Out of the Darkness - Discussion thread

[jfetters]

I thought I remembered hearing something about an "end of the universe" setting. Don't remember if there was a restaurant or not...

But, honestly, I don't see how ANYONE can complain about this... It has a complete summary of the Traveller setting and, most importantly, advances it.

Take what you like, leave what you don't.

Personally, I like having a NEW Traveller product that advances the timeline, wraps up loose ends and presents some new beginnings and best of all is rules independent.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

MJD

Last night when I bought Out of Darkness, I saw from the Avenger site that you will be doing making products using the Hero System rules. What is the status on this project?

 

[Stei'awtliyrl]

Purchased the PDF this afternoon, and (instead of going to class like I should have...) read through the whole thing. You've got some really, really good stuff in there!

Glad I bought it!

Now, enough of this posting to message boards! You have Star Vikings to write about! Back to your cubicle! Back! Back!

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Stei'awtliyrl:
Glad I bought it!

Stei'awtliyrl,

Superb! It's selling like hotcakes and that means there will be more Traveller goodies in the pipeline!

Someone should write a review for Jeff Zeitlin's Freelance Traveller, the TML, JTAS, and all the other RPG sites.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Stei'awtliyrl]

I have gotten to the age where I muse fondly upon the games of my youth. Thus I lean my support to those companies that keep those games alive. For the last couple of years, my favorite game lines are HERO and Traveller.

Obviously, I'm rather excited about Traveller-Hero.

I'm hoping that T-HERO will help pump new life into the Star Hero line.

 

[Michael Taylor]

Status of T-Hero. I'm waiting for stat conversions for the Avenger oline to arrive and we will start doing Hero versions of Avenger releases.

 

[drobe230]

MJD,

I bought the PDF on Friday and spent the weekend perusing it. All I can say is, this is exactly what I've been waiting for! I was brought into Traveller under TNE and dutifully collected all of the books only to be left hanging after GDW promised so much and did not deliver. Kudos to you and this great work!!! Thanks for Keeping the Flame

 

[Flynn]

As an aside, for those interested, the Collapse procedure given in the final Avenger product is not the updated Collapse/Recovery procedure the COTI playtesters helped develop. Martin has given me permission to print the playtester-inspired procedure in Stellar Reaches, though.

Just an FYI,
Flynn

 

[Liam Devlin]

Ah, it did look different.

So--our group effort will see light in Stellar Reaches???

Smoothe!

 

[clementk]

I've noticed that Terran Federation is still used at one point (unless it was a transitional stage to the Terran Confederation but that's not clear) and Solomani Imperium, Second Rule of Man, and Rule of Man are still used interchangeably. Regency in one section instead of Imperial Regency. A few odd spacings or Odd Capitalizations.

So I'm wondering if Zarushagar Sector will use (what I thought was) the final sector update as well or not, since so far things look pretty similar to the final playtest draft posted (except for real life dates). >_<

 

[hydrozoa]

Before all the feedback of this discussion topic, I was very hesitant to buy the download. From what I knew of the history presented in OotD, I knew I would not use most of that information. [It is fascinating and very well written, but I did not have internet access until recently, and was more or less set adrift with the demise of GDW. I developed my own timeline up until the "current" date of 1406 Imperial Reckoning, and enjoy it far too much to change. And with all the changes to world sizes, atmospheres, etc...].

Two aspects of OotD convinced me to buy. First, it is in pdf format. I love paper books but simply cannot afford to buy many of them at this time. Second, the content of this thread was very important in my decision. I don't mind at all that there is criticism. In fact, it would have been very strange without at least some Traveller pointing out differences of opinion (we run the gambit). These open-house-style product review threads are invaluable IMO.

I did purchase the download, and I am very happy to have done so. The price is reasonable (thank you for not jacking it up). The history, although (for the most part) not useful to MTU, is a damn good read. The most spectacular, and unexpected part is the section about Virus. That will be very useful as MTU does include Virus (an especially developed aspect of the universe). To the point - even in a Traveller universe that deviates greatly from the 1248 timeline, OotD is very useful and enjoyable.

