Sorry, meant to comment on the detail and/or your comments.

On 11 October 2017 at 17:11, Timothy Collinson <xxxxxx@port.ac.uk> wrote:

On 11 October 2017 at 13:43, Andrea Vallance <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
These are all really good. Skill sets are reasonable. I might up the carousing skill, it's the core skill of the job,

I guessed that much. I was following the Spica Career Book (and the die rolls rather), ummm, religiously if that's the right word. Otherwise I tend to find I make similar choices all the time. Letting the dice fall where they may gives me more interesting characters on the whole.

Of course, you could argue with the char gen - but that's something to take up with Spica! As I often aim for publication (Freelance Traveller or elsewhere), I do try to keep PCs and NPCs rules legitimate.

but steward works too. Perception is also important, but the jobjob turns on your people skills. But the last one who's not made a go of it, the low carousing makes sense. Ages are fine too but they'll all claim to be younger. I'm 56, claim to be in my mid 40s and get away with it.

Hah! Yes, I hadn't thought of the claim to be younger angle! Although, again, in this particular situation they might lessen that aspect unless they sense the PCs want young. (Which hasn't been the case thus far).

If they're working together, they trust each other a lot

Yes, I did think that. In fact, as I think you suggested might be the case, now I've created these four I'm inclined to think that just maybe there's an adventure for next year's TravCon using them as PCs rather than NPCs. Although I've noticed that players don't tend to do much with my potential love interest character hooks with other PCs as I guess they're uncomfortable with it. I felt as if I was something of an outlier in going along with a referee's (quite gentle really) drug filled orgy at a coming of age party for a tribe last March. But what the heck... it's role playing and we seem happy enough with the violence... :-)

. They almost certainly live together and work from there, they watch each other's back. I'd strongly suspect the 26 year old is in a relationship with one of the others. I'd go with the 33 year old woman, same sex relationships are very common in sex workers and for her to come back into the job points at a "mentor." The others may well be very protective of her. The male with his high streetwise is probably the "senior" member of the group and the others will likely defer to him.

Yes, I thought that, then thought 'oh, that's a bit stereotypical so let's make it the older woman', but the more I look at it, the more I think that's the way to go.

They need two names, their real name and working name. These will be very different so the working name doesn't hint at the real one. For working names I'd suggest something "conservative" for the 29 year old. She'll likely play off her upbringing and present a more upmarket image, Judith perhaps. The male will probably go for a name that hints at strength, Axel might fit. The 33 year old something more casual. She's toward the upmarket but would want a more "easy going" image. Nici might work. The 26 year old will be playing on her age, something a little funky. Shontika would be an example.

I'll use those if that's ok although inspired by your earlier email, I was thinking the guy might be called Angel. Axel's fine. I like the slightly Euro-sound.

The 33 year old's self confidence may have recovered. This job can do wonders for that. You

Yes, meant to state that explicitly.

really can't underestimate the affect constantly being called attractive, desirable, hot, beautiful are. Especially when it's backed up by cold hard cash to spend time with you. Plus you really can't succeed in sex work without it. If I might suggest: She turned to sex work in desperation with her self-esteem having plummeted after the attack. Her first client was gentle, respectful and called her beautiful. That started her recovery as more and more clients reinforced that. The drug mule makes sense as does picking up odd jobs. To be honest, I'd up her carousing if possible. At that age, she's good at the job. Could be done via a connection with the 26 year old.

Excellent, yes.

Right, now, plot...

... life threatening disease... some rare herb that is thought to be curative... but it's either kept on the higher decks where the workers can't easily go, or even so rare it's behind more secure areas of the orbital station. (This is a big place - 1000 decks, 800,000 people iirc, or was it 8 million?). Sex workers have tried before so they're recognized and can't try again - but PCs could. Maybe it's one of the Enemy connections who has charge of them and so specifically won't release herbs for that person.

OK, well it's a start. I've a few more days to let it swill round in the back brain. It's tempting to have this as part of a larger scam but you've persuaded me that despite their Deception skills they'd be more straightforward than that. (And again, trying to avoid stereotypes.) (Except that a couple of times recently I've been accused of having NPCs that are too nice and truthful etc)

cheers