Comstar Game products

[Theophilus]

snippet:::
I posted a question here ( on the gateway to destiny thread ) concerning problems with the maps/stats not matching in the .pdf

ie. worlds listed the the stats page, not appearing on the map page, etc. and asking if there were corrections in the print version. The thread sat unread or un-replied to.

 

[Theophilus]

snippet:::
Just checked the gateway thread, there is a similiar question concernig maps not matching, Read 93 times, Replies 0.

 

[Plankowner]

I must say that the third 1248 book is great!

Are you kidding! The book was OBVIOUSLY written by a hack who has never played a game of Traveller in his life, let alone anything in the Spinward Marches. :devil:

Seriously, I LOVED all three 1248 books. I try not to be a gushing fanboy, but it was these books that finally put me over the top and got me to get a group together and start GMing Traveller again! OK, it's my kids and their friends, but still; I haven't played or GMd since 1984ish, so that is saying something.

Out of the Darkness (the First 1248 book) advances the TNE1201 timeline and resolves/explains what happens to the various groups and issues (Empress Wave etc). You may not agree with what was done, but it DOES move the story line ahead. Bearer's of the Flame (the second Book) and The Spinward States (3rd book, written by Daryen actually) cover different regions (the 4th Imperium and the Domain of Deneb respectively).

I enjoyed all three books immensely and intend to buy the other two (Freedom League and the Terran Commonwealth) when they come out later this year (hopefully).

The nice thing about them is that they are SYSTEMLESS. You can use CT, MT, T4, T5, MGT, TNE, Space Opera, whatever system you want. They are SETTING books, which is really cool.

Each book gave me dozens of plot ideas (big and small) that I could use in addition to whatever I had of my own.

I like MJD's writing style, for the most part, so that helps too.

OK, this DID come across like a gushing fanboy, but there you go. They are GOOD, well worth the money IMNSHO.

 

[shield]

Gateway to Destiny queries should be sent to QLI as its a Traveller T20 product.

Cheers
Richard

 

[Commander Drax]

MJD's work is exceptional in many ways, we've got a lot to thank him for in almost single handedly reviving traveller for us fans (that didn't like GURPS). I loved Gateway to Destiny and several of his other products such as the EPIC adventures etc.

I wasn't so keen on his Avenger/Spinward Marches stuff, not because they weren't well written, they were very good, but I didn't feel that I had the room to move creatively in the Spinward Marches as so much had already been published about that region that I was sure to run in to the harsh crash barrier known as 'canon'.

1248 Doesn't interest me, I've bought the books and had a good read and really saddened by the Demise of the Reformation Coalition (that I didn't really like in the first place). From Dave Nilsen's writing and editing of the GDW Traveller The New Era products you always felt that the Coalition had a special 'manifest destiny'. That RC personnel were mover's and shakers that had the energy and the means to restore order to an entropic universe and would themselves be the solid foundation of a future Imperium, for that to be washed away in the 1248 books just seems like an attempt to paper over a really interesting canonical part of the Traveller Universe.

There's many other things I don't agree with as natural progressions in the 1248 story but hell that's my choice and I'm mature enough to understand that there isn't an author alive that could satisfy every single traveller fan out there. I'm not fond of the setting, but might change my tune as I age, as after all I was shocked and outraged by the rules and setting changes of TNE, though over time (when I got into my thirties) I really began to like them, I liked the Hard Science Feel and the variety of the RC worlds and peoples. I also liked the idea of a huge overarching Hiver Manipulation at play in and around RC space. As if the Hivers were themselves driving this manifest destiny of the RC. For those Hivers simply to get up and leave (after being asked too) after investing nearly half a century in a project just doesn't make any sense (although you could argue that this is yet another strange manipulation who knows!).

I think the demise of the Star Vikings has more to do with Marc Miller not liking them than anything else, but I might be speaking from ignorance here. The most fun I'm having at the moment is creating scenarios and adventures for 'The Empty Quarter' region as published in Stellar Reaches. My own private ruleset for this is of course Traveller: The New Era.

