Trades of the Expanse: Trader/Smuggler has been out for a little while now. This last installment in the ToTE-series gives us additional rules (that can be used with the rules presented in Sol System), two new specialisations, a collection of Challenge Tests, and four new ships.
This sourcebook expands (slightly) on the trades routes presented in Sol System, and provides optional rules on how to find work and clients to work for of various types (e.g., governmental, corporate, black market).
These jobs are mostly transport jobs, and the sourcebook also contains tables with examples for the different categories of goods to transport for different clients. Security teams, ammunitions, project managers, extrasolar flora, raw iron, cheese, and so on. These tables of examples are a really good and important addition to the tables for generating/finding jobs.
Jobs in this supplement also come with a Risk modifier, ranging from +0 to +8. The books doesn’t have any long and very detailed rules for Risk. Risk is simply a TN modifier to avoid dangers, such as an inspection if smuggling, or pirates if carrying something valuable. Risk also interacts closely with the collection of Challenge Tests that is including in the supplement.
And talking about the Challenge Tests. These are elegant solutions to avoid adding rules, and instead utilising the flexibility of the AGE system to resolve encounters and dramatic twists and turns. From finding a market to sell your cargo, running a blockade, to defending against smuggling charges, and more. More of these in supplements and adventures would be great! While it is not difficult to make up your own, nor very time consuming, it is still much better to have a collection to draw from and adjust as needed.
The book also has guideliens for transporting Builder artefacts through the ring, with a series of complications of varying magnitude. It also includes Churn events for smuggling and trading, as well as Trading and Smuggling Stunts. As for rewards, new reputations are also included, and four new ships are inlcuded. From a smaller courier vessels to a large space bazaar. These also include new qualities and special rules. Great alternatives to stock ships from the core book, and good additions to the list in Ships of the Expanse.
Two new specialisations are included, the Trader and the Smuggler. Well worth checking out. The Trader is perceptive and good at finding profitable deals and markets. The Smuggler knows how to minimise risks, maximise profits, and incentivising prying eyes to look the other way.
Finally, the book has a series of ready made clients working for different kinds of organisations. This is very useful for one shots, but can also be built into important NPCs that provide jobs, serves as antagonists, and so on, whether for shorter story arcs, or campaign long persons of interest.
This is a great supplement for GMs and players that want to expand on and immerse themselves in the trading and smuggler side of The Expanse RPG. It becomes even more useful if you have the Sol System (which is referenced in places), but can be used without it.
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