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New Era Sourcebooks

MJD

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Baronet
Assuming that there is sufficient interest in the 1248 book to justify following it up, I have a tentative product line in mind. I'm interested in comments, pitches and alternative ideas...

1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.

2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.

3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)

4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.

5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.

I would also like to see adventures set in the New Era. These will be part of the 'TRaveller Epics' line: 20-25,000 words each, self-contained but can be in a linked series.

Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
 
One adventure that might be very... interesting for the TNE/4I area: Tireen. Rumors and speculations about its fate against Virus vary wildly. Only one way to find out what happened to it... maybe there's technology for the taking, a regular Treasure Island.
 
Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
I would like to see following products eventually:

1. an aliens sourcebook detailing how the major races and empires have recovered (if at all);

2. a ship combat system/game much like Mayday or Brilliant Lances;

3. an equipment guide (or several) covering ships, vehicles, weapons and personal equipment;

4. an expanded equipment design book like FF&S.
 
Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
I would like to see following products eventually:

1. an aliens sourcebook detailing how the major races and empires have recovered (if at all);

2. a ship combat system/game much like Mayday or Brilliant Lances;

3. an equipment guide (or several) covering ships, vehicles, weapons and personal equipment;

4. an expanded equipment design book like FF&S.
</font>[/QUOTE]You do realize, of course, that the last three have nothing to do with the QLI TNE line, right? Those are pure rules books that are pretty much setting independent.

The QLI TNE line will be setting/adventure books that are pretty much rules agnostic. What rules there are, will be done with existing T20. (And, if they can fit it in, they might do some CT translations. But they might not.)

For the first request, the basic situations of all the major races will be outlined and (sometimes briefly) described in the main TNE sourcebook.
 
You do realize, of course, that the last three have nothing to do with the QLI TNE line, right? Those are pure rules books that are pretty much setting independent.
MJD asked "what do YOU want" and that's what I want ;) .
Yes, I realize that two out of four are rules books (an equipment guide for the new New Era is specific to T20 and possibly CT), but they are rules books that could greatly enhance T20, IMHO, if they were done right. No matter which version of Traveller I run ship combat is based around vector movement and I would like to see a version of this for T20, even if as a Traveller's Aide.
For the first request, the basic situations of all the major races will be outlined and (sometimes briefly) described in the main TNE sourcebook.
Sorry, my first request is possibly a little vague. Briefly will do to start with but I would like a lot more detail.
 
Originally posted by MJD:
Assuming that there is sufficient interest in the 1248 book to justify following it up, I have a tentative product line in mind. I'm interested in comments, pitches and alternative ideas...

1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.

2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.

3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)

4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.

5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.

I would also like to see adventures set in the New Era. These will be part of the 'TRaveller Epics' line: 20-25,000 words each, self-contained but can be in a linked series.

Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
That's a tough question. I won't be able to answer that one fully until I know what's been left out of or not covered in great detail in the 1248 sourcebook. The 5 books listed above would seem to cover most of it.

Offhand, I'd say the fate of the Imperium's neighbors would be important to know. I'm guessing that the Zhodani will be included in book 1, the Aslan in book 2, and the Hivers in book 3. I figure the K'kree will figure heavily in the 1248 sourcebook. If they're not included, then maybe they should be or another book will be needed to cover them: "Imperial Neighbors".

Adventures would also be key. I think once people have an idea of what charted space looks like in the 1248 sourcebook, they'll get ideas for adventures. I had one planned for the Denebian Wilds of 1202, but perhaps the Ilelish Wasteland of 1248 would be a better choice.
file_23.gif


I've got a family gathering to attend tomorrow so I'll either be checking in for the 1248 playtest area tomorrow night or on Monday.

I'm really glad to hear you've been able to get this done Martin. I look forward to reading the rough draft.
 
Originally posted by MJD:
1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.

2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.

3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)

4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.

5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.

I would also like to see adventures set in the New Era. These will be part of the 'Traveller Epics' line: 20-25,000 words each, self-contained but can be in a linked series.
Of those suggestions, 1,2 & 3 seem like no-brainers.

I'm not sure what would go into a 'Pocket Empires' book: a system for building pocket empires? Examples pocket empires?

4 provides a whole new emphasis for Traveller: exploring the new frontier, which could be really good allowing for a Star Trek-like campaign of exploration and first contact.

As a GM with little time to write my own adventures then adventure books are always welcome.

