How about investing in shares esp. in the EIC? Could be dealt with like gambling or maybe dependent on how well the EIC is doing. Could give more importance to those involved in the EIC side of things.
BTW I understand that in real life it was merchantmen such as the EIC that suffered at the hands of the Press Gangs, they were only interested in trained sailors!

I like the idea of investments, especially dodgy ones (like Aubrey's disasterous investment of his prize money). It was a facet of the Georgian Navy which could add to character development and roleplaying.

But maybe you don't need new rules as such, just a tweak of the current ones.

You can already invest money in finance, commerce or munitions, in 1000 guinea blocks, and you can already invest in the HEIC if you are a director or serving on a HEIC ship. You can also lend money to characters.

So, what if you gave or lent money to another character, on the understanding that he would invest it on your behalf in a venture. The GM would record it as an ordinary loan, which no interest is charged on and which can be demanded back in three months as per normal. The character you financed can then invest the money, and as far as the GM is concerned, he is investing his own money and is given the return or loss as normal. Any return to his partners would be up to the character involved, which would give a wonderful capacity for swindling.

This would allow players with less than 1000g or no connection to the HEIC to get involved in investments as a "sleeping partner".

The way I see it being roleplayed is that one character would advertise for investors - ("This unique investment opportunity cannot be missed...") - offering "shares" in his private company - which would be fractions of 1000g blocks to be invested or parts of his investment allowance as an HEIC employee. The investors then give or lend the money to the principal/director/factor/broker (or whatever he cares to call himself), who then invests it.

Sticking to any agreements would be a matter of honour between the characters involved - they would not be enforced, or even necessarily known, by the GM. Once getting the money, the broker could run off with it, or invest it in something else, and any return credited to his bank account does not have to be passed on to the investors. Of course, if he chooses to cheat his investors, he will have made enemies of them, and others will not trust him in the future. The investors could also cheat the broker if a loss is made, by refusing to pay their share of it, or they could bankrupt the broker by asking for their loan back after three months even though they had agreed to let him have the money for longer.

Players could also sell the shares to other players, at a mutually agreed price, if needing money before the investment matures or if they think it's going to make a loss. Again, this would be a matter of honour between the players concerned and the GM would just keep track of the loans or gifts made.

This would all be within the framework of the existing rules, with a slight tweak to say that while the charging of interest on loans is ungentlemanly, the parties concerned can make private agreements about returns on loans: these returns are not enforced by the GM, and a character will not be disgraced and have to join he blockade squadron if they do not pay them, (provided he pays back the main body of the loan as normal).

It might also give more scope if allowances for HEIC investment were increased by a factor of 5 or so, meaning a HEIC captain could invest 2000 guineas rather than 400g. This would encourage players to take a stint on the HEIC to make their fortune. You could also allow brokers to buy half of any NPC HEIC officer's shares on a 7 on 1d6, with influence applicable and a DM of +1 per 5% over cost offered (ie if offering 110g for a 100g share, you would have a +2 modifier)

That sounds like a good plan!

Besides making enemies of other characters if they are cheated, could they also challenge the scoundrel to a duel?

(ok I could just read the rules but)
In many En Garde games the players may vote on whetner characters have cause for a duel if it is not one of the standard reasons. Roleplay insults in the chat between characters is the most common.

That way the investors would have some recourse.

we could vote on whether it was percieved as an insult and then he can issue a meeting from there?

I have some proposed changes/clarifications to the investment rules: constructive comments would be welmcome:

Trading
There was not the same stigma about trading in C18th England than C17th France, and it would be an interesting adjunct to the game if the rules were revised to allow players to get involved. Nelson himself served a stint with John Company

Investment Loans (Addition)
While charging interest is un-gentlemanly, characters can loan their money to another character to invest it on their behalf, usually in the EIC or finance/arms/commerce. This is treated as a personal loan, but accepting a profit from it is not un-gentlemanly, as it is considered to be a private investment.

It means that several characters with less than 1000g each can put their money together to buy blocks of investment in arms, finance, or commerce as below. It also means that a character can assume part or all of the risk of the venture instead of the lender.

Players make gentleman’s agreements about the returns and conditions of the investment – normally including the expected return and the length of time before the investment can be sold. These are not enforced by the GM: the only rule is that the investment loan can be demanded back after 3 months, (or they join the Blockade Squadron or EIC), just like a normal loan.

The investment loan can be role played as a Trading Company with stocks, shares or bonds if desired.

Players who feel they have been cheated or deceived by false promises can of course appeal to London Society to determine if there is cause for a duel, or can blacken the reputation and good name of the cheat so others will not deal with him in the future.

