Merchant Vessel (Starship) Synopsis
A Merchant is an individual or ship engaged primarily in trade and commerce.
Merchant ships range in size from small 200 ton Far and Free Trader class ships to large liners and cargo vessels of up to 10,000 tons displacement. The crews of these ships are also referred to as Merchants.
Merchant Vessel (Starship) Vessel Classifications
Merchant Ship Types include the following:
Armored Merchant (MA)
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Any starship used for interstellar trade, and commerce that has been set up with weapon systems for defense.
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Merchant Liner (MD)
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Merchant Liners are general-purpose design starships, intended to carry both passengers and freight. They are larger than the Far Traders intended for cargoes over 200 tons and over a dozen passengers
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Subsidized Merchant (MG)
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In subsidized commerce, a local government (or a group of several worlds) agree to subsidize the construction of commercial starships in return for their servicing established routes. Ideally, the route will be profitable, and the subsidy can soon be ended. But, even without profits, the route provides a channel for interstellar trade, helping to provide markets for resources and finished goods as well as, enabling people from different world to share their cultures.
Typically, governments expect subsidized merchants to try to establish routes to make at least marginal profits to diminish the government expense burden. Although individual ports of call may not always provide sales at high margins, at least initially, the ultimate goal is to make the ship self-sufficient. Unfortunately all subsidized merchants are not all profitable and these ships may be recipients of government subsidies for years. Governments have to factor in the benefits derived from the established routes against the costs of maintaining the subsidy. This often becomes the deciding factor with somewhat isolated worlds with limited markets.
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Far Trader (ML)
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A Far Trader is a small starship commonly used for interstellar trade and commerce that is capable of jump 2. Hundreds of variants exist. The typical size equals 200 tons.
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Free Trader (ML)
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A Far Trader is a small starship commonly used for interstellar trade and commerce that is capable of jump 1. Hundreds of variants exist. The typical size equals 200 tons.
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Frontier Trader (MS)
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A heavily armed transport normally doing business with fringe systems.
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Merchant Cruiser
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A generic term applied to vessels specifically assigned to independent missions, the prime objective of which is market discovery and acquisition, either in isolation or in completion with other merchant operators. Design parameters for such vessels usually include a high level of weaponry and auxiliary boats in proportion to their cargo capacity and all possible back-up systems, along with high structural integrity.
Also called an Armed Merchantman, as merchant cruisers are unusally armed. A starship merchant primarily intended for independent cruising in undeveloped trade areas where high survivability is also a design factor.
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Merchant Vessel (Starship) Representative Classes
75 Representative Merchant (M) Classes
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Class | Mission Code | TL | Tons | Jump | G | Origin | Canon | Quick ship profile | Class | Mission Code | TL | Tons | Jump | G | Origin | Canon | Quick ship profile | Aekguthang class Assault Cutter | MN | 12 | 20 | 0 | 3 | Vargr Extents | No | | Assault Lander class Marine Gig | MN | 15 | 20 | 0 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | Bastien class Subsidized Liner | MK | 12 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Besouro Valente class Personnel Transport | M | 11 | 12,000 | 2 | 1 | Terran Confederation | | M-0AS12 | Blakeway class First Response Vessel | MM | | 100 | 0 | 4 | Third Imperium | Yes | MM-AL40 | Brilliance class Long Liner | M | 14 | 800 | 4 | 2 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Brilliant Gem class Cruise Liner | MV | 14 | 36,117 | 5 | 1 | Krax Confederation | No | | Camel class Medical Launch | M | 15 | 20 | 0 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | M-2S10 | Celestial Star class Luxury Liner | M | 15 | 2,000 | 6 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | Codori Prime class Luxury Liner | M | 11 | 800 | 2 | 2 | Distant Fringe | | M-HB22 | Coeus class Assault Pinnace | MN | 13 | 20 | 0 | 5 | Third Imperium | No | A-2S60 | Condor class Racing Yacht | MY | 15 | 100 | 6 | 3 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Condor class Subsidized Liner | M | 13 | 400 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | Coyotl class Bulk Hauler | M | 13 | 2,000 | 2 | 3 | Infinity League | | A-VU32 | Deliverance class Lifeboat | MM | 9 | 50 | 0 | 2 | Distant