Anyway, looking forwad to 1248.
Cheers,
Jim.
 
Originally posted by MJD:

1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.
I guess this is inevitable (as a comparison if nothing else) but for me I'd prefer to see other areas covered first.

There'd be no hurry for me to get this. Though I would be interested in seeing how the Heffrian Rotters turn out.

2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.
:cool: Yes. One of my favorite spots in the OTU (though I tweak it some) and perhaps a chance to have the Rim not be so Loonie. ;) First on my list.

3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)
Well this would show the changes from TNE. However it'd be about third on my personal list.

4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.
Sounds too much like a Clan supplement from BT to me. And if they had to go beyond, well they can stay there, as a mystery and a tale to be told to children.

I wouldn't be interested in this offhand.
5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.
:cool: The original is hard to find and the new setting should have a lot of pocket empires. However if it could be made as generic as possible (appendix?) this would help.

2nd on my list.

Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
Well an update on the Gateway Domain. I'm really like the Domain and it would be fun to play in 1248. Though I suppose this could be a web supplement / Traveller's Aide or I could just make my own changes.
file_23.gif


Casey
 
Originally posted by MJD:

1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.
This would be a worthy addition but not neccessarily my first choice, as wouldn't it be in danger of treading over some of the same ground as the Regency sourcebook?

As much as the Spinward Marches have been done in all versions of Traveller, I would like to see a somewhat break from the Marches and go somewhere unknown, much as the Hinterworlds broke the deadlock in MT...

2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.
Now this sounds really fun, to learn what was/is the Solomani Confederation rather than simply the Sol. Rim but a real nice sourcebook on Earth/Terra is a must for Traveller and long neglected since Marc's article on Luna. I have always wondered what lay more Rimward. Cats & Rats leaves much for the guessing...

3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)
As much as I learnt to love the Star Vikings and the RC. It is a milieu that I think belongs to the dustbin of history. As this was the story of the original TNE, I would like to see TNE Mk II real venture into the unknown.

4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.
As per above, this is the real exciting thing about TNE MkII and would want to see more of. A campaign of genuene exploration would be a welcome change for Traveller and give the game a chance to live up to its name. Without going Star Trek-like we can hopefully see beyond the Imperial Campaign and this would be the most exciting supplement of them all. Especially, if you take a more Hard SF approach to the game, I think this supplement would generate an entirely different game than what we have seen before and consquentially blow new life into the game...
(as you can see I am enthuasic!)

5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.
While I love Pocket Empires, I would fear that the product may have a risk of degenerating into the T4 Pocket Empires & Imperial Squadrons sourcebook rather than carving out new terrain...a neccessary supplement but time it toward the end.

I would also like to see adventures set in the New Era. These will be part of the 'TRaveller Epics' line: 20-25,000 words each, self-contained but can be in a linked series.
NOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT i WOULD WANT TO SEE MOST OF ALL!! Traveller has too long suffered from the lack of adventures compared to its rival D&D. We need to have people begin to talk about their shared experiences, and one way to entice newbies is a well thought out series of adventures.

Even if you hate Gygax, the core D&D players will always remember his dungeons/adventures. Say, isn't there a company that touts 3e rules but 1e feel. This is something that Traveller has lacked because of the general remoteness of the modules in Traveller. Yes, we have the Traveller adventure that inspires stories and the Ad. 1 Kuniur but could we the same of Flaming Eye or the Once and Future Emperor?


Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
Most of all I think I would like to see the mysteries of the black curtain explained and a detailed but living lots of holes for the imagination at the Dominate. I would also like to see Traveller head off into exploring more Ancient civilizations without actually talking about Droyne ancients but rather the cluster of civilizations that co-existed with the Ancients.

I would also want to see a very high tech society in great detail, which is what I expect from the 4th Imperium.

I sound like a child in a candy store, I am sure but MJD you have given us so much hope in a new Traveller that I cannot wait for the beginnings of the New Era under your stewardship and then once I have seen what you have written, I am sure that will indicate the need to tell you which "holes" I would like to see filled.
 
MJD wrote:

"Assuming that there is sufficient interest in the 1248 book to justify following it up, I have a tentative product line in mind. I'm interested in comments, pitches and alternative ideas..."


Sir,

I'm always happy to spout off...

"1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: (snip) 2. The Rimward States: (snip) 3. The Trailing Edge: (snip)"

These three 'regional' sourcebooks should be great sellers. Of the 3, I'd vote for the one region that hasn't really been tackled before; Trailing, followed by Rimward; it would be nice to see a non-lunatic Sol region for once in the OTU, and finally the Spinward area; which has been done to death(1).

