Solomani on the rimward frontier

[rancke]

Originally posted by hunter:
A valid way to look at it but not one we share.

We feel Traveller IS more than the universe of the Imperium and its history. It is a game of science fiction adventure. The Imperium is its 'official' setting, but by no means the only possible setting.

Well, let me just add one bit I forgot to include in my previous post before I stop belabouring this equine carcass:

The game with the number 2300 in its title was originally called Traveller 2300. As I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the reason it got changed to 2300 AD was that so many fans were upset that it wasn't really Traveller (I know I was, although I didn't write to GDW about it (I just didn't buy it)).

So apparently I'm not the only one who thinks like that.

Hans

 

[EvilDrGanymede]

I got into the game when it was called 2300AD, but I was aware of its previous incarnation... and I too wondered why it had the Traveller label when it clearly wasn't.

 

[Elliot]

If I remember correctly the excuse that came out when Traveller 2300 came out was that 'Traveller' was the name for GDW's science fiction games. Many GDW customers (i know as at the time i was working in a RPG shop) bought the game thinking it was Traveller set at the time of the Terran Confederation. They were not always happy to find out that it was, in fact, set 300 years after Twighlight 2000 and that the French were the hot power!!!!!

T2300 was a cynical ploy by GDW to launch a new game surfing on the wave of CT's good will, in my view it damaged Traveller slightly.

However, it was a good game, a nice setting (although as I was committed to MT at the time I didn't buy it) and I hope that D20 2300AD does well.

 

[saulweaver]

With reference to the original topic, a site referenced in another thread has a map (http://www.geocities.com/traveller_core_route/galaxy.zip) purporting to be from Marc Miller, which shows a line extending out of known space towards the rim. It is titled the "Solomani Exploration." Of course there is another line out of the other end of known space titled "Zhodani Core Route." It seems like the Solomani are doing more than just planning revenge on the hated Imperials.

 

[trader jim]

did you just say , in a round about way ,that CLASSIC material IS NOT CANON????...answer just YES or NO, please

 

[saulweaver]

trader jim: I'm sorry if that question is directed at me, but I'm not sure what you are getting at.

Does anyone have any more information on this Solomani Rim Exploration thing. It apparently originated in DGP's Aslan & Solomani, which, sadly, is missing from my collection. That came out while I was in college and at the time I wasting my money on tuition and bourbon instead of role playing games. Any additional inoformation would be most appreciated.

The MT Encyclopedia mentions that exploration to rimward has progressed 3,000 parsecs IIRC. Is this Solomani Exploration thing a serious colonization and exploration effort, or just two guys in a scout ship?

 

[mike wightman]

DGP's Solomani & Aslan contains two paragraphs which can be summarised as follows.

The Perseus Project was initiated in 5589AD(1071 Imp). This comprised 17 base ships which were launched towards the Perseus Arm of the galaxy (the next spiral arm beyond our own Orion Spur's Sagittarian Arm).
Each ship was independantly sponsored and commanded but they did meet occasionally to share info gathered.
The Iouo was the last to return in 5624AD(1106 Imp). It had made it almost 3000 parsecs to the systems on the border of the Auriga Arm.
Three of the 17 have not been heard from since they entered the Perseus Arm. One of these is the Home, the largest ship constructed.

Hope this info helps, I'll read through a few more times to see if there is anything else.

 

[saulweaver]

Thanks very much from that information from A&S. Does it mention how big the ships are, or how many crew they carried?

Something else I noticed buried in Supp. 10: "The Solomani Confederation generates a great deal of propaganda regarding the future liberation of Terra and reconquest of its lost territories, but border incidents are rare; the Solomani government has transferred its real attention to its rimward frontier."

 

[kaladorn]

After reading Saulweaver and Sigg Oddra's excellent information, I wonder if the MADDog has any other HIWG or CORE references to contribute?

From what I see from the first two, we have a Solomani expedition 'out there' that goes a long way (3000 parsecs is what, about 3000/40 = 75 sectors deep?) Rimward. We know the corridor is limited at one point to a three sector bottleneck (no biggie, that's still 250 parsecs or so?) but may expand out beyond that. But where does this suggest 'something big and evil'? So far we only know that some ships were lost. So? Welcome to exploration. Misjump? Collision (or near approach) with a massive object while in Jumpspace forcing a percipitation out of Jump in nowhere useful? It seems to me we don't know.

And it seems to me logical the Solomani would become preoccupied with new unoccupied or unconquered territory - far *easier* to get a hold of than stuff you have to fight a marginally superior empire for! This just seems normal for any Empire.

So far I don't see a lot of reference to tell me why we should suspect something nasty of being out there? Anyone care to provide some additional references? (I do have to go pull out Alien Races 4 from GT to look up the reference MADDog gave).

 

[mad13142000]

Originally posted by kaladorn:
After reading Saulweaver and Sigg Oddra's excellent information, I wonder if the MADDog has any other HIWG or CORE references to contribute?
<snip>
(I do have to go pull out Alien Races 4 from GT to look up the reference MADDog gave).

Yes, my 'big nasty' reference is specific to G:T Aliens 4...
According to my HIWG maps, there IS a large rift that cuts across rimward of the sollies. It starts in Tracerie Sector, and cuts down around the bottom of Phlange, Rimreach (hence the name - The Rim is still almost 2500 parsecs from here), ans Tahahorol. It then cuts up into Eose'o Sector to end. Thus the Aslan have a better rate of expansion to rimward than the sollies do. The Rift in question extends almost 5 sectors deep in places, although there is a large 'island' in the middle of it - I believe it is possibly the Pleadies cluster, or another Drift...

But personally, I think the reason the Sollies are so slow at expansion Rimward is a psychological one - They still spend many hours a day longing for Terra. If they are so focused inward, they won't be as gung-ho to look outward.

-MADDog

-------------------------------------------------
"Where'd that stupid sig line go? I just had it here...too many little pieces of paper..."