GURPS Alien modules

[Blue Ghost]

For you canoneers, exactly how official, in terms of race description (not neccesarily history), are the GURPS Alien races modules for the OTU?

I think I already have an intuitive answer, but I'm wondering what your all opinions are. I ask because I'm doing some Traveller writing which I may (or may not) turn into adventure modules for the CT setting.

Thanks all!

*editor's note; dyslexia strikes again*

 

[Malenfant]

Exactly what? I think a bit's missing from the question.

 

[Blue Ghost]

DOH! Editing now... standy by...

 

[kaladorn]

Could you clarify the question?

Do you mean strictly the physiological/physical description? Or are you including the psychological/behavioural makeup? You've ruled out history as relevant, but do you mean just how they look or how they act as well?

 

[Blue Ghost]

I guess what I mean is from the break point in history from GURPS's time line and the OTU.

That's kind of why I ruled out history, but I mean history in terms of events up the time of the emperor's assasination.

Sorry for making this overly complexed. I should've been clearer.

 

[rogermccarthy]

I'd guess between 66% and 75% of the GT Aliens material is more or less directly copied from CT and TNE materials.

Some of the races which got quite small write-ups in the JTAS or CT adventure books (Hlanssai, Ael Yael, Virushi etc) are rather expanded, others that got full books in the CT and TNE books get rather shorter treatment in GT.

However this is not always a bad thing - the GT Ithklur write-up for instance has all of the good stuff from the TNE Aliens of the Rim book but drops all the annoying jokes.

Main problem is with the extra races that are added as filler, several of which are interesting but none of which strike me as indispensable - however most are sited well away from the Spinward Marches and Solomani Rim so can easily be ignored.

The only race that presents any sort of real canon issue are the Tezcat who are given an empire in the Reft sector which makes very little sense in terms of their technology and the UWPs and locations involved.

If you don't play GURPS and have all the CT and TNE books then I'd say they're all nice-to- rather than must-haves.

 

[Qstor2]

Originally posted by alte:

The only race that presents any sort of real canon issue are the Tezcat who are given an empire in the Reft sector which makes very little sense in terms of their technology and the UWPs and locations involved.

If you don't play GURPS and have all the CT and TNE books then I'd say they're all nice-to- rather than must-haves.

I like them but I wondered about a lot of the minor races in the back section of the first three alien races books, until I saw a comment on these boards I think to the effect that the races by David Pulver were orginally written for Space Master but rejected then resubmitted and published by SJG for GURPS Traveller. I think if you ignore the races by David Pulver the books are rather good. But then I like the layout of the GURPS books with the sidebars and stuff.

Mike

 

[Blue Ghost]

Thanks for the responses, guys

Great answers.

p.s. Qstor2, on my monitor the "g" in "ignore" is above your smiley face, and makes it look like is has hair.

g

 

[mbrinkhues]

Some of the minor races in the backs of the GT Alien books are from Challenge Articles i.e the Hhkar

As for the rest, unless you can get the original Alien Modules for cheap I think books 1-3 together with Rim of Fire and Swordworlds are very useful for more information on the major aliens and their history and behaviour. Even most of the history information is useabel since the In-Universe cut is rather clearly set in 1105 (Start of FFW). Anything past that might be a GURPS thingy.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Michael Brinkhues:
As for the rest, unless you can get the original Alien Modules for cheap I think books 1-3 together with Rim of Fire and Swordworlds are very useful for more information on the major aliens and their history and behaviour. Even most of the history information is useabel since the In-Universe cut is rather clearly set in 1105 (Start of FFW). Anything past that might be a GURPS thingy.

Actually, although Behind the Claw messed up the events of the 5th Frontier War terribly, the change point between the OTU and the GTU is supposed to be somewhere not too far prior to 1116.

The death (?) of Dulinor and the consequent survival of Strephon was the first macro-event that was different, but just how that came about is as yet undisclosed by the PTB. The earliest change that I've been able to identify is Strephon actually elevating Norris to Archduke in the GTU. That decision has to be taken some time before 132-1116, since a summons has to reach Norris in time for him to be present on Capital on 001-1117.

Artistically, it would be neat if there was only one change and that everything else flowed from that, but I can't quite see how Strephon's decision to elevate Norris to Archduke would cause someone to expose Dulinor's plot in time to suppress it, and I'm sure Loren has his own idea about how Dulinor got scotched.

For the Marches the changes don't begin to show up until 1117 (although in principle Norris' departure for Capital in early 1116 would certainly be a change that could lead to other changes as his deputy may makes different choices than he would have).


Hans

 

[Elv]

Originally posted by rancke:
Artistically, it would be neat if there was only one change and that everything else flowed from that, but I can't quite see how Strephon's decision to elevate Norris to Archduke would cause someone to expose Dulinor's plot in time to suppress it, and I'm sure Loren has his own idea about how Dulinor got scotched.

