The Boötean Federation

[Garnfellow]

I've noted in another thread the important difference between MegaTraveller's Solomani Confederation "Member States" and other canonical descriptions of the Confederation's organization.

In short, MT advanced the idea that the Confederation included multi-system polities with a surprising degree of home rule, essentially confederations within the greater confederation -- in contrast to the Imperium, which generally does not allow such structures. DGP's Solomani and Aslan sourcebook describes several of these Member States.

This idea, though, was pretty much rejected by subsequent descriptions of the Confederation in both GURPS Traveller and Mongoose Traveller.

In general, this is a distinction without a difference. The Wuan Technology Association, for example, doesn't need to be a semi-autonomous unit of government and works just fine as a particularly large trade consortium.

But there is at least one Member State where the distinction is important enough that it makes it very hard to reconcile MT sources with other sources: The Boötean Federation. In addition to the write-up in Solomani and Aslan the Federation was given even more detail in issue 2 of Imperial Lines.

Both GURPS and Mongoose books use the term "Boötean League" instead of Boötean Federation, and neither source treats this organization as anything more than a trade alliance, albeit a particularly powerful one.

• So, has the Boötean Federation been decanonized?
• Is any of the material from Imperial Lines 2 canon? (Was it ever?)
• If the Federation is still considered canon in 1105, should the T5 SS data be updated to include the member worlds? (Maybe using the allegiance code SoBt?)

 

[MThompson016]

Hmm. In reading GT: Rim of Fire, the Bootean League (as it's called there) is detailed in the Capella Subsector section on p. 118. The League's politics aren't doing that well when the book was written, namely Aquitaine and Polyphemus had more radical governments than in the past. From how that chapter is written, it sounds like the League, in my opinion, is a fairly strong subset of the Confederation, however, it is under some internal pressure.

It looks to me to be a bit more than a trade alliance, but not a pocket empire in waiting.

 

[Garnfellow]

The League's politics aren't doing that well when the book was written, namely Aquitaine and Polyphemus had more radical governments than in the past. From how that chapter is written, it sounds like the League, in my opinion, is a fairly strong subset of the Confederation, however, it is under some internal pressure.

In the "Lorenverse" timeline used by GURPS Traveller, the Solomani Confederation fractures and appears to be on the brink of civil war by 1130, with Vantage and other worlds of the Boötean League in the middle of the action.

 

[kilemall]

[FONT=arial,helvetica]

In the "Lorenverse" timeline used by GURPS Traveller, the Solomani Confederation fractures and appears to be on the brink of civil war by 1130, with Vantage and other worlds of the Boötean League in the middle of the action.

Hivers? Smells like their sort of gig.
[/FONT]

 

[rancke]

In the "Lorenverse" timeline used by GURPS Traveller, the Solomani Confederation fractures and appears to be on the brink of civil war by 1130, with Vantage and other worlds of the Boötean League in the middle of the action.

What's the point of using the term 'Lorenverse' instead of the official term 'GURPS Traveller Universe'? A lot more people than Loren influenced the development of the GTU -- an official, approved alternate universe that is identical to the OTU up until around 1114. IIRC Jon Zeigler even replaced him as line editor for a while.

Couid we perhaps get a ban on using this term as being provocative and offensive? Because it definitely annoys me every time I see it.


Hans

 

[aramis]

What's the point of using the term 'Lorenverse' instead of the official term 'GURPS Traveller Universe'? A lot more people than Loren influenced the development of the GTU -- an official, approved alternate universe that is identical to the OTU up until around 1114. IIRC Jon Zeigler even replaced him as line editor for a while.

Couid we perhaps get a ban on using this term as being provocative and offensive? Because it definitely annoys me every time I see it.


Hans

It's a term I've seen from Marc. If anything, GTU is more likely to get banned, because it's invoking a trademark without license.

So, [m;]there is almost no chance the term "Lorenverse" will be restricted during my tenure.[/m;] Unless Marc himself bans it, it simply won't.

 

[kilemall]

I don't see where there needs to be a special protection for specific terms expressed a certain way for a certain end, the rules here clearly state no trouncing on anyone's version.

Personally I'm capable of about infinite mocking of practically anything, at one point I could have become a professional mocker and sometimes do it out of sheer reflex, or maybe like an Alien acid attack. But I read the rules and heeded the guidance, and so I choose not to.

If I can do that, anyone can. Including mods or not-mods.

 

[Garnfellow]

First of all, I am a huge fan of the GURPS Traveller line. I don't much care for the game system, but SJG produced some of my favorite Traveller books of all time, which includes Rim of Fire and Sword Worlds. I much prefer the alternate timeline to the rebellion and virus.

And while the term "Lorenverse" is not particularly elegant or inspiring, neither is "The GURPS Traveller Universe," and Lorenverse at least has the advantage of brevity. Hans, I'm sorry if you read it as a pejorative -- that certainly wasn't my intention -- but I think this is your own personal hangup. Until someone coins a better term for the alternative timeline milieu, I don't think it's going away.

Second, I'm here to discuss the Boötean Federation. Can Solomani and Aslan be reconciled with Rim of Fire?

 

[rancke]

And while the term "Lorenverse" is not particularly elegant or inspiring, neither is "The GURPS Traveller Universe," and Lorenverse at least has the advantage of brevity.

'The GTU' is even briefer and has the advantage of not implying that it's mainly the creation of one particular person, nor susceptible to being interpreted as derogatory.

Hans, I'm sorry if you read it as a pejorative -- that certainly wasn't my intention --

No, and I'm sorry for implying that it was. Though yours was more of straw that broke the camel's back sort of thing. I know some people just think it's cute. Just a few minutes after posting I noticed Robert using the term in a long post that gave every indication of having no ulterior connotations. But a) some people have used it like that, and b) even the non-pejorative implications are false. So while I apologise for having broken my own rule of never choosing the worst possible interpretation, I still suggest that even the best possible interpretation is best avoided.

'<Name>verse' is mostly used to denote <Name>'s personal unofficial universe', and the GTU is most certainly neither Loren's personal universe nor unofficial.

...but I think this is your own personal hangup. Until someone coins a better term for the alternative timeline milieu, I don't think it's going away.

I submit that, for the reasons set forth above, it's very much a public issue. Just what's wrong with 'the GTU'? Shorter, official, precise, and with no false implications? In every way it IS a better term. No need to wait for someone to coin another one. (I really can't take Wil's trademark suggestion seriously).


Hans

 

[rancke]

Personally I'm capable of about infinite mocking of practically anything, at one point I could have become a professional mocker and sometimes do it out of sheer reflex, or maybe like an Alien acid attack. But I read the rules and heeded the guidance, and so I choose not to.

Leaving the subject of derogation entirely aside, the term is specious and should, I submit, be avoided on that score alone.


Hans

 

[Garnfellow]

Look, why don't you start a separate thread for brainstorming better names for the alternate timeline setting. You find one that is better, I'll happily adopt it. Right now I just want to talk about the Bootean Federation.