Traveller Needs a "What is Charted Space?" Book

[actionman]

Somewhere there's a note that subsidized vessels can be pressed into service by the subsidizing government in times of war. I've always wanted to use that tidbit in a game . . .

Amazing adventure potential!

 

[Anstett]

This is one of the reasons I use the material from - JTAS 6- Mega Corporations and Subsidized Traders, and JTAS 9 - The Syndicate for my using Ship Shares to purchase favorable rates and routes so that humble tramp trader can squeak by and make a slightly bigger profit on the feeder routes to the larger Trade Routes.

Dragonslayer Space | Main / ShipShares

 

[Sigtrygg]

If you can't become filthy rich using the MgT trade system you are doing something wrong.

Want a challenge? Use the original CT trade rules.

 

[Garnfellow]

Amazing adventure potential!

Turns out the reference is also in The Traveller Book:

Subsidized merchants are also subject to mobilization (and use as auxiliaries) in the event of emergency or hostilities. At the end of 40 years, the vessel is completely paid off, and full title passes to the character, but the vessel remains subject to mobilization in case of government need.

 

[Condottiere]

Would be the planetary government.

The Imperium would charter them from megacorporations, though, could be indirect by levying units from a planet.

 

[NOLATrav]

using Ship Shares to purchase favorable rates and routes

This is a great idea for a free trader campaign- yoinked!

 

[rinku]

The idea of the Imperial Navy drafting subbies as auxiliaries would be akin to the US Army drafting UPS trucks. Not totally impossible, but it's far more likely that a state (i.e. system) government would be the one doing that in a local emergency.

 

[Terry Mixon]

The idea of the Imperial Navy drafting subbies as auxiliaries would be akin to the US Army drafting UPS trucks. Not totally impossible, but it's far more likely that a state (i.e. system) government would be the one doing that in a local emergency.

It's the kind of thing that happened in WWII, so I'm sure that's where it came from. For these purposes, it tracks as trucks are less equal comparisons than ships for that kind of operation. Jump ships are not the same as the in-system ships that might equate to trucks.

 

[actionman]

The idea of the Imperial Navy drafting subbies as auxiliaries would be akin to the US Army drafting UPS trucks.

Why would system governments draft merchants, to support system defense fleets? Why wouldn't IN fleets battlegroups commandeer merchant tonnage for their logistical support? I did a quick internet search, and even with drafting ships of their own nationality, irl navies can commandeer neutral and even hostile merchant ships.

 

[rinku]

Yeah, I certainly didn't say it won't happen, just that it's far more likely to happen locally.

In particular, whoever is doing the actual subsidizing has skin in the game. If that happens to be the Imperium in YTU, sure. But I always got the impression it was more of a subsector program, to service local needs.

 

[Condottiere]

Depends on what is being transported.

Or, the role.

 

[Sigtrygg]

WW1 - trucks and busses were drafted by the UK government