Limited License wishlist...

[Flynn]

Good afternoon, All,

It's my understanding that the limited license proposed by Hunter and Marc will be finalized over the next few months. (The last word we had from Hunter on it was that is would happen, but the exact details required ironing out. I imagine there's a number of legal issues that are having to be dealt with before it is finally announced.)

I know there's a lot of us that are eager about what this could mean for Traveller. Even though nothing can be done in the OTU, there's still the opportunity to see products that support different aspects of the Traveller systems, including new adventures, settings, technologies, etc.

I'm curious, though. I know what I'd like to see published under the Limited License, but what would you guys like to see? To be fair, I'll start off with my own personal list. Remember, the Limited License can't be used to do anything in the OTU.

* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU. (Perhaps even a "small ship, small empire" ATU...)

* Worldbooks written generically enough to be dropped into any campaign setting.

* New adventures, either set in an ATU or written to be generic enough to be usable by a Referee in almost any campaign setting.

* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.

* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)

These sound cool to me. What sounds cool to you?

Enjoy,
Flynn

 

[Evo Plurion]

I wonder if a "Universe Builder's Handbook" might be worthwhile? You know, an exploration of different campaign setting types (hard SF, space opera, etc.) and how T20 can be used to portray them.

I love your idea about universally-adaptable worldbooks. Many could focus on worlds which have yet to be discovered by any major space-faring civilization. It would then be easy to use them in any ATU.

 

[Malenfant]

Evo - that sounds very much like GURPS Space or Star HERO or d20 Future.

 

[clementk]

All I can remember right now from what I said last time on this is variants of existing rules sans OTU references if possible. Anything from a MT with the errata corrected

to a CT+ or BESM Traveller.

 

[Flynn]

I remember coming across a reference to a doc file some five or six years ago where someone had typed in all of MT without the OTU references, and had entered errata. I think the person that made it got special permission from Marc to distribute it to ten people, or something like that. I think it was mentioned on the TML in '99 or '00.

But at that time, MT wasn't available on PDF like it is now. However, it would make an excellent place to start on a corrected MT sans OTU, if you can find someone that has that rare and difficult-to-locate file.

Of course, it may have only been the Player's Manual, since the creator did it for his ATU game and his gamers.

-Flynn

 

[LordVince]

I'd be interested in something along the lines of a "Traveller Techbook". Something that that gives rules for dealing with different Tech Levels, perhaps eve giving a discussion of what might be found at each Tech Level. Sorta like the GURPS Techbooks (Low Tech, High Tech, Ultra Tech) do.

I am so tired of playing "1970's Tech in Space"...

 

[kafka47]

Dark, violent adventures which the moral ground is rupturing under the players feet. Bold new technology that reinvokes the wonder in SF (like the article in SR about RNA transplants). Detailling different cultural regions of the Imperium. A deep and thoughtful examination of the Solomani Sphere and a treatment of Lost Colonies Rimward.

 

[Flynn]

Remember, Kafka, that the OTU can't be touched by the Limited License, so your last two sentences wouldn't be possible to address... directly.

Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one.

Just some thoughts,
Flynn

 

[Liam Devlin]

Flynn, I'm all fer this idea. As fer new technologies...well, I can rustle up a few more things fer this if need be.

New races...
Hmmm seems to me a hand full of OTU ones that only ever got a name, and nothing else to my recollection..plenty of room just filling those in fer starters.

Adventures that can be dropped anywhere...
that takes a little homework for the writer, and some scanning about of the sectors folks like to do, but seems reasonable enough a challenge.

 

[Flynn]

Liam,

Bear in mind that race names are typically considered Product Identity, as well as part of the OTU. Hence, my suggestion for new races, so that there's no violation of the Limited License.

And if they're done relatively genericly, with only a skeletal background, they can be dropped into whatever TU the Referee would like to use them in, even the OTU. The product itself couldn't contain notes on that, however.

People like Martin, who have a Full License instead of a Limited License, can take advantage of the OTU things being sought here and elsewhere. Limited Licensers will have to walk a much more narrow line.

-Flynn

 

[Liam Devlin]

OH.

Well...

2 out of 3 ideas is still okay though. TY!

 

[Evo Plurion]

Bold new technology that reinvokes the wonder in SF (like the article in SR about RNA transplants).

SR? What's that? The article you refer to sounds interesting.

