Pevans
The Cold Equations
This is the fourth postal (PBM/PBeM) game of Star Trader GMed by Mike Dommett and published by Pevans in my postal games 'zine, To Win Just Once. This is the web version of the turn. Follow the link for an introduction to Star Trader.
Start-up
Sections: Report, Corporations Table, GM Notes, Star map (separate page)
We have eight players so this game is being played on the smaller (6 star systems) map. We are using the "Corporate Scenario", so each player has a specific Corporation with its own victory conditions.
A Jerry Elsmore: ARCHANGEL LINES
A transport line serving passengers moving between major systems at the fringe of the Federation.
Market Positions: None.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: Archangel can never purchase factories, and no ship owned by Archangel may carry more than one cargo pod.
B Paul Evans: EON FLASHCORP
One of the shadier members of the business community, Eon is frequently indicted for smuggling and other illicit activities, always managing to avoid being disbanded through political contacts, technicalities, and various sly dealings.
Market Positions: None.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: Eon Flashcorp may take out no loans (except from other players).
C Thomas Frost: QUASAR ENTERPRISES
[The first Corporation I ever played!] A newly formed subsidiary of the Federation's largest trading company, Galactic Trading, Inc. To a limited extent, it has the power of the parent company in support.
Market Positions: None.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: Quasar Enterprises may borrow up to 1000 HT, regardless of status, but may never borrow more than 1000 HTs, however. Add 200 HTs to the amount needed for victory for each level Quasar's reputation falls below 20, even if the level rises to or above 20 again.
D Dominic Howlett: GATES LEARJET
Originally a manufacturer of small, intra-system craft, Gates-Learjet Corporation expanded into interstellar trade when a debtor company went bankrupt and gave Gates its vessels in partial compensation.
Market Positions: Contractor (Alloys, Isotopes) at Mu Herculis, Dealer (Alloys) at Epsilon Eridani.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: Add 1 to all Smuggling Check dice rolls made by Gates.
E Martin Jennings: MCRADIE'S CREW
During standard manoeuvres, a heavily armed Federation Spear class vessel disappeared. For several weeks, it was thought to have hit an asteroid and disintegrated, but then it was detected in the Gamma Leporis system. There, the ship intercepted and destroyed a group of four unarmed merchantmen. From then on, no craft was safe from the fire of First Officer McRadie's mutinied crew.
Market Positions: None.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: McRadie's crew never undergoes an inquiry, may never purchase warehouses, factories, or legal spaceships (except from other players), and may never take out loans.
F Michael Martinkat: MONOGRAM INDUSTRIES
Based on Mu Herculis, Monogram is one of the largest producers of Monopoles in the Federation.
Market Position: Market Manager (Monopoles) at Mu Herculis.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: 300 HTs, due turn 4; interest rate is 28 HTs a turn.
Special Rules: None.
G Mark Robinson: HOUSTON FEARLESS
An Earth-based Corporation, specialising in the trade of super-Isotopes, the potent elements that power the fission generators of the 23rd Century. Founded in the 22nd Century, Houston Fearless has many archaic vessels.
Market Positions: Market Manager (Isotopes) at Tau Ceti; Contractor (Isotopes) Mu Herculis; Dealer (Isotopes) at Sigma Draconis and Epsilon Eridani.
Agents: None.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special rules: None.
H Gina Teh: GAMLEPCO
The Gamma Leporis Corporation financed and guided the first expedition to and subsequent colonization of the Gamma Leporis System, and remains that system's most important operator.
Market Positions: Market Manager (Alloys) at Gamma Leporis, Dealer (Alloys) at Mu Herculis and Beta Hydri.
Agents: Dwarf in Gamma Leporis Spaceport.
Loans Outstanding: None.
Special Rules: None.
Corporations Table
| Corporation letter & name | Conn'n Levels Bus/Crim/Pol |
Init Bid |
Turn Order |
Cash | Rep'n | Player | |||
| A | Archangel Lines | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | - | 250 | 27 | Jerry Elsmore |
| B | Eon Flashcorp | 1 | 7 | 7 | - | - | 200 | 10 | Paul Evans |
| C | Quasar Enterprises | 10 | 3 | 5 | - | - | 1000 | 30 | Thomas Frost |
| D | Gates-Learjet | 5 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 300 | 22 | Dominic Howlett |
| E | McRadie's Crew | 5 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 900 | 0 | Martin Jennings |
| F | Monogram Industries | 6 | 0 | 4 | - | - | 600 | 25 | Michael Martinkat |
| G | Houston Fearless | 10 | 0 | 3 | - | - | 500 | 28 | Mark Robinson |
| H | GamLepCo | 2 | 0 | 3 | - | - | 250 | 20 | Gina Teh |
| 'N' under Initiative Bid indicates No Move Received; ‘F’ indicates the Corp was floated | |||||||||
GM Notes
That's 5 Traders, and then 3 increasingly dodgy Corporations.
Now that you know what the other players have chosen, I will want with your first turn's orders:
a) the victory condition you have chosen;
b) names for your ships please - I will allocate them on the initial map in case you forget!
NOTES:
1) Houston Fearless does not have to commit itself to the commodity in victory option C at the start of the game.
2) McRadie's Crew can only buy warehouses, ships and factories from other players. The other players can charge what they see fit in cash and intangibles for this.
3) Any loans made to Eon Flashcorp are agreed between the players. You can charge more or less than the rates for commercial loans.
4) Monogram has only one victory condition. The other two in the original game are impossible to achieve.
5) You can give your ships any names you like.
6) McRadie's Crew cannot make ships legal. (He's a pirate, not just a dodgy customer.)
7) Corporations have to have a minimum reputation to carry passengers.