Author Questions on Terrax Terriaorming update

[dhouseman]

Hello and welcome to everyone.

Back in 1981 (published in 1982) I wrote a series of articles on a megacorp - Terrax Terraforming Inc.

These articles appeared in Chaosium's Different World Magazine. I wrote 2 that never appeared.

Several people over the last few years have asked that I update them and include the unpublished material. I am in the process of doing that. But I have some questions.

1) Classic Traveller or some other version (I am willing to put 2 sets of stats in the article, but I don't have the time to do every version).

2) Are more of the key characters from the megacorp or more ships or more equipment interesting to people? I probably have time to really focus on one area - or do some more work on two (not as extensive).

3) Do real world process (e.g. physics) matter to anyone?

4) Does the terraforming process matter to anyone?

5) What else would you like to see in the articles (e.g. short narratives from the campaign I ran with Terrax to provide mood or intent or other content)?

It will probably take until summer to find an artist who can work for what I can afford to recreate and create the right illustrations and to finish the articles.

Thank you in advance.

Doug Houseman

 

[aramis]

I'd suggest the alternate be either Cepheus Engine or Mongoose Traveller.

I will ask, outright... Do you own the rights to the first one? Many times, the article's publication requires transfer of rights, and I don't know which ones did and which ones didn't transfer ownership.

For example, I sold my article to SJG last year. I cannot reprint that article. Not until it's been out of print for a specific period, or SJG tells me I can. I can legally write a new one, but that would be a <insert negative adjective>-move. I cannot ethically write another on the same subject for some time... years

3: yes
4: yes

 

[Sstefan]

Terrax

I'd like it if you could flesh out a little more of the history of Terrax. The part about their errors on 817-122 might warrant a little more detail.

For those wanting a peek at what was written:
Different Worlds; Issue 22; page 16-21
Different Worlds; Issue 23; page 28-33

 

[mike wightman]

1) Classic Traveller or some other version (I am willing to put 2 sets of stats in the article, but I don't have the time to do every version).

CT, MT, MgT and CE are so similar I wouldn't worry - my preference would be CT with CR second.

2) Are more of the key characters from the megacorp or more ships or more equipment interesting to people? I probably have time to really focus on one area - or do some more work on two (not as extensive).

Equipment, ships, characters in that order.

3) Do real world process (e.g. physics) matter to anyone?

It matters to me.

4) Does the terraforming process matter to anyone?

Yes

5) What else would you like to see in the articles (e.g. short narratives from the campaign I ran with Terrax to provide mood or intent or other content)?

Other - how races above TL20 do it.

 

[dhouseman]

@ aramis - I wrote the articles over 35 years ago, prior to the Millennium copyright act and for 1 time publication. I was not paid for the articles (which was common back then).

I have chatted with some of the Chaosium staff about a re-write and reposting.

I don't expect to make money from the article, but rather contribute it to the committee. Finding copies of the originals is difficult, I finally got ahold of one of the articles recently, which triggered the rewrite, since I did not have the original type written manuscript.

I am trying to do this right.

 

[whartung]

3) Do real world process (e.g. physics) matter to anyone?

4) Does the terraforming process matter to anyone?

#3 matters as far it should at least sound good. Like the very over simplified trade model in Gurps Far Trader -- at least there IS a model.

#4 I think a lot of folks would like to see a modern, updated exploration of terraforming.

 

[gchuck]

Oh Yes! Very!

CT would be my flavor of choice.

An overview of the equipment, process, and personalities would be greatly appreciated.
(If the pc's ask too many questions, I turn up the 'Sonic Dampening Field', usually in Robert Plant mode)

I always knew this went on in the background, but did not want to try and B.S. my way
through the process. Any and all info would be helpful.

 

[Enoki]

I actually came up with a viable set of house rules to do terraforming. The problem is most of the time it takes decades to centuries to accomplish it, and the greater the change in the planet, the more extended the time to accomplish the change will take.
High tech societies can tweak a planet a point or two pretty quick. Trying to move it say 4 or 5 values from its original takes centuries even in with the best technology the game offers.

See pg 2 of this thread for the system

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=39094&highlight=terraforming

 

[Old School]

Thanks for doing this! I would love to see details on terraforming. As for the characters,my personal preference is for MgT2 stats, because that is the game I play, but those are easy to convert, so its not a priority. As for what other items to include, the key question is “what is relevant and can be used in a campaign”. Nothing wrong with background story, but it is very secondary to what is useful in running an adventure. Any details from your campaign would be great.

 

[Enoki]

I suggest reading the thread I linked to. While my terraforming rules cover "The Big Picture," it should be possible to work out details from them for a scenario once you have that. Sort of a reverse engineering thing.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

1) Classic Traveller or some other version (I am willing to put 2 sets of stats in the article, but I don't have the time to do every version).

No stats needed. Just setting is all. Referees can figure out stats for their edition of Traveller from the setting.

 

[Silverhawk]

No stats needed. Just setting is all. Referees can figure out stats for their edition of Traveller from the setting.

I agreed that Referees can figure out their edition for the most part. I like seeing some stats if only because it gives you some sort of baseline. That said, I would keep it in CT.

 

[dhouseman]

I am working on the articles, I have updated parts 1 and 2. I have 12 ships done in Classic Traveller and 8 of the vehicles, as well as 3 of the small craft. I am working now on 3 fronts, describe how each is used, putting a very short story on some crazy situation that happened with that vessel and putting it all in context of terraforming.

I have been in touch with 2 of the now retired professors I consulted more than 30 years ago and confirmed and updated my understanding of the physics (as we understand them) for terraforming - while also being in touch with a couple people who are evolutionary biology professors on putting life the planet.

It will be months before I find an artist, get artwork done, finish the stories, and do the deck plans. But I am working on it.

Thank you all for the feedback.

 

[dhouseman]

Well, Thanksgiving gave me much of 4 days to work on Terrain, as well as to catch up with two Physics professors who helped me out on some of the physics behind Terrax.

I have finished all or most of the "ships" for a modular space station for the terraforming crew to live on and be supplied. I also finished about 10 small craft of specialized use and about a dozen ships for use. I used CT - High Guard rules for the space station and CT for the rest.

I would love to create art for each piece, but I zero artistic talent, so over Christmas, I will do the narratives for each one and put the whole set in Google sheets and release this part to the world.

I have about 20 key pieces of equipment sketched out and need to do the work to turn them into Traveller equipment. I also have about 40 key characters sketched out and their background, I just need to turn them into NPCs and take the bullet points and turn them in to Narrative material.

Sorry for the slow progress, but at least there is progress - After almost 40 years it feels good to get back in the saddle.