The new design contest is up
---------------------------------------------
We talked about the concept, and the only hard number in
the specs is the pricetag. So I see no need for any further
debate, and here it is ...
Some BACKGROUND Notes for Contest 20
They tell us that the Third Imperium is a government of men,
not laws, held together even over interstellar distances by
the code of honor of the nobles. It is also called a feudal
system.
In theory, a feudal system has a clear chain of obligations
and command-and-control. Each noble owes fealty and support
(troops) to his direct liege lord and each liege lord owes
protection and support (a fief) to his direct liege men [1].
In practice, things could be more tangled. A king who wants
to be more than a figurehead for the aristocracy would need
agents to keep track of his country, and these agents could
wield influence far out of proportion to their formal noble
rank. In the Traveller universe, such agents are appointed
by a Warrant. We all know the famous Imperial Warrant that
enabled Norris to take control of the 5th Frontier War, but
GT42 tells us that lesser warrants can be issued by dukes
and archdukes.
Another complication are spare heirs, raised to take over
if something happens to the heir apparent but without the
prospect of a job unless the proper heir dies an untimely
death. In romantic fiction, such knights might strike out
in search of honor, wrongs to right and the holy grail.
Where a medevial knight might get arms, armor and a horse
or two from his family, the Traveller knight errant needs
a ship ...
The SPECIFICATIONS for Contest 20
Write a starship for a young noble, either a knight errant or
an agent of a duke. The color text should make it clear which
one you have chosen and you can add a writeup of the (N)PC if
you like.
The budget is limited to four times the cost of the standard
Scout/Courier your ship design system (with GT, remember the
exchange rate rules on FT48).
The noble will require proper quarters, if only to entertain
visitors in the expected style. Beyond that, almost anything
goes - a courtroom or a ballroom, a high-security prison or
dusty document vaults, high speed or ponderous elegance.
The TIMELINE for Contest 20
I plan to take ample time to avoid mistakes, and to give all
of you time to come up with a good design.
September 29th Specs are posted
October 20th Deadline for entries.
I will send a receipt for each entry.
October 21th Time to scream if you have no reply from me.
October 23th or so Entries and voting rules are posted by me.
[1] In a historical context, these nobles would usually be
male. In Traveller, there is no such constraint.
------------------------------------------------
So come on over to JTAS and join the fun!
http://jtas.sjgames.com/login/discussion/index.html?mg=sjgames.playtest.gurps.swordworlds&m=1090
---------------------------------------------
We talked about the concept, and the only hard number in
the specs is the pricetag. So I see no need for any further
debate, and here it is ...
Some BACKGROUND Notes for Contest 20
They tell us that the Third Imperium is a government of men,
not laws, held together even over interstellar distances by
the code of honor of the nobles. It is also called a feudal
system.
In theory, a feudal system has a clear chain of obligations
and command-and-control. Each noble owes fealty and support
(troops) to his direct liege lord and each liege lord owes
protection and support (a fief) to his direct liege men [1].
In practice, things could be more tangled. A king who wants
to be more than a figurehead for the aristocracy would need
agents to keep track of his country, and these agents could
wield influence far out of proportion to their formal noble
rank. In the Traveller universe, such agents are appointed
by a Warrant. We all know the famous Imperial Warrant that
enabled Norris to take control of the 5th Frontier War, but
GT42 tells us that lesser warrants can be issued by dukes
and archdukes.
Another complication are spare heirs, raised to take over
if something happens to the heir apparent but without the
prospect of a job unless the proper heir dies an untimely
death. In romantic fiction, such knights might strike out
in search of honor, wrongs to right and the holy grail.
Where a medevial knight might get arms, armor and a horse
or two from his family, the Traveller knight errant needs
a ship ...
The SPECIFICATIONS for Contest 20
Write a starship for a young noble, either a knight errant or
an agent of a duke. The color text should make it clear which
one you have chosen and you can add a writeup of the (N)PC if
you like.
The budget is limited to four times the cost of the standard
Scout/Courier your ship design system (with GT, remember the
exchange rate rules on FT48).
The noble will require proper quarters, if only to entertain
visitors in the expected style. Beyond that, almost anything
goes - a courtroom or a ballroom, a high-security prison or
dusty document vaults, high speed or ponderous elegance.
The TIMELINE for Contest 20
I plan to take ample time to avoid mistakes, and to give all
of you time to come up with a good design.
September 29th Specs are posted
October 20th Deadline for entries.
I will send a receipt for each entry.
October 21th Time to scream if you have no reply from me.
October 23th or so Entries and voting rules are posted by me.
[1] In a historical context, these nobles would usually be
male. In Traveller, there is no such constraint.
------------------------------------------------
So come on over to JTAS and join the fun!

http://jtas.sjgames.com/login/discussion/index.html?mg=sjgames.playtest.gurps.swordworlds&m=1090