TL10 Campaign

[Darklim]

It was more of a figure of speech. And although I tried to only get the general idea, I had my setting in head while writing this, and the asteroid belt did get mined dry in 4 systems in it (on a total of 200 colonized). But yeah, if it's going to be only Earth, the asteroid are pretty much the neverending reserve of mankind.

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by Gadget

What would TL 10 look like without inexpensive fusion power

I think it would look somewhat like Traveller (GURPS Traveller of course) with fission powered ships.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

How did you managed to mine dry the asteroids? Is the Solar System vastly overpopulated, or is asteroid mining really that old?

By the time those hard to reach/find asteroids/comets get mined, the home planet would have been long ago strip mined.

[Flaco76]

I see a lot about Thorium fueled fission reactors that seem to be a possible safer version for power.

As for asteroid/planetary mining. Prospectors/independents go out catalog/claim/mine the claims but the megacorps own the refineries/supply stops. They pay more, especially for water, but it is company credit which can only be used at company stores or exchanged on the grey/black markets. You take your chances. There are independent settlements/stations but the selection of goods/parts is limited. They may sell to you, if you do them a favor first....


The major countries (Brazil, United Africa, Pacific Rim etc) mostly run police/search and rescue services and keep an eye on the corps.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Flaco76

As for asteroid/planetary mining. Prospectors/independents go out catalog/claim/mine the claims but the megacorps own the refineries/supply stops. They pay more, especially for water, but it is company credit which can only be used at company stores or exchanged on the grey/black markets. You take your chances. There are independent settlements/stations but the selection of goods/parts is limited. They may sell to you, if you do them a favor first....

What made this become such an entrenched and monolithic form of organisation in the known space?

Why don't any miners' cooperatives and/or unions own any refineries/supply stops?

Why aren't there any options besides company credit? Why don't some of the companies, in their attempts to get more miners, offer real money as a way to undercut their rivals?

You mentioned a grey/black market. Is it illegal to buy fuel/metals/parts/other stuff from a company and resell it? If yes, why - is the galactic economy following the same restrictions as the Soviet Union?

Independent stations:
Why is the selection of parts/goods so limited? TL9-TL10 fabricators/robofacs/3D printers/other minifacturing inventions allow manufacturing of goods on demand, without reliance on those pesky assembly lines. Sure, corps are more efficient in theory; but in a diffuse economy spanning multiple planets/asteroids/solar systems, it the inefficiencies of transporting the right amount of goods to the right place means that mass-production takes a back seat (because having goods just lying around is not profitable).
Why would they ask for favours in exchange for selling stuff, as opposed to simply stuff at a slightly higher price?
Why don't they solve the scarcity issues by, e.g., allowing miners to use their minifacturing equipment with the miners' resources in exchange for giving some percentage of the resources used in the production?

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

By the time those hard to reach/find asteroids/comets get mined, the home planet would have been long ago strip mined.

Strip mining is quite literally barely scratching the surface. The fraction of Earth's mass and minerals that we have ever even seriously considered touching is laughably tiny. It may stay that way for a long, long time...asteroids are probably easier to utilize than the mantle! But big as our activities may look from up close they are tiny compared to any notable solar system body.

[Flaco76]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

What made this become such an entrenched and monolithic form of organization in the known space?

Depends on how dark or light you want it. In a dark future the government/corporations are the same. The corps supply a certain percentage of resources/taxes in return for almost autonomy. A corporation cannot claim a area like a country but can operate an Exclusive Economic Zone with a license. The governments provide law enforcement and oversee disputes between companies, workers, miners and settlements. "The sky is vast and the Emperor is far away." Judges and Marshals may have a circuit schedule to hear disputes.

Why don't any miners' cooperatives and/or unions own any refineries/supply stops?

They can along with any other settlement that can afford to operate a refinery.

Why aren't there any options besides company credit? Why don't some of the companies, in their attempts to get more miners, offer real money as a way to undercut their rivals?

They can do what they wish. However, you also see companies form Cartels/Trusts in our history to enforce and set minimum and maximum prices.

You mentioned a grey/black market. Is it illegal to buy fuel/metals/parts/other stuff from a company and resell it? If yes, why - is the galactic economy following the same restrictions as the Soviet Union?

There may be a grey/black market for goods/services that no legal government recognizes. That may be weapons both personal/vessel. Bioroids or biotech that skirts patents along with software. Illegal copies of goods or modifications that are illegal strange. Pornography/sensies. Plus good old fashioned loansharking/protection rackets.

Independent stations:
Why is the selection of parts/goods so limited? TL9-TL10 fabricators/robofacs/3D printers/other minifacturing inventions allow manufacturing of goods on demand, without reliance on those pesky assembly lines. Sure, corps are more efficient in theory; but in a diffuse economy spanning multiple planets/asteroids/solar systems, it the inefficiencies of transporting the right amount of goods to the right place means that mass-production takes a back seat (because having goods just lying around is not profitable)

True. Companies may instead trade in designs/upgrades and get a fee every time said item is made/printed.

Why would they ask for favours in exchange for selling stuff, as opposed to simply stuff at a slightly higher price?
Why don't they solve the scarcity issues by, e.g., allowing miners to use their minifacturing equipment with the miners' resources in exchange for giving some percentage of the resources used in the production?

They can. It was more of a adventure idea.