A question regarding the Innovative edge

[RaconteurX]

As defined by the text on p. 135 of the /Player's Guide/, Innovative allows a character to purchase one professional ability from any basic profession other than his or her own.

I assume that acquiring the Innovative edge during advancement requires that the chosen professional ability be purchased as well, using all five of that character's picks (two for the edge and three for the professional ability).

Does the purchase of this trait during character creation give a character the chosen professional ability for no cost, or must the character buy it using advancement picks after play begins?



Michael

[pathstrider]

I don't think so. Innovative 'buys the right' to get a proffesional ability, which you can get at a later point if you want.

Otherwise, it would be useless when received in character creation (And it is part of several proffesional packages)

Mark

[RaconteurX]

Originally posted by pathstrider
I don't think so.

Don't think what? I asked an either-or question, and the remainder of your answer does not clarify your position.

[pathstrider]

Sorry, brain fart. Try again:

Innovative buys you the right to buy a proffesional ability, either straight away or later.

So to answer your question, a character does not get a free proffesional ability during character creation, and must buy it later.

The other thing is that I don't think you're assumption is right - you could buy innovative and then spend the other 3 picks on things other then a proffesional ability. You could then buy the proffesional ability at a later time.

Hope that (now ) helps.

Mark

[RaconteurX]

The wording is more than a trifle vague, hence my confusion. Any chance of an official reply? Doug? Don? Bueller?

[Sea Tyger]

1. You buy the Innovative edge, costing you two picks. You may now:

a. Spend the other three picks to purchase the basic professional ability you just earned the right to purchase, or

b. You may spend your remaining picks on something else and buy the ability at a later advancement.

In other words, you do not get the professional ability free with the purchase of the Innovative edge. But you also do not have to purchase the ability immediately.

Is that clearer?

[RaconteurX]

That much has always been clear, Sea Tyger, but thanks for your comments.

I'm far more curious about the effect of acquiring Innovative during character creation, as purchasing an edge which gives you no immediate return seems a trifle off to me. When one can purchase Innovative just as easily through advancement, its usefulness as a character development option drops to almost nil.

[Don Mappin]

Originally posted by Sea Tyger
1. You buy the Innovative edge, costing you two picks. You may now:

a. Spend the other three picks to purchase the basic professional ability you just earned the right to purchase, or

b. You may spend your remaining picks on something else and buy the ability at a later advancement.

In other words, you do not get the professional ability free with the purchase of the Innovative edge. But you also do not have to purchase the ability immediately.

Correct.

[Don Mappin]

Originally posted by RaconteurX
I'm far more curious about the effect of acquiring Innovative during character creation, as purchasing an edge which gives you no immediate return seems a trifle off to me. When one can purchase Innovative just as easily through advancement, its usefulness as a character development option drops to almost nil.

Pick one of the other 60+ edges available, then.

[Lancer]

Originally posted by RaconteurX
I'm far more curious about the effect of acquiring Innovative during character creation, as purchasing an edge which gives you no immediate return seems a trifle off to me. When one can purchase Innovative just as easily through advancement, its usefulness as a character development option drops to almost nil.

It could be usefull if you want to start your character with a professional ability from another profession, instead of one you would get for free from your own profession.
Personaly I'd allow it as a valid use of Innovative, but that's just me.