The Imperial Factor's Office

[womble]

Having just got T20 and been inspired enough by it to start prepping for a campaign, I've been picking at the trade rules, 'cos I'd like to run something tradey and all my players are nostalgaic about Elite, so they'll enjoy playing it. One aspect of trade that's intriguing me is the apparent Imperial regulation of it: Standard Cargo is carried at a flat rate of 1kCr/T; High Passage costs 10kCr; fuel prices are stipulated, too. How is this regulated? There must be a branch of the Imperial Civil Service charged with maintaining the steady prices.

So I'm tinkering with a write up of the Imperial Factor's Office who administrate cargo despatched into Imperial Space from dirtside. They have a set of rules which don't need to be directly simulated (they can be readily abstracted into a dice roll), but allow the possibility of little fiddles and corruption which are not outright illegal, but will appeal to the shady side of my players.

Is there such an organisation in the OTU? Anyone else's TU? Is it written up anywhere I can get ahold of it? If not, is anyone interested in seeing my write up when it's finished?

Seems to be a good handle for hanging corruption/investigation/intrigue stories on, as well as a way for the PCs to earn a few extra bucks on the side.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Something similar to this is probably handled in the GURPS:Traveller supplment "Starports." The starports are run by the Imperium and there are several branches of the bureacracy involved in running the starports which would be involved in regulating fuel costs, cargo shipping, etc.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Mr Womble!
Good of you to drop by...(old heretic rises to greet you)
Here's some answers into your research: JTAS # 13, article "High Finance" pp44-47, by Terry McInnes.
Covers such topics as raising capital, Stocks/ shares, Bank financing, debentures, cargo brokering.

For a career, "Skyport Authority" (SPA)JTAS, #19, article by john M. Ford,pp37-42 cover the career class of a SPA person/ sophont, includes mustering out benefits, etc. slang terms

for other things: JTAS"small cargoes/handling"
Issue #18, pp40-44. covers luxury, risky, and precious cargoes, and Dm's to reach their price/ value, etc. (stuff to tempt merchies with, but if contraband, and found, could mean trouble-legally)

JTAS #16, "giving banks a fighting chance",by Jolly R Blackburn, pp24-27. covers what Banks in Traveller do to cover themselves in case of skipped payments. Repos, collaterals, interviews, and financial background research done.

IMTU, SPA consists of those who run the starports, and Therein within the bureacracy of all lies a sophont representing the IICC (Imperial Interstellar Commerce Commission). This person's office is responsible for the setting of passenger fees, keeping notices of what is forbidden/ restricted, or hazmat for this world, in compliance with Imperial safe shipping laws. In a sense, members of this sub group of the SPA, also make up the board of inquests in insurances claims, losses of cargoes in system, shipwreck/ salvage claims.


I would be interested (very much) in your work, when you are done with it.
Till then, keep the shiny side up!

 

[womble]

Cheers, Liam. Thanks for the pointers.
Luck
R

 

[Fulminata]

Flat cargo and passenger rates are a standard of most incarnations of Traveller, but not all. GURPS Far Trader uses a more dynamic system where rates can vary quite a bit.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by womble:
Cheers, Liam. Thanks for the pointers.
Luck
R

__________________________________________________
Pleasure to be of service to another merchant-GM, sah!(old heretic shakes his hand). Remember, "trade is the lifeblood of the Imperium", and making things sell from place to place, is a matter for those in the starlanes, insystem, or out! (Old fellow wanders back to his desk, rummages thru his strata of paper work, dispatches, and holovid adverts for shipping & Handling).
May you always buy Low and sell dear!