Proud Merchant Race: Difference between revisions

A [[Proud Warrior Race]] is a culture whose [[Planet of Hats|hat]] is war. Conversely, a [['''Proud Merchant Race]]''' is one whose [[Planet of Hats|hat]] is being [[Intrepid Merchant|Intrepid Merchants]]s. Has overlap with [[Space Jews]], but often in a positive manner with implications of having a tradition of enterprise and exploration. However, on the flip side, aspects of the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] who will do ''anything'' for [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|a quick buck]] may be in place (since it's deemed less [[Unfortunate Implications|politically incorrect]] to depict aliens or fantastic creatures in this fashion than real humans) and there may be an [[Honest John's Dealership]] or two in the ranks of them (since not all merchants are honest folk).

Also overlaps with [[Merchant City]] and sometimes with [[Space Cossacks]]. One difference is that a [[Merchant City]] can be just a place where [[Intrepid Merchant|Intrepid Merchants]]s from elsewhere visit whereas a [['''Proud Merchant Race]]''' has to conduct trading on its own. As trading long distances is dangerous and outlaws ever present, sometimes a [['''Proud Merchant Race]]''' is also a [[Proud Warrior Race]].

** According to in-universe history, Komarr itself is a [[Merchant City|Merchant Planet]], originally colonized because of its crossroads in space character. When they'd accumulated enough capital they expanded into sending their own trading fleets out. Now that they're part of the BayarrianBarrayaran Empire, their fleets go out with armed escorts. Which have been needed, too.

** Corellia is described as falling on most of the major galactic trade routes, making it an economic powerhouse and a center of shipping and starship manufacturing (which means that, consequently, Badass Navies had a large number of Corellians). Trade and business is held in such high regard that Corellia has several seats in its Corellian Council (the legislature responsible for selecting its executive, the Diktat) reserved for corporate representatives. Also, their fleet and defense force is trained primarily to stave off piracy and minimize profit loss, and apparently does a pretty good job (at least until the Empire starts stacking its government with [[Black Shirt|Black Shirts]]s and [[The Syndicate]]). Justified in that Corellia is an [[Expy]] of the United States, and Coronet City in particular is an [[Expy]] of NYC, both of which are known for Proud Merchants. Their [[Never Tell Me the Odds]] attitude is also befitting for those in the high risk game of intergalactic business.

* In ''[[Everworld]],'' the Coo-Hatch have traces of this. In truth, though, their real [[Planet of Hats|hat]] is smelting--butsmelting—but since their [[Absurdly Sharp Blade|super-sharp steel]] seems to be their only real resource in Everworld, they naturally have to trade for anything else.

* In ''[[Elantris]]'' the merchants took over Arelon after Elantris fell and tried to force the nation into being a [[Proud Merchant Race]]; political positions are awarded according to who earns the most money. Even the king could lose his throne if someone made more than him in a given year (though being able to count the nation's tax revenue as his personal income makes this unlikely).

** The Third Imperium claims to be this as well, and has some merit for the claim. However a large part of it's economy is to routinized and bureaucratized to give it the true glamour of a [[Proud Merchant Race]]. It is often more like an efficient merchant race.

* ''[[Dungeons and& Dragons]]'', as usual.

** The space-faring Neogi is an ''extremely evil'' version of this trope. How evil? They are lumped together with other [[Eldritch Abomination]] such as [[Time Abyss|Aboleth]], [[Cthulhumanoid|Illithid]], and [[Mind Control|Tsochari]]. They are known to be one of the few races the Arcane refuse to deal with.

** Ethereals are ''inter-dimensional'' examples. Like with Goblins, different operations have different morals: the Consortium seems to be roughly equally morally to the Steamwheedle Cartel (though they've been known to involve themselves in smuggling) and players can earn reputation with them, but the Vir'aani are basically [[Space Pirates]].

* Nopon in ''[[Xenoblade]]'' are a society largely driven by fair trade. Despite being rather unintimidating balls of fur (one is [[Crowning Moment of Funny|briefly used as a volleyball]]) often shown to be afraid of the local wildlife, many are [[Intrepid Merchant|Intrepid Merchants]]s, found in odd spots all over Bionis, often with domesticated animals far larger than themselves in tow.

* The Drowolath from ''[[Drowtales]]'', considering that feeding the nobility, who are, of course, snobbish jerks about it, requires many [[Intrepid Merchant|Intrepid Merchants]]s to venture to the Overworld, a land where knights in dishonorable armor roam, where danger in the form of ravenous beasts (wolves and the like) abounds, and where it actually freakin' RAINS OMG.