These demonstrate what a character has to call upon when conducting their affairs. Usually (though not always), Resources are a physical asset that can be demonstrated as the source of a character’s wealth, a product or raw material (or access to thereof), or equipment of some kind. Like Abilities, Resources generally work on a 3 point scale though a negative value can indicate a debt or a serious deleterious effect/catastrophe has befallen the character.
A starting character’s level of Resources is equal to Status ×3 (to reflect that generally people with a higher status have the materials that allow them to enjoy the trappings of their level). Resources can be acquired during gameplay and further added to during character creation as directed by the ST.
A character’s Wealth is equal to the sum of all their Resources (barring Allies & Enemies)
The general scale for Resources (commodities/wealth generating) is:
-1 = a catastrophe or debt has rendered your Resource ineligible for use.
0 = you do not possess any of this resource beyond average levels (or are temporarily out if you usually have such).
1 = you have a reasonable, one-off stock or a small but regular supply of this resource.
2 = you possess a staggering amount of this resource (one-off) or have a medium regular supply of the resource (e.g. a salt mine, a large sheep pasture).
3 = you have plundered a dragon’s hoard or a kingdom’s treasury (one-off) or have a large regular supply of the resource (e.g. a bountiful gem mine, several vegetable farms).
As ever, the ST has final say on what resource level any given commodity or item is.
During gameplay, characters may use their resources to help modify pertinent checks. The most likely arena for doing so is when trying to bargain with other characters where your Resources can act as bargaining chips and modifiers. Doing so represents some form of inducement, be it a bribe, fee/payment, incentive or even salary – whatever spin the character wishes to put on the deal or the situation demands.
In order to do so, add a modifier equal to or less than the value of the Resource being offered. The character should describe (or the ST should adjudicate) how this will affect the character’s short term resource flow and act accordingly. If you want to stretch yourself in order to make a deal, you may add a modifier equal to Resource +1 to represent this. However, if you do so and are successful in the check, your Resource is temporarily reduced by 1 until the ST adjudicates that is has been restored to its former value. Remember, this will have an effect on your Wealth score as well.
Equipment is a special kind of resource. The resource value of any given piece is dependent on its quality or rarity value, as determined by the ST. Equipment (or items, artefacts, etc) can be used as Resource modifiers to a check, but will usually be expended in doing so (unless it is a specifically negotiated loan, or similar).
The general scale for Equipment is:
-1 = the item has been so damaged or destroyed or stolen so as to cause a serious impact on your Wealth level.
0 = the item is an average representative of its type providing no additional value beyond its basic qualities.
1 = the item is a fine representative of its type with value beyond its basic abilities in some way (e.g. made of silver, a well-crafted ring, a keen sword) or has some particular quality that makes it valuable (e.g. a minor family heirloom).
2 = the item is an excellent representative of its type with value far beyond its basic abilities in some way (e.g. made of platinum, a minor artefact of mystical potency, a custom commissioned firearm) or has some particular quality that makes it very valuable (e.g. a major family heirloom, a painting from a renowned artist).
3 = the item is an awesome representative of its type with value way in excess of its basic abilities in some way and is probably an item of significant renown or legend and you are probably recognised as being its owner.
Allies are another special kind of resource but unlike other types, Allies do not count to increasing your Wealth (unless in special circumstances as determined by the ST). Instead, they can help modify many Persuasion checks, particularly in diplomatic scenarios, where you may add the Ally’s value to your check if you have some demonstrable means of showing or pledging their support (or you are trying to bluff that you have their support which could have repercussions if they find out you were bluffing).
It is entirely feasible that over the course of the campaign you will pick up many Allies and the ST should decide in advance how he wishes to deal with their acquisition. In addition, failing to abide by your agreements with Allies or betraying them can lead to reductions in their value. Mistreating existing Allies or antagonising new folk can definitely lead to negative values being obtained and, unsurprisingly, an Ally with a negative value is considered an Enemy. Likewise, you can always seek to overcome existing enmities and work towards more positive relations to increase the value of an Ally.
This does not necessarily always act in a negative sense. When dealing with any Ally (or Enemy) you may add their value to your check (subtracting in the event of an Enemy) as a positive ally is more inclined to deal with you favourably. However, if you are dealing with a character who shares an Enemy or other antagonism, you may add the value of the Enemy as a positive modifier to your Persuasion roll. If you are unfortunate enough to have to deal with someone who has an Ally of someone who is your Enemy (or vice versa) then you will probably have to find some way of overcoming that obstacle or take a penalty to your check equal to the Ally/Enemy rating.
The general scale for Allies & Enemies is:
-3 = this character is your mortal enemy; realistically (short of death or you saving their life) very little is going to change the nature of your relationship.
-2 = this character is a serious enemy.
-1 = this character is a minor enemy or someone you have managed to seriously annoy and harbours a grudge.
0 = you have no issues with this character, they may be your friend or acquaintance or someone you have not seen since college. Naturally this is the default for most people you encounter.
1 = this character is a very good friend, someone who usually agrees with you, or someone who has pledged minor support to your cause (e.g. money). All close family members (unless there is good reason, e.g. estranged wife) are automatically considered to be at this level without needing to be recorded.
2 = this character is a close ally, someone who invariably agrees with you, or someone who has pledged significant support to your cause (e.g. large donation, valuable item or service, a squad of troops).
3 = this character is an awesome friend who will put their life on the line for you, someone who almost always agrees with you, or someone who has pledged major support to your cause (e.g. full financial backing, an army, governmental backing).