Traveller Mailing List ArchiveThe TML from 1987 to 1994, XBOAT, and shared files

Merchant help

A thread of 3 messages, 16 March 1989 to 17 March 1989, in the order they were sent.

#225 Merchant help

Charles Martin · 16 March 1989

    >1. When you are seeking passengers it says as +DM to number of pass.
    >use source-destin TL. Implying that more people travel from Hi Tech to
    >Lo Tech worlds.  Tourism...

    TL difference is also a DM on the Cargo Table.

I suggest you use the MINIMUM of source and destination as DM.  So flows
are the same in both directions.

    Lots of Hi population worlds next to each other; you couldn't go wrong!

Funny, when I travelled through that area, the authorities were well aware
of profits to be made and either (1) the merchant cartels leaned heavily on
so-called "free traders" (sugar in your LOX) and took a hefty bite out of
profits (reducing them to zero) or (2) the level of taxes or bribes
required lowered profits to zero.  Competitive market, you know...

Charles Martin // INTERNET: [email removed] // BITNET: [email removed]
UUCP: {cmcl2,harvard,decvax}!yale!martin

#232 Merchant help

Adrian Hurt · 16 March 1989 · reply to #225

>    TL difference is also a DM on the Cargo Table.
>
>I suggest you use the MINIMUM of source and destination as DM.  So flows
>are the same in both directions.

I'd be inclined to scrap the TL difference entirely. Starport quality should
influence trade; trade classification should influence trade; population
should influence trade. I'd only expect TL to affect trade in industrial
cargo; a TL15 computer is worth more than a TL7 one, but TL15 fruit is still
fruit. It might have some effect on packaging, but that's all.

>    Lots of Hi population worlds next to each other; you couldn't go wrong!
>
>Funny, when I travelled through that area, the authorities were well aware
>of profits to be made and either (1) the merchant cartels leaned heavily on
>so-called "free traders" (sugar in your LOX) and took a hefty bite out of
>profits (reducing them to zero)...

I was running a subsidised merchant anyway. Serves you right for poaching on
my territory!  :-)

I still think that the old Book 2 system was far superior.

 "Keyboard? How quaint!" - M. Scott

 Adrian Hurt			     |	JANET:  [email removed]
 UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!adrian     |  ARPA:   [email removed]

#249 Merchant Help

Greg Givler SUPPORT · 17 March 1989 · reply to #232

>    TL difference is also a DM on the Cargo Table.
>
>I suggest you use the MINIMUM of source and destination as DM.  So flows
>are the same in both directions.

I use the TL difference for passengers, cargo and freight are another thing.

The way I look at it, freight is freight, it is 1000CR per ton, whether it
is a ton of fruit or a ton of diamonds :-). Cargo is the thing you make money
on. And the OLD way was much better at handle the chance of getting burned and
getting rich. I remember as a player once buying some radioactive for 50% of
base cost and selling at 400% of base cost. I also took some baths that way,
too. I am in the process of modifying the Mega-Traveller cargo tables to
reflect varying prices. As soon as I get the time to finish them I will post
it here. Sorry, they are not finished but not enough hours in the day. If
anyone is doing something similar let me know, maybe we can brain storm.



>I still think that the old Book 2 system was far superior.

I agree whole-heartedly

Greg

INTERNET: [email removed]