Massilia / Knightfall

[Whipsnade]

"Actually, I found it was the Challenge series of adventures "something... Blue Feather" that peaked my interest in Massila."


Sir,

'Knights of the Blue Feather' perhaps? The PCs find themselves knighted for their service to Margeret's Faction? Naturally the reward for a tough job well done is tougher job that needs doing!

"I found Knightfall too tightly scripted and had my players railroaded. The sectors that were of greatest interest were Corridor & Vland, thanks to Flaming Eye."

The DGP adventure nugget system did have an unfortunate tendency to lockstep a campaign along one and only one path. IIRC, the Shadowrun RPG has a nice linked adventure setup that can be easily 'ported into Traveller.


Sincerely,
Larsen

 

[kafka47]

Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

For the only adventure of the Rebellion era, I guess I liked the more open-ended Hard Times Milieu which was produced later, as giving a better sense of the Rebellion.

But, don't get me wrong, as a product, I think Knightfall was great, just on players that I tested it on, lost interest very quickly becuase of being lead from one locale to another without really getting a sense where they were was a bit annoning for them. They like the Traveller Adventure because of the radically different planetscapes that it introduced them to.

 

[kafka47]

Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

For the only adventure of the Rebellion era, I guess I liked the more open-ended Hard Times Milieu which was produced later, as giving a better sense of the Rebellion.

But, don't get me wrong, as a product, I think Knightfall was great, just on players that I tested it on, lost interest very quickly becuase of being lead from one locale to another without really getting a sense where they were was a bit annoning for them. They like the Traveller Adventure because of the radically different planetscapes that it introduced them to.

 

[kafka47]

Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

For the only adventure of the Rebellion era, I guess I liked the more open-ended Hard Times Milieu which was produced later, as giving a better sense of the Rebellion.

But, don't get me wrong, as a product, I think Knightfall was great, just on players that I tested it on, lost interest very quickly becuase of being lead from one locale to another without really getting a sense where they were was a bit annoning for them. They like the Traveller Adventure because of the radically different planetscapes that it introduced them to.

 

[J]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

I liked the nugget system too, but I felt that perhaps it wasn't used to it's full potential.

It was good for highlighting the key moments in the adventure which left the referee room to adapt the material to suit his group knowing that he wasn't ruining the rest of the adventure.

But both the Flaming eye and Knightfall were still fairly linear adventures. The nugget system should allow for the adventures to end in multiple ways, that would give the players a real feeling that they effect the outcome of the game. With linear adventures with a single ending the players can feel a bit "railroaded" towards the published ending.

Hard times and the Astrogaters guide to the Diaspora, combined well to form a better sector in which to base a longer campaign. Flaming Eye and Knightfall concentrated on too few planets. But the encounters in Hard times were took more work to string into a full campaign. I suppose you can't have everything
J.

 

[J]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

I liked the nugget system too, but I felt that perhaps it wasn't used to it's full potential.

It was good for highlighting the key moments in the adventure which left the referee room to adapt the material to suit his group knowing that he wasn't ruining the rest of the adventure.

But both the Flaming eye and Knightfall were still fairly linear adventures. The nugget system should allow for the adventures to end in multiple ways, that would give the players a real feeling that they effect the outcome of the game. With linear adventures with a single ending the players can feel a bit "railroaded" towards the published ending.

Hard times and the Astrogaters guide to the Diaspora, combined well to form a better sector in which to base a longer campaign. Flaming Eye and Knightfall concentrated on too few planets. But the encounters in Hard times were took more work to string into a full campaign. I suppose you can't have everything
J.

 

[J]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Actually, I liked the DGP Nugget system, it just was that there could have been more outcomes than just finding the lost city of the Primordials and those options were not explored.

I liked the nugget system too, but I felt that perhaps it wasn't used to it's full potential.

It was good for highlighting the key moments in the adventure which left the referee room to adapt the material to suit his group knowing that he wasn't ruining the rest of the adventure.

But both the Flaming eye and Knightfall were still fairly linear adventures. The nugget system should allow for the adventures to end in multiple ways, that would give the players a real feeling that they effect the outcome of the game. With linear adventures with a single ending the players can feel a bit "railroaded" towards the published ending.

