Big ship universe vs small ship universe

[whartung]

Shrug, this is why refs are gifted with encounter tables- for pirates just roll 1d6-3, below 1 the pirate sees or knows the ship threat and won’t risk it, 1 may or may not, 2-3 likely will.

But it cuts both ways. Basically the ref needs to put their thumb on the scales. Otherwise you're just as likely to get a pirate when you can least afford it and now you're either dead or completely bankrupt.

That just either makes "the game" untenable, or simply referee fiat.

 

[Grav_Moped]

But it cuts both ways. Basically the ref needs to put their thumb on the scales.

Absolutely!

The way I see it, the table shows what you're likely to see (and how likely it is), at a given type of location.

Rules as written, in this case, do not provide for play balance. But the tables and dice are not a suicide pact. If something comes up that will wreck your campaign through no fault of your players, roll again.

If you've provided ample warning and discouragement and they persist, it's on them though.

 

[kilemall]

The biggest question is what proportion of the trade on a planet goes towards offworld trade.

I mean we live on a high pop planet and yet very little of our trade is off world

That we KNOW…..

 

[Condottiere]

Service industry.

Probing isn't free.

 

[Ulsyus]

Basically the ref needs to put their thumb on the scales. Otherwise you're just as likely to get a pirate when you can least afford it and now you're either dead or completely bankrupt.

Isn’t that the difference between a referee and a simple facilitator?

If we’re trying to engage in collaborative storytelling, then the tables are just aids to help the ref, not structures forcing them to ice the PCs due to a series of unfortunate dice rolls

 

[Condottiere]

You could make a sacrifice to the Dice Gods.

 

[kilemall]

Isn’t that the difference between a referee and a simple facilitator?

If we’re trying to engage in collaborative storytelling, then the tables are just aids to help the ref, not structures forcing them to ice the PCs due to a series of unfortunate dice rolls

Not just this, but when the players graduate from underdog mortgage to mortgage keep er flying to major power, their opportunities and opposition upgrades too. The ref would be remiss in not recalibrating the campaign to the new level and nature of challenges.

A good example of this is the Chanur series- ‘simple’ merchant captain and crew through necessity born of chance and loyalty has to play at a much higher level.

I don’t know that 3I settings allow quite that vault up, more of a small universe, but it’s not simple mercantile shenanigans anymore.