Making heads and tails out of Imperial nobility

[Enoki]

I've been looking at the hierarchy of Imperial nobility and who rules what, and such, kind of as a prelude to trying to do something along the lines of a Game of Thrones thing where the nobility is doing all sorts of nefarious things while trying to grab control of either part of or the whole Imperium. But the more I look into it, the more I find that what's published to date in canon is... Well in a phrase, totally jacked up.

I'd say that something like 75% of the upper nobility (duke and above) are missing or so incomplete I can't use what's available. Most domains, sectors, and many subsectors lack any information on who's ruling them.

I think filled out, with rivalries and alliances at least generally outlined, this would make for a great spinoff game of Traveller. Throwing in the intrigues of other polities outside the 3I in a post assassination of the emperor setting would be great. The problem is, right now what's available on the nobility down to say the level of count / viscount and on houses of nobility is so hosed up it can't be done.

Any suggestions?

 

[whartung]

this would make for a great spinoff game of Traveller.

"Kingmaker" across the Imperium.

 

[kilemall]

I think this is intentional so you can plug in whatever dramatist personae you want for your version of the Imperium.

One immediate thought- use the players that have been granted titles via Marc’s sales goodies.

 

[Black Vulmea]

I've been looking at the hierarchy of Imperial nobility . . .

. . . which one?

What do you consider OTU here?

 

[Enoki]

. . . which one?

What do you consider OTU here?

There is only one currently. There have been some past variations, the pattern is pretty consistent. The hierarchy hasn't really changed over time, and who controls what in terms of area has been relatively fixed. What the problem is that who is controlling what isn't known for the most part and what the alliances and rivalries among the nobility are.

 

[Black Vulmea]

There is only one currently.

And that is what, exacty? I'm not asking to be snarky - I genuinely don't know what you're using as your definitive source on all things OTU.

 

[mike wightman]

In 1105 the Imperial power structure goes - Emperor-> subsector duke.

There are no archdukes and the position of sector duke is a first among equals.

 

[Condottiere]

It seems to me, whether this was the author's intent, or not, you have the domains in the sense you have have the British Raj, having an overall picture of what's going on in there, making policy, and allocating resources to the various sectors and subsectors, and then giving a regional quarterly report back to the Capital.

That scales down to the sector, while the actual governing work is done at the subsector level.

 

[mike wightman]

The domains ceased to be part of the Imperial government structure centuries before the 1105 start date and the authority of archdukes was removed.

This is why the question was asked which version or perhaps era is to be the focus.

 

[bookwyrm]

Archduke - Traveller

wiki.travellerrpg.com

622 Domain Archdukes phased out.
1057 Strephon starts to phase Domain Archdukes back in.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[mike wightman]

He didn't become Emperor until 1071 and didn't start to reintroduce the reforms to the domains until after the fourth Frontier War ('82 to '84) quite how he did this in 1057 is a bit of a mystery... do you have a citation for that date?

 

[bookwyrm]

Since he didn't become Emperor until 1071 and didn't start to reintroduce the reforms to the domains until after the fourth Frontier War ('82 to '84) quite how he did this in 1057 is a bit of a mystery... do you have a citation for that date?

You are correct. I can't find where I got 1057 from. After reading some more in Strephons part of the Wiki, he started phasing in Domain Archdukes after 1084 (after the Fourth Frontier War). (oops, just noticed I'm repeating what you already posted)

 

[whulorigan]

You are correct. I can't find where I got 1057 from. After reading some more in Strephons part of the Wiki, he started phasing in Domain Archdukes after 1084 (after the Fourth Frontier War). (oops, just noticed I'm repeating what you already posted)

Perhaps you are misremembering 1087 or 1097 from somewhere?

 

[bookwyrm]

Perhaps you are misremembering 1087 or 1097 from somewhere?

Probably. But at least I eventually got it right, all it took was doing my research properly.

 

[Black Vulmea]

The domains ceased to be part of the Imperial government structure centuries before the 1105 start date and the authority of archdukes was removed.

