On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 9:25 PM, Ian Whitchurch <ian.whitchurch@gmail.com> wrote:

Note that the problem of 'that ship is a private military force by itself - lets make sure the operator is reliable'

As people have repeatedly pointed out on this list, entrusting anyone with control of an orbit-capable craft is a major security issue. The ship they control could easily become a WMD, simply by diving on a target from orbit. And it wouldn't even have to be a suicide attack (assuming you can override whatever security measures are programmed into the ship's controlling computers).

is even more of an issue where, for some reason or other, interstellar trade is on a really low level, and therefore privately owned ships are rare.

Quite true.

If you have 200 kdtons a week going along trade routes, a 600 dton frigate refitted for civilian service is just another "secure packet carrier".

If another universe you have three 400 dton ships a week on the same route, then that ship becomes a very rare bird, and therefore presumably of interest to planetary and naval authorities.

This is yet another reason to go with a High Trade imperium IMO.

If your concern is avoiding official notice, then this is correct.

But if your concern is having PCs who can make a difference in the game world (for good or ill), then a Low Trade Imperium is better IMO.

Some of the most fun my original Traveller group had was overthrowing a low-tech planetary dictator and setting up a democratic government to replace him.

You just can't do that (at least not with a 400 dton Fat Trader as your only major asset) in a High Trade Imperial.

Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident." Robert A. Heinlein

"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice." - Bill Cosby

"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester