Re: SJ Reviews: The 'SJR' References

>Rian A. McMurtry said: Oddly enough, my players figured that one out 
>quickly enough.  "load the galleons with spices and silk, undercut 
>everyone else, and roll in the cash..."

Most players do figure this one out pretty quick...and make very dangerous 
enemies within powerful groundling merchant trade groups.  Then they have 
a hard time selling anything on the planet after their reputaion as "the 
Wal-Mart of the middle ages" gets around.

>Ben Wafer said: Still, as written even the astronomically expensive helms 
>become a highly economical alternative to a surface trade route on a 
>world.

True, but IMC, due to helm rarity, anyone who comes across a helm becomes 
a target.  Everyone out in wildspace wants more helms and SOME, 
unfortunately, will go about any means to get them.  Then you've got to 
figure in the costs of hiring experienced spacefarers to fly the ship and 
of course a means of protecting the ship and it's cargo.  That is an 
ongoing expense and a lot more expensive than shipping by sea or 
overland.  And as said before, once you start undercutting all of the 
other merchants, you start making enemies.

>Buying a single galleon with a minor helm would have been far cheaper 
>and more effective, with fewer risks.

IMO it's a LOT more dangerous in wildspace than on the ground.  Which is 
in itself another reason that SJ hasn't caught on in the campaign worlds 
as much as overland/oversea trade.  Plain and simple, it's an extemely 
dangerous venture with a lot of risk, but a also a lot of potential 
reward.  

Remember that you're dealing with Middle Ages or at best Renaissance era 
folks.  A lot of them still have an ancient way of thinking.  I figure 
there's a lot of merchats who A: just aren't willing to take the risk and 
B: who just aren't willing to accept the fact that SJ is even a 
possibility, let alone a viable possibility.


All of you had some great opinions though, and you all raised some very 
good points.  I hope you don't think I'm arguing here, because I'm not. 
I'm just throwing out some other possible reasons.

--Blackmaer, respectfully.