[SBRD] Prep: setting discussion

[rancke]

Originally Posted by Fritz_Brown

And, the same would be true of a lot of humans who work out the technique, too.

Possibly, but I don't think so. Humans have never been very good at keeping technological developments secret.


Hans

[rancke]

Originally Posted by SpaceBadger

True - and with Very Large Arrays of telescopes or other sensors networked together, spotting that stuff should be possible without actually going out there to look around - but I think the OTU is already established to have a lot fewer brown dwarfs, rogues, etc, than we do in the Real World.

Yes and no. I don't think it has actually been stated outright that such is the case, but it's a logical deduction from the fact that jumps into starless hexes were ever a problem and still is a problem in the classic era when crossing rifts are concerned.


Hans

[Fritz_Brown]

Originally Posted by rancke

Possibly, but I don't think so. Humans have never been very good at keeping technological developments secret.


Hans

Only if there's more than one person who knows how to do it involved.

[tjoneslo]

Originally Posted by SpaceBadger

Hmm. Only tjoneslo and aramis are listed as Mods on the Wiki...

Dunno, I'll check with him and see if that could be it.

Can somebody else test it, who is not a Mod for either CotI or the Wiki?

Thanks for testing, Fritz!

The issue is I've not set up the Referee only viewing/editing for the Referee namespace yet, it is a little more involved than I originally thought. So everyone can currently read those pages. If they know they exist.

[samuelvss]

Originally Posted by SpaceBadger

True - ....- but I think the OTU is already established to have a lot fewer brown dwarfs, rogues, etc, than we do in the Real World.

But we have already departed significantly from the OTU. At any rate, they are out there. Getting an accurate enough read for navigational purposes from light years away may be quite a challenge. You are, however, in the process of writing the rules to YTU.

[SpaceBadger]

Have any PCs other than ErianFrost's Kalos Thar received the Traveller's Aid Society membership as a mustering out benefit? If so, we need to discuss that.

It just occurred to me that the TAS probably does not exist in our setting. I haven't been able to find any reference on the date of founding of TAS, but it seems to me that it should be after the founding of the 3I, as it relies on the network of A and B-class starports for its network of aid facilities, and also on interstellar trade and communication.

(Besides, if TAS existed during the Long Night, it would be the only such organization spanning all of human space, and would probably be the de-facto government! )

So let's talk about what might be a suitable substitute. I thought of a Spacer's Guild, but then there is no reason why all spacers should not be members. Maybe some sort of honorary society that may provide contacts at some starports, although probably not every starport, and not as organized or providing the hostels that TAS provides. That is kind of a weak benefit, so I am looking for reasonable suggestions as to what else it might provide in lieu of the traditional TAS benefits.

[SpaceBadger]

Originally Posted by samuelvss

But we have already departed significantly from the OTU. At any rate, they are out there. Getting an accurate enough read for navigational purposes from light years away may be quite a challenge. You are, however, in the process of writing the rules to YTU.

I am trying to stick pretty close to the OTU up to the point the game begins, after which history may diverge.

The only significant departures I can think of so far are the fuel-usage being halved, and allowing use of drop tanks earlier than they were invented in the OTU.

I don't think I really want to get too far from the OTU on the issue of "empty hex" jumps. They are possible, but extremely hazardous as the procedures that will be worked out some time in the future do not exist yet. Locating a brown dwarf or something that can act to precipitate the ship out of jump space will help, but still does not make it easy, or something to be done regularly. (This may be one of the reasons for difficulty of survival in Scouts!)

There are some places where major projects (by governments, megacorps, or Aslan clans) have placed gravitic beacons to assist in such jumps, but these are generally kept secret by the organizations involved. Finding such a path, if previously unknown, could be worth a lot.

[samuelvss]

Originally Posted by SpaceBadger

I am looking for reasonable suggestions as to what else it might provide in lieu of the traditional TAS benefits.

Another roll on the table! I wouldn't spend a microerg trying to figure out a substitute.

[DaveChase]

If no TAS then I will take the same number roll on the cash table if that is OK

I was wondering in the back of my mind about TAS when you set the date of the game

[Fritz_Brown]

Originally Posted by SpaceBadger

So let's talk about what might be a suitable substitute. I thought of a Spacer's Guild, but then there is no reason why all spacers should not be members. Maybe some sort of honorary society that may provide contacts at some starports, although probably not every starport, and not as organized or providing the hostels that TAS provides. That is kind of a weak benefit, so I am looking for reasonable suggestions as to what else it might provide in lieu of the traditional TAS benefits.

How about a patron? Someone on whose name/reputation they might be able to draw very occasionally?