal] Gains a number of situation bonus steps based on the ranks in this specialty skill (-1 step at Rank 1, -2 steps at Rank 4, -3 steps at Rank 7, and -4 steps at Rank 10) when making deals, haggling, or bargaining within the scope of illicit business.

Small business

This specialty skill allows a character to function in small-scale trade and commerce. It improves the ability to haggle on the consumer level, determine the value of goods and services, and find buyers and sellers in a local area.

Rank Benefits

⊗ Rank 1, 4, 7, 10 [Art of the deal] Gains a number of situation bonus steps based on the ranks in this specialty skill (-1 step at Rank 1, -2 steps at Rank 4, -3 steps at Rank 7, and -4 steps at Rank 10) when making deals, haggling, or bargaining within the scope of small-business finance.