Basic Layout for a 128-Page Sector Sourcebook?

[RandyT0001]

Here's some of my thoughts about a sourcebook.

Each quadrant is going to have four pages of map and data, right? So each subsector will have about one page of UWP's and a map, right? There are on average about 40 worlds per subsector given standard stellar density. Maybe a couple of lines about each world if your lucky. From what I've read in other threads it seems that buyers want more detailed worlds than just a UWP and that the best way to create for Traveller is to start small, about one quadrant at a time. Thats my first suggestion, detail one quadrant of this sector in more detail than is typical.

My second suggestion is to drop the Ships of the Sector part if the sourcebook is set in the OTU. There are a lot of free ships and deckplans on the internet. If the sourcebook is not set in the OTU and cannot use OTU starships without complication having four or so pages with some of the most common types of starships (200 dton freighter, 100 dton scout) should provide enough material for the buyers.

Classic Traveller had 76 Patrons. I think BITS did 101 Patrons for Megatraveller. Amber Zones appeared in several of the JTAS. Quarter the number of Patron Encounters and halve the number of Amber Zones for the sourcebook. Devote these freed pages and the freed pages from the eliminated (or shortend) Ships of the Sector part to what many customers really want in a sourcebook, adventures.

My fourth suggestion is this. Produce three major adventures for the sourcebook. Each adventure cross paths with the others. Story A crosses B early. In the middle B intersect story C. Close to the end adventure C interacts with A. Specify three worlds where they intersect and have three different authors write the three adventures. Have the intersections written so that the PC's might get off the proper track if they are careless. Doing this would be harder to do than writing just one major adventure but I think if properly done refs and players will find it satisfying.

IMO

 

[Flynn]

Originally posted by Gruffty:
That's really useful information, Flynn.

However...

What size font is best for PDF and dead tree books?

CT LBBs look like they used either Verdana 9 point or Arial 9 point.

Thoughts?

The recommendations made for D20 sourcebooks are generally 10 point Times Roman, but QLI uses 9 point Arial. Really, I wouldn't go below 9 point, nor above 12 point, in your body text. Headings should increase by 2 to 4 points per level, and you shouldn't need more than 4 different levels.

If you use a serif font for the body text, use a sans serif font for the headings, and vice versa. This gives contrast, and helps the headings stand out more.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

Randy,

Thanks for the input. The library data pages is where I would personally provide more detail on the various worlds that would need to be defined to hit the highlights and the interesting travel locations, so I know I'm hitting that topic.

More adventures sounds like it would be a marketable idea. Just takes more time and efforts, for some reason.

I'll definitely take your advice into account, and see what I could come up with.

With Thanks,
Flynn

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Yeah, Flynn, I would reduce the amount dedicated to Patrons, as well. Though, I would dedicate more space to Lifeforms and that Library Data.

 

[GKar]

"Once I have an idea of what the Traveller community would want from a sector book, I may approach Avenger, QLI or perhaps even MWM directly with a proposal. Depends on if I think I can crank out that much text in a reasonable period of time."

If you need a hand with anything Flynn, I'm quite happy to help. I know you tend to get caught up with work and while I'm not an expert on Traveller or anything, I can write (at least passibly well) and have a fair amount of time on my hands.

 

[hirch duckfinder]

Flynn,
How about including some non-patron or "colour" encounters similar to bits' 101 travellers/rendezvous etc? These are really usefull as they can pad out adventures, fill in dull moments and add depth to a session. Published adventures tend to move from key scene to key scene with not much in between and can feel too "railroaded".

Also, I do not have time to design my own adventures so wonder what I would do with all the other info once the adventure had finished, I suspect that lots of people are in the same boat. For me the perfect format is like the linkworlds - a small cluster which is directly related to adventures with a story arc where lots of detail on a few worlds will all get used.

Hope you get it out anyway. I will buy it if you do.

 

[Flynn]

Thanks for the offer, Frank, and for the feedback, guys. It is greatly appreciated!

I haven't made a proposal, yet, but I'd like to. I just need to make sure I can do it, and that it would meet people's needs. Feedback like the above is very helpful with that.

-Flynn

Oh, and BTW, if anyone else wants to make a proposal or two themselves, I wouldn't mind buying another sector book to encourage an aspiring Traveller author....

 

[savage]

Flynn,
Another great issue of SR. Thanks!

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
I am seriously thinking of the Triumverate as a good setting for a face to face game. Very, Very, good read! Well Done!

Thanks

I'm the one who've submitted it; I'm glad to see that it was well-liked and of use to you. by the way, waht you'd like to see next for that universe - spacecraft, more maps, essays/library data or an adventure? I intend to publish (either in SR or independantly) a "quadrant" (Draconis, Capella, Olympia and Cygnii subsectors) situated in the trailing-rimward area of the Triumvirate, mostly in "hard" frontier areas calimed (mostly) by the Triumvirate, not very well mapped (except for Draconis) and with the Matriarchate border quite close (about 2-Jump-3's from the coreward edge of Capella). Oh, and a little goody for you - the Solar Triumvirate's Marine Corps in Striker format, vehicles and TO&Es included.

Back to the subject of this thread: I like Flynn's layout, though it definitely fits a sector of an existing setting (i.e. the OTU) rather than a new ATU, as it probably doesn't have enough space the lauy the "ground rules" and house rules of the TU. It is, however, perfect for an OTU sector - The Empty Quarter, I presume?