 

[mike wightman]

SR is the free Stellar Reaches PDF fanzine, which supports Traveller T20 and Classic Traveller.
Follow the link in Flynn's signature above.

The article is in issue 2.

 

[Evo Plurion]

Thanks, Sig!

 

[kafka47]

Originally posted by Flynn:
Remember, Kafka, that the OTU can't be touched by the Limited License, so your last two sentences wouldn't be possible to address... directly.

Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one.

Just some thoughts,
Flynn

Damn, just when I was hoping to see Firefly as the Browncoats transplanted into 3I setting with the Solomani playing the role of those pesky rebels.

Would it be a violation, however, if the setting merely let it be known as the Sphere or the Confederation...allowing gamers in the know, to easily pull out the concepts and refer to the Imperium merely as the Empire.

 

[Flynn]

Kafka,

So long as you provide a general statement at the beginning that identifies these elements in such a way as to indicate they are not part of the OTU, I think you'd be fine.

For my limited license work, I'll probably refer to a somewhat sketchy generic background, backed up with some UWPs and a sector or two written up (not sure yet, though), but with general concepts from Golden Age sci-fi that could be adapted to any other Traveller setting if the Referee so chooses. As soon as I finish up my One-Page treatment of the generic setting, I'll probably include it in any of my products just to make sure people understand what it is that I'm referencing. If it is done correctly, I should have no issues with Product Identity. If there's enough interest, I can always expand on the generic background and create more detail, but that'll be based on what I perceive as demand.

But a lot of that work will have to wait until the Limited License is further defined.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Flynn:
Good afternoon, All,
* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU.

* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.

* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)

I intend to submit my Solar Triumvirate ATU for limited license; It's a low-tech (TL12, though higher genetics/electronics/computer tech than usual TL12), small-empire, small-ship universe. I do not have T20 (hopefully, if I'll have a limited license, I will be able to finance it's purchase), though all stats will be CT.

Included will be:
1) A detailed overview of the Solar Triumvirate universe: outlook, atmosphere and history.
2) A detailed discussion of the Solar Triumvirate polity, extended from what I've posted on the IMTU forum, including government, society/culture, military (including ATLEAST a Marine TO&E, maybe even that of certain Army units), economy, technology and Megacorporations.
3) The Solar Triumvirate's fleet, in LBB2 (extended) format (I have Sigg Oddra's permission to use his house rules).
4) A short overview of each of the other polities in the SolTrim universe: the Serpentis Quadrant Alliance, the Consortium, the Post Planetary Matriarchate and the Coreward Autonomous Zone.
5) A subsector-by-subsector map of the SolTrim universe (which is about 18 subsectors total) with UWPs of all worlds.
6) Detailed description of several important worlds, possibly including even biota.
7) Modified game rules (see my house rules thread in the IMTU forum) including many new weapons and equipment (about 60% done on draft paper). Includes several applications of the LBB8 Robotics rules and additional Chargen options ("Political Advisors", extended Belter generation, extended Colonist career, extended Rogue career and extended Scientist career).

Total estimate will be around 30-50 pages, including maps. About 20 of these are already written as draft.

Where do I submit it? And, if accepted, how do I publish it online?

If I won't recieve a limited license for this, I'll release it one-part-at-a-time either on Stellar Reaches or as a Stellar Reaches addon (if Flynn will agree).

 

[Flynn]

2-4601,

The work you've got sounds interesting so far, and I look forward to seeing what you do with it once the limited license becomes available. Once it is announced that the limited license is open, Hunter and/or Marc will provide details on how you can apply for it, and what the restrictions are.

It is my understanding that, once you have been accepted for the limited license, all you have to do is create the PDF product (or pay someone else to transform your files into a PDF for you), and then use whatever automated process will be set up for you to make it available for sell. There's no need to submit it anywhere if you have the license, since you'll be the final arbitrator on what goes in your own products.

If, for whatever reason, you are not able to get a limited license to release it, I would gladly consider helping you get it out there piecemeal through Stellar Reaches, or offer guidance and suggestions on how you can create your own PDF documents to release it yourself through the file library here or posting it on your own website.

