Spelljammer
Trader
Trader skill is useful to those who are responsible for buying and selling cargos between ports. It includes the following tasks:
  • Find Cargo - This task encompasses a search at a port for someone who has a cargo that needs to be shipped. There are a number of variables with this item. The group could be purchasing a cargo themselves to try to sell at the other end of their trip. Or they may find someone who wants to ship cargo to a distant location and then try to sell it there. Or they may find someone who wants to ship cargo to a distant location and they already have a buyer identified. Bonus is ((CHA - 15) x 3) + (Rank x 5).
  • Estimate Cargo Size - This task is used to determine volume/weight of cargo vs available volume. For example, the trader might find a cargo and, with a successful skill roll, determines that it will take up 60% of the available cargo space/weight of the ship that the trader is representing. They can then look for another cargo to fill the remaining 40%. Bonus is ((INT - 15) x 3) + (Rank x 5).
  • Load Cargo - This task encompasses loading the cargo on a ship in a balanced manner that maximizes the use of the space. A failed roll indicates that the cargo is loaded but uses up more of the volume that it should (i.e., maybe it should be using 60% of cargo space but, due to being poorly loaded, is using 70%, leaving less space for other cargos). Bonus is (((INT + PER) - 30) x 1.5) + (Rank x 5).
  • Sell Cargo - If the cargo does not already have a predetermined buyer, this skill is used to find a buyer for the right price. Bonus is ((CHA - 15) x 3) + (Rank x 5).
  • General Trading Knowledge - General knowledge of trading and the trading profession. Bonus is ((KNOW - 15) x 3) + (Rank x 5).


Find Cargo
  • Absolute Success - A perfect cargo is found.
  • Success - A cargo is found that occupies between 75 and 100 percent of the cargo space.
  • Near Success - Found a cargo that is not exactly right but is close.
    1. Cargo too large for ship (make a Barter roll to see if client will accept a partial haul).
    2. Cargo too small for ship (make a second Find Cargo roll immediately at -10 to see if another cargo can be found).
    3. Seller wants to depart sooner than the group has planned.
    4. Seller wants to depart later than the group has planned (i.e., the cargo is not yet ready).
  • Partial Success - Found a possible cargo but nothing definite. Try again in 15 days with a +5 bonus.
  • Failure - Failed to find any cargos. May try again in 15 days.
  • Absolute Failure - Failed to find any cargos. Future rolls for cargos from the same origination point to the same destination suffer a -15 to all Find Cargo rolls.
  • Blunder -