[jason taylor]

Affiliated Tramps:

While the "lone-wolf" free-trader is a stereotype, many find it useful to form alliances with others. These will typically have some common feature as a connection. Classic models are kinship or membership in an ethnicity, registration at the same starport, guild membership, etc. Obscure worlds might have all the shipping operating from their port in such an alliance but equally typical are those that have numerous such. A distinguishing marker is that they are generically referred to as "circles" rather than lines to show that they continue to specialize in speculative cargo and wayward contracts which cannot be the business of a scheduled line.

Typically they will have such infrastructure as credit associations, shared warespace and planet based factors, and trustees for the administration of such. They will often also have their own livery and rent a section of the city as their own. Sometimes they will meet regularly to discuss common policy though this may only be dividing up trading space to make sure no member competes for the same market.

Some circles of tramps have evolved into major corporations or similar groupings. Perhaps the most famous circle of affiliated tramps at the present time is what is now the Oberlindes Corporation in the Spinward Marches. The Principality of Caledonia is also known for this custom: the modernization of the Celtic clan system that is fashionable there is easily adapted into making trade circles.