Well, I take the general approach suggested back in the 2e Masterminds Manual. Sure, everyone can have a car, but if you take that car doing superhero stuff and it gets destroyed, then you no longer have a car. If you pay for a car with equipment points and the car gets destroyed...the car gets replaced by the next adventure (as if you have full coverage insurance or whatever). So, if you have a smartphone and don't pay EP for it, then if it gets destroyed while out doing super stuff, then you didn't have insurance on that phone and replacing it becomes less automatic. Anything bought with EPs, gets an automatic replacement unless I'm following a plot point with it, in which case that earns the character a HP. Anything that has utility for hero work and gets used for such work comes with a cost. Anything that comes at no cost is considered a temporary perk and doesn't necessarily get replaced right away. It depends on whether I feel a player is taking advantage of "life perks" that fall outside what's purchased on a character sheet.jmucchiello wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:19 pmExactly.Shock wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:01 pm If it were me, I wouldn't charge points for a cell phone unless you plan on using it for remote hacking, etc. "Everybody" has a smart phone so it doesn't make much sense to charge a point for having one. Just like you don't charge a character points for their secret ID having a car or a house.
Computer is the same thing. Most everyone has a home computer. Just like they have a car and a house. I think if you spend the EP on a "smart phone" you are paying for the ability to do superhero things with a smart phone. Not the mundane stuff.
Easy peasy.