[Regina] A Proto-Traveller Alternate Universe

[Mithras]

This would work well with player running two characters, firstly explorers, spacers, etc, and secondly upper level movers and shakes: engineers, politicians, planners, scientists, military top brass etc, planning, pulling resources and decision-making.

BTW: I really like the idea, you aren't trapped by real-world concerns.

 

[mike wightman]

Why does this idea make me think of Caprica?

 

[robject]

Edited text slightly.

I've created an initial world map (haven't posted it).

I've got two kinds of ships in mind: (1) insystem commercial and military ships -- smallcraft, cargoliners, exploratory, prospectors, escorts, raiders, and destroyers. (2) exploratory interstellar ships, in the 2,000t range, with prototype jump drives, but little armor. They'll have to carry a full sensor suite, an assortment of carried craft, and exploration tools.

With that in mind, I can see characters in a number of roles. Exploration of course, but also military and commercial work: patrol, piracy, espionage, blockade running, bounty hunting, prospecting, mercenary, construction and rescue (you vs a hostile environment).

 

[2010]

I always liked the idea of starting off a universe and storyline from scratch.

In my scenario, the homeworld is earthlike, highly balkanized and on the brink of nuclear war. The major powers have begun exploring the solar system, and have constructed crude bases on some of the moons and planets.

A man with the means and finances to do it, develops a primitive grav thruster and jump1 drive at the same time in secret. When global nuclear war is days away, he announces the first flight and mission to the nearest star. This captivates the attention of the world and its leaders temporarily delaying nuclear disaster. Upon the successful return of the craft to the homeworld, he publicly makes available the design of the drives, which causes the soon to be at war powers to change their minds and divert their rescources to space exploration.

This scenario gives the players and referee free reign over exploration, settlement, ship design and research, since all can be developed from square one. Overpopulation is solved by sending out colonists, new empires can be created by the first to exploit the newly discovered worlds. Worlds which can develop huge economies can form their own empires. The homeworld and worlds within a few jumps are declared open to all, but beyond that it is getting there firstest with the mostest, and are powerfull enough to hang on to it.

First contact with aliens would be a matter of time. When and where is up to the referee or to chance. I prefer chance. Creating the race and details of the race I would do at random also.

There are two other things that I see which can be derived from this scenario for gamers. The first is the role playing aspect, and second is a monthly or year turn based game of exploration and expansion. The turn based game can be run by the players and used as a backdrop for the rpg.

I don't know how much of this has already been done in the past, as I don't have thime or patience to search the forums and gameshops for game systems which I don't want to invest any money into beyond the various Traveller books that I already have, which is enough for me to make this happen. I just thought I would throw this idea out to the Traveller community.

 

[robject]

Thread resurrect.


I think I'm going to adapt this background data for my First Contact milieu.