[Figleaf23]

I did a quick sweep through Characters for instances of the term 'buy off'. It netted me several apparently relevant cases of a buy off being triggered and compulsory. I did not do a search for something like 'buying up' so this is possibly only partial data.

There are 8 cases where the requirement is stated, but no mechanism provided for carrying it out. There are 5 cases where the procedure to follow is specified.

These are the ones in which specific procedures are specified. Of possible note, none of these cases include the idea of running a point deficit. I am only guessing to hope sir_pudding might find the emphasized portions shed some light on an analysis of his.

"If you acquire a “miracle cure,”
upload yourself into a new body, or
otherwise extend your life past your
termination date during the course of
the campaign, you must buy off this
disadvantage. If you cannot afford to
do so, the GM is free to make up the
difference with new disadvantages
related to your illness or its cure (e.g.,
Chronic Pain, ..."
b158



"If your Dependent is killed, or so
seriously injured that the GM decides
he is effectively out of the campaign,
you must make up the bonus points
you got for him. You have three
options: buy off the amount by spending
earned character points, take a
new disadvantage (e.g., Chronic
Depression, p. 126), or get a new
Dependent."
b131



"You must buy off a disadvantageous
Destiny as soon as it is fulfilled.
This is automatic if the outcome strips
you of Allies, Status, Wealth, etc.
worth the same number of points. If
you lack the points to buy off your
Destiny, you gain Unluckiness
(p. 160), regardless of the point value
of the Destiny. It is up to the GM
whether you can buy off the
Unluckiness! Alternatively, the GM
might assign you a new bad Destiny,
Divine Curse (below), or other supernatural
disadvantage.B132


"If you start with a weak Enemy, or
play cleverly, you might manage to
eliminate your foe or permanently
change his attitude toward you. But as
the saying goes, “There ain’t no such
thing as a free lunch.” If you get rid of
an Enemy, you have three choices:
1. Pay enough character points to
buy off the original bonus you got for
that Enemy.
2. Take a disadvantage to make up
for the point bonus. For instance, you
might have been kicked in the head
during the final battle, leaving you
partially deaf. Or a giant spider might
have attacked you, leaving you with
arachnophobia. The new disadvantage
should have the same point cost
as your former Enemy (or less, if you
want to buy off part of the disadvantage).
If you cannot think of a good
substitute disadvantage, the GM will
be more than happy to supply one!3. Take a new Enemy of equal
value. You might have destroyed the
fiendish Dr. Scorpion – but his
brother is continuing his evil work."
b135

"Should you ever reach your goal,
you must either substitute a new goal
or buy off your Obsession."
b146




These are the cases where no procedure is supplied {my remarks are italicized}:


You must buy off this trait when you reach
“legal age” (usually 18) for your time
and place.
B155

{The birthday happens during an off-stage/down-time period in the campaign. When play begins, the character has no unspent CP. What happens?}




"Of course, your reputation extends
only within a certain area. If you travel
far enough away, the GM may
require you to “buy off” the disadvantage
points you received for a bad reputation."
B28

Social Stigma: You cannot get rid of
this with points alone. You must either
change your position in society or
change your society. The GM will tell
you when you have succeeded – at that
time, you must pay enough points to
buy off the original disadvantage.
B292

{I put these two together because they have practical similarities and could somehow make an enlightening comparison.}




If you manage to
exorcise the evil spirits, you are cured
and must buy off this disadvantage.
B148 (Phantom Voices)

{Scenario: Diagrogos, Priest of Evil is captured by minions of Yenwe, goddess of nice. They decide to exorcise him of his evil spirits.

What happens in:

Case 1: They succeed, but he has no CP available to spend, but would indeed love to be free of the voices.
Case 1B: They succeed, but he has no available CP to spend, and doesn't want to get rid of it anyway.
Case C: They succeed, he does have sufficient unspent CP, but doesn't want to get rid of it.}




"When your [secret] disadvantage finally becomes obvious in the course of play (GM’s
decision), you must buy off the extra -5 points as soon as possible."
B120

{This is an interesting one because it implies that in the event a character cannot buy off the -5 points immediately, he carries a payment obligation to be realized out of earned character points. In effect, a negative balance of unspent points.}



"For details, see Drug
Withdrawal (p. 440). Should you successfully
withdraw from an Addiction,
you must immediately buy off this disadvantage."
b122

{This contrasts with secret disadvantage, in saying immediately instead of as soon as possible. So what happens if the character goes through the process of withdrawal and doesn't have the points at the time it's complete?}


{Last two:}

"If you can make 14 successful rolls in
succession, you must buy off your
Addiction."
b122


"Many Vows end after a specified
period of time. You must buy off such
a Vow when it ends."
B161