A Traveller's Guidebook to Charted Space

[jappel]

My first reaction to this was "No", as I think one of the problems with Traveller's growth is the frequent tight integration with the OTU and it's wealth of data. But it sounds like what you're actually proposing is a switch to the "core-rules-and-seperate-worldbooks" model, which would achieve the kind of seperation I think is needed while consolidating the OTU background material. IMHO, that's actually a good idea and long overdue.

John

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I always wanted one huge Atlas, even if it was just maps and baseline Upp Data.

It should be: One big 50.00 book, and then "Sector Books" covering two sectors each, that flesh out the atlas with a rich background.

hmmm?

 

[Chuck Anumia]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
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I always wanted one huge Atlas, even if it was just maps and baseline Upp Data.

It should be: One big 50.00 book, and then "Sector Books" covering two sectors each, that flesh out the atlas with a rich background.

hmmm?

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Hey Mikey, I Like it, I Like it...

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[kaladorn]

John and the good Baron Chuck make a lot of sense.

I share John's hope that the product development direction is divorcing ruleset from background and I hope the OTU grows into a background supplement. Similarly, I hope that the rules become a matter of choice (me, I like MT and even if I won't see it in print again, I'll certainly continue using it, so I really only need new 'background' stuff....).

I like the idea of one book just giving large scale starmaps. Of course, we get into the nefarious issue here of 'at what date' when it comes to UWPs. I mean, in a magical amazing fantastic never-to-be-realized world, it would be nice to have stats for First Imperium, 993, 1105, 1116, 1125, and 1250-ish for all of the systems from the far back end of the Solomani Rim to the far Coreward end of the Vargr Extents and across the whole OTU. And of course, some sensible development of how the UWPs at t0 became the UWPs at t1, t2, t3, etc. But that isn't going to happen. So if I had to pick a period, I'd hope for CT. It is close enough to MT's front end that you can use it for that too.

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by jappel:
My first reaction to this was "No", as I think one of the problems with Traveller's growth is the frequent tight integration with the OTU and it's wealth of data. But it sounds like what you're actually proposing is a switch to the "core-rules-and-seperate-worldbooks" model, which would achieve the kind of seperation I think is needed while consolidating the OTU background material. IMHO, that's actually a good idea and long overdue.

John

Why, yes, that's exactly a part of what I'm suggesting.

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
I always wanted one huge Atlas, even if it was just maps and baseline Upp Data.

It should be: One big 50.00 book, and then "Sector Books" covering two sectors each, that flesh out the atlas with a rich background.

hmmm?

The Worldbook under dicussion here is not an Atlas, although I want an Atlas, too.

The poll over whether an Atlas is desireable is found here: Atlas of the Imperium.

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by kaladorn:
I like the idea of one book just giving large scale starmaps. Of course, we get into the nefarious issue here of 'at what date' when it comes to UWPs. I mean, in a magical amazing fantastic never-to-be-realized world, it would be nice to have stats for First Imperium, 993, 1105, 1116, 1125, and 1250-ish for all of the systems from the far back end of the Solomani Rim to the far Coreward end of the Vargr Extents and across the whole OTU. And of course, some sensible development of how the UWPs at t0 became the UWPs at t1, t2, t3, etc. But that isn't going to happen.

Never going to happen!?!

Kaladorn, you have ruined my whole day.

I've spent many a post asking for just what you have said will never happen.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I don't see why it couldn't happen, it you're just talking about the UWPs from the various eras. Its just strings of numbers. Yes, someone (or a team of someones) has to compile all of those strings, but it could be done if that -- plus sector maps -- is all there is.

If there were any sort of write-ups, or details about the systems, that's when it gets very difficult.

Of course, editing and proof-reading this book, even with just UWPs listed, is gonna be a bear.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

But a bear that has been trapped before, so it should be easy. I cite the exsistence and excellence of the many online Programs (Heaven and Earth is ASTOUNDING to me) Atlases (Zhodani Base's, the GT IAI, et al) and the thouroughness and thoughtfulness that has gone into them. It would mean some work, but it's totally doable with a cohesive production team.

Perhaps each system could have an agreed upon Baseline UPP, and this is modified by the historical and library data to show how the System in question changes over the years and why.

There should be a reason for, say, a population jump of two points. The writeup can explain that while showing the System's Evolution clearly.

As for actual "worldbooks" I question the purpose and the scale. There needs to be a specific reason for a System to be so detailed, and it should be a good one. I remember clearly when Tarsus came out, it made it a place.

GT seems to do well with its paragraph-sized summations of worlds in books like Rim of Fire, and I bet two pages of detail is way more than plenty.

SO...

Big Atlas
with maps and UPP baselines (and broad stroke subsector-sized background data, ala Supplement 10.)

then...

