Local Brokers and Guides

[Kaelic]

As this hasn't changed from the previous core book, I feel it's a chance to make an improvement. As it is, the price for a local guide is so low, there is almost no point in ever finding a supplier/buyer yourself. Since using a guide appears to have no time element to it, it's a huge win. I feel this should be more cost/benefit and encourage Traveller skills to be used more. In the least, clarify the time required to use a local guide.

As for a locally hired Broker, again this seems too cut and dry easy to deal with. 15% isn't much for a whopping +6. It's far too easy for a team to not bother with brokering skills and just give up the 15% as they typically make a profit any way. In fact, I've never seen a team fail to make a profit on a run thanks to hired brokers and guides.

 

[alex_greene]

As this hasn't changed from the previous core book, I feel it's a chance to make an improvement. As it is, the price for a local guide is so low, there is almost no point in ever finding a supplier/buyer yourself. Since using a guide appears to have no time element to it, it's a huge win. I feel this should be more cost/benefit and encourage Traveller skills to be used more. In the least, clarify the time required to use a local guide.

As for a locally hired Broker, again this seems too cut and dry easy to deal with. 15% isn't much for a whopping +6. It's far too easy for a team to not bother with brokering skills and just give up the 15% as they typically make a profit any way. In fact, I've never seen a team fail to make a profit on a run thanks to hired brokers and guides.

They don't need to charge huge fees; a low skim off a guaranteed profit is still a profit, and all the brokers need do is keep a long list of regular clients to accumulate so much money that they have to change banks once in a while because the old accounts are full.

 

[Kaelic]

I just read the new Purchase/Sell modifier chart, so it's actually perhaps not that bad having OP Brokers since the profit isn't so insane anymore. I'll have to playtest more and see how it goes.

 

[Kaelic]

They don't need to charge huge fees; a low skim off a guaranteed profit is still a profit, and all the brokers need do is keep a long list of regular clients to accumulate so much money that they have to change banks once in a while because the old accounts are full.

I don't really understand what you're saying here. My issue is the lack of any reason for a Broker character to interact vs hiring a Broker at +6.

 

[grauenwolf]

Let me change the question a bit.

How is it that a rogue trader can always find an amazing broker? Especially with small lot sizes and no planet side connections.

While offering a larger percentage should increase the odds of finding a good broker, there should be a chance that you wind up with a corrupt or incompetent broker that sells your goods at a virtual loss.

How about this:

Broker skill: 1D6-2 (+1 per 5% commission, max +4.)

If you offer 0%, that means you are trusting some random barfly who "knows a guy". Hence the chance of a negative broker skill.

Once the PCs find a trader that they can trust, it would behoove them to maintain that relationship. Which means plenty of opportunities for story hooks.

 

[alex_greene]

Natural selection.

The incompetent ones always end up losing out to the competent ones and those with the better networks / the ones with the loudest mouths or shirts. The only way they can survive against such stiff competition is to get good.

 

[grauenwolf]

The only way they can survive against such stiff competition is to get good.

Or sucker rouge traders who don't know any better.

Actually, I think that should apply across the board. If you want someone with any profession, the price you are willing to pay should set the skill range rather than the exact skill level. It isn't like someone can prove they are a level 4 mechanic.

 

[allanimal]

It isn't like someone can prove they are a level 4 mechanic.

Actually p.56 says "A Traveller with level 4 or 5 is probably both well-respected and well-known in his field.", so if they claim they are a level mechanic 4 and nobody's heard of them (or they don't have any papers published in the big, peer-reviewed mechanic journals), chances are they aren't. :wink:

 

[MongooseMatt]

Broker skill: 1D6-2 (+1 per 5% commission, max +4.)

If you offer 0%, that means you are trusting some random barfly who "knows a guy". Hence the chance of a negative broker skill.

Once the PCs find a trader that they can trust, it would behoove them to maintain that relationship. Which means plenty of opportunities for story hooks.

I would be okay with this. What does everyone else think?

 

[DickTurpin]

Broker skill: 1D6-2 (+1 per 5% commission, max +4.)

If you offer 0%, that means you are trusting some random barfly who "knows a guy". Hence the chance of a negative broker skill.

Once the PCs find a trader that they can trust, it would behoove them to maintain that relationship. Which means plenty of opportunities for story hooks.

I would be okay with this. What does everyone else think?

I prefer knowing what I am getting if I hire a broker. That having been said, life is filled with uncertainty; a random hireling skill level would mimic that uncertainty. I could accept this rule, but I will grumble about it. Then again, it means that a Traveller broker may be used more often rather than just being told that "We can hire a better broker at the starport".

 

[Kaelic]

Broker skill: 1D6-2 (+1 per 5% commission, max +4.)

If you offer 0%, that means you are trusting some random barfly who "knows a guy". Hence the chance of a negative broker skill.

Once the PCs find a trader that they can trust, it would behoove them to maintain that relationship. Which means plenty of opportunities for story hooks.

I would be okay with this. What does everyone else think?

I think it's a great solution.

 

[hdan]

Broker skill: 1D6-2 (+1 per 5% commission, max +4.)

If you offer 0%, that means you are trusting some random barfly who "knows a guy". Hence the chance of a negative broker skill.

Once the PCs find a trader that they can trust, it would behoove them to maintain that relationship. Which means plenty of opportunities for story hooks.

I would be okay with this. What does everyone else think?

I think it's a great solution.

I agree, lots of gameplay potential. (I also wish there was a "+1" button so I didn't have to write a "me too!" message, but...)