So from that point of view I don't use the 1248 books, though will wholeheartedly say that they do offer excellent value for money and are great fodder for the mind and plenty of people like them, so don't take my word for it.

 

[jfetters]

I mostly agree with you, Drax. I don't like a lot of the setting changes, especially the Spinward States. I don't mind the RC, as I think that would have inevitably evolved into something different. Overall, too many dei ex machinae, IMO.

But a great resource to have, nonetheless. And I agree with the earlier comment that the acutal adventures are way cool.

Ultimately, Martin deserves a lot of credit for the work he's put into these, along with those who helped.

 

[Tysis]

I purchased a couple of the PDFs; 1248 and Out of the Darkness (I think).

They are both very well done and the story and material fits together quite well. A lot of thought went into both, and it is certainly high quality.

The background is not really what we (my gaming group) were looking for, bit take a look at it anyway. There are still some great ideas, even if you just use part of them.

I will certainly consider future material by this author.

 

[anders lager]

I think Comstar's (and Avenger's)Traveller products are truly great!

As a big fan of the MT/TNE timeline I was very satisfied with the 1248 setting when it came out. Exciting and interesting reading on the whole. Right now I'm planning a 1248 campaign, probably using the MT rules set. Or...maybe TNE...can't make up my mind. I like them both.

Anyway, I don't feel that ALL MJD's ideas and suggestions for the 1248 setting are in my taste, but mostly he's doing a really good job. And, as a GM, you don't have to adhere to all the stuff in the books. Keep what you like. Discard the rest. You're the boss of your Traveller Universe.

I recognize these "canon" discussions from my other fav game, RuneQuest (Glorantha).

Greg Stafford (Mr Glorantha/RuneQuest/HeroWars) has a good saying: YGMV. Which simply means: Your Glorantha May Vary. So, I propose: YTUMV.

/doc.

 

[daryen]

1248 Doesn't interest me, I've bought the books and had a good read and really saddened by the Demise of the Reformation Coalition (that I didn't really like in the first place). From Dave Nilsen's writing and editing of the GDW Traveller The New Era products you always felt that the Coalition had a special 'manifest destiny'.

Well, just to be clear, the RC doesn't actually go away, it simply evolves into something else. Which is only to be expected, as the RC was essentially founded as a transitional power. It had to change at some point. And, to a large extent, its transformation indicates that the RC succeeded at what it set out to do.

I still fail to see how the RC has been maligned in 1248. It was a transitional state that "grew up". They did fulfill their "destiny".

I think the demise of the Star Vikings has more to do with Marc Miller not liking them than anything else, but I might be speaking from ignorance here.

The Star Vikings were supposed to get screwed. Even the "future quotes" from the TNE rulebook itself said as much. They did some seriously "gray" things in support of their larger goals, and history would look back on them with very critical eyes.

And since this was already written down, Martin really didn't have any choice in the matter. The fate of the Star Vikings was already written to a great degree. All that was left to Martin is to tell how they end up there.

 

[Tysis]

I have a couple of people in my group that are more than a bit brutal. One is the type that gets executed for war crimes when they loose.

The people he saved saw him as a hero. Enemies passionately hated him, and even neutrals were seriously skeptical.

 

[Commander Drax]

I am aware that the RC was only ever a transitional government, but from the quotes and back story gleaned from the TNE rule book I always thought that they would grow into something exciting and universe changing, otherwise what is the point of featuring the RC in the way that GDW did. If GDW planned for other powers to be the movers and the shakers in the rebuilding of known space then why focus on the RC at all, both in terms of background and rules focus? This doesn't make any sense from a narrative point of view. It's my personal opinion that the future destiny of the RC was seriously curtailed (if not decapitated) to make way for the 4th Imperium and the other narrative events described in the 1248 source books.

As others have said, My Traveller Universe doesn't have to be like this, which is ok, as previously mentioned I'm not using the 1248 books, I am happy with the Empty Quarter setting and era as laid out in Stellar Reaches, so the fate of the RC is a moot point from my point of view. I'm just convinced that fans of the Star Vikings have been denied a really good story or simply not considered enough in the 1248 products. I have previously said that I understand that not every fan can be satisfied by any author, so that's fair enough.

