Re: Merc Guild

Laserlight Wrote:

>This isn't necessarily the case, because:
>a) the labor may not be that expensive compared to what your citizens
>produce (a doctor making $100/hr will do better to pay the plumber
>$75/hr to install the sink)
>b) you may be able to buy/rent the tank, but not the assembly line and
>tooling to produce it etc
>c) the political situation may go sour quickly and you need those
>troops next month, not next year (I can learn to install a sink, but
>not tonight).
>d) there may be non-economic reasons (your religion forbids you to
>bear arms but you need self-defense forces, for example)

None of which actually refutes my point, which is that Customers of
mercs 
are going to TEND to be states who can afford their price, and need
their 
services.  Whether it's for deniability, expertise, or because they need
a 
force NOW, the economics are going to favor the Mercs, who will,
especially 
if they're an elite unit, be able to command the price they want,
including 
some sort of insurance against loss of equipment.

Brian B2

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