The Unseen Servant forums

atpollard wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 5:39 pm 1. Who (if anyone) is interested in their character participating in speculative trade?
2. Do the players want "trade" kept in the "foreground" or would you prefer if it was simply moved into the background as an "automated process" (the ship has a fund that buys and sells with the results reported from time to time without the need for the players to take an active role during the game)?

You already have my answer for #1, I think. Mercutio is would buy a share of the combined trading fund, but he doesn't find it all that interesting.

As for #2, I'm all for an automated process, personally. But if others find the trading interesting, that's fine too.

TRADE

As the newbie feel free to ignore this as you wish

Sir Arthur isn't going to be directly interested in trade, although I can see him investing when his funds start to drop.

As a player an automated process would suit me fine.

Currently Arthur's mindset is that he's going to be home in a few cycles when things die down. As things develop and he decides he's going to be away longer then I can definitely see him investing in the ship and trade.

Jo may be from a Trader family, but she's always been much more about the technical aspects of running a ship. I'd be fine with Trade being kept in the background, except for an occasional event where we're handling very valuable stuff or contraband. I think I mentioned creating a couple of secret compartments in the Enginer room- disguised as pieces of steam plumbing- where small, hig-value goods can be hidden. This would be good for either contraband or concealing valuables from pirates.

Sadly, all the talk of trade is making me want to create a merchant...

Urson wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 4:47 pm Jo may be from a Trader family, but she's always been much more about the technical aspects of running a ship. I'd be fine with Trade being kept in the background, except for an occasional event where we're handling very valuable stuff or contraband. I think I mentioned creating a couple of secret compartments in the Enginer room- disguised as pieces of steam plumbing- where small, hig-value goods can be hidden. This would be good for either contraband or concealing valuables from pirates.

We're getting closer and closer with every post to playing Firefly.

Which would be either ironic or appropriate, I'm not sure which, given that Traveller was built around spaceship-style sci-fi, right?

Nathaniel would trade, simply as a way to boost personal income but on a 'team vessel' that should be a group discussion. Right now the focus is rescuing the lady I think.

Does the ship need much in the way or repairs and upkeep. How is the gun being financed? Who is the team accountant?

Bluetongue wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 7:48 pm Nathaniel

Well if we have a ship's fund, how is that divided. Who owns the ship? Captain, pilot, steward. How would I get an equal share? (I am not too familiar with a lot of the trading nuances).

If everyone out in an equal share into a trading pot, ($10 Kcr ?) then we all take an equal personal share out of trading profits but we include the ship repair & maintenance, fuel and upkeep, fees, etc as one additional equal share (or two? depending on upkeep costs).

Does that work?

Some of that was worked out already when I made decisions about the money ... Nathaniel arrived before the ship sailed so I allowed him to just buy in with the others. See the first post under "LIST OF CHARACTERS". For TRADE, you put up your money in Cr 1000 "shares" and get profits distributed "per share". I like the idea that the "SHIP" claims 5% of the Trading Fund and gets the PROFITS from its 5% as an operating budget. The 5% figure is what a "broker" would charge and simplifies the economics of the Ship.

It is a PLAYER decision how to add new "owners" to the ship ... but ownership is generally equal partners for practical play reasons and generally desirable for anyone that wants to buy in. [You all gained a Cr 48,000 ship found by a player that left the game for just over Cr 600 in repairs ... you can afford to be as generous as I was.]

I am the only one interested in trade, it seems. You guys are sure you want Remy with the lowest Int+Edu score in the party to be our accountant:D?
Then again, I believe trade can also be leveraged as influence, and makes for a pretty good excuse for Getting To Places if we want to Do Stuff there:). So it's not getting money what I'm interested in...
Though that would make a nice side bonus;).

Also, Traveller was reportedly - or in all likelihood - an influence on Firefly.
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questio ... ayed#13703

I like the firefly analogy. Intended for trade, but always falling into one adventure after another. I do like the trade component, but in a PbP it may be too slow and dry.

So I suggest background trading, with possibly a 'big score' opportunity once in a while. I like the 1000cr share of the trading venture, with the ship taking a percentage.

Jacques can do the accounting, he's probably done some before.

I'm good with background trading and fine with the shares idea.

It is a very good point about the "found" ship. Making it an asset of the "gentlemen adventurers society" where we focus on membership to the society rather than on ownership of the ship would be workable. And shares in the trade "investment" club sounds good. Doc Linkletter would certainly put up several shares in the investment club.

ffilz wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:22 pmMaking it an asset of the "gentlemen adventurers society" where we focus on membership to the society rather than on ownership of the ship would be workable. And shares in the trade "investment" club sounds good.

Oooh. That's an elegant solution. Starting your own TAS ... Gentlemen Adventurers Society = GAS?

What about SGA (Society of Gentlemen Adventurers)?
... with the Ship being the property of the Society (collective GROUP).

Since people are interested in background trade, how much does each CHARACTER want to invest?

Zhym- Firefly is where I got the idea for small, concealed storage. Plus, I'm pretty sure every Trade vessel would have at least one small hold for things they wanted to hide from the Tax man.

Doc Linkletter will put Cr 10,000 into the trading fund if others are putting that kind of money into it.

News Update:

I have a medical crisis with my wife that needs my full time attention.
I love this game and need it for my sanity, but right now I need to take a two week break to deal with REAL LIFE.

I will pick up on Friday, October 1, 2021.

Arthur Pollard

No problem, I'm really sorry to hear your wife is ill.

Wishing your wife a speedy and full recovery.

Tell her we're praying for you all.

No problem and hope all goes well.

Best of luck to you and your wife.

Man. Sorry to hear that.

We'll be here when you get back.

This stuff will wait- Family always comes first.
Good vibes to you and your wife.