starport imperium space or not

[Nearside]

So, unlike Starports in the Imperium, other ports probably won't be laid out the same, or have the across-the-board Law Level of 3. In fact, some Starports might be draconian in nature, though if they want business to run well, they might think twice.

I've thought about this, and I think independant or smaller states would heavily model their Starport Authorities on the Imperial model, since that seems to run very effectively.

On the other hand, smaller federations, or even single independant worlds might just run it like another port (air or sea).

Perhaps on Balkanized worlds, an international organization would run the Starport, in an attempt to keep it neutral, and to monitor/maintain the costs/profits involved.

This is a complex issue, and I'd like to see some canon material on it.

 

[Malenfant]

Does the GT Starports book not have something to say about all this?

 

[clementk]

Yes, a decent bit from what I recall last time I used it in game. I'll try to look it up tonight if I get the chance.

Casey

 

[jatay3]

I don't think that is correct. Everything I've read in Traveller says that for Imperial worlds, the starport is considered Imperial territory, and Imperial law applies inside the XT line, no matter who runs the starport.
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"Starports" says specifically that not all starports are Imperial, a few are owned by corporations, a few are owned by governments, a few are private-and the Imps like it that way because the comparison in service is good PR. How else would there be local wars? Planatary navies have to fuel up.

It seems to be widely assumed that to be a government implys either total sovereignity or total subjection. The Imperium is in the most common form through history -it is formed in pyrmids of vassals and sub vassals
with the top government holding direct controll over part of them and holding indirect controll. This is why the sub-governments have the right to raise forces and fight wars.
A "client state" is a different sort of body. It is not officially a member of the Imperium. It is simply influenced by the Imperium to a greater or lesser degree. When another state should be defined as a Client State is questionable. It is like asking what the difference is between a boy and a man: some 16 year olds have been capable of commanding ships or playing grandmaster chess, and some 40 year olds aren't fit to pick up garbage. So we draw an abstract distinction. Likewise no one knows when a sovereign state has become a client. We do know that the Zhodini's are not a client state, the Darrian's might be, and the Vargr are who knows.

In any case a fairly safe guess would be that most starports in the Imperium are Imperial, and some outside are.

 

[Wayne]

As to what an 'Imperial' star port is, this is how I run them.

The Imperium has a set of guide lines (a bible so to speak) of what is required in and of a star/space port. Depending on numerous factors (pop, tech level, trade codes, type of bases, ect...) the Imperium either out right controls the port, has a number of bureaucrats/civil servants in key positions, or has a single rep on sight to insure the rules are followed. Generally tighter Imperial control on high pop, rich, multi base worlds to almost no control on one horse show ports (class D ports with a single shack and a landing beacon.

This allows me as GM to cover my tracks when I may be inconsistent with my gaming group over star/space port operations

 

[kafka47]

Re-reading some of the sources on Starports. It would seem there are many non-Imperial starports/spaceports owned by the planetary government(s).

I would then conclude the SPA is a benefit of membership within the Imperium but not neccessarily a given. However, they are the ultimate regulator when it comes to standards such as safety, quality, communication bands, prices, etc.

Rather than conceptualizing starports as mini-cities or ports of yore...a better model would be international airports (as it has been said many times) or seaports in Europe. In an increasingly globalizing world, one sees the same everywhere you go despite customs marking an externality line.

 

[jatay3]

the Imperium either out right controls the port, has a number of bureaucrats/civil servants in key positions, or has a single rep on sight to
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actually I don't think I would call the last two "Imperial Starports". I would instead call them another example of locals asking for assistance-another example of the Vassal-Client system.
Just as Scouts are sent to do border surveys and Liason Officers to spruce up local military bodies, so beareaucrats might be sent for Starports.
Intrestingly that idea wasn't in the book I don't think. It is however highly plausible and would fit in to the system well. It might also make a good campaign. For one thing it would allow a Starport campaign to be arranged without the risk of the players groaning immiediatly at being boring beareaucrats.
For instance: Starport 654 is infamous for its crime and wickedness. It is right on the border and foreign agents pass through with impunity. Several local businesses are known to fence goods for pirates. The government doesn't want the Imps here , but the Archduke told them,"If you want to keep your miserable little regime you will do as I say.
So the players are sent to deal with intersteller intrigue, crime, and unhelpful local officials.
Oh yes and the facilities are primative. For instance there is little emergency relief and large parts of the town are often destroyed in natural(and not always so natural) disasters.
Have you got all that? Now one more thing. Someone at the Imperial Court does not like the PC's and desires that they not come back-and he seems likly to get his wish
Call the campaign
Starport 656: No greater hive of scum and viliany...

 

[aramis]

Client States: Canada is not a client state... nor is guam... both are too far out the poles of the spectrum.

Guam is a semi autnomous territory; essentially, it is equivalent to any backwater imperial world.... (I woudl point out that few imperial worlds are more integrated into the 3I than any US territory... No say in the big government, but subject to the big government none the less... but with some local autonomy).

Canada holds a place similar to either Arden or Daryen groups... big enough to be important, small enough to rely upon neighbors for joint efforts, and too independant to follow blindly thier "Big Neighbor".

No, the classic client states of the US are Taiwan, Israel, Panama, and until the 1930's, Cuba. Big enough to be known, but so small, that were it not for the threat of Big Brother, someone else would have taken them.

In the 1980's, Poland, Cuba, Czekoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania were soviet client states. North Korea and Vietnam, they were (and still are, to a degree) Chienese Client States.

THe Germanies could be argued to have been client states of the US and USSR, but politically, neither was in lock step despite propaganda to the contrary.

A client state is one that needs the relationship, but for whatever reasons remains independant. In some cases (Panama, for example) taking over would not have been locally decried after as while, but would have triggered severe repercussions with other nations. Some client states are puppets, others are more like "Pets": favored so long as they don't bite the hand that feeds them. Small enoguh that the "Big Brother" can slap them into nonexistance should they become too unreliable. (Can we say "Iraq"? I knew you could!)

Most of those client states, IMTU, are just that... they are not imperial, not seeking to join, but are also unable to divorce themselves from the Imperium's economy (In some cases, the Hive Fed or the Zh. Consulate, or the 2K worlds, as appropriate). Politically, they are too dangerous to unite by taking over one at a time... and the ones important enough to bother with are in fact important enough that a change would be destabilizing, and possibly force a local organization. Which would either result in a "terrorist hotbed" or an independant autonomy.

Then again, IMTU, the Imperium wants that buffer of well behaved client states to make their warships being outside the Imperium seen to be normal for crews, too. So, when they have to react, neither the crews nor the populace get upset.

Guamanians. btw, are US citizens in all respects, except CIA paranoia. As are half of the samoans, half of the Virgin Islanders, all the Puerto Ricans, the Marshal Islanders, and until recently, some panamanians.