This is why the question was asked which version or perhaps era is to be the focus.

Exactly. Milieu 0, post-4thFW Golden Age, Rebellion, and post-Virus are all OTU. The nobility varies quite a bit between all of them.

 

[whulorigan]

Exactly. Milieu 0, post-4thFW Golden Age, Rebellion, and post-Virus are all OTU. The nobility varies quite a bit between all of them.

Even the nature and position of Archduke changed after Milieu:0, from Ceremonal/Honour to Landed Regional Viceroy.

 

[Ulsyus]

I've been looking at the hierarchy of Imperial nobility and who rules what, and such, kind of as a prelude to trying to do something along the lines of a Game of Thrones thing where the nobility is doing all sorts of nefarious things while trying to grab control of either part of or the whole Imperium. But the more I look into it, the more I find that what's published to date in canon is... Well in a phrase, totally jacked up.

It sounds like you're suggesting something like one of the civil wars but without fleets shooting at each other. Corporate buy-outs or raids, infiltrating another's household for intell or disruption purposes, strategic marriages synchronised with "accidents" to inherit titles, etc.

But as the Emperor sits above all of this, how much could individual houses/nobles change the structure themselves?

 

[Enoki]

It sounds like you're suggesting something like one of the civil wars but without fleets shooting at each other. Corporate buy-outs or raids, infiltrating another's household for intell or disruption purposes, strategic marriages synchronised with "accidents" to inherit titles, etc.

But as the Emperor sits above all of this, how much could individual houses/nobles change the structure themselves?

Yes. More intrigue, political backstabbing, and power struggles using things like arranged marriages and familial ties. The Emperor sits on the sidelines for the most part throwing his (or her) weight behind one house or another as benefits them. The main fight is between archdukes or sector dukes how vie for alliances with the subsector dukes and viscounts who are the real holders of economic and military power but unable to wield it on a scale necessary to do big things unless allied through a sector duke or domain archduke.

All the while, various third political parties seek to weaken the 3I and do 'land' grabs when they can. Nobody wants an outright war because that's expensive and doesn't hold a sure outcome most of the time. The military is mostly a garrison force to hold each party's territory and keep rebellions at bay.

But, right now, most of that isn't possible to develop into a game because the state of canon nobility is so screwed up or nonexistent.

 

[Black Vulmea]

I want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly: you think there should be a listing of every subsector's nobility, with bios and factions, for the entirety of the OTU?

 

[Enoki]

I want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly: you think there should be a listing of every subsector's nobility, with bios and factions, for the entirety of the OTU?

I think there should be more on both the structure and the more important nobles than there is. I also think there should be more on rivalries and alliances among them. It would give the whole 3I a much better feel than it has in many areas.

For example, I base almost everything I do in Traveller on the 'other' side of the 3I. That means, because that side is largely ignored in canon I'm free to do what I please with it. The problem is when something official does come out it's likely to contradict or conflict with what I created and that makes for problems in generating scenarios and such. Sure, I can just ignore the official stuff, but in doing so it can create issues at the same time.

An example of what I mean: Let's say you have someone who's generated a character that is nobility. Generally, that doesn't have a great effect on play in most games with most referees. I see that as very important. First, you as a noble are from somewhere and that somewhere has higher nobility that you, most likely, have at least some knowledge of and respect for. That is you are 'attached' to a House of Nobility and have political considerations and obligations that go with that. It isn't just a fancy title.

Now, you're somewhere in the 3I where your House is not highly regarded so-to-speak. Your noble title suddenly becomes a liability rather than an asset. You show up at some class A starport and the customs and immigration people there see your name and title. They report you, maybe covertly, to higher authorities and the local nobles, not liking your relatives and relations, suddenly heap a whole pile of woe on you for it. The ship you're on suddenly can't get a cargo. There are no passengers to be had. The exchange rate on money for the local stuff is way up and they won't accept any alternatives at stores. That sort of thing.

I see the whole noble angle as a great gaming device. It becomes a big part of who you are as a player rather than some afterthought.