"4. The Star Vikings: (snip)"

A tough call. The RCES and Vikings are rather polarizing; some in the Hobby see them as the noble minded bearers of civilization they like to think of themselves as and others see them as bloody handed thugs stealing assets from those folks who they deem can't 'use' them 'properly'. The idea of the Vikings migrating to some area far beyond the OTU's boundaries and providing Our Olde game with its first true virgin-field setting is very intriguing.

"5. Pocket Empires: (snip)"

T4 already did it and in such a fashion that it can easily be 'ported into other mileaus and rules. Don't bother re-inventing the wheel, instead get Mr. Miller to re-issue the only good thing to come out T4 in the first place.

"Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?"

A supported mileau in which to set my campaigns and sessions. One that will rarely, if ever, render moot MTU's occurances. In other words, CT prior to the 5th FW! That plus a 20kg box of money! ;)


Sincerely,
Larsen
 
I would be wanting Unique things to do.

So like, regions arn't interesting to me unless there is something going on there.

I think the 4i frex, is going around doing Big Important Things like putting down the Black Imperium and fighting off this Dominate thing.

TNE was good for me because you had the whole carving out a future with Big Guns, which I liked.

While Transhuman Space is seriously cool but is kinda difficult to use because there aren’t many signature things to do or Iconic Badguys to fight.

So why is this pocket empire more interesting than that pocket empire?

---------------

On the Viking front, I think it would be nice to do a sorta Anti Star-Trek/Battlestar Galactica thing whereby you have this fleet of large (long)ships scattered over a subsector moving rapidly towards their goal, with teams of, well, PC's out in front scouting the way, identifying problems, marking sources of men and material and with the authority to call in backup to liberate them if they need to.

They don't care about the cultures they encounter*. They haven’t got the time or the Inclination to take long term solutions. They are on a Mission From God.

Gotta keep the fleet moving, and boy is it hungry.

Cue Old Man In Command knowing his cause is just and things must be done, but always wondering what they heck he is going to do once hes done it.

I see an epic limited scope adventure with setup of the Vikings heading out, important adventures along the way (with straw man villains to reinforce the moral of the story), a resolution of the quest and then a multiple choice ending of what happens to the fleet then.

*More than say a herd of migrating buffalo cares about the grass its looking at, say.

---------------

I do like happy people have adventures in space stuff, but if your going for a special TNE line, you need something different right?

Epic Heroics I'd be down with.

---------------

TNE Symbol?

The sunburst is like the Traveller Iconic image right, and the megatraveller shattered sunburst carries that somewhere new right?

So can anyone think of something that implies a reforged but also new and different sunburst?
 
Originally posted by Casey:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Erik Boielle:

TNE Symbol?

So can anyone think of something that implies a reforged but also new and different sunburst?
I'm thinking that's what
1248.gif

this is.

Casey
</font>[/QUOTE]That's the general idea. I did the drawing based on MJD's description in "Diaspora Phoenix" of such a symbol. It sounded interesting, so that's what I came up with. I do hope that something like it will eventually be used.

William
 
Regarding the original topic, I'd like a sourcebook on the Reaver's Deep that incorporated as much as possible from the Keith's work as presented in Paul Sanders/Cargonaut Press's Sourcebook. I've always found that intersection of 3 empires and a handfull of PE's very interesting. I'm sure that the human and aslan successor states around 1200 - 1250 have got an enormous amount of potential.

William
 
Coreward/Rimward/Spinward/Trailing: not bothered. It's what you put there, not where you put it.

Star Vikings: publish something outside charted space because you've come up with a terrific setting that could only exist outside charted space. Don't do it because "we should have something outside charted space" or "we need closure for the Star Vikings". If you've got some cool idea, then run with it.

Originally posted by MJD:
Question is, what do YOU want from the product line?
1. Adventures. Lots.

Make them open-ended adventures, so far as possible (I know this is hard). Define situation and NPC motive/ability and ongoing events, rather than layiing down a story to guide the PCs through.

And make them adventures that work in campaigns, so that the same adventurers can move from one to another. I really didn't need to finish The Kursis Charter and buy the fine piece of work that is Objects of the Mind only to discover that it's irrevocably set 11 jumps away and the characters are supposed to get involved for a measly Cr 20000. Time for a huge handwave or new character sheets. I don't especially want to see systems/planets even named in adventures, let alone described. That's for settings. [Unless you sell both as a clearly designated adventure + mini-setting bundle, that is -- Linkworlds++.]

