Mercator - Trading Adventures in the Ancient World

[Jame]

still interested? I may not be able to put much depth into it.

Sure, just let us know what the specifics are for the setting.

 

[flykiller]

70AD. the book itself deals almost exclusively with maritime trading so that's what I'm thinking, did you have something in mind?

 

[Jame]

70AD. the book itself deals almost exclusively with maritime trading so that's what I'm thinking, did you have something in mind?

I suppose I was partly thinking more fantasy but that's why I asked.

And 70 AD is fine with me; I'm just making sure.

Edit: Here's the character I rolled up.

5 7 10 7 12 7
Other Enlist roll 8+2=10

1st term Survival 7+2=9; Skills = 1, 6: +1 Strength, Artisan (Potter) 1, Re-Enlist 9
2nd term Survival 8+2=10; Skill = 4: Steward 1, Re-Enlist 9
3rd term Survival 7+2=9; Skill = 6: Artisan (Potter) 2, Re-Enlist 5
4th term Survival 11+2 = 13; Skill = 1: Medical 1 Aging Roll 4: - 1 Dex Muster Out

Benefits: 3, 2, 4, 6: 100 Denarii, +1 Intelligence, Blade, 500 Denarii (600 denarii total)

66A8C7 4-term Other/Potter
Artisan: Pottery 2, Steward 1, Medical 1
600 denarii, blade (shortsword)

 

[flykiller]

I suppose I was partly thinking more fantasy but that's why I asked.

have to say I really don't want to do fantasy anymore. I was thinking more historical.

66A8C7 4-term Other/Potter
Artisan: Pottery 2, Steward 1, Medical 1

hm. adventures in ceramics.

I'm not a fan of totally random characters (if that's what this is), but if you want this guy we can give it a go. syria was the pottery-r-us supplier for the roman empire, he could be breaking open new markets for that industry.

the trading lifestyle discussed in mercator leaves little room for steward. education C and medical 1 says a lot, and with soc7 says more - a greek medical student, enslaved to manual labor, newly freed? perhaps a steward on a nobleman's boat.

 

[Whipsnade]

the trading lifestyle discussed in mercator leaves little room for steward.

Perhaps changing Steward to Cuisine or Cooking? The Classical world was full of gourmets and gourmands. Along with that, diet was an important part of medical treatment.

education C and medical 1 says a lot, and with soc7 says more - a greek medical student, enslaved to manual labor, newly freed? perhaps a steward on a nobleman's boat.

How about a potter's son apprenticed to a well known apothecary/healer? The child was originally accepted so he could cheaply craft the containers his new master's business needed. (Would glass blowing be part of Pottery?) He quickly showed a gift for mixing the various compounds and became an apprentice healer instead. He worked with and learned from his master for several years, mixing compounds and potions, preparing medicinal meals, advising on diet, and even still making the pots and jars.

As his master aged, the practice was taken over by the master's son and it was time for the apprentice to move on. At the moment he's trading work as a healer aboard a trading vessel in return for passage to what he hopes will be a new city in which to work.

Trouble is he's beginning to enjoy the traveling life...

 

[flykiller]

How about a potter's son apprenticed to a well known apothecary/healer?

that would work too, maybe better.

(Would glass blowing be part of Pottery?)

given that lbb1-3 necessarily describes its limited skillsets in such a wide-ranging manner ("electronics skill applies to all manner of electronics ....") I'd say yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Vase

 

[Whipsnade]

that would work too, maybe better.

The reason I stuck my oar in was that I've been in RPG sessions (mostly fantasy) in which one PC was another PC's servant and things didn't go well.

given that lbb1-3 necessarily describes its limited skillsets in such a wide-ranging manner ("electronics skill applies to all manner of electronics ....") I'd say yes.

I've seen the Portland Vase. It's magnificent and it was nearly destroyed in the early 1800s by some drunken moron.

Anyway, seeing as Glassblowing is a subset of Pottery, make him a glassblower's son instead. Syria/Lebanon was a center of Roman glass production and glassblowing seems to have been widely adopted during the 1st Century BC.

 

[flykiller]

I've been in RPG sessions (mostly fantasy) in which one PC was another PC's servant and things didn't go well.

no, he'd have been freed. and just a thought in any case, it'll be up to him.

make him a glassblower's son instead.

if he wants.

 

[Jame]

I like it, though Id keep the Steward skill.

 

[flykiller]

ok, I'll draw up a start and launch the ic/ooc threads. day or two.

 

[san*klass]

Wow !!

I have read it all through over night and it is fantastic!!

A totally fresh take on CT, and yet so recognisably derived from it.

I cant wait to roll up a few characters and do a few "dummy" trade runs.

Just two queries though.

As regards Shields should this not be a seperate skill? I understood that Legionaries used the shield both defensively and as a close quarters "Shield Push", attempting to unbalance their opponent?

Given the Mare focus should not swimming be a default level-0 skill. With some sort of drowning rules incorporated? Solid ground Legionaries need to be able to swim, so Marinus should even more so (and ship crew also).

Obviously these can easily be house ruled. But regardless, just Mercator, CT and 76 Patrons should be enough to build s solid campaign.