This post may be a bit confusing because it did not automatically include the quotes within Murdoc's post. Sorry, you may have to bounce back and forth to understand. I didn't feel like trying to recreate it, and it probably would make this post beyond the post size limit.
True, but the main difference is that with FTL/J comm, you can check on a price (assuming a successful roll) before you purchase any cargoes.
How is that different. You can do the exact same thing now, it just takes longer.
This vastly reduces the risk involved in spec trading.
I totaly agree with this, but as I mentioned, DM's do need to be added for this type of transaction, DM's which are part of the rules, so that it reflects reality. With less risk is less reward.
You can also set up deals ahead of time, which as I've demonstrated would likely be done by the supplier themselves, or authorized distributor, thus cutting out any free-trader middlemen.
Again, no reason that without FTLC you can't make deals ahead of time, just like the big shipping boys do. The big boys probably have set long term deals with manufacturers and wholesalers and can't respond immediately to changes in the market conditions. The equality of communication speeds still exists for everyone under our current no limits FTLC assumptions.
This is likely not relevant. The TL of a world represents the manufacturing capability of the world, not the existing tech. A TL 8 world with a starport type A can still make starships. This is likely because some higher-TL company (LSP for instance) exists there and uses it for their own purposes. For our discussion, if Naasirka has an office on the TL 8 destination world, they are likely to use their own TL 15 comm equipment (among others), rather than limiting themselves to what can be manufactured there. Thus, the big corps (the ones I am saying would make use of FTL to make these transactions thus cutting out the free traders) would be the ones most likely using this technology. This makes the idea of them doing this instead of smaller parties (like those that free traders deal with) even more likely. Naasirka just sets up a local distribution center on the destination world, which informs them of the local market information, and boom, they can fill those orders faster and better than any free trader captain, regardless of his contacts or skill.
Sorry, it's late and I'm getting tiered so this just didn't make sense.
We agreed that for this discussion there is no limits such as speed, cost or availability of FTLC, so how do the big guys get an advantage. Whether it takes one second or a one week jump, all parties have equal times for communication and equal availability to it. If not, why not just limit FTLC to only the government and hence trade will be minimally effected. I don't see how this gives the big guys an advantage. Regarding Tech level. No matter what you may say about the tech level representing, the rules state you can't use a computer to access a network and find a buyer or seller unless it is TL8.
No they don't, but then they are assuming no FTL/J tech, aren't they? That just seems like more evidence that the lack of this tech is built-into the rules.
Huh? On the local worlds computer network, the rules say you can locate a buyer or seller. Nowhere does it say you can get prices (even though it may make sense). If you think this feature exists with FTLC, why would it also not exist from the local network? The only evidence this is of, is that the original trade assumptions were that you had to deal with a person and negotiate a price to get a good deal. Kind of like not buying a car for the advertised price on the dealer web site and going in person to deal instead.
But fine, even assuming that buyers don't list what they are willing to pay, there is still the ol' telephone. The buyer simply calls the local Naasirka distributor, and finds out what prices they are willing to sell at. Sure they can check out the local free traders waiting around for their time to see what is available, and negotiate a price with them, but again I ask what are the chances that any given free trader will have the exact things they want in their hold right when they want them? Compare this with the megacorp who will guarantee the product in quantity (since they have so many) within a week.
I think you, and also probably I, am making way too many assumptions. First, this is a very hypothetical situation you are creating since you are not using the tables to roll for the traders supply and demand. Why, when it comes to discussing FTLC, are the rules constantly ignored? Lets do the hypothetical. How often is there going to be a demand for product, in quantities large enough for the big boys to even consider sending a ship, that suddenly spring up without any indications so that they need to make an immediate order outside of their normal supply arrangements? If this does happen, how many big boys have empty ships just hanging around unused at the source of the product? Wait, there is a free trader there! There also is still a huge market for smaller demands the big boys wont touch or even big orders that may take you multiple trips since the big boys don't have a free ship handy.
This just makes me imagine free traders running around from system to system, hoping for the right deal, and that they have not already been cut out by buyers ordering from megacorps....
Isn't this exactly what free traders have to do without FTLC?
Sure, assuming that the goods are there, then that is fine. However, what I am saying is that the odds of just happening to have a free trader in port with the exact things you need will be very small
OMG, isn't this exactly what non FTLC trade is often about, free traders just showing up and trying to sell out of there trunk because the big boys do the majority of trade?
...If I order a computer from Dell, I know that I will get it within a week. If what you say is true, Dell would not have become the huge company it is and so quickly too, simply because people can go to their local store where the goods are in front of them, and they can take it home immediately. Dell offers instead better customizability, and lower prices (on average, due to their business model). The proof is in the pudding; this is how they became so big so fast, and more companies are catching on to their ways and making use of it. And all this is thanks to the Internet (our instantaneous/faster-than-driving communications).
We had instant communications long before the internet. Again, to me, the whole free trader non FTLC trade was not based on trying to compete with the big boys but find the small markets where they could survive. Everything you describe here is just the same as how it is without FTLC. And, again, instead of hypothetical, why not let the tables decide what the current demand is that isn't being fulfilled by the big boys, just like with non FTLC?
FTL/J-using corps would be able to undercut those not using it.
I thought we said FTLC would be available equally. You are changing our assumptions again so here I go again. If FTLC is limited to government, then FTLC has minimal effect on trade.
Simple: Because of the lag. You are looking at up to three weeks turnaround (two in jump, one docked as standard) instead of one. Time is money.
Huh? I didn't say fly back and forth unloaded, or send messages back and forth while you just sit around. When you are doing your normal runs, you can ask what someone needs, agree on a price, and make the deal even though your cargo hold is full of some other product. Now after you deliver your product elsewhere, you already know what you need to buy, where it is going, and who you will be selling to. A simple example of locking in a deal without having bought the cargo yet without FTLC. There is no time wasted.
Demonstrating how this idea is not built-into the rules and would make for a different game.
I totally agree! Please don't mistake my arguments for why I don't think FTLC would break current trade rules as a belief that FTLC would not effect the traditional game. 'The traditional game' being the game I and others started playing way back when. For those brand new to traveller and using the MGT rules, I think they could start playing day one with FTLC because there is nothing that specifically says it doesn't exist in the MGT Core Rulebook and I believe the rules don't suddenly become broken. Adding FTLC would require much thought about all the details and additional rules needed. But adding things to the game is quite common, wilder things like vampires or creatures from alien, or things just missing like water vehicles, or more futuristic science like orbital power satellites that transmit power to the surface, or whatever else.
The original post is regarding MGT, and for me there if there was a room filled with tables, and at each table was a group of people playing 2d6 based sci-fi RPGs, here are some things I think I would identify: chargen, if they were discussing jump, they were discussing alien species such as Aslan, Nobles and an emperor, TAS, or if there was a sub sector map laying out. there are probably more, but I'm tired.
Now, to throw a monkey wrench into the mix, the only place I found that does specifically mention the speed of communication, people can read page 109 where it does say faster ship speeds "will vastly impact" "the speed of communication".
so ok, you win. FTL Comms will change every single rule that governs the Universe in YTU. 
