Is there anyone currently on this list who is running a campaign which requires
use of the trade and speculation rules? If so, are you using the MegaTraveller
or Merchant Prince version, or some previous edition. If MT/MP, are you using
the Tech Level modifiers on passnger/cargo quantities, and speculative goods
resale value?
The reason I ask is that I think there is a problem with this subsystem as it
is currently laid out in MegaTraveller. The modifiers seem to imply that people
travel form high tech to low tech planets at a greater rate than from low tech
to high tech, resulting in net emigration from the high tech worlds. (I can't
stand luxury anymore, Mabel. I'm leaving you and Glisten behind and starting a
new life on Sorel...uh huh.)
In addition, while I'll believe that high tech goods are in high demand on low
tech planets, I have a hard time believing that the value of baisc raw materials
should fluctuate depending on the TL of the mining (or whatever) planet. Cost,
yes. They should be cheaper on high tech planets. In fact, it works the other
way around.
So if anyone is using these rules, I'd like to hear from you, either by email,
or here on the mailing list.
Thanks,
Rob Dean
[This topic is just the thrust of the long-silent Trade and Commerce
Digest, a sublist of the Traveller Mailing List. Its once-admin is
[email removed] (Greg Givler). Since the sublists died
a death of inactivity, perhaps it is time to dissolve the two working
groups (Trade and Commerce, Star System Databases) , and try to
reactivate these topics on the main TML. I'm interested in hearing a
discussion on this topic -- James]