Established trade routes from South America to North America

[slade2501]

After the Minion War (actually started before the war) the nations of South America (Silver River and Achilles reoublics, New Babylon, Columbia, etc) have come together on building an ocean corridor for safe travel to trade goods, materials and resources to North America (notably in the Mexico/New Mexico/Gulf Coast regions). Goods include foodstuffs, raw material for manufacturing, military equipment (small arms, ammunition, power armor robots and vehicles). A full eighty percent of all goods are sold to private individuals, businesses or the black market. The Coalition has been seriously interested in purchasing most of the foodstuffs (especially since the wasting plague hit their food producing lands). They have been politely "ignoring" most of the arms deals as it takes some of the pressure off of them if more "civvies" are armed and able to defend themselves from Minion remnants and the regular threats from random rifts. The Arkhon have declined to participate in this venture, but have declared a cease fire against human forces (they hate demons and deevils as well, and are focusing all their military might on fighting that current threat).

[Grazzik]

Thinking about the risk to trade in the waters of the North and South Atlantic, it has always seemed to me that the ocean is a very large place and the likelihood of attack from pirates, encounters with monsters, and random events like LL storms would all depend on the tactic used to ship goods, how close to shore, the regularity a certain route is used, and the everchanging level of mystical energies (viewed much like tides, currents and weather).

In particular, when looking at the risk of attack, the analogous model to consider is the losses suffered in the Atlantic during WW2 when there was an active effort to locate and destroy shipping going from one side of the ocean to the other. Of course, losses varied throughout the war, but the tonnage lost peaked in 1942-1943. However, what were the chances of being attacked? The stats I've seen vary but, at the peak, on average 10% of ships could expect to be lost, with up to 25% lost on more dangerous routes such as the Murmansk run. However, individual convoys could suffer high losses - convoy PQ-17 to Murmansk lost 2/3 of the convoy's ships.

In Rifts, the use of convoys and the screens used to protect the convoy would still be effective against marauders and monsters. Lone ships are the most vulnerable, but there may be advantages of sending single ships or small convoys where the biggest anticipated threat are D-shifting or LL storms, in order to avoid losing entire convoys. An overall annual fleet attrition rate of 10% would not be unreasonable for the SRR or NGR, with attrition of 20-30% for the CS given the proximity of Cuba and Atlantis to shipping routes.

So, as long as there is replenishment of sufficient tonnage of vessels and the crew to operate them (not a problem for the CS who can grow CS Navy Sea Dogs, SB 4), global marine trade between the major human power blocs could be immense. IRL it can take about a year to build a 18000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit - those metal containers) container ship and on average 3-4 ships are produced per shipyard per year (approx. 1200 built globally every year). Assuming capabilities of the SRR, CS and NGR are equal to or better to IRL production, by building just thirty 18000 TEU ships a year, the SRR could maintain a 300 vessel cargo fleet for international trade with a capacity of 5.8M TEU at any given time. That may seem to be a lot of cargo, and it is for a "post-apocalyptic" setting. IRL there are ~5500 container ships operating globally with a 24.6M TEU capacity to support our global economy, without the demands that the CS, SRR and NGR face due to their growth and military demands. So once you factor in those constant demands for raw materials, parts, and finished good, it would make sense that they may have such a relatively high capacity.

And with respect to using air transport by itself in Rifts to bypass marauders and monsters, there's simply no way to get a high enough capacity to move the volume of cargo required to sustain the major power blocs. At maximum weight, a TEU is about 2500 Kg and a Boeing Dreamlifter can carry a payload equivalent of ~45 TEU, so one 18000 TEU shipment by sea is the equivalent of 400 flights by an oversized cargo plane.

[taalismn]

In particular, when looking at the risk of attack, the analogous model to consider is the losses suffered in the Atlantic during WW2 when there was an active effort to locate and destroy shipping going from one side of the ocean to the other. Of course, losses varied throughout the war, but the tonnage lost peaked in 1942-1943. However, what were the chances of being attacked? The stats I've seen vary but, at the peak, on average 10% of ships could expect to be lost, with up to 25% lost on more dangerous routes such as the Murmansk run. However, individual convoys could suffer high losses - convoy PQ-17 to Murmansk lost 2/3 of the convoy's ships.

Hell, how about the England to Gibraltar run and then into the Mediterranean, with the Bay of Biscay crawling with German forces, Spain likely spying on shipping, and the chokepoint at the Straits? Though this comparison is hardly heartening, because once in the Med, any convoy was going to be under near constant attack all the way to the eastern Med.

So, yeah, oceanic shipping on Rifts Earth is going to take major investment in intelligence at the very least, in addition to hardware and manpower. Too big a convoy along either coast risks attracting the Horune, Naut'yll, Splugorth, or Reachers.
On the plus side, and unmentioned, is that the New Navy(covertly) and Tritonia likely have a hand in the trade escort business along the Pacific.

[slade2501]

I was figuring that 1-2 of those Galapagos turtle vehicles with scouts and support boats would do the trick and see off most pirates. The turtles themselves can carry massive amounts of troops and equipment and are incredibly well armed. The newly allied South American countries would certainly benefit from trade with North America, in after market goods, medical equipment/technologies, new weapon innovations, etc. And Money. Lots of profitable money, in the form of rare metals, minerals, etc. The Black Market would love to get a hold of some advanced south American MOM technologies, for example. Same with the rocket gun tech, or the psi-sword in particular. I am sure that mages would love to trade notes in particular.

[darthauthor]

For the REALLY magically powerful or well connected they will use a "Circle of Travel"
These are the kind of people who can cast teleportation spell and be on another continent.

[taalismn]

For the REALLY magically powerful or well connected they will use a "Circle of Travel"
These are the kind of people who can cast teleportation spell and be on another continent.

