[Space] Question on Low TL prices in High TL societies.

[cvannrederode]

So I'm looking at a space settings with the following things:

Society recovering from a "long-night".
The center of the campaign being a city on a Ceres sized body (with artificial gravity) -- "Tython".
The inclusion of Alardin (or something based heavily on it) from Space Atlas 4.

Now Alardin is listed as TL 4(10), but in my campaign it would end up as TL 4 at the edge of 5, with a TL 9 walled start town.

My question is this...with the economy of Tython self-sufficient but lacking in certain things, how would that affect the prices of TL 4 luxury items that would be impractical for a TL 9 space colony to produce? I'm thinking things like natural fabrics, wood and leather, and food that isn't grown in a vat. Travel times would be 2-3 weeks, but it's still not economical to lift massive amounts of things into orbit.

I know that RAW state that a TL 4 item is the same cost at TL 9 as it was at introduction, but that doesn't take into account things like a closed-environment space habitat not being able to raise sheep or grow trees.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by cvannrederode

I know that RAW state that a TL 4 item is the same cost at TL 9 as it was at introduction, but that doesn't take into account things like a closed-environment space habitat not being able to raise sheep or grow trees.

No, but it does make the TL9 people 15x richer. Low TL items are very cheap to them.

If they can't economically produce something themselves they spend their time and energy on something more lucrative and trade for the difficult to produce items.

Example: it would be extremely difficult for the people of Minnesota to produce their own coconuts. So they don't. They buy their coconuts from somewhere they are cheap and a hypothetical cost to produce coconuts locally doesn't matter. Just the other people's costs and the shipping expenses.

[AlexanderHowl]

Since they can sell TL9 equipment for 32x to a TL4 society, they have massive advantages coming and going. For example, a superfine shortsword might cost them $1200, but they could sell it to a TL4 noble for $38,400. They could then use that money to purchase goods for export to the TL9 society, which they would use to purchase two superfine shortswords, pocketing the remaining $36,000. Rinse, wash, repeat.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Since they can sell TL9 equipment for 32x to a TL4 society, they have massive advantages coming and going. For example, a superfine shortsword might cost them $1200, but they could sell it to a TL4 noble for $38,400. They could then use that money to purchase goods for export to the TL9 society, which they would use to purchase two superfine shortswords, pocketing the remaining $36,000. Rinse, wash, repeat.

<waves hand dismissively> That's a short duration stunt for an individual opportunist. The market among low TL nobles for superfine shortswords might well have filled up before they finish their second cycle. Besides, I think you did the math wrong. Superfine weapons are 6x Basic prices. For shortswords that'd be $2400.

You need something unquestionaly useful to many low TL people but also affordable. Cigarette lighters might be a decent choice.

[TGLS]

Could go the British route and sell them narcotics.

[cvannrederode]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Could go the British route and sell them narcotics.

Narcotics are $2,000,000 a ton, but only have a +2 to price and are available in small lots only....although as I read the rules...if they'll illegal where you're trying to sell them, you get another +4 to price.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by cvannrederode

So I'm looking at a space settings with the following things:

Society recovering from a "long-night".
The center of the campaign being a city on a Ceres sized body (with artificial gravity) -- "Tython".
The inclusion of Alardin (or something based heavily on it) from Space Atlas 4.

Now Alardin is listed as TL 4(10), but in my campaign it would end up as TL 4 at the edge of 5, with a TL 9 walled start town.

My question is this...with the economy of Tython self-sufficient but lacking in certain things, how would that affect the prices of TL 4 luxury items that would be impractical for a TL 9 space colony to produce? I'm thinking things like natural fabrics, wood and leather, and food that isn't grown in a vat. Travel times would be 2-3 weeks, but it's still not economical to lift massive amounts of things into orbit.

I know that RAW state that a TL 4 item is the same cost at TL 9 as it was at introduction, but that doesn't take into account things like a closed-environment space habitat not being able to raise sheep or grow trees.

It's a Non-Agricultural world trading with a Non-Industrial world.

[cvannrederode]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

It's a Non-Agricultural world trading with a Non-Industrial world.

I would list the Ceres type planet both Non-Agricultural and Extreme. Which puts a +4 modifier (which outside of rolling all the time can just be read as a +40%) to Grain, Fruit, and Meat. The other world is agricultural (in addition to being Ni), which gives it a -2 on each of those. Wood/Paper has a total +8, but is kinda cheap.

So on average, those three cargo categories have a 60% price delta between the two planets.

Thanks for the reminder to look in Spaceships 2.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by cvannrederode

So I'm looking at a space settings with the following things:

Society recovering from a "long-night".
The center of the campaign being a city on a Ceres sized body (with artificial gravity) -- "Tython".
The inclusion of Alardin (or something based heavily on it) from Space Atlas 4.

Now Alardin is listed as TL 4(10), but in my campaign it would end up as TL 4 at the edge of 5, with a TL 9 walled start town.

My question is this...with the economy of Tython self-sufficient but lacking in certain things, how would that affect the prices of TL 4 luxury items that would be impractical for a TL 9 space colony to produce? I'm thinking things like natural fabrics, wood and leather, and food that isn't grown in a vat. Travel times would be 2-3 weeks, but it's still not economical to lift massive amounts of things into orbit.

I know that RAW state that a TL 4 item is the same cost at TL 9 as it was at introduction, but that doesn't take into account things like a closed-environment space habitat not being able to raise sheep or grow trees.

The price is not directly related to the TL of goods. A SwissChamp costs more than a Kindle Fire. A Sumitami blade would be almost unsaleable.

Many items are prestige or collector's items and some are rated by the difficulty of transport, or whatever. TL may actually be a small item.

For example imagine purchasing an aristocrat's mansion in Britain.