Ethan wrote:
>Just assume that Mongoose screwed everything up

Hah!  I *had* thought of that.

>and you either have to go back to the LBB systems, or make up something >of your own.

Yes, I might try revisiting the LBBs just to compare the systems.

the MgT version of The Traveller Adventure does cheat the PCs a couple of times thanks to rule changes that aren't then reflected in the text.  For example, Baseru's deal in In Search of Longer Legs where he offers them the demountable tanks - the cargo he has for Patinir is Jump 2 away and therefore NOT the Cr60,000 he's comparing the Cr50,000 tanks to, but Cr96,000.  It still might be desirable for the PCs if they're desperate for the capability, but he's trying it on clearly... ;-)

I have worked out that my idea of taking Basic passengers before High on the grounds that for Jump 1 you'd get Cr8,800 for four in a stateroom rather than Cr8,500 for a High (who demands attention), is fine until you look at the life support costs.  not only Cr3000 for double occupancy (even if you're generous and keep it that rather than increasing it again), but there's a tariff of another Cr1,000 for every non-Low berth sophont on board.  So four Basic is 8800-7000=1800 (you'd be better off converting the cabin into four tons of freight) vs one High which is 8500-2000=6500.  So it was a good idea until reality set in.

(Although it was interesting to note that you're losing a further Cr1000 Freight (more for cargo) for every High passenger who is allowed a ton of cargo space.  I'm just realizing that it's actually more cost effective to look for Mid passengers (Cr6200) as you can carry 10 of those before their 100kg takes a ton of space.)   (This changes for anything further than Jump 1).

Phil wrote:
>p.s. I first concluded that the original (LBB) rules were too 'player/trader >friendly' when GDW forced the adventuring team to use a broken-down >FarTrader capable of only J1 in the CT LBB Adv3, instead of a regular J1 >FreeTrader. The reduced cargo capacity vs a FreeTrader working the >Spinward Main made it all the more challenging.

Yes, I probably ought to try a Free Trader under the same rules for comparison.

I've been running the March Harrier on the Aramis Trace to keep things limited and focused.  (One of the reasons I've not done this before is because I boggle at all the options - ships/locations/routes etc.)  After just four Jumps I've gone from Cr100,000 to Cr900,000.  But have met some interesting folk along the way (I always roll once on the Exciting Passengers table and try to invent something of interest about then), and have been intrigued by what cargo becomes available and what's worth taking (or what can be afforded).  And I love running the Low lottery and seeing who survives.  9 low berths and Medic 3, one per trip still dies on average. 

It's kind of become a bit more fun than I was expecting.  Passengers and Freight I can knock off in about 10 minutes which feels reasonable.  Doing the cargo tables takes nearer 1/2 hour which I'm not so sold on - but I do one Jump a day and its not too bad.  Does anyone want the two page 'worksheet' I've developed to smooth things along?  (Not a spreadsheet, just a Word doc with blank tables to fill in and some of the necessary tables.)  Email me.

tc