Fate:Supply and Demand

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The supply and demand subsystem for Fate is a set of resource management rules, so that players can secure and control access to the materials they need.

Supply points

Supply points are sites or sources that provide an indefinite amount of a specific material, rated on the Fate ladder. For example, a quarry could be a source of Good [+3] Stone. The material in question does not need to be physical, either. A power plant could be a source of Great [+4] Energy, and a coffee shop could be a source of Legendary [+8] Gossip.

The resources provided will depend on the game's specific needs.

Spending supply and upkeep

Spending supply for a one-off project is a simple matter of having access.

The players wish to build fortifications for their base of operations, the town of Crenn. They have recently finished an expedition that secured them a quarry that provides Good [+3] Stone. Since Crenn is a Good [+3] Town, the GM accepts that this quarry will provide more than enough stone to build solid walls.

The quarry will remain as a supply point, continuing to provide stone at the same quality for other projects. If the demand for stone had exceeded the quarry's capacity (to build Great [+4] Walls, for instance) the quarry may have been downgraded to Fair [+2] or even completely exhausted as a supply point.

Projects that require upkeep still require access to a supply point, but once that supply point is engaged with the project it cannot be used for anything else, unless it is upgraded to exceed the original project's needs.

The players are setting up an outpost on planet R87, which relies on a power source providing Good [+3] Energy. The continual running of the outpost needs Good [+3] Energy, meaning that the supply point cannot be used for other projects. However, with a steady supply of Fair [+2] Uranium, the players can increase the supply point to Great [+4] Energy, providing room for the outpost to grow. But in turn, that uranium supply point cannot be used for anything else, as it is dedicated to supplying power.