Advice/Help Ways space explorers can make money -- Help by adding an idea of your own!

[Beckoncall]

Hello out there, I am presently toying with the idea of starting a sci-fi exploration RP and am trying to start it with as many options for the players to get cash (be motivated) with as many potential goals as possible.
Considering I almost forgot PIRACY of all possible pursuits I figure there are plenty of other ideas I'm overlooking. Here's a short but what I think is a pretty comprehensive list of things a space crew could be doing to make a buck, but if you have any other ideas, let me know and I'll add it to the list!!

Bounties/Assassinations
Trading/Arms deals/Exotics
Black market/contraband/SMUGGLING
Transporting Passengers/VIPs/Prisoners
Capturing exotic creatures (either physically or holographically)
Mining (asteroids or planet surfaces)
Policing starlanes
Running space experiments/Research
Observing space anomalies
Scavenging wrecked space hulks/Salvage of abandoned colonies/stations/cities?
Cataloging new planets (for colonizing or mining)
Piracy
Exploring/scouting
Collecting information, news, rumors/samples
Delivering Mail/parcels.
Supply Runs/maintenance
Slavery/refugees/penal deliveries/Pioneers/Pilgrims
Neutral parties for strained diplomacy/dealings (NEGOTIATION)
Saving ecosystems/biomes/settlers from natural disasters
Archaeological work
Recovering Ancient Tech
First contact specialists
Hacking/Espionage
Search and Rescue
Medical Assistance
Criminal Investigation
Asset Protection
Personal Missions & Cultural Voyages
Geocaching
Settling Debts & Repossession
Space Adventure Tourism
Neutral Zone Shenanigans
Interstellar Gambling/Party ships


Thank you for taking a couple of minutes to help out if you have an idea!!! I appreciate it immensely!

 

[Qazi]

I guess contraband, supply runs and delivery counts. . . but I think smuggling as a whole makes a bigger impact. I mean, you know, Han Solo and everything.

 

[official clown business]

It's not easy to make any suggestions without most of them falling within an activity on the list, but I'd say that means you have a pretty good list already. Still, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try.

Spoiler

• Personal Missions & Cultural Voyages

Making money is no easy task if your crew can't get along, so you'll want to secure their trust first. Also, if none of your crew are the same race, you should probably learn more about them too. It doesn't pay so much in money as it does in loyalty.

• Geocaching

If you like treasure hunting, probing planets for resources, or reading random coordinates on maps, you might like this job. You'll be hunting for military caches, dead drops, hidden stashes, and time capsules. And yes, there might be some treasure involved as well.

• Maintenance

There are plenty of ships and stations that can attribute much of their success to the highly skilled engineering & technology team they have on staff. If you're exploring, there's bound to be a ship somewhere that needs a little fixing up or even a useful upgrade. And they're sure to reward you for helping.

• Scouting

The military's finest troops aren't expendable, but you are. They want you to make sure there isn't anything in the area that's dangerous enough to kill your ragtag crew before they come in themselves.

• Settling Debts & Repossession

If you wouldn't fuck with corporations and criminal organizations, you sure as hell wouldn't want to owe them anything, either. You'll have to search for these people, of course, and find out how to extract whatever they owe without killing them. It might just be money or objects, but be sure to take part of a limb or even an organ for good measure.

 

[Qazi]

It's not easy to make any suggestions without most of them falling within an activity on the list, but I'd say that means you have a pretty good list already. Still, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try.

Spoiler

• Personal Missions & Cultural Voyages

Making money is no easy task if your crew can't get along, so you'll want to secure their trust first. Also, if none of your crew are the same race, you should probably learn more about them too. It doesn't pay so much in money as it does in loyalty.

• Geocaching

If you like treasure hunting, probing planets for resources, or reading random coordinates on maps, you might like this job. You'll be hunting for military caches, dead drops, hidden stashes, and time capsules. And yes, there might be some treasure involved as well.

• Maintenance

There are plenty of ships and stations that can attribute much of their success to the highly skilled engineering & technology team they have on staff. If you're exploring, there's bound to be a ship somewhere that needs a little fixing up or even a useful upgrade. And they're sure to reward you for helping.

• Scouting

The military's finest troops aren't expendable, but you are. They want you to make sure there isn't anything in the area that's dangerous enough to kill your ragtag crew before they come in themselves.

• Settling Debts & Repossession

If you wouldn't fuck with corporations and criminal organizations, you sure as hell wouldn't want to owe them anything, either. You'll have to search for these people, of course, and find out how to extract whatever they owe without killing them. It might just be money or objects, but be sure to take part of a limb or even an organ for good measure.

Woah, cultural voyages. That's some mass effect typa thing. But, all in all, couldn't have thought of that all!

 

[FoolsErin]

Science! Some Joey asks for some samples or such and they pay you for it.

 

[NilsiFjel]

Intergalactic tourism/ space tour guides. Space cruises from planet to planet, tame tourist guiding and adventure tourism.

 

[NilsiFjel]

"Great last minute deals on 12 week sector 8 cruise - see the magnificent diamond rainstorms of Kalthar, bathe in the crystal pink lagoons on Meltanium and sip a cocktail on a terrace overlooking the bustling metropolis of Yander."

"Uninhabited following a nuclear disaster and featured recently in a galaxy wide smash hit series, Endeavour Travel is seeking fearless travellers to join our tours Planet Falspar! Visit the deserted colony, take photos next to the iconic abandoned transmitter station."

 

[Beckoncall]

You give me the juice, NilsiFjel -- this idea is GOLD.

 

[NilsiFjel]

I swear I could just keep on going!

 

[Beckoncall]

Wish you would. -- especially if it sets off new idea chains.

 

[NilsiFjel]

'Intergalactic neutral zones' (ie International waters) - party ships, space casinos and other ventures which could be done outside of orbit to avoid planetary regulations.

 

[NilsiFjel]

Space cult! ( religious cult or those facebook marketing scams).

Or any kind of money making scam.

 

[Beckoncall]

added added added

 

[Beckoncall]

I think I have what I need now, barring any outside strokes of genius.

My game has REAMS AND REAMS of things to do, species to encounter and a few overarching sub-plots.

 

[MDL]

I was a bit late to this one it seems. Can't think of anything because you just put so damn much there already. Some good suggestions as well. If you have anything else about the setting you're thinking about I would be glad to offer my thoughts.

 

[Beckoncall]

MDL -- if somebody like you looks at it and says done, IT'S DONE. Thank you for your input.

 

[Lorsh]

loan sharking