Basic Chargen: Smuggler

[Jame]

Prior Service Table:
Enlistment: 8+
DM +1 if Soc 9-
DM +2 if Int 8+
Draft: NA
Survival: 9
DM +1 if Str 8+
Commission: 6+
DM: +1 if Int A+
Promotion: 10+ (8+ if enlisted)
DM: +1 if End 7+
Reenlist: 6+

Automatic skill: Streetwise-1 Vac Suit-1

Personal Development:
1. +1 Str
2. +1 Dex
3. +1 End
4. Gambling
5. Bribery
6. Gun Combat

Service Skills
1. Vehicle
2. Vac Suit
3. Streetwise
4. Forgery
5. Bribery
6. Gambling

Education
1. Streetwise
2. Steward
3. Trader
4. Mechanic
5. Electronic
6. Navigation

Advanced Education
1. Pilot
2. Navigation
3. Engineer
4. Trader
5. Computer
6. Admin

Material Benefits:
1. Low Passage
2. +1 Attribute*
3. +1 Attribute
4. Weapon
5. High Passage
6. TAS
7. Trade Ship

Cash Benefits:
1. 2500 Cr
2. 5000 Cr
3. 10,000 Cr
4. 20,000 Cr
5. 40,000 Cr
6. 50,000 Cr
7. 100,000 Cr

Career restrictions:
If survival roll is failed by 1 or 2 points, the character is let out of service immediately with half benefits (if character has served one term, roll once on cash table and halve the results; include modifier for gambling skill). If roll is failed by 3 or 4 points, the character serves 1d6+Terms jail sentence. If failed by 5 or 6 points, character is injured and released from service; if failed by 7 or 8, character dies.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Isn't "Smuggler" just another way of saying "Independent Merchant"? In my homebrew, I made Smuggler a subcategory of Merchant. Pirate is a subcareer of Rogue, on the other hand.... :smirk:

 

[pendragonman]

Just because I am an indie trucker doesn't mean I am naturally a smuggler. I mean, I had a legitimate reason to be travelling thru that civil war red zone with a full load of anti armor missiles. Just because I suffered jump drive failure after refuel and couldn't leave doesn't mean I was going to sell my cargo to the Rebels...

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Yeah, exactly! That's the ticket!

 

[Arthur Denger]

I'm afraid I'm with Fritz on this one: engaging in the act of smuggling seems more an ethical choice than a career choice. Imagine Kelly, just back from the Academy and beaming, announces "Hey, Mom and Dad, here's my diploma and this transmission I just received says with my GPA, I've already been accepted into the Smuggler Service!" It's just a bit of a stretch.

IMTU someone who smuggles would be a member of the Merchant Service (if they have a background in legitimate trade), the Other Service (if their background includes various criminal enterprises) or possibly a Belter or Scout (down on their luck, desperate, and likely to get caught).

 

[aramis]

I'm with The Good Baron Arthur here...
Smuggler is a role, but not a career.

Scouts are a natural fit since they often ship out in small crews, have reasons to be just about anywhere, and have little exciting to do when on postal duty...

Many merchants dabble in smuggling. It's easy to smuggle when you've 1400 kiloliters of cargo to hide a couple kilos in...

Navy and smuggler may seem a bad fit, but in truth, a lot of smuggling is governmental... it's often called "Blockade Running." Sometimes it's called "Covert Operations" or "Black Ops."

Police call it undercover work. Or a quick trip to jail for corruption.

Pirates simply call it "commercial repairs"... as they smuggle themselves into a decent slip for repair work...

Other career types, as well as MT Rogues, may be smuggling on any of the above's craft, or may be hiring the above, or may be buying and crewing a ship specific to the cause.

Hunters might also be smuggling... usually, this means smuggling passengers in, taking them on proscribed hunts, and then smuggling them and their trophies out....

 

[Arthur Denger]

You make a very good point, aramis. Taking that just a tiny step further, a member of any career in LBB:1 or Supplement 4 can be engaged in smuggling. Even such seemingly innocuous career types as bureaucrats and doctors can be involved, if they choose to be. (Heck, even if they don't choose to be!) :smirk:

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Funny you should mention doctors....

I generated a character (MT) who was busted from Med School (for skimming medicines to run a free clinic - yes, before he got his license - in the slums) and entered the Rogue career because of it. Sounds a bit like smuggling, eh?