Players can also sell debts to other players.

Investments
<the original En Garde! rules are kinder with investments than Briny, and these changes shift the balance the back other way to encourage investments>

As per current rules, except that:

Solvent investments can be liquidated at any time for the capital minus a 5% liquidation fee.

Investment Return tables

Number of ships sent* Naval supplies Investment return Finance investment return
4 -50% +40%
5 -20% +20%
6 +30% +10%
7 +50% -60%
8 +80% -60%
9 or more +100% -60%
* Not including ships of the Blockade Squadron

The Victualling Board Supervisor, Ordnance Board Supervisor or Naval Yards Supervisor can award a player character a contract as an Approved Supplier to the Navy: when this happens, it is as if one extra ship were sent on campaign for the investment return.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer can also manipulate the national finances to the benefit of one Financier: when this happens, it is as if one fewer ship was sent.

The return from commerce depends on the average battle result of the 3 admirals of the Summer Campaign:

Average outcome of Admirals Commerce Investment Return
1 +40%
2 +20%
3 +10%
4 nil
5 -20%
6 -40%



The Honourable East India Company
< a number of small changes are suggested to clarify grey areas and to make an EIC career more attractive to players>


Director East India Company
Minimum SL 12, no other requirements.
A PC Director will be appointed by the Chairman to manage one EIC voyage each year, appointing the captain and investing a minimum of 20 shares (2000 guineas) in the voyage. They do not have go on the voyage themselves. Directors must also invest a minimum of 5 shares (500 guineas) in EIC voyages which they are not managing. If unable to invest this money, they must resign from the Board. Directorships are for life, as long as they still meet the minimum requirements for the post and continue to invest in the EIC.

If there are more than two PC Directors, then the number of EIC ships will be increased to match.

Chairman EIC
Appointed by King. Earl and MP, min SL18
Appoints Directors and decides which ships PC directors will manage. < does not select ship’s captains or crew> Invests a minimum of 20 shares (2000 guineas) in each EIC voyage. Only serves for a year, but can apply as Chairman or Director again.

Crewing EIC ships
< there is very little incentive currently for players to sail on EIC voyages – effectively, they are out of the game for six months real time. Also, very few players are qualified to volunteer even if they want to. These rules make things a bit simpler and more inviting.>

PCs can volunteer for the EIC instead of volunteering in the Blockade Squadron, provided an EIC ship is sailing that month. If civilians or on the Inactive List, appointment is automatic unless there is more than one PC applicant to a post, when the captain decides who is appointed: if there is more than one PC applicant to the post of Captain, then the Director decides (NPCs can be influenced as normal). PC Directors can appoint themselves captain.

If serving aboard a ship as a Midshipman or below, the volunteer must be given leave of absence by his Captain (NPCs do this on 6 on 1d6, modified by influence). After the voyage, the volunteer returns to their previous position aboard the ship.

If a serving captain or lieutenant, leave of absence is granted by the Captain of the Fleet (NPCs do this automatically, PCs can refuse permission). They resign their post aboard ship to do this, and are placed on the Inactive List when they return.

While serving with the EIC, pay is four times SL, and any normal pay or half pay from the Navy is stopped for the duration of the voyage.

Characters signing up for their second or subsequent EIC voyages can apply to serve at one rank higher than their previous rank in the EIC: however, this promotion is a “merchantman’s ticket” - it applies only when serving in the EIC and is not recognised as a promotion by the Royal Navy.


EIC shares
<shares are increased to make the voyage more attractive, and an option for trading is added>

Shares are purchased at a cost of 100 guineas each:

Crewmen and Master’s Mates can buy up to 2 shares each
Midshipmen and Lieutenants can buy up to 5 shares each
Captain can buy up to 10 shares
Non–Managing Directors must buy 5 shares.
Managing Directors and the Chairman must buy 20 shares

Share Return
The success of the voyage is based on the average battle result (BR) over the six months.

Average BR Pay out per share
1 Ship sunk – no return
2 100 guineas
3 130 guineas
4 160 guineas
5 200 guineas
6 250 guineas


Share Trading
Player characters can buy or sell EIC shares between themselves. At the beginning of a voyage, they can also buy shares from NPC midshipman or lieutenants taking part in the voyage: roll 7+ on 1d6, modified by influence and by +1 per 10% extra money offered for them to sell their allocation of up to 5 shares. Between them, the players can buy a maximum of 60 shares in total this way.

The value of shares will be quoted each month (for each ship) in the Gazette, based the current average result, as a guide to player trading.