Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

Somewhat Reliable is usually good enough so helps keep cost down.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

I like that.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

I've been toying with the idea of using Accessibility, but I don't think it brings the cost down enough.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

I think as the advantage of a Contact is access to privileged information, then that's what you should pay for- probably at a base of 5 pts. Then all the other things which expand what kinds of info and how good it is would be Enhancements on that. I wrote it up here once, if you're interested.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

The advantage of a Contact include more than just information however.
People often underestimate the value of favors

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

Sure, but Allies should do you favours as well. Contacts will always be compared to Allies, who are people who will do anything up to and including taking a risk of death on your behalf.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

True.
I just blogged some thoughts on this subject.
https://refplace.blogspot.com/2018/1...-in-gurps.html
No ads, just the more places we talk or post about GURPS the better IMO.
I liked the Gossiper modifier myself.

Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#30): Contact Group, Contacts
 

Actually, I was about to add favours and only dropped it to keep the premise simple.

Let's put it this way- the utility of a Contact lies in their ability to provide information or favours, not in their skill level.

Reasons for this:
- A PC can just put the same skill on their character sheet, usually for much cheaper.
- A PC would often have the same skill that a Contact would have, if they're from the same profession or background.
- A Contact's skill level may not be the same as the skill level on their notional character sheet, as things like their status or connections can be reflected with a higher effective skill.
- A single Contact shouldn't be limited to providing access to one skill. If you ask something to your buddy on the force, is he using Computer Ops to check something on the criminal database, Law to let you know how to get off a speeding ticket, Forensics to tell you how not to contaminate a crime scene, etc?
- For many Contacts, it's their position which is important. A guard in the Queen's prison can tell you which cell the Count is held in or give you a map or arrange to slip you a key. Alfred can tell you which rooftop to meet Batman on or grant you an audience with Bruce Wayne. Which skill best represents those?

So basing a Contact's power on their skill level is confusing, doesn't work the way skills work in the rest of the game, isn't actually the skill it's called or the level it's listed at, and so on.

Now some Contacts may be useful because they have certain skills the PC doesn't, but I'd make that a secondary case, not the primary way the advantage is defined.