Independent Transport Convoys (ITCs)

[wadewan]

So you want to be a Supply Chain Manager eh?

Funny thing about civilian freight carriers is they like to make money and will manipulate the market and capacity to do so. This optional rule is based on my real life experience working with my SCM responsible for freight between US, Mexico and China. Between fuel prices, over-capacity and dock strikes we lost a lot of sleep and revenue for most of a year.

Independent Transport Convoys
Available Capacity - roll 2d6, on (5+) 100% capacity (10 transport points) is available; (4) 60% capacity; (3) 30% capacity; (2) no capacity available and no further convoy attempts can be made.

Roll is for each convoy and you must accept/pay for the capacity before rolling another convoy. Each additional convoy subtracts 2 cumulative to the dice, i.e. rolling a third convoy subtracts -4.

Capacity Cost - 1 EP. Each additional 1 EP can improve the result by (1). Example if you roll a (3), you can spend 2 more EPs to get your goods (10 points) loaded and moved.

Transport Range - 1 Jump (plus 1 Major if available), or add 1 EP for each additional Jump.

ITC's will not jump across Restricted Jump Lanes without Scout escort, and will not jump into a contested system/sector. The player's empire does not build or own these convoy's.

Cheers!

[Tyrel Lohr]

Would these be in addition to the convoys an empire normally operates? So they would effectively be bidding for the use of convoys and hoping that they could get any to haul things around? And they last just long enough to perform the one scheduled shipping order and then disappear?

[wadewan]

Correct.

These are strictly independent carriers with no existing contracts with military or government entities. They provide a capacity strapped empire short term options at a cost until additional convoys can be built.

Piracy, Intel and Underworld activity might be higher with independents.

[Tyrel Lohr]

I've added the notes to the Galaxies doc optional rules and will get the text formatted later today. It would be an interesting option for a player that needs the convoy right now and is willing to deal with the independent brokers.