Hard times and the Astrogaters guide to the Diaspora, combined well to form a better sector in which to base a longer campaign. Flaming Eye and Knightfall concentrated on too few planets. But the encounters in Hard times were took more work to string into a full campaign. I suppose you can't have everything
J.

 

[Geonee]

Originally posted by T. Foster:
That said, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to post the outline -- perhaps there's a nugget or two buried in there that might inspire someone (maybe even me?!) to actually do some work on it. When I get a chance I'll try to dig this up and if it's not too embarrassing I'll probably post it here.

Please do. It might remind me of my old notes for a M0 Massilia survey... which were lost to a hard drive crash.

Seriously, a somewhat detailed Massilia is available for TNE in the RICE archives. I have always thought it should be also done for MT (read: the Rebellion), where it makes most sense.

 

[Geonee]

Originally posted by T. Foster:
That said, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to post the outline -- perhaps there's a nugget or two buried in there that might inspire someone (maybe even me?!) to actually do some work on it. When I get a chance I'll try to dig this up and if it's not too embarrassing I'll probably post it here.

Please do. It might remind me of my old notes for a M0 Massilia survey... which were lost to a hard drive crash.

Seriously, a somewhat detailed Massilia is available for TNE in the RICE archives. I have always thought it should be also done for MT (read: the Rebellion), where it makes most sense.

 

[Geonee]

Originally posted by T. Foster:
That said, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to post the outline -- perhaps there's a nugget or two buried in there that might inspire someone (maybe even me?!) to actually do some work on it. When I get a chance I'll try to dig this up and if it's not too embarrassing I'll probably post it here.

Please do. It might remind me of my old notes for a M0 Massilia survey... which were lost to a hard drive crash.

Seriously, a somewhat detailed Massilia is available for TNE in the RICE archives. I have always thought it should be also done for MT (read: the Rebellion), where it makes most sense.

 

[Geonee]

I am toying with developing a "Traveller's Guide to Keum/Massilia", which is the subsector most Library Data in TD 11/Knightfall was in, in particular the Rebin Empire. One subsector rimward from Kerr (The Hubworlds). The only other "canon" reference to the subsector I know of is this (from an old Challenge). It is the piece of news announcing the corporate assets swap. IIRC, there were even some adventures in Challenge dealing with the Vilani corps pulling away from the central regions of the 3I.

Uson/Massilia (0717 A6847CD-C) DATE: 090-1121
In an agreement announced here today, Hortalez et Cie has agreed to a major exchange of assets with the Vilani megacorporations Sharurshid and Naasirka.
Most of Hortalez's new acquisitions are located in the Daibei, Diaspora, and Massilia sectors. These assets include factories, shipyards, industrial real estate, power plants, and space facilities.
In exchange, Hortalez relinquished various holdings in Vland sector. It also liquidated an undisclosed portion of its shareholding position in the two Vilani megacorporations.
"This marks a new era in cooperation between megacorporations," said Hortalez's senior portfolio director, Nils Peterson.
"We and our Vilani peers will now enjoy more control in our respective spheres of primary influence. This concentration of commercial interests into smaller astrographic regions ensures continued economic security and health for the Imperium."
Senior Director Petersen denied suggestions that the exchanges had been motivated by fears that assets further from megacorporate security bases are more susceptible to nationalization proceedings. He cited corporate communications and control difficulties as the major factor behind the move to divest such holdings.

Uson is in Keum subsector. It is an Amber Zone, probably due to the high law level. Question is, why was this announced *there*? Is nowhere near the Ziru Sirka, so it might have been a regional HQ for Hortalez et Cie. Does anybody have any other references to Uson, ever? Or any reference to Hortalez et Cie assets in Massilia?

More generally, does anybody know of any stuff on Keum/Massilia E other than that in the LD referred above?

