Powerstones, value, and extreme circumstances

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Whitewings

I'm in the very earliest stages of a campaign based around the rise of the walking dead, and a question has occurred to me: In setting in which current civilization has collapsed, but a new one hasn't arisen (scattered small enclaves, yes, but a civilization, no), how do you evaluate the worth of a thing as a potential powerstone? I can't even begin to come up with a framework. The things most valued tend to be unsuitable, as they are generally consumable; I have difficulty with the concept of a powerstone can of soup :)

Settings of such extreme character toss the Wealth rules onto their heads. A gun can be literally priceless and simple survival goods can be worth far more than any book price yet you still have to decide whether the PCs can have these things before play starts.

I say don't sweat it. PCs only use Starting Wealth once and it could very easily represent what they had _before_ the Apocalypse and how would you regulate _that_?