Society & Economics of my Space Campaign.

[Trachmyr]

Here is the reworked Factory… the Telepresence Fabricator:

• Telepresence Fabricators produce $100 per hour per 1,000 pounds of weight. Telepresence Fabricators are not rated for pounds per hour, and can produce any kind of gadget up to one-half of the factories own weight, or any microtech gadget without a reduction in efficiency. Edit: Telepresence Fabricators cost $500,000 per 1,000 pounds of weight.

• They can run continuously for 80 hours, but then automatically halt production for 10 Hours to perform automated maintenance. Telepresence Fabricators include Non-Volitional AI software in all machinery, with a Machinist Skill of 16 if using Prepackaged Parts/Cartridges, or 14 if using Raw Material. The Factory also gives a +5 bonus to the Machinist Skill of all Telepresence Operators. Minifacs versions (under 1,000 pounds) can only operate autonomously using Parts/Cartridges at a Machinist skill of 14.

• Raw Materials cost 30% of the item’s final price, this can be broken down to 20% labor costs, 5% profit by the operation, and 5% shipping fee. Prepackaged Parts and Print Cartridges are always available at a Bulk price of 80% of the final item’s cost plus a 5% shipping fee.

• If working with parts/cartridges, the factory runs autonomously, and requires no additional labor costs. If working with raw materials production time is only 1/8th normal if running autonomously, or ½ speed if using Telepresence Operators to produce finished goods. It operates at full speed if manufacturing Cartridges/Parts or Bulk product runs due to less time being required for the factory to autonomously reconfigure itself to for different products.

• Labor for Telepresence Operators equals 40% of the item’s final price, employing one Machinists per 1,000 pounds of fabricator weight (or twice as many if making Prepackaged Parts or Bulk goods).

• Items produced are sold for 80% of the final price if Parts/Cartridges or Bulk items. This becomes 90% if direct manufacturing without using Parts/Cartridges. Retail sale using Parts/Cartridges is at 95% final price. The consumer usually pays an additional 5% for shipping unless the item is purchased locally. However shipping can be much higher in colonies located at great distances from typical shipping locations.

• This typically allows a factory to make a profit of 10% of the final price of merchandise produced, although this can rise to 15% or higher under beneficial circumstances.

• Factory Owners in Good Standing with the EFC do not have to pay Rent or Utilities, as these costs are covered by the EFC (as this helps further the economic stability of the colony).

• Purchase of a factory requires 10% to 40% down, and generally requires repayment in 32 Cycles (just under 11 Earth-Years), although payment must match or exceed depreciation. Interest is not charged (that would be illegal by EFC laws), although the actual cost of the Factory and required down-payment depends on your EFC Standing.