My thoughts on the subject. [I am a Traveller gamer and especially referee since the very early 1980's, and I am overjoyed that this great mental endeavour marches on]

 

[jfetters]

hydrozoa,

Have you posted the details of YTU in the appropriate thread? I'd really like to read about it.

I'm partial about the Empress Wave, myself. I have a few ideas about some things there, but I haven't reached that part of the manuscript yet.

 

[jfetters]

Martin,

How much discussion did you have with Dave Nilsen regarding the "gap" between the collapse and the Recovery (1200)?

The reason I ask is that by 1200, Vland has survived to be the second-largest polity in former Imperial space (not including the Black Imperium). But in the original TNE materials, I don't think there is even a peep about them. Do you know if this was the original idea about Vland, or is it something that you extrapolated on your own.

It all makes sense based on previous materials, and most of the previous push (before the GDW closing) was on the RC and Regency. I just didn't know how much planning had been done for Vland by the original publishers.

 

[MJD]

I know nothing about the plans for Vland - the Scouring of Vland etc is all my own invention.

As to Traveller Hero, we have a ruleset almost ready and we'll be publishing conversions of our Avenger products to go with it!

 

[hydrozoa]

I'd love to, Jim, I would have before but I didn't want to presume others would be interested . But since you ask I'd be happy to put a little something in the IMTU section, you can see if you like the direction I've taken (might take a couple of days to post though, real-life work being overwhelming at times

). It certainly has worked wonderfully for us.

 

[kafka47]

Detailed reading commenced, like MJD, it was fun revisiting all the old personalities. Small quibble, Windhook was a woman, unless he or she had a sex change once she or he arrived in the Marches.

Kinda sad to IRIS invalidated. I always liked the idea of Star Chambers and a force that even caused Emperors to pause.

I was rather surprised that the Brothers of Varan did not appear anywhere on the scene. Maybe, they were a plot by one of the other factions or even the Moot faction which would want to see one of their own elected as Emperor.

Also, there was no mention of the Verge Rebellion within Dulinor Domain. Now, if as some have postulated that the Verge Combine was an assorted collection of transhumanist worlds, the role that they might play even as a Pocket Empire in 1248 is enormous.

Speaking of Pocket Empires, I would be interested to also learn about some of the other Pocket Empires that were alive and well in CT/GT/MT eras such as those in the Reaver's Deep (MJD, btw, do you need a copy of the sourcebook), etc.

Naturally, some of these ommissions can be dealt with in sourcebook form but we don't want to undercut the creator of this fantastic Milieu.

When I get back, I shall read on. Hope these "errors" can be dealt with before the print edition hits the shops.

Now how about that Table of Contents request...as a going away present...

 

[Border Reiver]

Sorry Kafka, Windhook was a man, specifically referred to as he in the Rebellion Sourcebook.

 

[jfetters]

Actually, I think Dave Nilsen invalidated IRIS in Survival Margin, or at least that was my impression.

 

[kafka47]

As I don't have my copy avaiable of the Rebellion Sourcebook, I wonder who is the woman who is in the picture, as all these years, I had imagined her as Windhook.

I still got the impression that Dave was playing the two sides of the proverbal fence with Survival Margin in regard to IRIS.

If both points are true, I will concide revise and read on...

 

[Liam Devlin]

Kafka47 the woman in the picture was Varian's lover. If you are referring to the picture of the eavesdropping long haired person, that is Windhook, who is described as he, in Rebellion Source Book, as Border Reiver states.

Others have posted on the topic of IRIS since today, and what Frank Chadwick wrought, Mr. Nilsen undid. Too late to Monday-morning quarterback that call--not with 1248, OoTD out now.

MJD took his take on it, as I recall, and made his decision. He was after all the man with the ball. As partial as I am to your point of view, Kafka47, I had to concede in the scheme of things at the end of the day, they were an opportunistic player, not the "Star Chamber" men they portrayed themselves to be.