How does Anderson and/or Norton describe the process of merchants drafting anyone?
Hans
Inspiration for CT merchant draft
- Thread starter rancke
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How does Anderson and/or Norton describe the process of merchants drafting anyone?
Hans
In WW 2 the US Army transferred draftees with sailing experience to the Merchant Marine. The experience did not have to have been obtained as an adult. Merchant Marine members were not part of the military but could be awarded military decorations for action against the enemy.
http://www.usmm.org/fdr/armedforce.html
So, there is historic precedence for something like this.
That wasn't what I asked about, but I suppose it touches on the same subject. To emulate something like this, the CT character generation (CTCG) should really draft people into an armed force and then provide a mechanism for transferring draftees with space experience to the Merchants[*].
But be that as it may, the CTCG "Draft" isn't analogous to what you describe, because none of the characters that are "drafted" into the Merchants have prior space skills. Even in later Traveller versions, where characters receive prior skills before they turn 18, very few (if any?) get space skills.
[*] Strictly speaking I think it should also provide a war to give said armed forces a reason to transfer draftees to the merchants. 
I don't quite see the relevance here.
Not in my opinion, which is why I'm curious to know if Anderson or Norton came up with a plausible scenario.
Hans
I simply provided a historic precedent that could be used to create a process. Depends on how granular you want to get. One can assume the transfer from another branch during the Drafting process or, one could even RP the the physical down to the level proctologist exam. I don't know that listing each step of the induction process would add to the gaming experience though.
YMMV
GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
This comes from Norton's "Sargasso of Space", the first of her Solar Queen books. Typical for Norton, who was a storyteller first and foremost, we see only the results in the opening pages, not the entire process. Two friends, one of whom will be our POV character for the book and series, are checking their assignments after a vaguely described process that suggests basic training and/or an academy of some sort. The other character draws an assignment to a company ship, and we get the impression that this ship would be analogous to something like Traveller's Long Liner or one of the 2-5kton freighters associated with specific megacorps (like the Hercules), stopping only at well-known and safe ports. Our hero draws assignment to a "free trader", the Solar Queen, which will be out on the fringes conducting speculative trade and is expressly described as an "independent". Their conversation prior to seeing their assignments suggests that "Navy" options were also open.
Anderson's contribution to the Traveller Merchant is the crew and mission of David Falkayn, who is an exploratory trader in the employ of a self-described merchant prince by the name of Nicolas Van Rijn. The adventure pattern we see echoed in Traveller, of "land, sell cargo, arrange for new cargo, and wait for trouble and/or extra money to knock on your door" really starts with Falkayn and his crew. The environment he operates in is even looser than the Imperium, so Falkayn is called upon to be as much a diplomat as a merchant, securing markets instead of just making a profit at the expense of the natives. Not that it always works out that way...
Anderson's contribution to the Traveller Merchant is the crew and mission of David Falkayn, who is an exploratory trader in the employ of a self-described merchant prince by the name of Nicolas Van Rijn. The adventure pattern we see echoed in Traveller, of "land, sell cargo, arrange for new cargo, and wait for trouble and/or extra money to knock on your door" really starts with Falkayn and his crew. The environment he operates in is even looser than the Imperium, so Falkayn is called upon to be as much a diplomat as a merchant, securing markets instead of just making a profit at the expense of the natives. Not that it always works out that way...
BlackBat242
SOC-14 1K
Andre Norton used the same process in a lot of novels.
Basically, in her "future" you receive formal training in an occupational field. Those who cannot pay for a private academy (which usually is tied to a group of companies that hire all graduates) are educated by the government... but must then accept whatever assignments they are given by the government.
After you complete your schooling you are sent through a "test and evaluate" process, which includes batteries of psychological and compatibility tests.
This is to insure that all positions you are offered fit with your personality, social orientation, and mental capacities (including adaptability, inventiveness, and tolerance for tedium). Your ability to tolerate large numbers of people, or to function well in a confined ship with few crew, is also factored in.
Those that cannot fit into rigidly structured settings, but instead thrive in shifting and uncertain conditions that require improvisation and adaptability, are offered Free Trader or Scout Service openings.
Those that cannot fit into rigidly structured settings, but need a routine existence, get small Merchant Line postings.
Those that do better in rigidly structured settings, and in a routine existence, get major Merchant Line postings.
And finally, those that thrive in rigidly structured settings, and need a purposeful existence, get the chance for Navy Supply positions.
Basically, in her "future" you receive formal training in an occupational field. Those who cannot pay for a private academy (which usually is tied to a group of companies that hire all graduates) are educated by the government... but must then accept whatever assignments they are given by the government.
After you complete your schooling you are sent through a "test and evaluate" process, which includes batteries of psychological and compatibility tests.
This is to insure that all positions you are offered fit with your personality, social orientation, and mental capacities (including adaptability, inventiveness, and tolerance for tedium). Your ability to tolerate large numbers of people, or to function well in a confined ship with few crew, is also factored in.
Those that cannot fit into rigidly structured settings, but instead thrive in shifting and uncertain conditions that require improvisation and adaptability, are offered Free Trader or Scout Service openings.
Those that cannot fit into rigidly structured settings, but need a routine existence, get small Merchant Line postings.
Those that do better in rigidly structured settings, and in a routine existence, get major Merchant Line postings.
And finally, those that thrive in rigidly structured settings, and need a purposeful existence, get the chance for Navy Supply positions.
BlackBat242
SOC-14 1K
After you successfully complete your initial contract, if you choose to leave your posting or your employer declines to keep you on, you go back to the employment bureau... where your records from your employer are integrated into your file, and any re-assessments of assignment type that are judged to be needed are made.
You then are offered (sooner or later) another assignment. Now you do have the choice to decline... but if you don't provide a valid reason for doing so, you will be "downgraded" on the priority and position quality lists.
Decline more than 2 or 3 assignments and all you will be offered is short-term menial labor employment.
You then are offered (sooner or later) another assignment. Now you do have the choice to decline... but if you don't provide a valid reason for doing so, you will be "downgraded" on the priority and position quality lists.
Decline more than 2 or 3 assignments and all you will be offered is short-term menial labor employment.
I wonder if maybe this might lead to some sort of "Babies Futures" market, where Mega Corporations make long term predictions on what level of manpower they will need in the future, and then agree to fund the education of that many people from birth till the times that they graduate in exchange for those people working for that Corporation for a given length of a term.
If economic and social conditions change over time they could then buy and/or sell "X" number of graduates "Y" years in the future for more or less of them at some other time, kind of like any other commodity (at least in my limited understanding of the field). And if any specific person who finds that they may not want to work for the Corporation that holds their contract could then hire a "Broker" to try and get them bundled as part of one of the "exchanges" that may occur and/or the person can try and buy out their contract outright.
OK, I admit that I meant most of this a bit in jest, but I guess I could maybe see something at least a little bit along these lines in some situations.
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