Gamma world has exciting technological treasures (omega tech), but it also has an extensive Ancient Artifacts table that is, well, puzzling. It has a lot of the kind of items that the writers could see from their cubicles: hand lotion, mp3 players, etc. It’s a big percentile table that was included instead of the 4e rules on, say, charging, or recovering from unconsciousness.
It’s really hard to know what to do with any of this ancient garbage, but nevertheless, during character creation, you spend a lot of time determining exactly which junk you have. I actually chose to forgo a lot of my rolls on the Ancient Artifacts table. Then, during gameplay, we figured out what it could be used for. Ancient artifacts are currency.
We decided that the Dabblers (tech-loving raccoons) run stores, but they’re based on the barter system. You can get something you want (fuel for your motorcycle, ammunition) if you can get them sufficiently interested in the ancient He-Man lunchbox you dug up. We ran an entire barter-based session around acquiring cordless mice and a piece from a nonfunctional microwave from a dabbler warehouse (called “Beast Buy”: one of the players named it as a joke, and the GM went with it).
Genius! The Ancient bric-a-brac is fun for role-play purposes, but unless it’s a weapon (or something that could be made into a weapon), there’s often a “what’s the point” mentality among players. Having PCs try to “sell” the importance and use of a stapler (a microwire-bender, probably used for electronics repair) or a box of paper clips (a build-it-yourself chain kit!) could be hysterical to role-play.
Even as a kid, I NEVER liked the Domar exchange rate in ‘Gamma World’. It always seemed really weird–why weren’t they melting down that stuff to make armor and such?
So in my current ‘Mutant Future’ campaign, I’ve been doing exactly what you describe–everything is barter-based, with the closest equivalent to cash being CDs/DVDs and credit cards.
Love it. I’m running a D&D4e Gamma World campaign right now, and this is getting implemented ASAP.
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Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to
see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she
can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she
has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had
to share it with someone!