King of the Main

[Gatsby]

This is the sitch':

Got a marine with a mission so covert, he has to duck both Imperials and Zhodani during the FFW. He has to get from D'Ganzio to the Federation of Arden to find a spy.

I recently saw Lee Marvin in 'Emperor of the North' for the umpteenth time (A#1!...hey, it keeps being played on cable!) and then got a random radio scan of 'King of the Road'.

I figured it was a muse (Caliope, maybe?) trying to bend my ear, and thought about having that poor sod of a fine Imperial Marine have to 'ride the Main' as a stowaway.

So, anyone got any good thoughts on that underclass of citizenry that hop the starships of the Spinward Main, annoy ship captains and port authorities and live the life of the Stars, stealing to live, travelling cause they want to, and beholding to no man...Travellers of no means, by no means...?

Gats'

 

[soloprobe]

Gatsby , Old sport ..........
What you've described are called "Floaters". Sure, they used to stow away on Starships,but Technology got that beat now... Now they live in the shadows, in the starports, Until the find a way to beat the system,and ride for free. The floaters could call A#1 "Emperor of the core" or "Emperor of the Main" but I think you'll like "Emperor of the Marshes". I suspect STREPHON would not approve.

If you run such a campaign ,I'llplay in it

 

[Gatsby]

Is there a tech out there that a dedicated floater could not subvert? Is there a storyline problem that an inventive Ref couldn't think his way around to provide some fun?

_____________________________________
Rules to float by (by AlphaPrime, Emperor of the Marches):

Weight and mass diagnostic? Remember to ditch cargo that is equal to your size. Don't just break anything and remember to cover the missing stuff - it's a long week in space.

Crew inspections? Pick large and busy ships, never small free traders. Try to find ones with half-assed crews.

Bio-sniffers? Stick to the warm machines and line your vest and hat with some Floaters' Gaffing' - it's cheap reflec looking material, primarily used in shipping packaging to protect perishables and electronics from radiations...usually a lot left laying around a port...

Ducking the Port Autority to get on-board? Well, that's where we seperate the Floaters from the Planet-bounds....ain't nothing like the challenge of beating the system, but the real fun is beating the Man. If you show ol' AlphaPrime that you got the stuff, then you can Hop with me and do what I do...else you just stay in Port and beg for Creds at the gate.


GENERAL CHALLENGE: Any other players got any Floater advice to beat the system and the Man?
Just list some rules you learned from AlphaPrime (or any other famous Floater on the Jump Lines).

Thanks for any info,

Gats'

 

[soloprobe]

Oh,
We'll have to stay away from Shack's Freetrader...... He'll kill any floater he finds onboard. He does'nt take passengers, prefering instead to stalk his cargo holds with a threepound sledge hammer. (just like in Emperor of the north)

 

[Invictus]

Howdy Folks:

I like the general tone of your idea. I have some ideas and historical advice that I'll post soon.

Invictus

 

[aramis]

put a lifepod in the PP fuel during an overhaul... most ships don't use it all before refuelling.

------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!

 

[tewhill]

So the marine's patrons give him a mission many parsecs away, even though he has no obvious means to get were he's going. You would think that they would slip him some cash so their new super-spy could get were they want him to go. No spymasters they.
How about good ole working passage?

 

[soloprobe]

Tewhill,
You seem to miss the point of a "king of the road" Campaign. Sure, anybody can do the working passage thing, But that's not "Bumming" .
The point of Gatby's topic is That a successful character can ride the stars for free.

I should also point out that the period in history depicted in "Emperor of the North" included the Great Depression. You could do working passage, but then you're working for the man- not beating him.

 

[Gatsby]

Also, the marine in question is in a spot: his superior is in the brig for treason, and Santoncheev's Intel spooks are setting them up to cover for something that can only be solved in the Federation of Arden - that old den of espionage during the FFW. He is on the lam - the tried and true 'clear your name and save the war effort' thingie. But I figured I'd have some fun on the way - after all the game is called TRAVELLER....

Gats'

 

[tewhill]

The idea that someone could successfully stow away on starships in the
Marches on a regular basis seems wildly implausible. A one-off scam?
Maybe. Normal means of transport? I don't believe it.
I know that a fair amount suspension of disbelief is required to play this
game. But this scenario rebels against everything I know about the
canonical Traveller universe. The captains and crews of the victim ships would have to be an unbroken line keystone cop-like buffons.

[This message has been edited by tewhill (edited 11 February 2002).]

 

[Fulacin Highport]

For some ideas from sci-fi literature, look around for a copy of Steve Perry's 'The 97th Step'. In the novel, folks who are doing something similar to what you are describing are called 'Laners' and live by scamming The System. They are rarely stowing away; but, they know all the tricks of how to score legitimate-seeming tickets.

And the short story 'Down & out on Ellfive Prime' by Dean Ing also shows interesting details of a life outside of normal (?) society, on an O'Neill colony, no less!

But the real bottom line is that without cash, hard credits, and a contact or two, your hero is a goner. Only a true Superman can just 'stowaway' for more than 2 jumps without getting spaced... unless he's got friends, or even enemies who prefer to save his life just so that they will be able to take care of him themselves.

------------------
Joe Brown

[This message has been edited by Fulacin Highport (edited 12 February 2002).]

 

[mjwest]

Since your hero has pretty much a straight-line route to travel, his best bet is probably just to steal a ubiquitous scout/courier and run for it.

And if he doesn't have the skills to fly it himself, just promise some down-on-his-luck schmuck with a SC bunches of riches if they make it. (Heck, it worked on Han Solo!)

 

[aramis]

I like what I've dubbed the "Shemelion Racket" as a way of laning...

find a mark. Convince them to buy your ticket (and theirs) round trip, with either promise of (1) lasting affection, (2) repayment in non-cash, (3) some connection.

upon arrival, make certain to make a big bad nasty enemy in port. Best if it's actually a freind in on the scam. Run and "Hide". Make certain the RT tickets have a time-limit, and the marc doesn't have enough cash for a return ticket while there. Wait til the ship lifts.

Nifty bonuses: if the ship crew is seedy, have them cash in the Return ticket for you, giving you a cut. Or maybe not a cut, but agreement to schedule the terms next time you and they meet.

had a PC do this once. Nifty scam.

------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!

 

[Mår Ekkertsen]

Where's I come from, and don't think I'll be telling ya that, we rely on the old sport. Human Engineerin' Human's is the easiest, sappiest, marks o' the main. Are there be a whole lot o' 'em too. There are.

First there's the lift of the creds.
Next there's the intercept o' the passage docs.
and don't ever be forgetting the plain out weaselin'.

sure you've got to find the right purser or steward, or freightman.

or dependin' on you high horse morals being low gutter needy you can find your way to the bed o' some gal or guy deckplate just above that'll be bringin ya the food for the small week o' servitude you can offer.

 

[soloprobe]

Gatsby,
What your King of the main campaign needs Most of all Is a GALAXY WIDE depression. Just like the Great depression of the 30's. That's right The Imperium's flat-broke. The Solomani Confederation's dirt poor. The Zhodani Consulate, has no money. there's not a credit to be found in the Vargr extents, the Aslan Hireate, or all the Two thousand worlds.....Now you have a universe that can create Alpha prime, Emperor of the marshes.....