Xboat No. 5 has exited jumpspace

[robject]

The apocryphal Xboat No. 5 has arrived!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/407904/Xboat-No-5

Welcome to Xboat!

This is a science fiction fanzine, with most of the material suggested by fans who love Traveller. It's about discussion, example, and bold ideas.

Great Content...

Each issue is at least 24 half-pages (5.5 x 8.5). Xboat No. 5 includes these articles:

* A short adventure by Chad Russell

* The Heavy Tracked ATC, profiled and illustrated to inspire.

* An article on building small space stations, with an example with deckplan.

* A process for creating alien plantlife.

* An index to all Xboat issues, plus notes on how Xboat was produced.

...and more.

Beautiful Artwork...

Illustration is half of inspiration. My fantastic backers made it possible to jam in a generous helping of quality art into every issue.

I have leveraged the experienced and capable Ian Stead, Robert Pearce, and Tim Osborne for beautifully themed artwork. Ian's starships are iconic, and Robert's deckplans are excellent. Tim's artwork is clever and inspired.

 

[agorski]

Now immortalized in the RPGGeek database:

Xboat

From Issue 1 The express boat (Xboat for short) is a tiny interstellar ship with a high jump rating, no maneuver drive, and a cramped living space. It is a vital link in long-range communications. Xboats are difficult to use; their powerful jump drive makes Astrogation tricky, to say the least...

rpggeek.com

 

[Dulinor]

Will there be a print on demand version?

 

[coliver988]

Will there be a print on demand version?

each are pretty small - what would be cool would be an omnibus version of all of them for POD. Now that we have an index

 

[Dulinor]

I backed the zine. I don't need an omnibus, only this last issue!

 

[robject]

There's a couple of POD companies I'm considering. DriveThru is kind of a pain to do POD with last I checked.

 

[coliver988]

I backed the zine. I don't need an omnibus, only this last issue!

Me too, but while I could print it up and add it to my little stash would be nice to have a more professionally printed version. And some omnibuses have additional stuff. And while I normally do not like that approach as it is often a money grab (look, you get 3 whole new pages if you repurchase the same thing; sort of like the college textbooks, but I digress from having a son in college..) this would be a way for people to get all in print a bit easier. And I also support independent publishers like this as they have the courage to do this. So yes, I'd also buy the POD version of an omnibus set.

 

[robject]

each are pretty small - what would be cool would be an omnibus version of all of them for POD. Now that we have an index

Would this be worthwhile though?

Xboat No. 1 - 24 digest pages.
Xboat No. 2 - 24 digest pages.
Xboat No. 3 - 24 digest pages.
Xboat No. 4 - 24 digest pages.
Xboat No. 5 - 24 digest pages.
Xboat SS1 - 36 digest pages.

That's 156 digest-sized pages.

I guess that's how the JTAS compilations were done.

If I knew what people liked I could do a "Best Of" compilation.

And some omnibuses have additional stuff.

And there's a thought.... thanks a lot, now you've got me thinking about it... grrrr.

The problem there is that it's only a short jaunt from "additional stuff" to just putting out an Xboat No. 6.

 

[robject]

If I did an Xboat No. 6, what would it have in it?

 

[Commander Truestar]

If I did an Xboat No. 6, what would it have in it?

An in-depth deep dive of a world from the OTU?

Investigations of unpublished Canon material for lists of intended personalities... Nobles holding OTU worlds in fief, Senior Admirals of the Sector?

Natural (and technologic) wonders of the Sector?

I've put together adventures for my campaign which have involved at least knowing who high level people were, or based on going to visit a world's natural wonders. I could always use more "official" information to suck into my story writing