Re: (2630) PIGS (sorry, Profits) IN SPACE..

> Date: Thu, 18 Jul 91 21:14:37 WET DST
> From: Simon Anderson [email removed]
> Subject: (2630) PIGS (sorry, Profits) IN SPACE..
>
> That's  the  way  I've  always  seen Traveller trade working, but I can't
> explain the passenger spaces  found  in  the  'standard'  designs  (small
> traders)  though -  it's  easier  to  make a profit by converting it into
> more cargo space,  given a highly skilled  crew.  Anybody  else  got  any
> ideas ?
>

For merchants operating on a government subsidy, I've always assumed that there
is a government regulation requiring a certain amount of cargo space, since
free flow of people = free flow of ideas = a good thing (at least in theory).

For smaller ships, well, they are they because they have always been there since
the beginning of the game.  They do have the effect of offering a better return
on investment than cargo at 1000cr/ton, and thus might help keep you in 'air
money', and they have the pleasant effect (for the GM) of keeping the players
worried about hijackings and offering other adventure hooks.  Still, you're
quite right...a trader with the right skills would be better off without them,
and I have designed several small 'cargo only' merchants.

Rob Dean