[Spinward Marches] Suggest a colony world to me!

[Poppyseed45]

So, I've got an upcoming Traveller game. I'm using Supplement 3 from Classic Traveller, and my players want to be counselors administrating a colony world (with the idea that adventures will revolve around doing stuff to help the colony thrive and survive).

So, what's a good colony world in the Spinward marches? Ideally something administered directly by the Imperium, so they can spend time ignoring the Imperium or cheesing them off.

Now, when I say colony, I mean a world with a small population (say less than a thousand, so pops 1-3, maybe 4). Something with frontier feel. Tech level shouldn't be super high as that sort of defeats the frontier feel (so no "frontier" science stations, as the colony, for example). And it probably should have a scout or naval base anywhere, to enforce the frontier feel.

So, suggest away!

 

[shield]

Forboldn in the Regina subsector is a known colony site under the Imperial Ministry of colonisation. Also several reports in the early classic traveller that the mission was not going well / suffering from delays.

Also don't forget Project Steel campaign for MGT which is availbel at DriveThrurpg.com. That's set on Steel during the colonisation attempts. PCs get to be trouble shooters

Cheers
Richard

 

[Sir Brad]

Jewel sub-sesctor has a few nice ones, most are developed, at least around the major settlements, but their is still lots of wide open spaces with less developed populations, perhaps the Ministry of Colonisation and Development takes over a large portion of Crown Land for the next stage of planetary colonisation, the PC's job is to set things up then hand it over to the Planetary Government.

Emerald has some nice dynamics in play with the City Folk, Ranchers and those living in the out-back, then their is the supposed Ancient sight.

 

[rancke]

Forboldn in the Regina subsector is a known colony site under the Imperial Ministry of colonisation. Also several reports in the early classic traveller that the mission was not going well / suffering from delays.

Population is a tad high, though (3 million). Also, what date and which universe is the OP thinking of? The Colonial Office only took over some time after 1117 and in the GTU; the UWP in Regency Sourcebook shows the government to be corporate.

(If anyone is interested in more details, I did a world writeup of Forboldn and a couple of adventures set there for JTAS Online.)


Hans

 

[rancke]

Now, when I say colony, I mean a world with a small population (say less than a thousand, so pops 1-3, maybe 4). Something with frontier feel. Tech level shouldn't be super high as that sort of defeats the frontier feel (so no "frontier" science stations, as the colony, for example). And it probably should have a scout or naval base anywhere, to enforce the frontier feel.

Population level 3 is thousandS, so 1-9,000. That's pretty low for a colony, unless it's very early in the colonization process. Tens and hundreds are more suitable for outposts.

There aren't that many captive governments in the Marches and many of them are colonies of individual worlds, not run by the Imperium. Add the requirement of a lowish tech level and there may not be any suitable ones (I haven't actually gone through all 400 worlds in the Spinward Marches ).

Your best bet is to select a world with suitable population and tech level and then change the political situation and have the Imperium take over. Remeber that direct intervention is against the Imperium's core values. It will do it, but it will need a good reason.

Alternatively, if you want to stay canon-compatible, you can pick a balkanized world and have the Imperium take ove one of the nations. Again, the Imperium (or rather, the local duke) will need some compelling reason to do so.

Incidentally, low population means low military budget. Brinkmanship against the Imperium is tricky when a single Kinunir and its platoon of marines is enough to suppress your army.


Hans

 

[Poppyseed45]

Everyone, thanks for the replies; good food for thought all! I'll have to dig through a bit more, and maybe change a thing or two, and see what I can come up with. I have specific things in mind - was sort of hoping something fit more or less and could teak slightly to taste. Thanks.

 

[Tobias]

How about this one in the Aramis subsector:

Jesedipere C775300-7 G

(I had originally also thought of suggesting Paya and Violante in the same subsector, but there seems to be canon information on them which may contradict your purposes. If you don't care about that, you could also use them.)

This one has no formal government, which you could interpret as Imperial law being the only law in force. It's got a semi-liveable environment and a suitably low tech level.

 

[rancke]

How about this one in the Aramis subsector:

Jesedipere C775300-7 G

(I had originally also thought of suggesting Paya and Violante in the same subsector, but there seems to be canon information on them which may contradict your purposes. If you don't care about that, you could also use them.)

There's canon about Jesedipere too. Every world in Aramis subsector is described in greater or lesser detail in The Traveller Adventure.


Hans

 

[Tobias]

There's canon about Jesedipere too.

I know. Note the relative clause.
For the frontier scenario, Paya is canonically unsuitable because a) It had actually been a world with 12 million inhabitants depopulated by a recent disaster and b) because the survivors form some sort of sect prohibiting all immigration.
Violante is unsuitable because it is divided up among nobles who keep strict control of their estates.
Jesedipere has a) A Vargr refugee problem, b) a starport town which just screams "frontier" and c) the Imperial Scout service as the only authority worth speaking of. Oh, and also major, dangerous seismic activity. None of this is an impediment to the scenario of establishing a colony.

 

[MCEvans]

Don't forget 5 Sisters several systems there are having a 'hard time ingratiating' into the Imperium. (read the Navy controls the system). :devil:
District 268 is full of systems that would love to have guidance in becoming full fledged members.
Querion subsector has client States that probably like to have an "advisory mission" to help prevent the 'spread of the evil Zho empire'

 

[McPerth]

And why to make it Imperial?