Subsector-Sized Worldbooks
With GT-sized descriptions of specific Systems, some extra goodies. These could make great cheap Pdfs. And would make a good subscription base.

then...

The worldbooks could be compiled and re-released as "Sector Books" with added bits here and there. I vote for at least three new minor races a go.

That should give The Traveller People enough work for a few lifetimes, what?

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
As for actual "worldbooks" I question the purpose and the scale. There needs to be a specific reason for a System to be so detailed, and it should be a good one. I remember clearly when Tarsus came out, it made it a place.

A "Worldbook" is a book about the milieu, not about individual starsystems or planets.

No Worldbook would detail any one system (or even systems).

 

[kaladorn]

If a worldbook doesn't detail a world, isn't that a bit of a misnomer? Wouldn't Campaign Sourcebook be a more appropriate title?

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by kaladorn:
If a worldbook doesn't detail a world, isn't that a bit of a misnomer? Wouldn't Campaign Sourcebook be a more appropriate title?

A worldbook is a gaming industry eumphemism for a book that describes the setting.

Because a great many games are set on only one world, and the game's worldbook describes not only that world, but the entire milieu (usually), that is where we get the term.

On the actual cover of the book, we can call the type of book it will be whatever we want. Worldbook, Politybook, Grandma's Olde Book o' Recipes . . . just so long as we actually get a grand milieu/setting book.

That's why I want the title to be A Traveller's Guidebook to Charted Space, or some such closely related title, which definitely implies that is is about Charted Space, and not one particular world or group of worlds; where "Traveller's" appears in the title to let everyone know its about the game Traveller.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

So, would this be Charted Space's "Greatest Hits" after a fashion?

 

[kaladorn]

Quoth ye olde steel rain:
Because a great many games are set on only one world, and the game's worldbook describes not only that world, but the entire milieu (usually), that is where we get the term.

Due to the fact that there is usually a 1:1 association between world and millieu, is it not possible the term worldbook means 'book describing your world' and that in games where there is more than one world, it isn't even nominally a worldbook?

Seriously, you are right it doesn't matter since the title will be something else. I just prefer non-ambiguous terminology. And to me, worldbook has an obvious meaning and if your meaning conflates with the obvious one, it isn't a very good situation.

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
So, would this be Charted Space's "Greatest Hits" after a fashion?

If you mean the history, timelines, big events, backdrop, lineages of major notables, and polity workups of Charted Space are its Greatest Hits, then yes.

If you mean anything describing the individual worlds, then no. (Ok, Terra, Capital, Vland, Glea, etc., might get short thumbnails, and other worlds, of course, might be named, as a history does that, but only that).

 

[RainOfSteel]

Originally posted by kaladorn:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by RainOfSteel:
Quoth ye olde steel rain:
Because a great many games are set on only one world, and the game's worldbook describes not only that world, but the entire milieu (usually), that is where we get the term.

Due to the fact that there is usually a 1:1 association between world and millieu, is it not possible the term worldbook means 'book describing your world' and that in games where there is more than one world, it isn't even nominally a worldbook?

</font>[/QUOTE]Yes, it can. I was using the generic meaning.

Originally posted by kaladorn:
Seriously, you are right it doesn't matter since the title will be something else. I just prefer non-ambiguous terminology. And to me, worldbook has an obvious meaning and if your meaning conflates with the obvious one, it isn't a very good situation.

It seemed obvious to me.


Fine, then I'll call it a Milieubook from now on.

Is that passable?

 

[Straybow]

Consider that many "worlds" include extraplanetary settings as well: Ad&D in its many incarnations includes ethereal, astral, elemental, and outer planes. It's still a "world."

 

[Spinward Scout]

This doesn't have to be that thick of a book. Just look at the old LBB Library Data's or the MT Imperial Encyclopedia. If it's made good enough and interesting enough, then the people will buy it. The OTU without the gaming system information would probably be around 150 or 200 pages. Full color and fantastic digital art and LIVE! models (not drawings) plus attractive page layout will go a long way - make it pretty and people will buy it. Make it into a Guidebook for a low TL Barbarian type (i.e. us Earthlings) that's just being introduced to the Imperium. Big flowing descriptive paragraphs and sidebars for more detail. You'd only need about 15 chapters - 10 to 15 pages per chapter should do it. A super-detailed book isn't going to work for an Introduction. If I had the time and the money, I'd definitely do it. It's been something I've been thinking about for a while now. There are so many creative people on this site that we could probably do it ourselves. So, should we start the Traveller's Guidebook to Charted Space Project?

Hi, I'm Sir Dameon Toth and I'm going to be your guide today through this holodocudrama "A Traveller's Guide to Charted Space". Welcome to the Galaxy! Shall we start with the Imperium?

Dameon