Named Luminaries

[tvandeloo]

Is there a list or other resource for "named" luminaries in the official Traveller universe? I'm thinking not only of Emperors (that's easy to find) but also looking for notable military leaders, scientists, entertainers, merchants, rogues, etc. I want to develop a more exhaustive list of awards and decorations that can be earned in various careers and think that the MCUF / MCG / SEH triad could use some fleshing out. Or, to put it another way, who is the "Nobel" of Imperial science?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. If someone has already worked up a more creative list of awards and decorations, I'd be happy to work with that instead.

 

[samuelvss]

On the decorations, IMTU, these are Imperial, and are used because they are well-known and standardized. The chrome comes from local decorations, from the sector, subsector, and even planetary level.

They have the same value as foreign decorations do for the US military: something fruity that adds color, but does not necessarily mean anything to anyone. Now the SM who earned it knows what they did (or didn't do) to earn it, but it doesn't mean anything to anyone else, except maybe from hte awarding state.

I have never done any, let alone a comprehensive, list. A generator might be more in order.

 

[aramis]

On the decorations, IMTU, these are Imperial, and are used because they are well-known and standardized. The chrome comes from local decorations, from the sector, subsector, and even planetary level.

They have the same value as foreign decorations do for the US military: something fruity that adds color, but does not necessarily mean anything to anyone. Now the SM who earned it knows what they did (or didn't do) to earn it, but it doesn't mean anything to anyone else, except maybe from hte awarding state.

I have never done any, let alone a comprehensive, list. A generator might be more in order.

Several such foreign awards serve as "fraud detectors"... for example, an army officer with the Vietnam ribbon but without the ARVN one probably didn't serve in country.

Likewise, certain others are readily recognized and meaningful to many: the French Croix d'Guerre, the US Legion of Merit, Papal Knighthoods...

In canon, we have at least two dozen orders of knighthood, and a ozen named (7 domains, plus O. Emperor's Guard, O. Starship & Crown, O. Hlyuea, Gvadakoung, H. O. of the Arrow).

 

[whulorigan]

Orders of Knighthood

In canon, we have at least two dozen orders of knighthood, and a dozen named (7 domains, plus O. Emperor's Guard, O. Starship & Crown, O. Hlyuea, Gvadakoung, H. O. of the Arrow).

Actually according to MT:IE, p.14 (Nobles section), which was lifted directly from CT Library Data sources, there are "several dozen" orders of Knighthood - "several" implies to me at least 3, so I would say at least three dozen Orders of Knighthood. (Which gives individual GMs plenty of leeway to create their own orders for their campaigns).

If one is willing to consider some references outside of CT, the ones I have come across (including sources from CT/MT, DGP, GT, MgT, T4, and T5-related publications):

ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
Imperial Orders
(Order of the White Star - Psionic - disbanded in 800)
(Order of the Imperial Sunburst - disbanded in Milieu:0)

Order of the Emperor's Household
Order of the Cross of Arlea

Order of the Iridium Throne

Order of Starship & Crown (formerly Order of the Imperial Sunburst)
Honorable Order of the Emperor's Guard
Order of the Third Imperium ("Knights Imperial" ?? )
Honorable Order of the Arrow

Order of Hluyea
Order of Gvadakoung
Order of Muan Gwi

Domain Orders
Ancient & Preeminent Order of Sylea
Ancient Order of Vland (Kiduunuuzzi Bilanidin)
Royal Order of Antares
Order of Gateway
Order of Ilelish
Order of Sol (formerly Order of Terra)
Order of Deneb

Also, under T5, Dukes may appoint "Knights Retainer" (effectively Bachelor Knights with no associated Order) at their own discretion, who only have recognition within the given Duke's sphere of influence (and anyone else who chooses to recognize them).

Subsector/Sector:
Knights Retainer - non-Imperial (regional) Orders of Subsector/Sector Dukes

GT:Nobles, p.86 also makes passing reference to minor Imperial Orders of Knighthood that have been established for inhabitants of many of the major worlds of the Imperium (referred to as "Planetary Orders of Knighthood") that are administered by the Archdukes (or perhaps Subsector/Sector Dukes), who appoint a Grand Master to oversee the Order's functions (as opposed to the Imperial and Domain Orders, for which the Grand Master is normally the Emperor or Archduke personally).