IIRC Steel and Mithril, in Sword Worlds, are reserve worlds, both garden worlds yet to be developed.

Perhaps the SW think it's time to develop them, to recover from the losses in the FFW...

 

[Mithras]

I was sure Vilis had an example or two. Let me check ... <rustle, rustle>

Mirriam E472300-8 N Non-Industrial

So it has a naval base as the OP wanted, has atmosphere, a dry climate, tough to live on. Starport is a shuttle landing ground, very James Cameron's Aliens'.

Look also at Ficant in the same subsector.

Ficant E567353-5 Non Industrial

 

[shield]

There are 4 reserve worlds in the Sword Worlds they could develop. Steel is covered in Project Steel and one of the others is covered in one of the inital double adventures.

Enos is also a condiate. Its apart from the rest of the SW, and only TL5. If one of the other SW wanted to start a colony there, there is precious little the Enos govt could do

 

[robject]

Rhylanor subsector has some interesting possibilities as well. And, if you're not too picky, Sabine subsector and Rhylanor subsector both share a relative backwater with low population worlds.

Valhalla (2811) E365432-5
Belizo (3015) B895646-5
Tacaxeb (3218) C230411-B ... just localize the high TL, let the rest be lower.

Vanejen (3119) C686854-5 ... just say that most of the population is indigenous aliens, so your players' job is not only to manage a fledgling human settlement, but to keep peace with the locals.

Cabrini (Deneb 0319) C565510-6

 

[Poppyseed45]

Hmm...the Sword Worlds. Didn't think of that, actually. I'll take a look at their main subsector again. Actually, could be interesting: small colony within the Sword Worlds, who themselves are a small polity compared to the Imperium.

Um...anyone want to describe the SW? Or does it have a description somewhere? Don't have my books handy at the moment...

 

[mike wightman]

Have you looked at Glisten and District 268?

This is from the Glisten sub sector description in S3:

"The Glisten subsector is an isolated spur of the lmperial xboat network; until 940, it was a backwater for marginal officials of the lmperial bureaucracy. How- ever, in 941, District 268 was opened by decree of Margaret l l and has since served as a base for the colonization of the new territory.
Egypt has been selected for a Ministry of Colonization training base.
Mithras is the site of an lmperial exile prison; convicted individuals are deported to the world where they begin life anew. Although environmental conditions are harsh, the opportunities on Mithras have made it a showcase of rehabilitation."

And here is the District 268 entry:

"District 268 is an undeveloped region which does not yet enjoy membership in the Imperium, although lmperial protection is available to the worlds and peoples who inhabit the region. The center for administration of lmperial activities in District 268 is Glisten, in the adjoining Glisten subsector.
Collace is the site of one of several lmperial scout bases in the district. Application has been made for membership in the Imperium, which is pending."

 

[rancke]

Hmm...the Sword Worlds. Didn't think of that, actually. I'll take a look at their main subsector again. Actually, could be interesting: small colony within the Sword Worlds, who themselves are a small polity compared to the Imperium.

Um...anyone want to describe the SW? Or does it have a description somewhere? Don't have my books handy at the moment...

Allow me to reccommend GT:Sword Worlds. Although it describes the Sword Worlds in the GTU in 1120, the historical material and any part of the setting descriptions that refer to conditions prior to 1116 are equally valid for the OTU. (Except, sadly, the MGT information about Steel ignored previously published material, both from Sword Worlds and from CT material. (Note that I've only skimmed the new material and that it was some time ago, so I could be misremembering. Basically, in both the OTU and the GTU, the Metal Worlds remained untouched, except for some survey work, until the Fifth Frontier War and had no colonists until after the war.)).


Hans

 

[HiverLord]

And why to make it Imperial?

IIRC Steel and Mithril, in Sword Worlds, are reserve worlds, both garden worlds yet to be developed.

Perhaps the SW think it's time to develop them, to recover from the losses in the FFW...

IIRC, in canon TU, these worlds were taken from the SW Confederation, and put into a 'protectorate': The Border Worlds. Effectively "Independent", but everyone knows the Imperium calls the shots...

Thus, they should be open for Imperial colonization, I'd think.

I don't know the story behind it, but Dawnworld in District 268 looks like another great canditate.

 

[McPerth]

IIRC, in canon TU, these worlds were taken from the SW Confederation, and put into a 'protectorate': The Border Worlds. Effectively "Independent", but everyone knows the Imperium calls the shots...

Thus, they should be open for Imperial colonization, I'd think.

I don't know the story behind it, but Dawnworld in District 268 looks like another great canditate.

You're right, sorry, my fault.

I thought the border worlds were only those more developed coreward of those two worlds, I was wrong.

Anyway, if the Imperium tried to develop them, I guess there would be quite a lot of diplomatic conflict, as the BW would lose the legal facade of independent, and sure this move would be diplomatically apposed by the SW and (I guess) quite a lot of people in the BW themselves.

Of course this will only add more interest to an adventure about developing them, either by Sword Worlders or by Imperials..

 

[rancke]

I don't know the story behind it, but Dawnworld in District 268 looks like another great canditate.

The story of Dawnworld.


Hans