Re: Merchant organizations in Wildspace

> On Tue, 13 Apr 1999, S. Wilson wrote:
> > Note that you don't have to magic the entire crew. A single, very loyal
> > 10th level warrior onboard should be enough to keep the crew in line,
> > considering that they're probably 0-level, or at most levels 1-4. Or, you
> > could just make sure the helmsman is trustworthy.
>
> Mr. 10th level still has to sleep, though. >:) It still might work, if
> he kept morale up, had security safeguards ("kill me, and the helm
> blows up!") and/or was paranoid enough. However, a low-talent ship
> would be easy pickings for most wandering monsters.

If the crew is more talented, Mr. Elite must be too. Simple.

As for sleeping, that's a good point. And there's poison, and a ton of
other things. But that requires a cold-blooded murder of the captain (or
whoever he is), as opposed to a simple mutiny; it puts one obviously in
the wrong. Basically, it's a role-playing constraint; a crew of
psychopaths would still probably take over the ship. (If they can get the
helmsmen to cooperate, that is.) It's just that most people aren't
cold-blooded psychopaths.

> How about subjecting prospective ship borrowers to Know Alignment?
> If they are not Evil or Chaotic, then a written contract or sworn oath
> should be guarantee plenty.

Um, no. I wouldn't trust that one bit. In fact, I'm much more inclined to
trust a Lawful Evil personality (e.g. Korel the Necromancer) than a
Chaotic Good one. Good, in my interpretation, just means that they're
concerned for others' welfare, while Evil is selfishness--but that doesn't
mean I'd trust my life to any given Neutral-Gooder. He might enjoy helping
people, but that doesn't mean he can't be tempted. And you're leaving out
any number of honorable, competent, but technically "Evil" folks.

Hemlock