Currency-Economics

[JustinInOz]

G'Day,

I seem to recall reading in one of the JTASs an article proposing exchange rates on local currencies of different planets. I can't seem the find the article.

Does any one remember where this is?

Also has anyone ever used much the note at the back of Mercenary that proposes a 5-15% reduction in price for each tech level after an item is first available? Same goes for making vehicles cost a tenth or a hundreth of their book 2 prices.

These were small statments that were like a footnote in Book 4. They have huge consequences.

 

[aramis]

It makes its way into Best of JTAS, but I don't recall which volume. It also makes it into a TNE product, but again, I don't recall which one.

 

[sablewyvern]

It also makes it into a TNE product, but again, I don't recall which one.

It's in the main TNE rulebook.

 

[sfchbryan]

It's popped up in several places

It is also in Trillion Credit Squadron

 

[Icosahedron]

There is something similar in Pocket Empires.

 

[Merxiless]

I recall it from Trillion Credit Squadron.

 

[G. Kashkanun Anderson]

The actual article you're thinking of can be found in Volume One of the Best of JTAS.

If you just need the exchange rates though, the one in Trillion Credit Squadron appears to be identical to the one in the original JTAS article.

 

[BlackBat242]

Also has anyone ever used much the note at the back of Mercenary that proposes a 5-15% reduction in price for each tech level after an item is first available? Same goes for making vehicles cost a tenth or a hundreth of their book 2 prices.

Is that why a Ford "Model T" cost ~$450 in 1913, and a Ford Taurus LX (basic model) cost $19,685 in 2003?

http://www.modelt.ca/13T.html

http://www.automedia.com/2003_Ford_Taurus_SEL_Premium/rts20020901ft/1

 

[Icosahedron]

No, BlackBat, the reduction is only for the same item not updates. Updates cost the same price as the original, unless (as in the case of the Taurus) they have additional features, which will cost extra.

That is, however, why your replica Model T costs $360. o:

Naturally, there is zero inflation in the 3I.

 

[Foxroe]

I think that the rule in Mercenary assumes that there is still a demand for that particular item, and it is still produced at the same cost. Obviously if production has stopped, the item will be rare (and perhaps collectable), and accordingly will cost more.

Personally, I would go out of my mind trying to keep track of all of the factors that drive the price of an item (including inflation). I just use the book prices and adjust accordingly to the situation as I see fit. YMMV.

-Fox

 

[Agemegos]

That is, however, why your replica Model T costs $360. o:

Plus packing, freight, tax, and insurance. It has to be built in a low-tech economy to benefit from TL-based exchange-rate effects.