 

[Geonee]

I am toying with developing a "Traveller's Guide to Keum/Massilia", which is the subsector most Library Data in TD 11/Knightfall was in, in particular the Rebin Empire. One subsector rimward from Kerr (The Hubworlds). The only other "canon" reference to the subsector I know of is this (from an old Challenge). It is the piece of news announcing the corporate assets swap. IIRC, there were even some adventures in Challenge dealing with the Vilani corps pulling away from the central regions of the 3I.

Uson/Massilia (0717 A6847CD-C) DATE: 090-1121
In an agreement announced here today, Hortalez et Cie has agreed to a major exchange of assets with the Vilani megacorporations Sharurshid and Naasirka.
Most of Hortalez's new acquisitions are located in the Daibei, Diaspora, and Massilia sectors. These assets include factories, shipyards, industrial real estate, power plants, and space facilities.
In exchange, Hortalez relinquished various holdings in Vland sector. It also liquidated an undisclosed portion of its shareholding position in the two Vilani megacorporations.
"This marks a new era in cooperation between megacorporations," said Hortalez's senior portfolio director, Nils Peterson.
"We and our Vilani peers will now enjoy more control in our respective spheres of primary influence. This concentration of commercial interests into smaller astrographic regions ensures continued economic security and health for the Imperium."
Senior Director Petersen denied suggestions that the exchanges had been motivated by fears that assets further from megacorporate security bases are more susceptible to nationalization proceedings. He cited corporate communications and control difficulties as the major factor behind the move to divest such holdings.

Uson is in Keum subsector. It is an Amber Zone, probably due to the high law level. Question is, why was this announced *there*? Is nowhere near the Ziru Sirka, so it might have been a regional HQ for Hortalez et Cie. Does anybody have any other references to Uson, ever? Or any reference to Hortalez et Cie assets in Massilia?

More generally, does anybody know of any stuff on Keum/Massilia E other than that in the LD referred above?

 

[Geonee]

I am toying with developing a "Traveller's Guide to Keum/Massilia", which is the subsector most Library Data in TD 11/Knightfall was in, in particular the Rebin Empire. One subsector rimward from Kerr (The Hubworlds). The only other "canon" reference to the subsector I know of is this (from an old Challenge). It is the piece of news announcing the corporate assets swap. IIRC, there were even some adventures in Challenge dealing with the Vilani corps pulling away from the central regions of the 3I.

Uson/Massilia (0717 A6847CD-C) DATE: 090-1121
In an agreement announced here today, Hortalez et Cie has agreed to a major exchange of assets with the Vilani megacorporations Sharurshid and Naasirka.
Most of Hortalez's new acquisitions are located in the Daibei, Diaspora, and Massilia sectors. These assets include factories, shipyards, industrial real estate, power plants, and space facilities.
In exchange, Hortalez relinquished various holdings in Vland sector. It also liquidated an undisclosed portion of its shareholding position in the two Vilani megacorporations.
"This marks a new era in cooperation between megacorporations," said Hortalez's senior portfolio director, Nils Peterson.
"We and our Vilani peers will now enjoy more control in our respective spheres of primary influence. This concentration of commercial interests into smaller astrographic regions ensures continued economic security and health for the Imperium."
Senior Director Petersen denied suggestions that the exchanges had been motivated by fears that assets further from megacorporate security bases are more susceptible to nationalization proceedings. He cited corporate communications and control difficulties as the major factor behind the move to divest such holdings.

Uson is in Keum subsector. It is an Amber Zone, probably due to the high law level. Question is, why was this announced *there*? Is nowhere near the Ziru Sirka, so it might have been a regional HQ for Hortalez et Cie. Does anybody have any other references to Uson, ever? Or any reference to Hortalez et Cie assets in Massilia?

More generally, does anybody know of any stuff on Keum/Massilia E other than that in the LD referred above?

 

[T. Foster]

I don't know of any other canonical references to Keum subsector, but then I wouldn't have caught that TNS entry either so you're already a step ahead of me (note to self: add this to file). The adventure in Challenge #47 ("Knights of the Blue Feather") is set in Massilia but I don't have that issue so I don't know if it has any additional canon about Keum subsector or not.