Couldn't it be the other way round? Somehow Dulinor's plot gets discovered, Strephon is shocked into giving some thought to the Archdukes in general, and he decides to promote a loyal vassal as one of the first steps in making his own position more secure.

John

 

[Jame]

I actually like the races by David Pulver.

Or at least I like the Drakarans.

 

[Jeffr0]

Originally posted by Jame:
I actually like the races by David Pulver.

Or at least I like the Drakarans.

Me, too.

I think they're the fan favorite from among the pseudo-SpaceMaster races.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by John G. Wood:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rancke:
Artistically, it would be neat if there was only one change and that everything else flowed from that, but I can't quite see how Strephon's decision to elevate Norris to Archduke would cause someone to expose Dulinor's plot in time to suppress it, and I'm sure Loren has his own idea about how Dulinor got scotched.

Couldn't it be the other way round? Somehow Dulinor's plot gets discovered, Strephon is shocked into giving some thought to the Archdukes in general, and he decides to promote a loyal vassal as one of the first steps in making his own position more secure.
</font>[/QUOTE]Possibly, but I don't quite see the timimg working. Strephon has to decide on elevating Norris some time before 001-1117, the date Norris must be on Capital for the cermony. It takes a jump-6 courier 32 jumps to go directly from Capital to Regina. But that doesn't mean that it's reasonable to say that Strephon decided on elevating Norris 64 weeks earlier and sent off a courier (or a cruiser squadron) with orders to fetch Norris. After all, he has no way of knowing if Norris is going to be on Regina when the courier gets there. He has to allow for various delays. I'm inclined to argue that when he announces the date of the ceremony on 140-1116, he's holding a letter from Norris saying something like "Make me an archduke? I accept! 001-1117, you say? I'll be there with bells on!" So that brings his original decision back to 64 weeks earlier than 140-1116, which is back on 057-1115 at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Dulinor's conspiracy isn't aborted until very shortly before he is killed. The Ilelish Guard isn't stood down until 132-1116 and the airtime the conspirators had reserved for broadcasting Dulinor's pre-recorded victory speech was cancelled too late for the networks to reschedule.

Still, I admit the available evidence is very scant and tenuous.


Hans

 

[rogermccarthy]

As someone suggested even when almost all of the ctual information is copied verbatim from CT or TNE the GT Aliens books are infinitely better laid out, organised, (with a few exceptions) illustrated and actually have indexes.

Just compare the gorgeously illustrated GT K'kree write-up with the CT K'kree book - there is really no competition.

And the GT Zhodani and Droyne book actually has a full page card of coyns to pull out and cast - a nice little touch.

And if you don't like the Pulver races you can easily decanonise them.

Even a CT grognard like myself has to admit Loren and his team generally did a pretty fine job.

 

[rogermccarthy]

As someone suggested even when almost all of the ctual information is copied verbatim from CT or TNE the GT Aliens books are infinitely better laid out, organised, (with a few exceptions) illustrated and actually have indexes.

Just compare the gorgeously illustrated GT K'kree write-up with the CT K'kree book - there is really no competition.

And the GT Zhodani and Droyne book actually has a full page card of coyns to pull out and cast - a nice little touch.

And if you don't like the Pulver races you can easily decanonise them.

Even a CT grognard like myself has to admit Loren and his team generally did a pretty fine job.

 

[rogermccarthy]

As someone suggested even when almost all of the ctual information is copied verbatim from CT or TNE the GT Aliens books are infinitely better laid out, organised, (with a few exceptions) illustrated and actually have indexes.

Just compare the gorgeously illustrated GT K'kree write-up with the CT K'kree book - there is really no competition.

And the GT Zhodani and Droyne book actually has a full page card of coyns to pull out and cast - a nice little touch.

And if you don't like the Pulver races you can easily decanonise them.

Even a CT grognard like myself has to admit Loren and his team generally did a pretty fine job.

 

[Blue Ghost]

I have to say that, doing my reading and REsearch for my stories/adventures, I find the GURPS books aren't as dry and clinical as the original CT alien books. The GURPS books seem more fleshed out and entertaining to read. I like them a great deal.

Good stuff

(edited for clarity)

 

[Ganidirsii O'Flynn]

Well, I'll take my aliens wherever I can find them. The GT books are great, but I've also used Star Wars, Star Trek, Hammer's Slammers, Babylon 5, Stargate SG-1 and so forth. After all, you only need to tweak color text and a bit of modivations here and there...

Still, it *is* really useful to have the aliens in omnibus books, rather than having them stattered all over Cleon's Creation. For those of you who never played the LBB's, that was a nightmare to put it mildly. The GT books do a fine job of that. The addition of new races that seem to fit into the OTU is a very nice touch.