In My Traveller Universe...I give the Moot have more power. It is sort of like the Imperial Republic with different Factions and Parties . Does anyone else make a variant version of Traveller Governance?
Imperial Moot
- Thread starter PulseStar
- Start date
Welcome aboard! I see you have been around a while, but this is your first post.
The Sparkle, Orange, and Red Parties are actually canonical Moot factions from Agent of the Imperium. "Sparkle" is the term for the "color" Near-Ultra Violet. Presumably there are other factions which are designated by other EM-Spectrum colors as well.
As far as the other non-canonical parties listed in that entry, I rather like some of the implied factions, to be honest. They are also based to some degree on an idealized view of the then current state of the Imperium at various periods in its history, or to a view as to how it should be constitutionally modified in light of that state.
The Moot is in essence an advisory committee to the Emperor, not a Parliament, but that does not necessarily mean that it has no traditional authority or powers by precedent at all. It is easy to imagine that Cleon got different Nobles to go along with his program with different enticements and incentives, leading to a number of different and conflicting factions.
And as most Sovereigns do not want to be bothered with administering every last detail of their Realm, they are usually more than happy to delegate authority to individuals and/or committees, subject to their final approval or veto on any given act of legislation.
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In my setting, where I lean heavily into themes of colonialism (esp British), I keep the Emperor as the absolute power (ala Warrant of Restoration), keep the Imperial Moot as a confirming and advisory body of the Imperial Nobles (and very "House of Lords" in nature) while adding an Imperial Senate as a rotating group of elected/appointed "House of Commons" that is there in a similar advisory role. Each system has a Senior and Junior Senator that are elected for overlapping 6 year terms. Historically with even less power that the Moot, it was established as a sop to democratic sensibilities of some Imperial systems.
D.
D.
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mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
I was always interested in why the chose to call it a moot rather than parliament, senate, house of representatives etc.
It first crops up in the CT Emperor's List.
Jerome: Ascended the throne by right of moot election. Born 525, proclaimed emperor in 555, assassinated in 582.
Jaqueline I: Ascended the throne by right of moot election. Born 561, proclaimed empress in 582, assassinated in 606
Ramon I: Born 560, proclaimed emperor by right of moot election in 609, assassinated in 609
And that is it. No other mention in Library Data of this Moot.
The original version of the Empire was influenced by the Roman Empire - emperor, senate, dux (dukes), but over time resembled the British Empire instead - Emperor, tiers of nobility, a moot...
So what is a moot - it is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning meeting
In MT it was described as a meeting of the nobility - this never made sense to me as the distances are too great. It's role in the Emperor's list is vastly expanded, it is mentioned in some way for nearly every Emperor. MT Library Data provides a definition.
Conspiracy Time.
When Cleon converted Cleon Industries into the renewed Grand Empire of Stars the Moot was like a shareholders meeting.
As Cleon Industries board members were granted noble titles then a semblance of a "gathering of the nobility" was overlayed on the Moot. The Moot remained a meeting of the vested interests, the nobility in and aroundSylea Capital and representatives of the megacorporations.
The vast majority of the citizens of the Imperium were unaware of the nature, composition, role, and power of the Moot.
From time to time is was necessary for the Moot to solve issues of succession, but usually after the fact. Oddly those elected to the position of Emperor by the Moot would die by assassination...
Following Strephon's assassination the rumour was that the Moot would recognise Dulinor's claim by right of assassination. Lucan dissolved the Moot, showing that the Emperor was always preeminent over the Moot.
It first crops up in the CT Emperor's List.
Jerome: Ascended the throne by right of moot election. Born 525, proclaimed emperor in 555, assassinated in 582.
Jaqueline I: Ascended the throne by right of moot election. Born 561, proclaimed empress in 582, assassinated in 606
Ramon I: Born 560, proclaimed emperor by right of moot election in 609, assassinated in 609
And that is it. No other mention in Library Data of this Moot.
The original version of the Empire was influenced by the Roman Empire - emperor, senate, dux (dukes), but over time resembled the British Empire instead - Emperor, tiers of nobility, a moot...
So what is a moot - it is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning meeting
In MT it was described as a meeting of the nobility - this never made sense to me as the distances are too great. It's role in the Emperor's list is vastly expanded, it is mentioned in some way for nearly every Emperor. MT Library Data provides a definition.
Conspiracy Time.
When Cleon converted Cleon Industries into the renewed Grand Empire of Stars the Moot was like a shareholders meeting.
As Cleon Industries board members were granted noble titles then a semblance of a "gathering of the nobility" was overlayed on the Moot. The Moot remained a meeting of the vested interests, the nobility in and around
The vast majority of the citizens of the Imperium were unaware of the nature, composition, role, and power of the Moot.
From time to time is was necessary for the Moot to solve issues of succession, but usually after the fact. Oddly those elected to the position of Emperor by the Moot would die by assassination...
Following Strephon's assassination the rumour was that the Moot would recognise Dulinor's claim by right of assassination. Lucan dissolved the Moot, showing that the Emperor was always preeminent over the Moot.
That must of been it! I see them now.
Flag that post as a keeper.
Even at the partial level it works as a great explanation for the origin of the name, even if it evolved later into the more traditional advisory council or "senate" version.
The canonical moot is nasty enough, when you consider it's inclusive of the selectors of the directors of almost every multi-domain megacorp in the canonical OTU.
It doesn't need much more authority.
Its canonical powers being confirmation of the Emperor or Dissolving the Imperium, and to advise the Emperor on matters the Emperor requests them to.
There's a huge raft of investigative committees and oversight boards appointed by the Emperor, acting as his proxies in various ways.