2. I'd like to see a well-defined mini-setting to complement the sparsely designed maxi-setting. I want some patch of space where every single system is described, not one system in thirty (like Gateway). One of the reasons I buy stuff off the shelf is to save me the work of doing it myself. I'd like a bit of space where the players can prod the map and say "we can go via A or B, what's in our library data on them?" and I just look up A and B in the settign book.

I know loads of people will dislike this because it reduces their room to manoeuver, but they've got the other 95% of the maxi-setting to play in. And may I point out that the most commercially successful RPG setting in the world by miles (the Forgotten Realms) works like this.


I suspect this might mean avoiding canonincal random worldgen and actually designing the worlds. If so, so be it.
 
Originally posted by MJD:
1. The Spinward States Sourcebook: Successors to the Regency and their neighbours.
Interesting ... has to be done.

Originally posted by MJD:
2. The Rimward States: The Solomani Imperium and the Terran Commonwealth, plus information on what's out on the rim beyond them.
Very interesting ... anything that gets us out of the box of charted space is a good thing IMHO.

Originally posted by MJD:
3. The Trailing Edge: The United Worlds and the Freedom League (Reformation Coalition)
Also interesting, although I would be more interested in seeing what happened to the Julian Protectorate ... (never did like the RC much). Then again, the Hivers seem very interesting and would be most interested in these guys.

Originally posted by MJD:
4. The Star Vikings: (this will be a difficult one) - playing a Star Viking campaign beyond Charted Space.
Fun, fun, fun! Love the idea of getting outside charted space, not sure that Star Vikings are the sort I would like to play ...

Originally posted by MJD:
5. Pocket Empires: Empire-building etc in the Wilds.
Great idea ... a good way of reclaiming the areas inside charted space, whilst giving us empire builders some crunchy goodness.
 
Originally posted by William:
1248.gif



That's the general idea. I did the drawing based on MJD's description in "Diaspora Phoenix" of such a symbol. It sounded interesting, so that's what I came up with. I do hope that something like it will eventually be used.

William
I do have to say that, for quite a while, looked at the symbol and wondered what a lobster was doing against the Imperial Sunburst... :D

Ron
 
Martin,

All of these sound great, though I believe I am most interested in seeing Option 5 develop, with perhaps an additional sub-focus on using the techniques therein for alternate Traveller universe creations. (Just a lot of fun stuff there to do.) However, would there be enough to make this a full-fledged sourcebook, as opposed to a Mega-TA or something like that?

Will these be pursued as PDFs of a TA/TE size, or are you looking at turning these into full-fledged hardcovers? What's the specs that you anticipate for these projects?

Thanks in advance,
Flynn
 
I say: if you want to play in uncharted space, why aren't you already doing it? It's called "making it up yourself", or "YTU". I cannot believe the number of people who complain about there being nothing new in regards to databooks or adventures. Don't you have imaginations of your own? Isn't that what the game is all about in the first place; imagining things?

It's certainly handy to have a consistent set of details worked out for you, such as a source book or whatnot, maybe an "example" adventure or two (how many actually have used the two that were in the mainbook?), but I think the primary focus at this point is to get the STORY back on track, to inspire new ones.

Giving us some useful info on Star Vikings really shouldn't consume more than a few pages. We don't need specific worlds, just tell us which direction they went and what they're doing and if they plan on returning to make sure their work has not gone for naught. What kind of ships do they use, are they eternally roving or do they settle somewhere, do they come across some new alien and have to make war on it... But there's probably little if any need for a star chart. If they went to uncharted space, that's the PERFECT opportunity to use the sector and world generators. Anyone who doesn't want to use them is free to use the Spinward Marches and suspend a bit of disbelief.

Seeing new adventures would be great, but it's something that can wait until one of the sourcebooks (#1-3) have been done, and included with it, and should not have a "fixed" line to it. Put in some random tables to determine if the stories given are true or not, kind of like the approach used in Arrival Vengeance. That way players won't know for sure what's going to happen even when they buy the book. (Obviously, the implementation depends on the story, but AR pulled it off beautifully, I think. The overarcing story was out of the PC's control, so it could be presented in nuggets.)

But put out the 1248 book before you start worrying about sourcebooks.
 
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