B
Black Globe Generator
Guest
When I first learned to play Traveller, I was something of a xenophobe - I ran a strongly humanocentric game and rarely used other sophonts in my adventures.
Working on the demographics for my new game, I decided to include more aliens and minor humans than in years past - I sat down with the various aliens books and magazine articles, figured out what kinds of worlds would be amenable to different sophonts, and made a list of candidates.
I find that the majority of sophonts IMTU are still humans, but I've added distinctive Vilani and Solomani populations alongside the generic "assimilated" Imperial citizens, and I've introduced quite a few more alien and minor human populations to the mix: Bwaps are found on worlds amenable to their climate needs, particularly alongside the Vilani; Githiaskio and Doplhins are frequent residents of wet worlds; Vargr and Geonee are common everywhere, the latter particularly on high-grav worlds; K'kree trading stations are found on Imperial worlds that would qualify as steppeworlds within their own realms; a couple of planets have Chirper populations; and Hiver tourists and traders (with Ithklur and Gurvin in tow) may be found on Imperial worlds that qualify as fascinating at home in the Federation - even the occasional Aslan trader or solider in Imperial service and a handful of Zhodani scientists and spies knock around my Gateway. Then there are the various Judges Guild aliens as well: the Sydymites, the Danin, the Krmyia, the T'tnaree, the Zaris, and others.
That said, most Imperial worlds are still dominated by humans, particularly Vilani, Solomani, and their assimilated brethren. I prefer alien sophonts to be a spice rather than a main dish, though I'm definitely seasoning MTU much heavier these days.
So, do starport bars in your Traveller universe look like a cantina in Mos Eisley, or does your starship crew look more like that of the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five year mission, with plenty of human diversity but the aliens (other than the resident half-Vulcan) relegated to weekly guest appearances?
Working on the demographics for my new game, I decided to include more aliens and minor humans than in years past - I sat down with the various aliens books and magazine articles, figured out what kinds of worlds would be amenable to different sophonts, and made a list of candidates.
I find that the majority of sophonts IMTU are still humans, but I've added distinctive Vilani and Solomani populations alongside the generic "assimilated" Imperial citizens, and I've introduced quite a few more alien and minor human populations to the mix: Bwaps are found on worlds amenable to their climate needs, particularly alongside the Vilani; Githiaskio and Doplhins are frequent residents of wet worlds; Vargr and Geonee are common everywhere, the latter particularly on high-grav worlds; K'kree trading stations are found on Imperial worlds that would qualify as steppeworlds within their own realms; a couple of planets have Chirper populations; and Hiver tourists and traders (with Ithklur and Gurvin in tow) may be found on Imperial worlds that qualify as fascinating at home in the Federation - even the occasional Aslan trader or solider in Imperial service and a handful of Zhodani scientists and spies knock around my Gateway. Then there are the various Judges Guild aliens as well: the Sydymites, the Danin, the Krmyia, the T'tnaree, the Zaris, and others.
That said, most Imperial worlds are still dominated by humans, particularly Vilani, Solomani, and their assimilated brethren. I prefer alien sophonts to be a spice rather than a main dish, though I'm definitely seasoning MTU much heavier these days.
So, do starport bars in your Traveller universe look like a cantina in Mos Eisley, or does your starship crew look more like that of the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five year mission, with plenty of human diversity but the aliens (other than the resident half-Vulcan) relegated to weekly guest appearances?
