PathfinderAP
SOC-12
The Narcissus ship (on the next page) looks like it belongs in Traveller,
If Traveller ships were to look like this......
- Thread starter PathfinderAP
- Start date
The Narcissus ship (on the next page) looks like it belongs in Traveller,
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
What about those sketches in the Zhodani Alien module that are straight out of The Empire Strikes Back and the original Battlestar Galactica?
They got away with that, too.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Which ones?
Well, I am sure that many things have been appropiated (at least at the level of the unconscious) from the different SF films (Sylvea battleship is the Star Destroyer we all saw in circa 1977).
One interesting motiff of Traveller art is how much of the art has been influenced by military designs. I once showed my wife (who does not do RPGs) a cover from TD of a Free Trader rising over a Gas Giant...her comment was: "Looks like a tank doesn't it?" Pouring over the designs after that comment, I am amazed at how indeed things were appropiated from other sources. Tech of the future should look familar but different and that is the greatest challenge of any artist or referee.
But back to the issue at hand...how to design better ships? I think the responsibility will fall to us and the type of Traveller Universe we want to build. If it is a fantastical Space Opera game then we need a good mix of big ships and small ships. If it is Hard SF then long ships. Most of us agree that Traveller is best when it is a Hard Space Opera, therefore, we will continue to need people like Andrew (and the other greats of the new Traveller school of art) to us the pallette to paint upon our universe. Thus, keeping the best of the old, and carrying them forth into the 21st century.
One interesting motiff of Traveller art is how much of the art has been influenced by military designs. I once showed my wife (who does not do RPGs) a cover from TD of a Free Trader rising over a Gas Giant...her comment was: "Looks like a tank doesn't it?" Pouring over the designs after that comment, I am amazed at how indeed things were appropiated from other sources. Tech of the future should look familar but different and that is the greatest challenge of any artist or referee.
But back to the issue at hand...how to design better ships? I think the responsibility will fall to us and the type of Traveller Universe we want to build. If it is a fantastical Space Opera game then we need a good mix of big ships and small ships. If it is Hard SF then long ships. Most of us agree that Traveller is best when it is a Hard Space Opera, therefore, we will continue to need people like Andrew (and the other greats of the new Traveller school of art) to us the pallette to paint upon our universe. Thus, keeping the best of the old, and carrying them forth into the 21st century.
PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Exactly, it needs to retain what is Traveller, but develop the desigin for a new age, the basic simple lines of the ships 20+ years ago simply can't cut it today, tastes have moved forward, developed,
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I thought that they were obvious and everybody knew them.
The illo. on pg. 24 is obviously from the pre-production art of ESB, Luke, in his downed snowspeeder.
Pg. 2 is Athena's publicity still from the oBSG, even down to the uniform, boots, blaster strapped to her hip, and gizmo computer on her leg.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
I spotted the first (only 'cos I was looking). Didn't know the second.
[rant mode]
Is this not when the Copyright Police begin to cry foul...
Sorry, as a person who believes in CopyLeft or the limitations on copyright, it merely proves the point that creativity of the best sort is done through cross fertilization and hybridization of different products and properties. Sure, the new boys need to gain revenue (ie royalties) but only as they develop new things. [turn off rant mode]
It would be interesting to see how Traveller art gets further developed with the old school dying out. For when I look at GURPS, even Jessie has not anything really new. Scarecrow & Andrew do it as a pastime. So that leaves us with Mongoose. And, their firm objective is develop Traveller art (for ships) along the lines that easily supports minis. A worthy & unworthy enterprise as personally I don't like minis. So I am rather hoping for complex ships to appear in Traveller that are akin to the Nostromo to make more of an appearance over the wedges. I also like the notion of going back to a pre-gravatic civilization thus allowing for more interesting designs. Although, on a world's surface this exactly how I can visualize some of the fantastic architecture that seems to defile gravity. Sigh. I make a lousy art editor but good critic...
Is this not when the Copyright Police begin to cry foul...
Sorry, as a person who believes in CopyLeft or the limitations on copyright, it merely proves the point that creativity of the best sort is done through cross fertilization and hybridization of different products and properties. Sure, the new boys need to gain revenue (ie royalties) but only as they develop new things. [turn off rant mode]
It would be interesting to see how Traveller art gets further developed with the old school dying out. For when I look at GURPS, even Jessie has not anything really new. Scarecrow & Andrew do it as a pastime. So that leaves us with Mongoose. And, their firm objective is develop Traveller art (for ships) along the lines that easily supports minis. A worthy & unworthy enterprise as personally I don't like minis. So I am rather hoping for complex ships to appear in Traveller that are akin to the Nostromo to make more of an appearance over the wedges. I also like the notion of going back to a pre-gravatic civilization thus allowing for more interesting designs. Although, on a world's surface this exactly how I can visualize some of the fantastic architecture that seems to defile gravity. Sigh. I make a lousy art editor but good critic...
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
The ship on BoJTAS#3
http://www.travellerbibliography.org/jtas/Best-3.html
looks awfully like
http://wintermute71.tripod.com/images/Elson/TraderToTheStars.jpg
http://www.travellerbibliography.org/jtas/Best-3.html
looks awfully like
http://wintermute71.tripod.com/images/Elson/TraderToTheStars.jpg
PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Can't get an image on that one
beowulf2044
SOC-12
It's even more prevalent in other areas. I found some interior illustrations for Perry Rhodan novels there were lifted straight from Barlow's Guide to Extraterrestrials.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Yep, and the only reason I can imagine the "artist" got away with the SW rip-off is it never came to the attention of the holders of either property at the time.
It might surprise you to learn I'm more with you than against you on the issue. But we won't go down that road right.
As for creativity, the above examples show a total lack of it. The SW one is pretty obviously a tracing. Anybody can do that. And there are plenty of other similar examples as have been raised in past threads on the subject. Not that such copying is bad, it's a time honoured tradition of students of art to copy the masters to develop their talent. Selling such copies is where things get interesting.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Hmm, worked for me. Try again?
PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Didn't you think I'd of thought of that?
tried three times, just say where the picture should be "Best of JTAS Volume 3"
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Of course I did
But I meant at a later time thinking maybe it was a temp problem. If it's still just giving you that I don't know, something local on your end? Some blocking feature? Does this do the trick?
http://www.travellerbibliography.org/jtas/Best-3-500.jpg
PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Can't see any images on this page either, only a bunch of links, but thanks for the try
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Bummer 
Another thought occurs to me, if you upgraded to the newer Explorer I seem to recall a legacy site compatibility option (or some such). Maybe that got turned off and is messing it up?
I think that may be the problem, just tried that (second, mine above) link myself in IE and it took forever to load and then defaulted to the front page with the bunch of links. On a second load though it went to the image. Bizarre. Try (if you haven't) FireFox?
Another thought occurs to me, if you upgraded to the newer Explorer I seem to recall a legacy site compatibility option (or some such). Maybe that got turned off and is messing it up?
I think that may be the problem, just tried that (second, mine above) link myself in IE and it took forever to load and then defaulted to the front page with the bunch of links. On a second load though it went to the image. Bizarre. Try (if you haven't) FireFox?
Last edited:
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Can you see any images on the site?
PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Nope, I tested the other links and there is just a block/square where the image should be, but no image anywhere
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
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