Main/meta
Notes (2009)
If the various ship design systems are anywhere near accurate reflections of how ships are constructed in the OTU, mains have very little actual economic significance once jump-2 has been invented. For any distance greater than one parsec, Jump-2 and Jump-3 shipping is cheaper than jump-1 (A jump-2 ship costs more and carries less than a jump-1 ship of the same size, but it delivers two loads of cargo/passengers every time the jump-1 ship delivers one). The importance of mains may just be an 'urban myth' among the 99.999% of people who have no idea about the realities of star travel.
- Rancke 23:08, 6 June 2009 (UTC)
- It probably depends upon how much you believe the Type A free trader represents the true nature of the manner of trade in the Imperium. Like you said, urban myth.
- The nature of mains does explain the expansion of the First Imperium (see Vilani Main, Antares Main, and the Lishun-Menden Main, and a few more to rimward.
- Still, it was a cool map to make.
- * Tjoneslo 23:39, 6 June 2009 (UTC)
Actually, 'two deliveries in the same time' only works if the destination is at least two parsecs away. Remember, if the destination is only one parsec away both the jump-1 and the jump-2 ship still take 1 week to arrive. I would tend to think that a prosperous planet would tend to create prosperous economic colonies close to it, because of the long-term ease of trade. This would tend to make mains important as the Ri planets on it boost the economies of everything close to them. However, the random nature of Traveller world generation denies that this effect really exists. ~_^ --
- Rindis 20:08, 13 August 2009 (UTC)