In TML Digest subject 2095, Rob Dean writes:
> ... Suppose we have a character who is a journalist.
> In 2300AD he/she would have a high writing and perhaps imaging skill. In
> Traveller, you might have to wing it, but let's assume that we are talking
> about a character with a high education and intelligence, and that we will
> use those to modify any task die rolls. Clearly, such a character could,
> with the proper selection of other skills, be an asset to a group without
> regard to the journalism. But suppose the player wishes to keep his
> character in pocket money (or more) by selling their stories. I see no
> reason in particular why this should be role played out, especially if
> it was a routine occurence. (Ship lands, journalist sends files to his/her
> favorite publisher).
> What would you do? Set it as a task with a set payoff, with extra for
> extraordinary success, less for failure? Add modifiers if you deem the
> adventure to be "exciting" or newsworthy"? How would you decide how big to
> make the average payout?
Well, speaking as something of an authority on Journalism in the Shattered
Imperium (:-)), I think it SHOULD be role-played out, at least if the
agency/individual the news article is being filed with is anything other
than the local X-boat office ("Send this to Regina, and make it snappy!")
When I originally created and ran Adrian Bishop (before the TML PBEM was
born), he was the focal character in the group. My Ref. (Hi, Eric!) didn't
seem to have any touble either building potential new-related adventures,
or role-playing Stanley, my tight-fisted managing editor ("Four THOUSAND
credits for a riddled Holo-cam?!? Why couldn't YOU just get shot, instead
of the equipment?") When Adrian filed a story, it was always one of those
multi-month long expose's, usually involving the military, government, or
big business (well, who else is there?). The pay-offs would range anywhere
from 20,000 to 50,000 Cr., with an additional fee for my "research staff
on retainer" (which referred to the rest of the party; if there's one
thing Adrian is good at, it's padding an expense account!).
However, if you really don't want to role-play the journalists work (which
seems like a terrible loss of adventure potential), then here are the
kinds of skills Adrian has (and which any good MT Journalist character
should have):
Interview - Need I say more.
Linguistics - At least one other major language: Vilani, Vargr(Gvegh or
Aekhu), or Aslan (one of the Spinward dialects) would all
be good choices if you operated in Corridor, Deneb, or the
Marches.
Communications - This skill covers the use of recording devices (Holo-cams,
voice recorders, editors) and the occasional broadcast unit.
I include editing because when an independent sells to a
news service, the buyer usually wants both a finished story
AND the raw footage. That way, they can re-do portions they
don't like, but the rest of the work is done for them. If
you just walk in with Mega-hours of raw holo-stock, all
they'll offer you is the door.
Streetwise - You never have too many "in's" with the underworld.
Liaison - Just in case you get the opportunity to interview Archduke Norris.
(Bare in mind that Liaison functions as Streetwise -1 and
Admin -1, so a high Liaison skill will cover these other
two skills just fine.)
As for determining how much a story should be worth, I'd figure out how
much money you want the character to end up with, and reverse-calculate
the fee (:-)). Seriously, 15,000 - 20,000 Cr./per month spent on story
is probably not out of line for a top-flight investigative free-lance
journalist. If he/she is allowed expenses, then reduce the number a bit.
If the story is about a spectacular incident (Refs. option), consider
raising the fee by D6 * 20%. Here's the sort of task roll you might use.
To sell an article to a periodical or news service:
Difficult, Interview+Liaison, Int, 20 min (uncertain, safe)
Referee: On normal failure, the publisher offers only 50%
of the normal fee. On an exceptional failure, the article
is rejected outright. On exceptional success, the fee is
5% higher per point in excess of the normal success minimum.
But it's soooo much more fun to role-play! There's nothing in this
whole, role-playing world better than running a alcoholic, womanizing,
drug-abusing, chain-smoking reporter hot on the trail of some dirt.
Especially if it's guaranteed to ruin somebody else's life!
"Fletch, I'd better have something to print
by 8 AM tomorrow morning!"
"Here Murray, [flips him off] print this."
- Fletch
Later,
Mark F. Cook
USMail: User Interface Technical Support
Hewlett-Packard - Interface Technology Operation
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