I'd love to see your manuscript for this book. Of course I'd love even more to write this book, but since that's showing no signs of actually happening I'll transfer my enthusiasm to your efforts. One question though: am I correct to assume this "Travellers' Guide" would be a GT submission? While there's more than enough in this subsector to make it interesting even in the GTU I can't help feeling it'll only have a tiny fraction of its adventure potential without the Rebellion.

 

[T. Foster]

I don't know of any other canonical references to Keum subsector, but then I wouldn't have caught that TNS entry either so you're already a step ahead of me (note to self: add this to file). The adventure in Challenge #47 ("Knights of the Blue Feather") is set in Massilia but I don't have that issue so I don't know if it has any additional canon about Keum subsector or not.

I'd love to see your manuscript for this book. Of course I'd love even more to write this book, but since that's showing no signs of actually happening I'll transfer my enthusiasm to your efforts. One question though: am I correct to assume this "Travellers' Guide" would be a GT submission? While there's more than enough in this subsector to make it interesting even in the GTU I can't help feeling it'll only have a tiny fraction of its adventure potential without the Rebellion.

 

[T. Foster]

I don't know of any other canonical references to Keum subsector, but then I wouldn't have caught that TNS entry either so you're already a step ahead of me (note to self: add this to file). The adventure in Challenge #47 ("Knights of the Blue Feather") is set in Massilia but I don't have that issue so I don't know if it has any additional canon about Keum subsector or not.

I'd love to see your manuscript for this book. Of course I'd love even more to write this book, but since that's showing no signs of actually happening I'll transfer my enthusiasm to your efforts. One question though: am I correct to assume this "Travellers' Guide" would be a GT submission? While there's more than enough in this subsector to make it interesting even in the GTU I can't help feeling it'll only have a tiny fraction of its adventure potential without the Rebellion.

 

[Liam Devlin]

The only Outside reference to Keum, IIRC is lying hidden in the pages of 101 Vehicles of the Shattered Imperium, the Keum Grav APC, built, (you gusssed it!) --on Keum/Massilia!

 

[Liam Devlin]

The only Outside reference to Keum, IIRC is lying hidden in the pages of 101 Vehicles of the Shattered Imperium, the Keum Grav APC, built, (you gusssed it!) --on Keum/Massilia!

 

[Liam Devlin]

The only Outside reference to Keum, IIRC is lying hidden in the pages of 101 Vehicles of the Shattered Imperium, the Keum Grav APC, built, (you gusssed it!) --on Keum/Massilia!

 

[Geonee]

Originally posted by T. Foster:
I don't know of any other canonical references to Keum subsector, but then I wouldn't have caught that TNS entry either so you're already a step ahead of me (note to self: add this to file). The adventure in Challenge #47 ("Knights of the Blue Feather") is set in Massilia but I don't have that issue so I don't know if it has any additional canon about Keum subsector or not.

I have it, but not here... most of my Traveller stuff is in another country (darn). But, IIRC, that adventure was set in the trailing part of the sector, close to Delphi, while Keum is the spinward border. Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

I'd love to see your manuscript for this book. Of course I'd love even more to write this book, but since that's showing no signs of actually happening I'll transfer my enthusiasm to your efforts. One question though: am I correct to assume this "Travellers' Guide" would be a GT submission? While there's more than enough in this subsector to make it interesting even in the GTU I can't help feeling it'll only have a tiny fraction of its adventure potential without the Rebellion.

Well, I was not thinking of a book but a booklet in the 16-page range, and I was not thinking of any submission anywhere <shrug>. The reason is that it would make use of the Library Data from Knightfall, so there would be copyright issues (oh, and Chigan Taal in the subsector is a Geonee world, as Rigaal in Shiwonee subsector---Geonee name ending(?), so more issues). Thing is, I ran a campaign in this subsector once, then lost my notes, am toying with an adventure set there (male-chauvinist Geonee traders are very active in Massilia. The Hi-pop, Hi-tech Rebin empire is radically matriarchal. Enter the players as middlemen), and so the booklet.

As for the setting, it would be "dual". 1110-15 with a section on what happened during the rebellion.