Is there a system with a realistic cargo-hauling/speculation system?

[Jd Smith1]

Most systems I have seen boil it down to a dice roll plus random modifiers when buying, and then the same when selling in another port. Depending on how the mods are applied, it tends to discourage a merchant campaign, or makes the PCs too much money too quickly.

Are there any systems that attempt to make it realistic?

 

[payn]

Traveller?

 

[aramis erak]

On

Traveller?

Only in GURPS: Traveller: Far Trader

 

[MGibster]

Are there any systems that attempt to make it realistic?

I can't think of many games where mercantile activities are a significant part of the game other than Traveler. And, yeah, I think they make an effort at versimilitude at least. Travelers attempt to fill up their cargo bays according to their destination. i.e. If they're going from a hightly industrial planet to a lower industrial planet, they might take technological goods that aren't easily available at their new destination. Sometimes you might even haul people.

 

[aramis erak]

I can't think of many games where mercantile activities are a significant part of the game other than Traveler.

Besides Traveller... (Not all are SF)
Core rules contain Trade & Commerce: Alien, Space Opera, FFG Star Wars¹, Pirates of the Spanish Main²
Supplement provides Trade and Commerce: D6 Star Wars (GG6), GURPS (GTFT), BECMI/Cyclopedia (GAZ 9 Minrothad Guilds & GAZ 11 Republic of Darokin. Both include speculation; 9 is for sea, 11 for overland)

It's worth noting that Rogue Trader (FFG) isn't really about trade; the abstraction of money makes it about missions.
Many games supposedly about trade vessels actually make trade the macguffin.

¹: simplistic. Not very abstract.
²: very abstract, simplistic. Also, it's an adapted core version of Savage Worlds.

 

[Dioltach]

The game you're looking for is Star Wars: Outer Rim.

 

[Staffan]

IIRC, the Star*Drive setting for Alternity had a big table about how much one cargo unit of various trade goods was worth in different systems, and a revision/update to said table in one of the supplements that was meant to move the setting forward a bit.

 

[aramis erak]

IIRC, the Star*Drive setting for Alternity had a big table about how much one cargo unit of various trade goods was worth in different systems, and a revision/update to said table in one of the supplements that was meant to move the setting forward a bit.

It's not in the core; it is in S*DCS... page 18. Checking for a system...
No system - just fixed prices for given goods in given systems of the Verge on a specific date range.

 

[Jd Smith1]

The game you're looking for is Star Wars: Outer Rim.

I've never been looking for Star Wars...

 

[MGibster]

I've never been looking for Star Wars...

It's a good thing you haven't, because you're looking in Alderan places. I'll see myself out.

Actually, what kind of commerce based campaign are you considering?