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Book 1 Merchant Ranks

DeltaX15

SOC-11
In the Book 1 Table Of Ranks, for Merchants, Rank 6 has a dash.

I've always assumed that this means that the maximum rank for a Merchant charcter is 5.

Is this what everyone else thinks?
 
Dash means non-applicable in Scouts and Other - see no reason the same wouldn't apply to Merchants.

The rest of the mechanics (mustering benefits) deal with 'Rank 5 or 6' as one in the same - so its rather a mute point.

Book 7 has 'Senior Captain' and 'Owner/Captain' ranks, but that really is a different system.
 
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You get buttkiss! Mmmm, lovely Rank 5 forever, too bad Captain Fancy Pants there got out of the Imperial Navy with a Rank 6. And Social B. :devil:
 
You get buttkiss!

I think you mean "bupkis"!

Alternative forms: bobkes, bopkes, bubkes, bupkes, bupkiss, bupkus

Etymology: From Yiddish באָבקעס (bobkes, “(large) beans”), from קאָזעבאָפּקעס (kozebopkes, “goat droppings”), from Proto-Slavic *koza (“goat”), and diminutive of Slavic root боб (bob, “bean”).

Noun: bupkis (uncountable)

1. absolutely nothing; nothing of value, significance, or substance

We searched for hours and found bupkis.

Usage notes: Often translated as meaning small round fecal pellets, referring to the shape of goat droppings. A colorful usage, though more emphatic expression (in Yiddish more so than in English) is "Bupkis mit Kuduchas" (באָבקעס מיט קודוצ׳ה), translating roughly to "shivering shit balls" - kuduchas referring to the condition of generalized shaking palsy.
 
I've houseruled that Captain *is* rank 6, and that rank 1 is "senior crewman." On the theory that Rank 0 is "regular crewman" and sometimes fairly rank as well.

Of course, I've also houseruled the Mongoose enlisted ranks in for the Army, Navy and Marines as well (they DID get that right).

I think you mean "bupkis"!

No he doesn't. You have to do it when saying, "please please please can we have a Rank 6 please?"
 
Yeah, what he said...

I've houseruled that Captain *is* rank 6, and that rank 1 is "senior crewman." On the theory that Rank 0 is "regular crewman" and sometimes fairly rank as well.

Of course, I've also houseruled the Mongoose enlisted ranks in for the Army, Navy and Marines as well (they DID get that right).



No he doesn't. You have to do it when saying, "please please please can we have a Rank 6 please?"
I am going with Jame's idea. Unfortunately, I was raised right and I must confess that BlackBat caught me slipping. I claim as my excuse of being a foreigner amongst the tribes so my handle on the language is pretty weak. That and being tired when I posted.
 
Thanks for the replys - it's good to know that I'm thinking along the same lines as the rest of you.

I've been looking at Supplement 4 today, and the 'dash means nothing' theory is supported by the Noble ranks. Rank 6 has a dash, which would equate to a Soc of G, so obviously you can't have a rank 6 Noble character.

The thing that lets the theory down is the Barbarian ranks, (which if you haven't got your copy handy is dash Warrior dash dash Chief dash). My best interpretation of ranks 1 through 5 would be:
1: No title, but you get a chance at extra booty.
2 -> 4: Warrior, rank number indicates pecking order / shares of booty.
5: Chief.

Any thoughts?

N.B. (and to possibly head off some posts that move the thread sideways). I'm using the 'swag, loot' definition of booty (i.e benefit rolls). However, within a Barbarian Society booty may have other meanings.
 
I've always figured that there way nowhere higher to go for a book 1 merchant, along the lines of the Free Trader's Captain/Owner in Merchant Prince.

And while we're on turns of phrase, the term is "moot point" (debatable point, usually in the sense of a point that can be debated, but which is not immediately salient), not "mute point", much as that may seem to fit the usage. ;)
 
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