The committees and the ownerships of the megacorps are plenty of soft power.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
I don’t think so and my guess intentionally so refs can make up rules for their own version.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Imagine MT done differently.
Instead of 1116 Assassination
1116-1121 metaplot metaplot massed fleets
1121 PCs so what do we do...
1114 the players are visiting Capital for reasons. maybe following the events of the FFW they received the summons or maybe they just followed their adventure path and arrived there.
They get up to shenanigans involving the Moot, all sorts of patrons and skullduggery.
1116 the Emperor's assassination - or not. Maybe the PCs are involved, maybe they stop it, maybe they ret to stop it but fail, maybe they are accomplices.
They assist Lt Windhook in his escape, or brutally murder him, or take his captive.
Lucan dissolves the Moot, the PCs may side with Lucan and carry out tasks to bring Moot members to Lucan's justice, or maybe they work with the shadowy figures who guide the Moot to work in secret to further the shadow Moot's aims.
PCs doing PC scale stuff that has meaning within the setting and all before we get to the start date of 1121.
I hope that if Mongoose ever moves from FFW to the Rebellion they do something like this that involves PCs
Instead of 1116 Assassination
1116-1121 metaplot metaplot massed fleets
1121 PCs so what do we do...
1114 the players are visiting Capital for reasons. maybe following the events of the FFW they received the summons or maybe they just followed their adventure path and arrived there.
They get up to shenanigans involving the Moot, all sorts of patrons and skullduggery.
1116 the Emperor's assassination - or not. Maybe the PCs are involved, maybe they stop it, maybe they ret to stop it but fail, maybe they are accomplices.
They assist Lt Windhook in his escape, or brutally murder him, or take his captive.
Lucan dissolves the Moot, the PCs may side with Lucan and carry out tasks to bring Moot members to Lucan's justice, or maybe they work with the shadowy figures who guide the Moot to work in secret to further the shadow Moot's aims.
PCs doing PC scale stuff that has meaning within the setting and all before we get to the start date of 1121.
I hope that if Mongoose ever moves from FFW to the Rebellion they do something like this that involves PCs
ManOfGrey
SOC-12
I certainly agree with Mr. Wightman that there isn't a lot of discussion of the Moot in the books, at least as far as I have seen. As far as I was concerned, the "Moot," in Traveller, is something like the Barons in merry 'ole England, particularly as described in the Magna Carter.
"The Moot" includes those nobles that are guaranteed certain rights under the Imperium's charter, and serves as a check and balance to the power of the Crown. I'm not sure they hold legislative power, but can probably exercise some kind of veto power to the Emperor's policies... in particularly if those policies that might intrude upon their own executive power within the confines of their own domains.
It is my understanding that the Imperium maintains order by recognizing that the Empire is too vast to be controlled from a central location, but executive decisions often have to be made by those nobles who are the closest to the situation. Because of this, it is my understanding that while the Imperium controls the space between worlds, the worlds themselves are independent "fiefs." And some of these fiefs often fight among themselves.
I can certainly see a central meeting place on Capitol for these nobles and their representatives can meet to work out their differences, plot against each other, form alliances, and keep tabs on the Emperor and his policies. This place, and its members, are often collectively referred to as "the Moot."
Granted, in history, King John certainly did not maintain his promises as they were required by the Magna Carter. And the charter, itself, was nullified by the Pope, years later. That Lucan did the same isn't surprising. But, like John, the fact these nobles have their control of their own armies and navies, the Emperor might seriously weigh the consequences of rash decisions.
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Nope, no veto, no 'nuthin - in canon they "advise and counsel" the Emperor (not "advise and consent") and their only powers are that they can disqualify the designated Imperial Heir at the point of ascension to the throne, they can elect an Emperor in the event that there is no suitable hereditary heir (biological or legal), and they can dissolve the Imperium, that's it for their actual powers. Per the Warrant of Restoration all power flows from the Emperor and the only check is that the Moot can choose to blow up the whole thing.
D.
I do like that the Moot's Committees, Oversight Boards, ownership of MegaCorps and, as per the Warrant of Restoration, the "power to declare the dissolution of the Imperium" plus "the power to disqualify an Imperial Heir Apparent from ascending..." make the case for some adventures about Palace Intrigue. A Referee could make a campaign where a group of Nobles and a MegaCorp scheme to make the Emperor weak or go as far as plan an assassination so as they could select a puppet Emperor that will fill their coffers with credits and their houses with elevated rank.
I'd go a tad more Grisham (see Pelican Brief) - not assassinating the Emperor, but knocking off the various heirs and potential heirs so that they get someone on the throne that they see as sympathetic or manipulatable. Playing the long game...
D.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Hmm, the mechanism of the classic board game Kingmaker.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Cleon Industries became the Third Imperium. Cleon Industries shareholders can call themselves by whatever noble rank they like but the fact remains that as shareholders they get the final say on who leads the company.
What Lucan did, after 1116 years, was revert Cleon Industries to family (his) ownership and strip the shareholders of their shares and rights. The temporary suspension of the Moot for a year is mentioned, what is not mentioned that I can find is that the Moot returned after the hiatus. We know that the "shadow Moot" was instrumental in supporting Margaret, and yet ignored the "real" Strephon.
What Lucan did, after 1116 years, was revert Cleon Industries to family (his) ownership and strip the shareholders of their shares and rights. The temporary suspension of the Moot for a year is mentioned, what is not mentioned that I can find is that the Moot returned after the hiatus. We know that the "shadow Moot" was instrumental in supporting Margaret, and yet ignored the "real" Strephon.
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