Traveller fans may have rather staunch opinions about things, but they are also the most helpful fanbase I've ever seen, so I'm sure you could get assistance in your projects, if needed.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[Golan2072]

Is there any estimation on when the limited lisence will be available? I'm tending more and more towards releasing MTU for free in Stellar Reaches or a Stellar Reaches Special Edition (you guys deserve it, and besides, I like to discuss MTU and my house rules on the forum in details, so asking for money for something which is freely available on the forum seems absurd). I'm thinking about building a certain adventure in the near future which I'll probably release through limited lisence.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

This is a rough overview of what Products I would like to do for Traveller, (aside from doing work for Stellar Reaches, Oh Editor!)

This of course depends on how agreeable the Limited Licsense is. The Baroness is insistant that I do more work that involves the generation of Credits, and I must agree with her wisdom on this.

Currently, I am in the process of creating a "cottage" company called Cambridge Gameworks, a company dedicated to the production of high-quality game materials for the d20 System and others.

Cambridge Gameworks does NOT produce PDF Documents intended for print (though I want to leave that open to possibility) it produces Web Enhancements (hereafter: WE) for games. I make the distinction because one form is limited to the availability of print facilities, and the limits of Production Cost in that arena, and one does not. We believe that the Computer is as important in use to RPGs as pencil, paper, and dice are, and want to bridge the gap of functionality. I intend a printer freindly version with each copy, for those that love paper!

I want to focus on quality of these projects. Quality of Art, Quality of Writing, and Quality of Ideas. I am dedicated to the presentation of the highest quality materials, to ensure that the gaming dollar is well spent, and giving the most value for the cost.

For Traveller, I want to do:

1. Maintain a "News" Blog of generated and simple adventure seeds in the form of News written in the Traveller Style. The Independent Interstellar News (IIN). This is a "freebie" and is more of an exercise in formatting and content.

2. Release a series of 10-page low cost W.E. called "Starships in Focus", each one about a particular ship and its many variants, histories, and plans. All ships are to be new designs and have representative artwork.

3. A series of Planetary and Cultural WE focusing on Specific (non-canonized, I assume) Worlds and the various factors that shape them. These would be from 10-15 pages. This is called the "Logbook" series for now. Artwork

4. A series of Starship WE that present a Catalog of Species-Specific Ships, like the types represented in Book 2, but the ships presented would be the alien equivalents of the "stock types", All new designs here to, with plans, stats, and suchlike. This will include a species specific deckplan symbology system that I have been working on for a bit. Artwork.

Campaign WE Releases:

These are larger WEs, presenting detailed campaigns and everything needed to play them. I propose four, probably the size of one of the gurps offerings.

"Sidur Starhawks" (PCs are astrobatic fighter pilots, in service to a driven Subsector Duke. A Cross between the Three Musketeers and Top Gun.

"Z-Gun" (PCs are all high tech Artillerists, manning the dreaded Z-Gun) This is a miltary Campaign, start to finish, and it blends Characterization with large scale battles and Tactics.

"Traveller 1500" (PCs live in the the Imperial Year 1500. This would be an alternate timeline)
This one should be large, and take a long time to do.

"Bradbury Colony" (PCs work for a development agency that expands into the distant Storr/Hanstone Sectors)


"Topical WEs" These are WEs that I want to do because the topics interest me

"Ten Weeks to Capital" another WE about places, this time ten systems are outlined, A Class Starports on the way to the Captial of the Third Imperium.

"The Young Person's Guide to Charted Space"
This is a mock-children's book about "our" place in the universe. It will be image and vague map heavy, and written simply, as if it were written for children, but not in a condescending manner.
Its a book written for TL 15 kids...

"The Chronicle of Ral Ranta"
This book focuses on our version of the fringe government in the Hinterworlds.

"The Anubian Trade Coalition"
As Above.

Also, it couldn't hurt to do a few books about robots and aliens, of course!

I am not doing any of these under an illusion. I know that Traveller is not my property, but I do like it and like the backgrounds presented, but I sort of need a "GO" signal from the powers that be.

I would like some sort of idea what the Licsencing thing is all about before I commit to production, of course. I have pettitioned several times with request for information on the subject, and so far have heard little on it, aside from what is said here.

At the moment, I am working at legitimizing the company administratively, in addition to covering the asthetics and formatting of the releases, basically laying out pages. I currently lack Acrobat, but I may have to bite the bullet and get it. I have to weigh the economics and practicality of this. I am also gathering the materials (most of it byproduct waste scraps from my day job) to do the Artwork with.

Bear in mind that the above is a rough market plan, and not anything finalized of course.