New to the Imperium

[strontiumdog]

I've been a fan of old 'empire' and 'free trader' science fiction from the likes of Niven and Poul Anderson for some time. When I recently started delving into classic/hard science fiction again I got the itch to play some Traveller, a game which I had owned some books for but never actually played.

I will be in my first game later today, I'm still learning the system (Mongoose Traveller set in the early Rebellion-era) but I like what I see so far.

Time to refuel on reaction mass! :coffeegulp:

 

[Spartan159]

Hello there and welcome aboard! :coffeesip:

 

[strontiumdog]

Hello there and welcome aboard! :coffeesip:

Thanks!
My first session of MgT was a lot of fun. Character creation was a bit of work, but it's not too far different from RuneQuest 6 (which has Mongoose blood itself), while the rules themselves remind me quite a bit of GURPS. I know that Whitaker & Nash worked for Mongoose, and wouldn't be surprised if GURPS and Traveller have some kind of relationship, but in any case I was able to pick the basics up well enough.

 

[aramis]

As writen, th 3I was heavily based on Asimov's Foundation, Niven and Pournell's Codominion, with healthy doses of dozens of others.

If you haven't read them, web.archive.org has the radioplay adaptation of the Foundation trilogy.... and that really lights up lots of bits buried in canon.. Psychohistory, TEDs, pocet empires, merchant princes, and resurgent numbered empires....

There are, however strong doses of many others...

Best wishes for a great game, make it your own, and the 3I can serve you for many years...

 

[strontiumdog]

As writen, th 3I was heavily based on Asimov's Foundation, Niven and Pournell's Codominion, with healthy doses of dozens of others.

If you haven't read them, web.archive.org has the radioplay adaptation of the Foundation trilogy.... and that really lights up lots of bits buried in canon.. Psychohistory, TEDs, pocet empires, merchant princes, and resurgent numbered empires....

There are, however strong doses of many others...

Yes, I've been from Foundation from start to the 6th book were a telepathic planet saves the galaxy with communism.
I find 'Empire Fiction' quite interesting, probably because I am a history geek since childhood, but also because I like the aesthetics of it.

 

[Adam Dray]

If you can make it to TravellerCon USA (Oct 9-11, 2015, in Lancaster, PA), you should definitely come out. It's a room full of people playing nothing but Traveller all weekend. I'll be running three different scenarios.

 

[strontiumdog]

If you can make it to TravellerCon USA (Oct 9-11, 2015, in Lancaster, PA), you should definitely come out. It's a room full of people playing nothing but Traveller all weekend. I'll be running three different scenarios.

Unfortunately, that's on the opposite side of the country from me (I do have a cousin who moved out there), but I'm already looking for more games - once a month isn't enough!

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

Thanks!
My first session of MgT was a lot of fun. Character creation was a bit of work, but it's not too far different from RuneQuest 6 (which has Mongoose blood itself), while the rules themselves remind me quite a bit of GURPS. I know that Whitaker & Nash worked for Mongoose, and wouldn't be surprised if GURPS and Traveller have some kind of relationship, but in any case I was able to pick the basics up well enough.

their is a published Gurps traveller adaption. set in a alternate traveller setting, where the Rebellion does not happen. Aramis was involved in writing a few supplements for it, if I remember correctly.

 

[cym0k]

I may be running some Traveller soon. I have got the MgT mechanics sorted. But the suggestion for Foundation series will really help solidify the "universe" in which it is all set. Right now, it is a bit daunting in case I try something that goes "off-script" (yeah, I know IMTU etc etc. But still!).

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

I may be running some Traveller soon. I have got the MgT mechanics sorted. But the suggestion for Foundation series will really help solidify the "universe" in which it is all set. Right now, it is a bit daunting in case I try something that goes "off-script" (yeah, I know IMTU etc etc. But still!).

but still, what?

just remember, you are writing the script in your game. what you says, goes. full stop.

on this forum, its a little different. but as you can see when you read some of the posts here, no two players of this game can quite agree as to what is traveller, and what is not.


the foundation series is one of those sci fi works that marc miller had in mind when he wrote the original traveller rules, and he wanted the rules to be able to run a game in a setting like the Foundation. but its not the only one that inspired him, or the only one that can or should inspire you.

you want to do star wars style space opera in the third imperium? go right ahead, I would love to see that. Star trek style exploration? same deal, could be really fun. Firefly? very close to some free trader games I have been in. battlestar galacticia? that would also work. Honourverse? might take some serious house ruling, but could be done.

Read the foundation series, by all means. they are really good books, and among my favourite SF book series. But don't feel bound to read them, or play your game so that it matchs those books.

 

[wbyrd]

If you can make it to TravellerCon USA (Oct 9-11, 2015, in Lancaster, PA), you should definitely come out. It's a room full of people playing nothing but Traveller all weekend. I'll be running three different scenarios.

dern it, dang it....darn it...gonna be in NC getting ready for an SCA event....I'll have to settle for beating on my friends with large sticks.


Off script someone said..wait there's a script...I thought you just lied about that ,and let the players create the cruel demise of their own invention.

 

[aramis]

their is a published Gurps traveller adaption. set in a alternate traveller setting, where the Rebellion does not happen. Aramis was involved in writing a few supplements for it, if I remember correctly.

Nope. I was involved with T20, and with MGT core. Am involved with Galaxiad in a small way.

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

oops. was it rancke, then? I thought someone on this forum was involved with the gurps traveller project

 

[cym0k]

It's not being bound by the inspiration the feeds into the game, it's attempting to position sessions within the timeline and worrying that it might all come unhinged. I know it won't, ultimately. It is just pre-campaign ideas and jitters. How much of what is canon should go in to a campaign to make it "traveller" (not just the tech): Do I need Aslan, Vargr, Zhodani? Do I need trade? Do I need a vast imperium in the background? Many considerations going toward spinning these tales.

TL;DR Doing Traveller justice/making it work/deciding on a period and going for it.

 

[rancke]

oops. was it rancke, then? I thought someone on this forum was involved with the gurps traveller project

Yes, I co-wrote Sword Worlds with Paul Drye and Robert Prior, wrote up the Darrians for Humaniti, and playtested most of the books. Got a few 'additional material by' out of that too.


Hans