In Your Traveller Universe, What Changes Have You Made?

[Jeff M. Hopper]

While we all have access to the Official Traveller Universe, what particular changes have you made that have turned it into IYTU?

For myself, psionics usually just don't exist. Pirates and privateers, however do exist and are fairly active (some are even in the employ of megacorps and the nobility). The 3I is a dark governing body, not overly oppressive - but very manipulative and unafraid of using dirty tricks against its own member worlds to achieve the 3I's own goals.

 

[The Thing]

I will NEVER allow the Valkyrie into my traveller universe, EVER!!!

I'm also seriously thinking, but have not as yet, of making the aslan like the vargr, I.E. genetically engineered felines from earth created by the ancients for whatever reason.

Anyone have any thoughts on that last bit? I was thinking it makes the whole "alien cat people" bit less ludicrous....

I pretty kuch hate the k'kree and the zhodani, so both tend to be more aggressive and actively villainous in my campaigns.

 

[Rover]

IMTU there are no aliens. Humans only, but aliens are hinted at. Same with Psionics.

The empire is mainly a faceless bureaucracy who's main purpose is to ensure trade between the stars continues.

There was no assination and no Virus.

R

 

[Valarian]

IMTU I've taken things right back to before the Vilani and Terrans met and then changed history. It's human (Terran) centric, with the Terrans gaining the first footholds in interstellar space.

 

[navywarlord]

Then and now

My old universe stayed away from the assassination... Ran a mostly post-Fifth Frontier War environment in the Marches....

My new universe is totally different (still no assassination in the timeline)
Taking place in a pocket universe (accessed by a misjump), with a few new aliens, some of the originals and a new political landscape.... Any players expecting the norm will surprised....

 

[aramis]

IMTU, PC's conspired with a number of others to put Dulinor on the throne, and Lucan in a Box.

I should say, His Grace, William Hamford, Duke-Regent of Regina, Count Regni, and Zhodani Sympathizer, with the aid of his retinue, manipulated events to allow His Grace to commit heinous acts In Nomine Imperium et Dulinor Imperator that attracted certain attentions, and allowed them to cause lucan to die by use of teleported firearms. During a Moot session.

 

[GypsyComet]

As hinted at above by The Thing, there are a number of alien races presented as official in both G:T and T4 that will never exist in MTU. The Valkyrie are only the most extreme example, but the G:T interpretation of the Addaxur rubs me the wrong way, as do most of the races new to G:T.

 

[aramis]

Nothing from GT makes it to MTU. It is an ATU anyway... NOT the OTU... so nothing GT holds weight outside GT...

 

[soloprobe]

I'm running the Terran empire at war, I have no Zhos but I gave their powers to the Aslans.(whom the empire just finished war with) The Empire not only tolerates psionics ,but develops it's own cadre,Because Every race has psionics. (Vargr psi have floppy ears). I let the Tyranids from Wh40k in ,Because I love to see the look on the players' faces, when they see a GENESTEALER...(the empire defeats them too but not yet) The ancients are rumored to be on the other side of the galaxy..and ,oh yes I have NO SANDCASTERS......

 

[HRLMT]

My Traveller Universe

I started back in 1978 when Traveller was still in the LBB form. I had to create
my own timeline, central government, tech level track, etc. Psionics are in certain races only. Aliens are mostly humanoid with a few exceptions. Piracy is
in isolated pockets or in neighboring pocket empires.
When the Civil War/Rebellion occurred, it happened to one the largest neighboring pocket
empires, not in my central government. Nobles are not common. Noble rank only counts if you are from a world where nobility and feudalism are the norm.
Also, you have to be a member of the diplomatic Corp of that world, private
nobles are advised not to throw thier "noble" status around.As to Tech levels,
my TL base is higher than GDWs'. When I used GDW adventures I had to "graft" into my universe. And yes there were numerous challanges along the way.
That's all for now.

 

[Ben W Bell]

There is very little Solomani cultural influence in the Imperium. No ships named after Terran objects or animals for instance. No English text. No Terran cultural references or the like. All mainly based on Sylean and Vilani influences.

