Pedrop says:
... How do you see streetwise in context of imperial merchant ship? ...
I can help out if you need, but this is your story. This is also an empire local to your homeworld or system, so you can tell us about them. If that is what you choose. Remember that the book says Merchant Marine is working for megacorporations or 'the Imperium' which is an organisation in the official setting and not something we have here. 'Imperium' and 'imperial' are not the same thing, so that is your word, if you want it.
Pedrop says:
... I don't have other good ideas for that ...
It can just be a skill you learn on your travels. It does not have to a big part of the story. But it does seem this one might be as you learn how the real world really works.
Pedrop says:
... ship was so big that it had it own "society"(in some sense it is always a case) ... streets, starports and so on ...
Indeed. A ship of any size will have its own society, but the skill also applies when you go ashore at a variety of places during your many years here.
You also don't have to have been on the same ship the whole time, maybe that captain you speak of is just where you end up? Maybe you worked your way towards getting onto that specific ship? Streetwise will help you learn the ropes on any ship you join --which is why you had to learn it on your first Term in the real world. You might further your Skills as you deal with more people and hierarchies, on and off ships.
Pedrop says:
... ship the hierarchy is strictly defined or it won't function too well ...
All strongly defined hierarchies have black markets --too rigid a system snaps under pressure-- and you have seen firsthand that there is smuggling in yours.
Pedrop says:
... By "4th Officer" I meant Raf's new rank ...
Yes, an
officer's rank. So now you are rubbing shoulders with people who might be able to give you answers, now you have access to ship's systems and records you would not have as a mere worker.
Now, as a 3rd Officer, you may even have access to the captain, though not close or regular access.
Pedrop says:
... Probably I have made myself too narrow-minded ...
I have worried about that a few times. On of the first things I said was that this backstory might end up
dominating your game, I have seen it before.
Given what we have, it makes sense that his life so far has revolved around this event. We can work towards resolving it now to free you up, but I don't get the impression that is what you were wanting. We can try to fade it into the background, it has been over a decade and you have seen the real world outside your planet.
The Streetwise Skill is
your Skill, it does not tell us anything about the other officers (and you got it before being an officer?). You are welcome to say they were all involved in any criminal activities, but it does not need be a conspiracy, it is just a thing you learned.
Pedrop says:
... "exceptions" ... sometimes confusing ...
Confusing for everyone, which is why I called it out. Rather confusing now for a roll or two than confusing later throughout the game. :)
Pedrop says:
... become more tempting to stay for this career ...
Yes and no.
On a meta level note that getting to 2nd Officer does not give you anything mechanical since you already have Pilot 1 (I am not totally happy with the Rank tables).
On a in-fiction level 2nd Officer (if you get there) would get you substantial access to the captain... which might a reason to come up with a reason to
not go there?
Pedrop says:
... Battle Dress ... what they called as mechs ...
A suit of armour was one of the possible ways I mentioned to do your 'mechs'. Though Battle Dress is 4 Tech Levels above what we have, so we would need to tone it down. A Cargo Lifter Vehicle (page 145) is also possible as a starting point.
Your lightsaber analogy has worried me, since --in that setting-- lightsabers are the pinnacle of technology, and walker style vehicles are not very practical outside of fantasy settings. I say again, mechs are not going to be a big or important part of this setting.
Pedrop says:
... aging roll ...
Yep, but you are still young, so it should not be a risk...
Pedrop says:
... I will want to tie up all the above loose story threads ...
Tie up any you want to, but we can also leave some of them unanswered and see if your next Term brings more enlightenment or if they come up later as we play to find out. Your choice.
Pedrop says:
... would getting "Pilot 1" ... allow Raf to get Capital Ships at 1 or it will not change anything as he already has 1 at Spacecraft ?
Very good question. I will look into it more, but I think I will probably rule it as another, different Pilot 1 so you can get Capitial Ships. This is only because this is a special case and it is still Pilot 1 and not increasing the level.
Unless someone can show in the book where it contradicts this, these Specialities will work like that. In which case ignore the above 'meta' discussion about your next Term.
