What does High Psg. buy you?

A thread of 2 messages, 12 April 1990 to 12 April 1990, in the order they were sent.

#1211 What does High Psg. buy you?

Mark F. Cook · 12 April 1990

Let's talk about what high, middle, low passage on a starship actually
buys for you.

According the the MT Imperial Encyclopedia, High Psg. costs Cr. 10,000,
regardless of the jump length.  Middle Psg. is Cr. 8,000 for the same
thing (and can be bumped by a High Psg.).  The price for Low Psg. isn't
stated, but I seem to recall a figure of Cr. 2,000.

Now if I'm the owner of a jump-2 capable ship, and I know that I can get
a passenger from pt. A to pt. B (which are jump-2 apart) twice as fast
and for half the price of 2 jump-1 hops, wouldn't I logically charge
more than Cr 10,000, but less than Cr 20,000?  Cr 14,000 has a nice ring
to it.  Ditto for 2 ships with identical jump capability, if one is much
more luxurious than the other.  I could see prices of 120% on up to %300
or more for the nicer ship (maybe even higher!).

I guess my basic question is: does anybody have a 'rule of thumb' that
they use for determining what the going passage price on a particular ship
will be, based on jump capability and quality, or do you just haggle with
your players each time?

I'd just as soon not re-invent the wheel if I can avoid it.

Later,

        Mark F. Cook

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#1214 (1211) What does High Psg. buy you?

Dan Pierson · 12 April 1990 · reply to #1211

"Mark F. Cook" writes:
 > Now if I'm the owner of a jump-2 capable ship, and I know that I can get
 > a passenger from pt. A to pt. B (which are jump-2 apart) twice as fast
 > and for half the price of 2 jump-1 hops, wouldn't I logically charge
 > more than Cr 10,000, but less than Cr 20,000?  Cr 14,000 has a nice ring

Maybe, on the other hand you're getting the passenger there in half
the time of the jump-1 ship.  I suspect that many passengers would
happily pay a premium for that sort of service.  Cr 25,000?
Cr 30,000?  It probably depends on the local wealth and amount of
competition.

Since higher jump ships are more expensive and have less capacity, the
premium should probably increase non-linearly.  What would a jump-4
ship charge for a 4 parsec trip?  Jump-6 and 6 parsec?

Or has the Imperium instituted price control on passages?  If so,
there shouldn't be many commercial ships with jump ratings higher than
absolutely necessary.  Of course, with things breaking down now,
that's all subject to change.  Anyone want to invest in a high-fee,
express passenger service?

                                            dan