 

[Icosahedron]

Good to see one of your very infrequent posts, HRLMT. Sounds like MTU. I haven't bothered posting on this thread because MTU is an ATU like yours, rather than an adaptation of the OTU and the differences are too many to list.

 

[pendragonman]

In MTU, there is no 3I yet. The galaxy is balkanized with pocket empires of various sizes. The empire the players come from just achieved jump less than thirty years before, and are struggling with designing warships above 1000 dtons. There are bulk cargo haulers to 5000 dtons, but the structural strength and armor necessary for warships is requiring research into new materials...

Sandcasters are a nixie system, non-directional, and a "turret" of sand is really a
nixie laucher. Nixies being an ecm item to break the weapons lock ons. Eccm is available at higher tech levels.

Since classic does not allow for armor in ship design, we are using HG2 for design sequences and space combat. Otherwise, classic LBB 1-3 canon is the norm.

 

[GypsyComet]

Since classic does not allow for armor in ship design, we are using HG2 for design sequences and space combat. Otherwise, classic LBB 1-3 canon is the norm.

This classification of Book 5 as "non-Classic" confuses me.

I also find Book 5 combat mechanics to be overly brutal at the PC ship size range. It isn't particularly well suited to one-on-one combat.

 

[atpollard]

I also find Book 5 combat mechanics to be overly brutal at the PC ship size range. It isn't particularly well suited to one-on-one combat.

I would think that any time your free trader faces ships with bay weapons and spinal mounts in combat, it will be brutal for the free trader - no matter what game mechanic you are using.

(I found the rule where each hit to "crew" reduced the number of people by a factor of 10 to be the harshest HG combat rule).

 

[pendragonman]

This classification of Book 5 as "non-Classic" confuses me.

I also find Book 5 combat mechanics to be overly brutal at the PC ship size range. It isn't particularly well suited to one-on-one combat.

Gypsy, read my comment again. I said that otherwise LBB 1-3 classic canon was the norm. This would imply that other than ship design and ship to ship combat, all other aspects are from books 1-3.

Also, have you tried the HG2 combat rules when both ships are of equal size and less than 1000 dtons? It is actually less brutal than book 2 since then there is an armor value. Further, on ship's this size it is almost impossible to get weapon factors over the ship size factor. Also, even in book 2 a ship of 2000 dtons shooting at a Type A will blow it away in about one combat round, so I don't find this so surprising.

I am limiting the hull sizes while they develop better materials. Largest available is still the largest available in book 2 right now.

 

[aramis]

This classification of Book 5 as "non-Classic" confuses me.

I also find Book 5 combat mechanics to be overly brutal at the PC ship size range. It isn't particularly well suited to one-on-one combat.

I've met quite a few CT players who developed the terminology of
Advanced Traveller or Expanded Traveller = Bk0-8
Classic Traveller = Bk 1-3 or 1-4, possibly with Supp 1-4

This terminology was in use in Anchorage by 1987... and still in use in 1996.

 

[Kharum1]

I'm running the Terran empire at war, I have no Zhos but I gave their powers to the Aslans.(whom the empire just finished war with) The Empire not only tolerates psionics ,but develops it's own cadre,Because Every race has psionics. (Vargr psi have floppy ears). I let the Tyranids from Wh40k in ,Because I love to see the look on the players' faces, when they see a GENESTEALER...(the empire defeats them too but not yet) The ancients are rumored to be on the other side of the galaxy..and ,oh yes I have NO SANDCASTERS......

I want to play in your universe. Genestealers! How about a few Carnifax or a Lictor. Can you image the ship battle against a hive fleet. AWESOME!

 

[pendragonman]

I want to play in your universe. Genestealers! How about a few Carnifax or a Lictor. Can you image the ship battle against a hive fleet. AWESOME!

Carnifex? Are you mad! You just don't let those pumpkin heads run loose! At least not without a couple Dark Angel heavy weapons squads with LOTS of crack!

And wasn't the idea of genestealers running loose shipboard against terminators a game in itself?

 

[Kharum1]

Why yes it was, Space Hulk. It would make for a very interesting game don't you think?