 

[tvandeloo]

Thanks everyone, this is helpful. If anyone has any non-Imperial information to add, I'd appreciate that too.

As an example, I'm thinking of awarding decorations to Darrian Academics with names like, "Council Science Medal", "Derir Lipit Prize", and "Taledh Medal" - analogous to the Nobel Prize or Field's Medal in our world. Of course, the Darrians also have "Confederation Medal, nth Class" for their military service members.

Every little bit helps!

 

[rancke]

GT:Nobles, p.86 also makes passing reference to minor Imperial Orders of Knighthood that have been established for inhabitants of many of the major worlds of the Imperium (referred to as "Planetary Orders of Knighthood") that are administered by the Archdukes (or perhaps Subsector/Sector Dukes), who appoint a Grand Master to oversee the Order's functions (as opposed to the Imperial and Domain Orders, for which the Grand Master is normally the Emperor or Archduke personally).

And though not mentioned anywhere, many member worlds will have their own (parochial) orders of knighthood and their own medals and similar schemes for distinguishing one citizen above others. (In one Jack Vance book a world has an unspecified but large number of clubs, membership of which conveys a specific social rank above and below members of other clubs).


Hans

 

[Timerover51]

Several such foreign awards serve as "fraud detectors"... for example, an army officer with the Vietnam ribbon but without the ARVN one probably didn't serve in country.

Interesting use of the term "fraud detectors."

It would appear from your definition that I am a "fraudulent officer".

 

[aramis]

Interesting use of the term "fraud detectors."

It would appear from your definition that I am a "fraudulent officer".

Most everone who was in country got the ARVN award. Most, but not all. Hell, my dad, a medical service corps officer, got it. With it's funny palm-tree-branch device and frame. (ARVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Leaf unit citation). According to everyithing I've seen, if you were in a unit in Vietnam, from 1970 onward, you're supposed to have one. Prior to that, maybe, maybe not.

It's proof of service in country in that period - which the vietnam service ribbon isn't. So, only fraudulent if claiming to have been in Vietnam in that period.

 

[McPerth]

Actually according to MT:IE, p.14 (Nobles section), which was lifted directly from CT Library Data sources, there are "several dozen" orders of Knighthood - "several" implies to me at least 3, so I would say at least three dozen Orders of Knighthood. (Which gives individual GMs plenty of leeway to create their own orders for their campaigns).

If one is willing to consider some references outside of CT, the ones I have come across (including sources from CT/MT, DGP, GT, MgT, T4, and T5-related publications):

Also, under T5, Dukes may appoint "Knights Retainer" (effectively Bachelor Knights with no associated Order) at their own discretion, who only have recognition within the given Duke's sphere of influence (and anyone else who chooses to recognize them).

GT:Nobles, p.86 also makes passing reference to minor Imperial Orders of Knighthood that have been established for inhabitants of many of the major worlds of the Imperium (referred to as "Planetary Orders of Knighthood") that are administered by the Archdukes (or perhaps Subsector/Sector Dukes), who appoint a Grand Master to oversee the Order's functions (as opposed to the Imperial and Domain Orders, for which the Grand Master is normally the Emperor or Archduke personally).

I don't knmow to which pont challenge is considered canon, but in issue 47 it also talked about another order; the Knights of the Blue Feather

 

[tvandeloo]

Here's what I came up with ...

I developed a table of decorations for combat service, combat command, injury, level 1 (e.g. MCG), level 2 (e.g. MCUF) and level 3 (e.g SEH) decorations by career and race. It's posted in the spreadsheet library if anyone's interested.

 

[whulorigan]

I. . . level 1 (e.g. MCG), level 2 (e.g. MCUF) . . .

Those two should be reversed.

Level 1 (e.g. MCUF),
Level 2 (e.g. MCG)


They are correct on your spreadsheet, however.