I'm wondering if DC's group wouldn't benefit from a
stronger separation between Extras and Skills. This is
something I've been toying with in a 'stunts only'
implementation (no extras other than stunts, I mean), but
it would work just as well with a more usual use of extras
as well.

We know at present that every phase you (effectively) get
1 Aspect point (spent to get one aspect level representing
that phase) and 4 skill points (which are spent on skills
and extras).

My notion here is splitting the currency for skills and
extras apart -- note, that with this thought, you're
pretty much cementing in place an acceptance of extras
existing outside the pyramid (IMO) -- so you're getting X
skill points per phase and Y extras points per phase (my
stunts based build is going with the idea of X = 4, Y = 2,
but it should be adjusted to taste for whatever game
you're running).

Once you've done this, awarding Extra Points -- to buy
more NPCs, more "loot", etc -- more liberally than Skill
Points, as a part of advancement, becomes a viable
strategy -- which would work both for a game where people
are looking to move up in the "political" (criminal,
social, whatever) scene, by picking up a bunch of contact
NPCs by way of extras; looking to build a personal
organization (again, buying NPCs by way of extras, only
they work for you); picking up all sorts of keen loot; or
developing their powers (if you're using intrinsic extras
to buy innate ability bits).

That all said, it's entirely possible, DC, that you can
still let them walk away with "loot for free" from session
to session. But remember, someone out there paid for that
loot in some fashion, and proably wants it back. If the
loot's going to be *persistent* and become a part of the
character, they should be buying into the item...

--
Fred Hicks * "Curse you iago and your fast fingers!" - Rob Donoghue
Co-Author of Fate - Author of Pace - Jim-Butcher.Com Webmaster - Weirdo
Fate RPG * http://www.faterpg.com/ Pace RPG * http://www.evilhat.com/pace/
Evil Hat * http://www.evilhat.com/ Jim Butcher * http://www.jim-butcher.com/