Interstellar Law Level

[Mithras]

I was wondering what accepted interstellar law level was, on liners, cargo ships,, High Ports, space stations etc....

What do you think? As the home world? As per the ship owner's handbook (or whim?) What about inside starports? Now I don't have starports with extra-terratorial powers, they are owned and run by the worlds they are on IMTU, but what about the canon?

Never found answers to this question.

 

[Ommadawn]

I'm not sure how canon this is but in GURPS Traveller: Starports on page 33 in the side bar it says that Imperial starports are control rating 5 which converted to Traveller law level 8 (which is quite restrictive, no weapons at all allowed). It -is- flexible and can be modified by the starport director.

Hope that helps some.

On starships and stations or bases, the law level would be whatever the captain or commander wanted it to be. The captain is god on his ship after all. 8)

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

There is no answer in the previous canon, as far as I'm aware. The whole concept of Law Level within a starport/highport/starship was side-stepped in previous editions.

Captains of ships (especially military ships and ships belonging to the megacorporations) have the rules of their organsiation to adhere to, as might the subsidised Trader ship owners, albeit with more room for wiggle.

Free Traders probably adhere to some sort of standard ship-board regulations common amongst Free Traders (sort of "Rule 1: don't shoot people that irritate you first thing in the morning" sort of stuff), but heavily adjusted to the Captain's way of thinking.

As usual, YMMV

 

[Golan2072]

For ship's crews, the law level would be 0 while aboard the ship - this is evident from canonical trade tables in which ships could carry military arms/vehicles as trade goods with no problem, and IIRC even civilian ships haver been shows in canonical adventures to carry quite heavy personal armaments. For the passengers, as Ommadawn has already said, it's the captain's call.

 

[simonh]

According to Spinward Marches, Page 4, most well regulated starports tend to permit visitors to carry sidearms.

As has been mentioned, in interstellar space and on individual ships are allowed considerable latitude in what arms they carry. Imperial High Law still applies though. I get the impression the Imperium could impose strict controlls if they wanted to get heavy, but generaly don't. There's nothing to stop a commander on the spot imposing emergency measures though if it's deemed necessery.

Simon Hibbs

 

[Ishmael]

I'd guess that it depends on who owns the starport. Not all starports are Imperial. I imagine that privately owned megacorps' ports are very restrictive ( as in if you don't work for the megacorp, you can't even go there ).

Whatever the law level, you can be certain there are security forces to enforce it.

 

[AKAramis]

Prior canon does mention that starports are generally LL3.

Ships are generally the LL of their homeport.

 

[Simon]

Figure I would just point out that page 178 under Starports and the Law

"Technically, a starport is Imperial territory, and is not under the jurisdiction of the planetary government. The local government may share in the construction costs, running costs and profits of the starport, but the port is extraterritorial and run by an Imperium appointed governor. This means that travellers can carry locally illegal goods onto a planet as long as they do not leave the starport.

It also means that criminals and refugees often claim sanctuary in a starport and that a starport's technology level may be considerably higher then the rest of the planet. Starports operate according to Imperial law (equivalent to Law Level 1 for most items, and Law Level 7 for psionics)."

Hope that helps.

 

[far-trader]

Prior canon does mention that starports are generally LL3.

Yep that's what I was recalling too, but can't remember from where. Do you recall AKAramis?

Ships are generally the LL of their homeport.

Well, I took the cue from the above mention of SPA LL3 and figured it should apply as a general Interstellar LL. So ship's crews are allowed anything except the really nasty stuff (lasers, poisons, explosives). That's the stuff of properly licensed mercenary companies. Doesn't mean the PCs wouldn't pick up a laser carbine and some grenades on some LL0 world. Just means they have to keep it hidden from any inspections or face the consequences.

Passengers are another matter entirely. That's up to the ship's master. Probably LLA. I know I wouldn't let my pax carry anything lethal on my ship. Some might make exceptions for Nobles, after all you don't want to ruffle the feathers of the powerful.

 

[AKAramis]

Prior canon does mention that starports are generally LL3.

Yep that's what I was recalling too, but can't remember from where. Do you recall AKAramis?

Ships are generally the LL of their homeport.

Well, I took the cue from the above mention of SPA LL3 and figured it should apply as a general Interstellar LL. So ship's crews are allowed anything except the really nasty stuff (lasers, poisons, explosives). That's the stuff of properly licensed mercenary companies. Doesn't mean the PCs wouldn't pick up a laser carbine and some grenades on some LL0 world. Just means they have to keep it hidden from any inspections or face the consequences.

Passengers are another matter entirely. That's up to the ship's master. Probably LLA. I know I wouldn't let my pax carry anything lethal on my ship. Some might make exceptions for Nobles, after all you don't want to ruffle the feathers of the powerful.

Homeport law aboard is mentioned in passing somewhere in MT; either flaming eye, knightfall, or SSOM.

Mention is made in several adventures that military hardware may not be openly carried in starports. ISTR it in TTA, and in Exit Visa. Neither is to hand.

Mongoose has chosen to change that standard to LL1, which means you can carry just about anything short of imperially prohibited weapons...

 

[cbrunish]

I was the captain of a ship I would require all passengers to place all weapons in the ship's locker. Exceptions might be made for some Nobles but all others would be a no no. If I was a ship captain I would be worried that someone would hijack my multi-million credit ship.

And come on, we can't even take toe nail clippers on an airplane! :lol:

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

My crews used to let the passengers keep blades but not guns for "safety reasons". Crewmen typically carried sidearms.

Nobels were often allowed sidearms for their bodyguards as well as themselves.

 

[Infojunky]

On ship, what ever the Captain says.

Now this is gonna vary greatly depending on your ship type.

Starport, whatever the powers that be say, generally fairly low around the ship, i.e. the need for guards for some types of shipments.

 

[Imperator58]

I do recall seeing in the rules that in Port and the like (Imperial control), sidearms are allowed but trotting around with fusion rifles is frowned upon.
Once you leave the confines of the port, of course, all bets are off.

 

[far-trader]

Simon, or a mod, can something be done about that huge freaking animated avatar pushing the text all to the right and annoying the hell out of me?

I'm sure I'm not alone in the sentiment but I'm probably one of the more vocal and angry on the subject of post abuse in the form of excessive pointless graphic bandwidth violence done in the name of kewl avatars. I totally loathe and despise them. I hope you don't mind changing it to something less annoying Simon. Oh sure it's just one now. And two tomorrow. Then a hundred next week and so on. Each bigger, uglier and less appropriate than the last.

Please, can we see some common sense applied, a little respect for other users, and keep them small, low on dazzle, and forum appropo?

 

[Imperator58]

How does one GET an avatar here, anyway? On my screen almost no one has one. I tried to go to Mongoose's alleged list/gallery, and it pretty much didn't go anywhere; just hit a wall.