routes and starports

[Matt Wilson]

A big ship like a heavy freighter doesn't carry its own fuel processor (or scoops), so as far as I can understand it would be dependent on starports that offer refined fuel.

Does that mean any route along which one of the stops is a class-C starport or lower would be limited to a subsidized merchant ship or smaller?

 

[sideranautae]

A big ship like a heavy freighter doesn't carry its own fuel processor (or scoops), so as far as I can understand it would be dependent on starports that offer refined fuel.

Does that mean any route along which one of the stops is a class-C starport or lower would be limited to a subsidized merchant ship or smaller?

Heavy freighters only go where there is sufficient cargo/freight. Irrespective of a Starport being A, B or C. Look to freight tables to determine hi/low volume planets.

 

[Condottiere]

It's a matter of economics. If it's cheaper (and faster) to get refined fuel at the starport, the corporation will arrange that.

There may be a contractor who maintains a supply at the starport for use by that corporation's ships, who'll charge above unrefined, but considerably below refined.

 

[sideranautae]

It's a matter of economics. If it's cheaper (and faster) to get refined fuel at the starport, the corporation will arrange that.

There may be a contractor who maintains a supply at the starport for use by that corporation's ships, who'll charge above unrefined, but considerably below refined.

True. The Corp will do what is needed.

 

[phavoc]

To echo what other's have said, if there's enough regular traffic for a shipping company, they may very well have their own infrastructure at the planet to load/unload their ships, provide fuel, etc.

There was a supplement/write-up a while ago about Tukera lines (at least that's what my fuzzy memory is telling me). It was a Spinward Marches shipping company and it had a lot of info about the operational and business side of things.

The rules in Traveller books are really oriented around PC's doing things, NOT the amount of freight and shipping that is going to happen between systems and in-system. That would be called life.

 

[sideranautae]

The rules in Traveller books are really oriented around PC's doing things, NOT the amount of freight and shipping that is going to happen between systems and in-system. That would be called life.

True. Like in real life an airport may have only certain services for general aviation craft. But, Fed Ex may have a very large (and private) infrastructure for its own aircraft that use that airport...

Credits talk and Tramps walk...

 

[Condottiere]

I tend to look at starports as terminals and airport, whereas the more appropriate description might be a marina.

It's somewhere inbetween.

 

[Matt Wilson]

So what you're saying is that a world listed as class E starport might have a significant private facility, but you civvies with your far trader can kindly go refill from the lake?

Oh no, wait, sorry, that lake is corporate property. I meant the other lake.

 

[sideranautae]

So what you're saying is that a world listed as class E starport might have a significant private facility, but you civvies with your far trader can kindly go refill from the lake?

Oh no, wait, sorry, that lake is corporate property. I meant the other lake.

If there is an econ reason for that, you are correct.

 

[dragoner]

So what you're saying is that a world listed as class E starport might have a significant private facility, but you civvies with your far trader can kindly go refill from the lake?

Oh no, wait, sorry, that lake is corporate property. I meant the other lake.

Yes, and works as well for creating a barrier to trade, and thus the shipping corp is able to create a monopoly; works that way in real life.

 

[phavoc]

So what you're saying is that a world listed as class E starport might have a significant private facility, but you civvies with your far trader can kindly go refill from the lake?

Oh no, wait, sorry, that lake is corporate property. I meant the other lake.

Starport ratings are for the "official", singular port for a system. I would expect a planet to have more than one port, and multiple privately-owned ones. But there's only one PRIME starport.

I know the rules don't state it as such, but even a TL3 or TL2 planet with a class E starport is going to have the available tech to build a simple water storage facility to have unrefined fuel available - assuming that the planet has the hydographic resources to allow for it. Or else some enterprising guy or gal (or dog, or hiver or drone or whomever) is going to drill a well and install a pump and make easy money filling up ships as they stop by.

 

[sideranautae]

Or else some enterprising guy or gal (or dog, or hiver or drone or whomever) is going to drill a well and install a pump and make easy money filling up ships as they stop by.

Exactly. For instance, in 7th grade I made a solar powered Hydrogen fuel refinery of sorts. O2 went into one test tube and PURE hydrogen into another.

 

[Condottiere]

While oceans tend to have ambiguous ownership claims or be commons, planetary governments, balkanized or not, probably do have regulations as to where you can tank up, since going by our own problems with freighters flush sludge, ballast and whatnot, you want to control possible extraterrestrial contamination.

 

[Matt Wilson]

"Welcome to our quiet little backwater planet. Stopping for fuel?"

"No, our fresher is a little backed up, just going to dump that in your reservoir. And you can do nothing to stop me!"

Until they save up enough money to hire seven brave player characters to defend their world...

 

[Condottiere]

Turns out the villagers have Stingers, ATGWs and combat armour that they picked up from nearby battlefields.