Mail Delivery Questions

[DivineWrath]

I'm having trouble understanding mail in the Trade chapter.

First, the dice rolling to determine if you get the option to deliver mail from one world to another.

Freight Traffic DM-10 or less: DM-2
Freight Traffic DM-9 to -5: DM-1
Freight Traffic DM-4 to +4: DM+0
Freight Traffic DM 5 to 9: DM+1
Freight Traffic DM 10 or more: DM+2

I don't quite understand this bit. I think its supposed to involve the DM numbers I use when rolling freight lots. The problem I'm having is that there are 3 freight lot types: Incidental, Minor, and Major. Which do I use? Is it just the DM or do I use what was rolled? What am I not getting?

Next question is, is 25000 Cr the total you get per container? As in, the distance doesn't play a factor like it does for passengers or freight? So transporting mail to some place Jump-1 away pays as much as doing a Jump-6 away?

 

[Jeraa]

You apply the modifiers on page 208 (2e core rulebook or 161 1e core rulebook), right above the Mail section. Those modifiers apply to all freight types, and that is what they mean by Freight Traffic DM. The modifier for major or incidental cargo wouldn't apply, because you aren't rolling for that. But the modifiers for population, starport type, tech level, and travel zone would.

And you are correct. It is a flat payment of Cr25000. It is not modified by distance.

 

[DivineWrath]

Ok, thanks. Maybe I was over thinking this. However, the best modifiers from population (+4), starport type (+2), and tech level (+2) don't add up to 10 or more for the +2 DM. I don't know what I'm missing.

As for the income from mail, I take it they're not always the best option if you want to maximize profits. Freight lots transported over long distances and speculative trade with valuable cargo seem to offer better credit per ton. I thought that mail might have been more special because it was given its own section.

 

[Jeraa]

Ok, thanks. Maybe I was over thinking this. However, the best modifiers from population (+4), starport type (+2), and tech level (+2) don't add up to 10 or more for the +2 DM. I don't know what I'm missing.

The text is copied from 1e, which had a different set of modifiers*. There, it was possible to have a DM of +10 or more. The modifiers were simplified in 2e, but the text didn't change to reflect that.

* The modifiers were based on the planets trade codes, Like Industrial or Agricultural. Both the starting planets trade codes and the destination planets trade codes affected the DM. Taking freight from a High Population (+2 DM) Industrial (+3 DM) starting world to a Garden (+1 DM), Agricultural (+1 DM), Rich (+2 DM), Non-Industrial (+1 DM) destination world would result in a total +10 DM.

 

[DivineWrath]

Ok thanks. That makes sense. Though it is a little worrisome to find that some rules are not up to date.

I was beginning to think that I should be applying the effect of the broker or streetwise check to this dice roll.