Helps to have an advance agent establish a precise destination so you know exactly where you can safely teleport to, as well as smooth things over with the local authorities when you arrive(unless, of course, you're smuggling stuff in).

[Grazzik]

For the REALLY magically powerful or well connected they will use a "Circle of Travel"
These are the kind of people who can cast teleportation spell and be on another continent.

Helps to have an advance agent establish a precise destination so you know exactly where you can safely teleport to, as well as smooth things over with the local authorities when you arrive(unless, of course, you're smuggling stuff in).

Even still, not an effective means of transporting a substantial amount of goods. Useful only for small loads of highly valuable goods that can be carried. The description in PFRPG pg 153 only speaks to occupants of the circle, and presumably what they carry, not separate containers. Not appropriate for consistent trade in required, but lower value, materials like food, medicine, car parts, MDC plating, etc.

Teleportation Superior spell (RUE pg 225) can be useful for larger loads [1000lbs per level], but what self-respecting high level Ley Line Rifter would stoop to being a courier of base cargo? Even one of the lighter GB7 suits would require a mage of at least 3rd level to move. Rift Runners could also be used, but again, usually that is for high priced illegal goods where the reward is worth the risk.

Better to put ordinary goods on a ship.

[taalismn]

Teleportation Superior spell (RUE pg 225) can be useful for larger loads [1000lbs per level], but what self-respecting high level Ley Line Rifter would stoop to being a courier of base cargo? Even one of the lighter GB7 suits would require a mage of at least 3rd level to move. Rift Runners could also be used, but again, usually that is for high priced illegal goods where the reward is worth the risk.

"Yeah, I'm a 'cargo mage', a 'stevedumbledore', a 'box-rifter', a 'flinger', 'freight-wand', a 'schlepper-wizard'....I've heard them all. Just because I don't live in a nexus-castle researching the cosmic twiddles in my crystal bong, I get sneered at by the 'real wizards'. But I draw steady pay for moving the goods and the Black Market protects me. And the research end? I've got a few leads on streamlining teleportation, make it more efficient, move more farther...No, I can't tell you how I'm doing it, a professional has to keep his secrets if he wants to stay competitive, all I can say is that I'm closing on something big, even revolutionary."

[Grazzik]

"Yeah, I'm a 'cargo mage', a 'stevedumbledore', a 'box-rifter', a 'flinger', 'freight-wand', a 'schlepper-wizard'....I've heard them all. Just because I don't live in a nexus-castle researching the cosmic twiddles in my crystal bong, I get sneered at by the 'real wizards'. But I draw steady pay for moving the goods and the Black Market protects me. And the research end? I've got a few leads on streamlining teleportation, make it more efficient, move more farther...No, I can't tell you how I'm doing it, a professional has to keep his secrets if he wants to stay competitive, all I can say is that I'm closing on something big, even revolutionary."

Big up to all the freight-wands out there...

[taalismn]

Big up to all the freight-wands out there...

'course now I feel I'm gonna have to CREATE a 'freight-wand' magic OCC....

[slade2501]

Big up to all the freight-wands out there...

'course now I feel I'm gonna have to CREATE a 'freight-wand' magic OCC....

See a need, fill a need. I always wanted a magical freight system. or a mundane one. For some reason, its really on my mind. The Setting concept of a city here and there, unbroken wilderness in between just breaks my suspension of disbelief. I really believe that cities, towns, settlements and even other countries would surely try every day to establish connections, for profit or information or just to share human experiences.

[taalismn]

That also means I'll have to return to working on my Mystic Navigator OCC....

[Grazzik]

The simplest (though probably rare for human Rifts Earth communities) mystical solution to establishing a distribution network is through the use of an astral domain. You have fixed or movable portals that lead to it and an army of constructs designed to receive goods, inventory them, store them as needed, and ship them out through other portals (either fixed or movable). You can set the domain to have physics that prevent organic degradation or oxidation/corrosion, so what comes out is as fresh as the day it went in, even if millennia have passed. I have often designed the domain to be a network of interconnected domains using compartmentalization for security, as well as to use some as retail outlets tailored for customers with specific needs. Suddenly, you have your very own version of Phase World's Center.

Personally, I love this option as this makes looting so easy for a party, even if the Astral Lord or Astral Mage isn't part of the group - anyone who contributes PPE has shared control over the domain. Once the movable portal is open, loot can just be thrown in and forgotten about, while it is cleaned, sorted, recharged, and even repaired if the constructs know how. If the portal is large enough, smaller vehicles like hoverbikes or hovercars can be driven through. Tanks and robots typically can fit if a huge tarp is used as the portal, but if the portal is smaller and the GM allows a Shrink Object spell (which I don't think is canon in PB) then suddenly it's game on.

You can cobble something similar with multiple interconnected dimensional envelopes, but that wouldn't be as elegant and lacks the control over reality in the envelope that is available with astral domains.

With spatial magic, spatial domains are pretty much the same as astral domains. Haven't played with spatial magic, so not sure if there are any unique nuances to consider.

Pyramids offer a mechanism for shipping long distance and interdimensionally, but are physical focal points for raids and attacks. Also, you would have to get the goods to the pyramid, as opposed to bringing the portal to the goods.

For non-magical transport, Transdimensional TMNT rules for technology that dimensionally hops could be used to transport goods, but it requires a PC or NPC with an IQ almost off the charts and the requisite skills to build the device, build the beacons to guide the hops, and compute the coordinates. Once built, a pilot can shuttle the vehicle and goods between the beacons. Since it is dimensional hopping and not teleportation, I've used a two step jump by bouncing to and from a pocket dimension or other empty plane. However, there is always a risk of being warped somewhere unexpected by accident or simple chance.