Fringe | | MM-5A20 | Elysium class Passenger Barge | MK | 10 | 1,000 | 0 | 3 | Distant Fringe | | MK-KA30 | Eshpadir class Orbital Installation | MW | 15 | 500 | 0 | 0 | Third Imperium | No | | Excellence class Fast Shuttle | M | 7 | 90 | 0 | 3 | Distant Fringe | | M-9A30 | Flyer class Diplomatic Courier | MC | 13 | 100 | 3 | 5 | Darrian Confederation | | | Fortune class Merchant | M | 12 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Gaia class Luxury Liner | M | 11 | 10,000 | 2 | 3 | Distant Fringe | | | Gallant class Assault Shuttle | MN | 11 | 80 | 0 | 5 | Distant Fringe | | MN-8A50 | Giiphicih class Liner | M | 15 | 1,200 | 2 | 1 | Hive Federation | Yes | M-MU12 | Glimmerdrift class Subsidized Liner | M | 12 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | MK-FU13 | Gold of Zurrian class Long Liner | M | 15 | 1,000 | 4 | 1 | Third Imperium | | M-KS14 | Governor class Yacht | MY | 13 | 900 | 4 | 2 | Council of Heads | | | Great Eastern class Troop Transport | MN | 15 | 50 | 0 | 3 | Third Imperium | Yes | MN-5S30 | Horizon class Passenger Liner | M | 11 | 6,000 | 2 | 3 | Distant Fringe | | | Iigicih class Embassy Ship | MK | 14 | 1,200 | 2 | 1 | Hive Federation | Yes | | Independence of the Stars class Interstellar Liner | M | 15 | 154,407 | 4 | 4 | Third Imperium | | M-0KP44 | Interstellar Lifesaver class Lifeboat | MM | 10 | 10 | 0 | 2 | Terran Confederation | Yes | | K'Bam class Assault Lander | M | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | Akras | | | Kahk'rik'kreng class Yacht | MK | 12 | 6,000 | 3 | 1 | Two Thousand Worlds | Yes | | Kihrvak Platoon Drop Ship class Marine Cutter | M | 15 | 50 | 0 | 3 | Third Imperium | | | King Richard class Interstellar Liner | M | 11 | 5,000 | 2 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | KSbA Model A-23 class Lifeboat | MM | 8 | 10 | 0 | 2 | Third Imperium | No | | Lady Charlotte class Yacht | MY | 15 | 200 | 1 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Lady of Shallott class Yacht | MY | 9 | 200 | 1 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Longevity class Lifeboat | M | 15 | 100 | 1 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Lord Baltimore class Yacht | MY | 15 | 200 | 4 | 4 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Lord Somerset class Subsidized Liner | M | 12 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Mal'Gnar class Assault Skiff | M | 12 | 20 | 0 | 1 | Mal'Gnar Primarchic | | | Maranatha class Yacht | MY | 12 | 200 | 1 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | MY-BB11 | Marrel Veckor class Lifeboat | M | 9 | 20 | 0 | 2 | Distant Fringe | | M-2S20 | Mender-of-Herds class Hospital Ship | MM | 14 | 500 | 3 | 5 | Two Thousand Worlds | | MM-ES53 | Model 292 class Life Boat | M | 15 | 100 | 0 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | Nebula class Starliner | M | 14 | 9,000 | 5 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | Olympian class Cruise Liner | M | 11 | 10,000 | 2 | 4 | Distant Fringe | | | Olyora class Medevac Pinnace | MM | 14 | 60 | 0 | 6 | Aslan Hireate | No | MM-6L60 | Orowani Deep Space class Light Liner | M | 11 | 6,000 | 2 | 2 | Distant Fringe | | M-06P22 | Parthenolab class Bio-Construction Vessel | MM | 13 | 400 | 2 | 2 | Solomani Confederation | | GCB-DU22 | Prancing Poni class Charter Yacht | MY | 12 | 200 | 2 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Pride of Vland class Long Liner | M | 13 | 1,000 | 4 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | M-KS14 | Rake II class Yacht | MY | 13 | 400 | 4 | 2 | Third Imperium | | | Raptor class Combat Lander | MN | 13 | 20 | 0 | 3 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Reliant class Lifeboat | MM | 11 | 20 | 0 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Relief class Hospital Ship | MM | 13 | 3,300 | 4 | 4 | Third Imperium | | | Rock class Touring Ship | MY | 9 | 300 | 1 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | K-CP11 | Royal class Interstellar Liner | M | 11 | 5,000 | 2 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | | Sapphire Moon class Moduleship | M | 14 | 13,363 | 1 | 1 | Krax Confederation | No | | Shuvalivashtu class Luxury Liner | M | 15 | 5,000 | 4 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | SK-3 class Lifeboat | MM | 15 | 20 | 0 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Slicer class Assault Shuttle | MN | 14 | 50 | 0 | 6 | Third Imperium | | | Songbird class Ship's Boat | M | 9 | 40 | 0 | 4 | Distant Fringe | | M-4A40 | Star Butler class Yacht | MY | 12 | 300 | 2 | 3 | Rule of Man | | YK-CS32 | Star class Merchant Liner | M | 15 | 1,000 | 2 | 1 | Third Imperium | No | | Starblade class Executive Yacht | MY | 11 | 200 | 2 | 4 | Distant Fringe | | MY-BS24 | Stellar class Liner | M | 14 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | | | TC02 Grave Endeavor class Dropship | MN | 11 | 20 | 0 | 3 | Trooles Confederation | | | TC04 Valkyrie class Dropship | MN | 11 | 40 | 0 | 3 | Trooles Confederation | | | Type M class Subsidized Liner | MK | 13 | 600 | 3 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | MK-FU13 | Type RT class Longliner | M | 13 | 1,000 | 4 | 1 | Third Imperium | Yes | M-KS14 | Xeekr'kir! class Merchant | M | 11 | 6,000 | 2 | 1 | Two Thousand Worlds | Yes | | Yawl class Troop Carrier | MN | 12 | 400 | 1 | 1 | Old Worlds | | | Ziiguysna class Pinnance | MN | 15 | 40 | 0 | 6 | Hive Federation | Yes | |
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