Way back in 'ye olde dayes' when GDW published the original CT 'Merchant Prince' supp, they mentioned, in the monthly newsletter that GDW used to mail out, that they had used an AppleSoft BASIC prg to develop the trade rules. They kindly made the prg avail upon request & I proceeded to take advantage of the offer. The program had a number of standard ship types included, amongst which was a J3 or J4 (can't recall exactly) passenger liner. The liner was large enough that it could also carry a significant amount of cargo. The program already included the S'Marches so I had a lot of fun setting up trade routes & running the ships around. The liner was actually able to make a pretty good profit as long as the route was properly plotted. Sometimes shorter jumps were mandated in order to maximise profits but it actually wasn't that hard to set up lucrative circuits, both short & long. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Mon, 6/12/17, C. Berry <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [TML] Dumb Q about Passages To: xxxxxx@simplelists.com Date: Monday, June 12, 2017, 12:38 PM That would very much depend on the specifics of the trade and travel patterns, and the astrography of a particular region. The simplest example is that J1 ships will probably predominate on a populous J1 main, but they will be all but unknown in in a region where few systems are J1 apart. For a more complex example, if we have four worlds in a line of J1 hexes, ABCD, if A and D are more populous/productive than B and C, you'll see high demand for J3 ships. If A and D are backwaters while B and C are more significant, you'll see almost nothing but J1 ships. In other words, there's a reason why the "wandering merchant" model of commerce requires special conditions to thrive. The main routes, with the most trade, will be served by large firms with ships purpose-built (or at least, carefully selected) to meet the particular local needs most efficiently. On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 11:32 AM, Ethan McKinney <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote: I understand. I was shocked by your original statement! So, traveling 3 parsecs by Jump-1 is three times as expensive as traveling by Jump-3. Great for passengers who take the Jump-3, but not for the ship owners. If you allow high-jump ships to charge more, they start making economic sense for both the passengers and operators. I can't run the numbers--would charging 50% more make it feasible to operate a Jump-3 ship, or does it have to charge double the given passage price? On Jun 12, 2017 11:24 AM, <xxxxxx@comcast.net> wrote: Hello Ethan McKinney, My apologies for the summary of the third paragraph, which was inaccurate in part, unfortunately I suddenly realized I was running late to get to an appointment. CT Book 2 Starships 2e 1977, 1981 6th printing p. 9 "Differences in starship jump drive capacity have no specific effect on passage prices. A jump-3 rated ship starship charges the same passage prices as a jump-1 starship. The difference is that a jump-3 ship can reach a destination in one jump, while the jump-1 ship would take three separate jumps (through two intermediate destinations, and requiring three separate tickets) to reach it. Higher jump numbers also may make otherwise inaccessible destinations within reach. But two ships of differing jump numbers going to the same destination in one jump, each would charge the same cargo or passage price." Again my apologies for omitting the information about a jump-1 ship charging for the intermediate jumps, I'll have to post only the material I have time to accurately type. Of course having the FFE CT CD-ROM would make things easier. Tom Rux From: "Ethan McKinney" <xxxxxx@gmail.com> To: "TML" <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2017 7:33:27 AM Subject: Re: [TML] Dumb Q about Passages So I don't have to dig it out, what's the actual text of the 3rd paragraph? On Jun 12, 2017 7:15 AM, <xxxxxx@comcast.net> wrote: Hello all, CT Book 2 Starships 2e 1977, 1981 6th printing p. 9 may, at least I hope that the information answers the question. Passengers: Second paragraph - "Passengers will pay a standard fare for the class of transportation they choose: Cr10,000 for high passage, Cr8,000 for middle passage, and Cr1,000 for low passage. Passage is always sold on the basis of transport to the announced destination rather than on the basis of jump distance." The third paragraph indicates a ship that can make travel 3 parsecs in one jump and another ship capable of traveling 1 parsecs charge the same passenger fares the difference is that the passenger on the J-3 ship gets to the destination faster. Otherwise the charge the same price for carrying cargo and passengers. Tom Rux ----- The Traveller Mailing List Archives at http://archives.simplelists.co m/tml Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.co m ----- The Traveller Mailing List Archives at http://archives.simplelists.co m/tml Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.co m ----- The Traveller Mailing List Archives at http://archives.simplelists.co m/tml Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://www.simplelists.com/con firm.php?u=gi277fSUTkyFeQYIkUk n6zf5f3dXCa4l ----- The Traveller Mailing List Archives at http://archives.simplelists. com/tml Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://www.simplelists.com/ confirm.php?u= PltOdItWBSgOP4y0Q6abkGbDI1eus0 lz -- "Eternity is in love with the productions of time." - William Blake ----- The Traveller Mailing List Archives at http://archives.simplelists.com/tml Report problems to xxxxxx@simplelists.com To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://www.simplelists.com/confirm.php?u=EwREIRgLK8vaUEhNlnoNdSGKwnjoID8a
