SERVICES

NOTES ON LIFESTYLE

I choose to run Star Frontiers as an optimistic game, meaning that the interstellar government is comprised of societies that hold the welfare of citizens to be the highest priority of the government.

As such, on developed worlds (even in the Frontier - the region this game takes place within) all Federation citizens have no need to pay for food, shelter, medical care, education, and other daily necessities. Laws within the Federation enforce social responsibility of corporations, and harsh penalties are brought upon any corporation that seeks to place profit above the welfare of any citizen.

Even so, there are still goods and services that are not considered essential and thus are not covered under the Federation’s universal well-being mandate. These items are purchased using the Federation’s currency - the Federation Credit - a universal (within the Federation) currency whose value is strictly bound to be considered equal to one hour of skilled effort by one sophont. Price controls restrict excessive profit seeking through supply and demand manipulation or fluctuation, and the economic controls are fiercely enforced.

Amber systems

On non-member worlds, or worlds which have been designated for corporate development, the universal welfare laws may not hold sway for the world in question though any world operating under a charter or in treaty with the Federation must either comply with the basic principles or be designated with an “Amber” alert status to warn potential visitors of the unregulated nature, and any trade originating from an Amber system is heavily regulated. Within our game, the system White Light is one such non-member world, while Corpco in the New Streel system is an example of a corporate development world.

TRAVEL

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Most population centers have some form of public transportation available. Planets with multiple large centers may have public transport that connects them together.

INTRA-CITY TRANSPORT

BUS

“Bus” refers to any large public transportation vehicle that travels a fixed route with scheduled stops. A bus may accommodate from 30 to 100 passengers, depending upon the vehicle type and the world. Typically one waits 1D10+5 minutes for the next bus on a route.

AUTOCAB

“Autocab” refers to a small autonomous vehicle that can accommodate up to six individuals that performs point-to-point travel using public roadways or travel lanes. Once summoned via comm, an autocab with arrive within 1D5 minutes.

EXPRESS TRANSIT

Like a BUS, this is any large public transportation vehicle that travels on a fixed route with scheduled stops. However, Express transit only stops at key locations (usually transit hubs or popular destinations), sacrificing extensive coverage for increased speed. Express transit typically departs from a transit location every 30 minutes off-peak, and every 10 minutes during peak transit hours.

RENTALS

Rental vehicles are chartered by the day. Within the rental period, the character renting the vehicle may use it anywhere as long as it’s returned before the end of the rental period. Characters are responsible for charging costs if usage depletes a vehicle’s parabattery (up to 1000km range on a full charge), and typically must return a vehicle with a fully-charged parabattery or pay a fee to recharge it.

PASSENGER CAR

With appropriate ID, a small passenger vehicle may be rented. Typical costs are 50Cr + 50Cr per day for a groundcar or 50Cr + 75Cr per day for a skimmer.

TRUCK

With appropriate ID, a small cargo truck may be rented. Typical costs are 75Cr + 100Cr per day for a ground transport, or 75Cr + 150Cr per day for a heavy skimmer.

AIR TRANSPORT

With appropriate ID, characters may rent an Aircar. Aircars typically cost 100Cr + 100Cr per day.

SPACE TRAVEL

ORBIT

Transit from surface to orbit on a developed world usually costs 100Cr. Shuttles are regularly scheduled (frequently operating 4 transits per day), and depart from a planet’s spaceport or launch facility.

INTRA-SYSTEM

A variety of options exist for intra-system travel, from scheduled passenger or cargo transport on known transit lanes to tramp ships that operate independently. Prices for scheduled transit typically run about 100Cr per day and operate on fixed schedules, much like surface-based public transportation. Hired transport prices vary wildly, with owner-operators charging whatever they can negotiate with potential customers.

STAR TRAVEL

Transit between systems can be time-consuming. For a passenger on the surface of a world, they must first travel to orbit, and then wait on a transit station until their ship begins boarding. Once underway, a ship will spend 1 day to exit the system, and then 1 day per light-year in transit, and finally 1 day entering the new system. Afterwards, if continuing on the same route, the ship will typically layover for 2 days to recharge and resupply, before beginning the process again for the next system on the itinerary.

Tickets for star travel, like intra-system travel, can either be via a scheduled line or by independent owner-operator. Roll 3D10 - 3 to determine when the next available flight on an outsystem line is scheduled to depart the current system.

Since scheduled lines follow a route, there may be several stops before arriving at the final destination (which must be declared at the time of ticket purchase). Independent “tramp” freighters typically charge whatever can be negotiated with the passengers, while transit lines have their prices regulated. While traveling on an independent offers no guarantees about the comfort or quality of the voyage, scheduled transit does offer a few options for travelling:

FIRST CLASS

First class passengers have their own cabin, may bring aboard up to 1000KG of cargo at no charge, and are always the first to board and exit. A First class ticket costs 200Cr per day of travel from departure system to destination system, including any transit between.

JOURNEY CLASS

Journey-class tickets share cabins (up to four persons per cabin), and may bring along 500KG of cargo at no charge. A Journey ticket costs 100Cr per day of travel from departure system to destination system, including any transit between.

STORAGE CLASS

Storage class tickets entitle the passenger to the use of a cryogenic transit pod in a ship’s cargo module, where they are stored during transit. At the destination, Storage passengers are revived. Storage class tickets cost 30Cr per day, and include 100Kg of cargo.