21.0. Investment:
Those that have the money, can borrow the money, or can otherwise scrape together 1000 Crowns may invest money in a foreign expedition. The hope is that they will earn more upon the return of the ships, but there is also a chance they will lose part or all of their investment.
21.1. Foreign Expeditions:
In the last month of each season the Chancellor decides whether to send ships on a foreign expedition (NPC will do so on 5+ on d6). Investors can put lumps of 1000 crowns into an expedition either individually or collectively with the hope of reaping a large dividend. A character who invests 1000 crowns or more by himself also has the option of going along on the voyage. Someone who accompanies his investment and survives gets a 100% greater return than they would have if they remained in London, although there are considerable risks involved. Full time members of the regular army would have to resign before joining a foreign expedition. Members on dettached duty MAY invest and accompany their investment, but this does require they be on dettached duty.
Each expedition takes a detachment of Royal Marines, led by a Lieutenant. Any PC marine Ensign may volunteer to go on the trip. If more than one marine Lieutenant volunteers for a particular expedition, the Regt CO chooses who goes (an NPC will choose whoever is higher up the greasy pole). Marines on expedition get double normal monthly pay.
If the expedition encounters storms, then the expedition does not return and all investors lose their stake. Any PC onboard must roll for survival and the chance to retrieve treasure. Survivors are shipwrecked and have a choice of actions:
If 'pirates' are encountered, the ships of the expedition come under pirate attack and any returns on investments for that voyage are halved. If this happens then all PCs with the expedition (including marines) consult the personal outcome table for pirate attacks rolling for death, promotion and mention (for marines only), and treasure. There are no modifiers to these rolls and poltroonery is not an option. Note that 'Dicing with Death' is done on a separate table than normal 'Dicing with Death.'
If the expedition is not lost through storms then the returns on investments are assessed (double for investors who sail with the expedition, half if attacked by pirates).
An investor who returns from a successful expedition is given a title attempt (except expeditions to France or Holland).
If 2 consecutive expeditions fail to return, the King dismisses the Chancellor from office.
Other Investments
21.2 Players may invest money in various ventures in order to gain more money. The return on these investments are determined by the campaigns. Arms investors gain money when more troops are sent on campaigns. Finance investors lose money when large amounts of troops are sent. Commerce investors make money when armies are successful. Investments are made in blocks of 1000 crowns. When consulting the investment table if a + appears that is the amount that the investor receives as a percentage of his capital investment as a dividend. When a - appears that is the amount that the investor must pay within the next month to make is investment solvent. If not paid in time the entire investment is lost. If it is paid the investment is solvent at it's original level. Solvent investments may be liquidated at any time for the capital in them minus a 10% liquidation fee.
21.3 Details for other Investments (Arms, Commerce and Finance) are given in the tables. See also the notes for Quartermaster Generals and the Chancellor in Annex A.
21.4 Investments in Arms, Finance and Commerce can only be made in Mar, Apr or May, and payouts are always in the following September.
21.5 A QMG may nominate an arms supplier, and the Chancellor may manipulate funds on behalf of a Finance investor, at any time before the start of the Summer season. Once a choice has been made it may not be changed