 

[daryen]

OK, fair enough.

In his brief sojourn on these boards, Dave Nilsen did say that the rough plan was to have the Fourth Imperium borne out of a synergy of the Regency and the RC. However, MJD took a different tac. (FWIW, DN also said that was just the general plan that could have changed at any point.)

But, for someone who expected to see the Fourth Imperium (or the equivalent) borne out of the RC, I can see where 1248 could have been a disappointment. Likewise, anyone expecting the Fourth Imperium to be borne out of the Regency would be equally disappointed. (Maybe more. At least the RC survived and succeeded. The Regency fell apart and its primary descendant, the Imperial Regency, is not particularly sympathetic.)

 

[Dunia]

Well, just to be clear, the RC doesn't actually go away, it simply evolves into something else. Which is only to be expected, as the RC was essentially founded as a transitional power. It had to change at some point. And, to a large extent, its transformation indicates that the RC succeeded at what it set out to do.

I still fail to see how the RC has been maligned in 1248. It was a transitional state that "grew up". They did fulfill their "destiny".



The Star Vikings were supposed to get screwed. Even the "future quotes" from the TNE rulebook itself said as much. They did some seriously "gray" things in support of their larger goals, and history would look back on them with very critical eyes.

And since this was already written down, Martin really didn't have any choice in the matter. The fate of the Star Vikings was already written to a great degree. All that was left to Martin is to tell how they end up there.

Just my 2cents, In TNE mainbook, it apears that Sufferen still exists in the fututre as a part of RC alliance (if I am not mistaken), but in Out of the Darkness, it was stomped by virus and vampirs.

 

[daryen]

Just my 2cents, In TNE mainbook, it apears that Sufferen still exists in the fututre as a part of RC alliance (if I am not mistaken), but in Out of the Darkness, it was stomped by virus and vampirs.

Can't speak authoritatively on that, as I no longer have the TNE mainbook. I just distinctly remember the "future quotes" arguing over the legacy of the Star Vikings.

Also, I do know that the RC story was advanced as TNE published more product. Unfortunately, I don't remember how it all went, as I was more of a "Regency" guy. But I do think that Suffren getting stomped was set up in some of those later products.

Regardless, now that I understand what the Commander's point is, I fully accept his perspective. I can see why he would be disappointed and do not begrudge him that in the least.

 

[shield]

Yes Sufren was stomped flat, but the TNE mainrule book has quotes from Sufren in NE144. This is covered in the forthcoming FLSB sourcebook.

Cheers
Richard

 

[Dunia]

Thanks Richard, it just got me confused.

Looking forward to purchasing it.

 

[Commander Drax]

Not to worry though , the beauty and majesty of the traveller universe is in it's background, with a little bit of work we can shape any future story that we want and that's ok. In your traveller universe your narrative is king!

 

[Peter Schutze]

>from Avenger, I went through and listed all the typos I found and what page they were on. I never heard back that they had corrected them

In contrast I've received notification of a replacement book available for download (in april) ..... for something released in mid FEBRUARY from another company

I have never been notified that anything Traveller PDF has been corrected. Most of the stuff I got my couple of bucks worth of interesting reading out of and havent worried about it too much. The mistakes are all annoyances more than anything and have been reported by others in errata threats eg stoner express's map codes being wrong (uwp has CS, legend says it should be Ic)

the 2320AD book I got a refund on. There was just too much wrong and almost no effort to fix any of it despite direct promises (not forum posts) with dates specified.

 

[shield]

Peter

The stoner express (and all the TAs / Epic Adventures ) are QLI products and not Comstar / Avenger. Whilst they were written by people now working with Avenger / Comstar they are NOT the responsibility of these people / companies. All rights etc. are with QLI.

I suggest that you send any errata / corrections to Hunter at the QLI email and suggest that he updates the PDFs accordingly.

Cheers
Richard