Adventure Seeds in the style of 76 Patrons

[AlHazred]

So, I've started my Traveller Hero game with a group that's done little other than fantasy for the last decade, and it's become fairly popular with the group. I ran them through a couple of adventure seeds I already have (the interminable Exit Visa scenario in the Traveller Book and encounter 6 from 76 Patrons*) and one adventure (the classic, incomparable Annic Nova, with the addition of a little "space thriller" style atmosphere). The adventure seeds work really well for me, since my group's atypical in composition and I can adapt an adventure seed very easily, unlike a scenario.

So I was wondering if you wonderful people had any adventure seeds to contribute? I'm a huge fan of 76 Patrons and the mini-adventure style it's written in. And since I don't like to leech without contributing:

01. Han Biaadin's Wild Discovery
Required Skills: various
Required Equipment: none
While on layover on Nasemin, the players are approached by a man dressed like a tourist. He explains that he works for Han Biaadin, a famous Vilani media personality who creates holovids exploring various natural phenomena on worlds in the Spinward Marches. Biaadin was supposed to produce a holovid covering the byssals, huge marine animals native to Nasemin that are hunted by the locals for a particular chemical. Unfortunately, Biaadin's holovid crew, who arrived on-planet weeks ago to set up for the production, are nowhere to be seen. Biaadin is running under extreme time constraints, and his assistant asked around the starport for skilled individuals who might be employed temporarily, and was directed to the player group. He offers Cr2000 to each player for a two week stint as production assistants, drivers, etc.

Referee's Information: The situation is as the patron indicates. He's willing to extend about Cr 10,000 total to cover expenses (submarine rental, etc.) but is not willing to cover illegal or illicit purchases, and prefers rentals to outright purchases.

1-2. The previous holovid crew ran afoul of local traditions and are stranded on the planet, on the run from various groups of locals. This information will come out during one of Biaadin's televised stunts. Biaadin will want to get them, and use the rescue as part of his holovid.
3-5. The previous holovid crew are smugglers who have been using Biaadin's holovid series as a cover for their operations. They made planetfall, but ran afoul of the local organized crime syndicate. The syndicate's leaders are convinced that Biaadin is part of the smuggling ring (based in part on erroneous information given them by the holovid crew), and plan to kidnap him in order to take over his organization. The syndicate will find out the itinerary from various equipment rental shops under their control, and then strike while the group is well away from centralized authority.
6. As in 3, but Biaadin actually is the leader of a highly successful smuggling ring, and will have contingency plans in place involving his local contacts to provide himself added security.

In all cases, the referee must determine the flow of subsequent events.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Ooooh, I'm glad you asked! The inimitable Flynn started a fanzine in Winter 2005 called Stellar Reaches (the direct download page is here). In issue 1, there is an "adventure" that is somewhere between an adventure and a patron encounter. The first few issues all had patrons in them, as well.

Most importantly for you, though, the Summer/Autumn 2005 issue had the winners of a CotI contest published: Ethical Patron Encounters! They were done in the style of 76 Patrons. The only difference is they aren't asking the characters to break the law (necessarily). The top 5 that were printed were really good. Flynn might use a few of the lessers in the latest issue, also (don't know, but it's possible).

 

[Berg]

A Stellar Reaches link for ease of use...

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Oh, you remembered to underline it. I gotta remember to do that... [grumble]

 

[tinker123]

So I was wondering if you wonderful people had any adventure seeds to contribute? I'm a huge fan of 76 Patrons and the mini-adventure style it's written in.

I have been trying to use the "Travelling Alone" system for filling in rounded background material. So, when the party arrive on some system, I've already read up the library data (when the solo-play party passed through), and generated some local colour and a couple of plots. That system also calls for patron encounters from time to time, so here's one I generated for it:

02. Postcards from the Amber zone
Required Skills: various
Required Equipment: none
The players are approached by the prize-winning journalist Dean Dilton, author of the best-selling travel book "Postcards from the Amber Zone". They can easily check his appearance against the photo on the back of the book in the starport bookshop. He is on his way to Karin in the Five Sisters subsector of the Spinward Marches, to report on life under millitary government by the Imperial Navy. He needs guides, bodyguards, and general gophers, and his usual entourage could not get travel permits to make the voyage with him.

Referee's Information: Dilton is willing to pay Cr 10,000 per month to the crew, and to cover all reasonable expenses (travel costs, housing, etc.) for the whole period. He has no interest in trying to reduce costs by making money on the side, but does not object to the crew doing so, provided there is no interference with the job. He reserves the right to fire any individual, even if it means leaving them on Karin without a return ticket.

1. Karin has rebel elements active in sabotage and hostage-taking. Dilton will arrange to interview them, resulting in intervention by Naval Intelligence to prevent his report being broadcast.
2. Karin has no rebels, but when Dilton starts asking around, a gang of local criminals makes an attempt to kidnap him for ransom.
3. Karin has active rebels, who believe Dilton is a spy for Naval Intelligence, and target the party for kidnap or assassination.
4. Karin is effectively a war zone. Dilton attempts to travel as close as possible to the front line, and the party have to keep him alive as their only ticket home.
5. To avoid any hostile reporting, Naval Intelligence attempts to clean up every area before Dilton gets there. The party is bugged to know Dilton's travel plans, locals are taken away in the night to prevent Dilton talking to them, and agents take their place to spread the Navy's message.
6. Dilton faces government obstruction at every level, and spends months trying to get the party to Karin. Eventually he gives up, his publisher demands a return of the advance on his book, and the party gets no pay.

In all cases, the referee must determine the flow of subsequent events.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Nice one, tinker! Though that last one would make some players into rebels, themselves! :file_23:

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Oooh, wouldn't Cr10,000 be a little low though, as it costs 2,000 for life support for one person for two weeks on a ship....

 

[tinker123]

Oooh, wouldn't Cr10,000 be a little low though, as it costs 2,000 for life support for one person for two weeks on a ship....

The Cr10K was meant to be on top of their living expenses, which may include ship fuel & supplies, or may be middle passage (if the party doesn't have a ship).
A classic example of the need for an editor. I knew what I meant, but didn't express it in a way for other folk to understand me.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

I knew what I meant, but didn't express it in a way for other folk to understand me.

That's what we're here for! (Makes better sense now.)