Why not the Solomani?

[kilemall]

I remember someone on these forums (I don't remember exactly where) saying that the Solomani module was likely written to make the Solomani look as evil as possible, because otherwise, the players (being Terrans, after all) would be more likely to sympathise with the Solomani Confederation rather than the Third Imperium that is (was) meant to be the big "heroic" empire of Charted Space.

Whenever we play Imperium the boardgame, I always take the Imperials and refer to the Terrans as 'a disease, and I am the cure'.

So I don't really have that problem.

 

[Murph]

I remember that as well. I think that the 3I from GDW was designed to be Imperial centric since that was where they placed their modules.

I remember someone on these forums (I don't remember exactly where) saying that the Solomani module was likely written to make the Solomani look as evil as possible, because otherwise, the players (being Terrans, after all) would be more likely to sympathise with the Solomani Confederation rather than the Third Imperium that is (was) meant to be the big "heroic" empire of Charted Space.

 

[mike wightman]

I quite like the Imperium-centric portrayal of the Alien Modules. It gives me the opportunity to work out what the 'truth' behind the propaganda is to suit MTU.

 

[Murph]

I like the fleshing out of the Solomani in the Solomani and Aslan module. It gives more perspective to the original module. And I like how the Traveller Map takes the listed polities into account.

I quite like the Imperium-centric portrayal of the Alien Modules. It gives me the opportunity to work out what the 'truth' behind the propaganda is to suit MTU.

 

[Murph]

Yes, I think that they have been portrayed as too racist, and perhaps that is Imperial propaganda....

The Solomani Party has a big tent, and especially since the Rim War, one overriding interest is in economic development and technical base advancement to at least fifteen.

The worlds close to the border want to enjoy continued trade links to the Imperium, while those further away may really be itching to recover the lost territories.

Racial purity ideology may be less an issue with homogeneous systems, and more corrosive towards the borders.

 

[infojunky]

Yes, I think that they have been portrayed as too racist, and perhaps that is Imperial propaganda....

I always considered that the racism/specism to be a product of geography, i.e. is gets worse the closer to the imperial border. In that there are some serious divergent human populations as one moves away from Terra and the border.

My real question is how big a Vargr presence in areas beyond the Rim, My current theory is that Vargr are nearly a prodigious Travellers as Humans, and as such they get everywhere....

 

[Condottiere]

Strays.

I think that their constraint is organized interstellar colonization, which would require planet wide repressive political, economic, social and/or religious conditions.

 

[infojunky]

Strays.

I think that their constraint is organized interstellar colonization, which would require planet wide repressive political, economic, social and/or religious conditions.

The Vargr or the Solomani?

 

[Condottiere]

The Vargr, they're more likely to just move out of the neighbourhood or sphere of influence, since organizing interstellar passage will be expensive, and there's no guarantee that the next star system would be any better, whereas there'd be fairly accurate information for their resident star system.

 

[infojunky]

The Vargr, they're more likely to just move out of the neighbourhood or sphere of influence, since organizing interstellar passage will be expensive, and there's no guarantee that the next star system would be any better, whereas there'd be fairly accurate information for their resident star system.

It appears you are disregarding the frangible nature of Vargr social organisations.

 

[Condottiere]

I base it on economics, and if they can get themselves organized as the next Pilgrim Fathers, they might just decide to ignite a coup instead.

 

[Murph]

According to Canon a lot of Aslan psychology is cultural, and Imperial Aslan are closer to human norms. So would not the same apply to Vargr, especially those who end up in the Solomani Sphere?

The Vargr, they're more likely to just move out of the neighbourhood or sphere of influence, since organizing interstellar passage will be expensive, and there's no guarantee that the next star system would be any better, whereas there'd be fairly accurate information for their resident star system.

 

[Condottiere]

Our human instinct is fight or flight, the Vargr's might be more deeply ingrained.

For the Vargr, a kingdom might be line of sight, so you move far enough away where so that what perturbed you isn't likely to affect you at least for a generation.

 

[Murph]

I agree with you since the Vargr are essentially Terran dogs. I wonder if throwing them a bone and telling them to "go fetch" you could get them to go after the Zhodani?

 

[mike wightman]

The Vargr are not Terran dogs.

Never were, never have been, never will be.

They are a race of uplifted wolves, the domestic dog has only been around for the last few thousand years, while the Vargr have had 300,000 years to evolve from their uplifted wolf ancestors.

 

[Condottiere]

Parallel evolution, abetted by Terran fanfiction.

 

[Timerover51]

I agree with you since the Vargr are essentially Terran dogs. I wonder if throwing them a bone and telling them to "go fetch" you could get them to go after the Zhodani?

Convert a few Zhodani into canned Vargr food with some good spices and explain to them that the brain of a psi-capable individual has added nourishment for young and growing Vargr, then make sure that you are not between them and their new food source.

 

[mike wightman]

Or alternatively slice a Zho up and season like bacon, feed to Impies and say go get them...

 

[Condottiere]

Have a great start to your morning with Zho-shi.

For the Aslan warrior in you.

Now tuna flavoured.

 

[Murph]

LOL! That is funny, I like it.

Convert a few Zhodani into canned Vargr food with some good spices and explain to them that the brain of a psi-capable individual has added nourishment for young and growing Vargr, then make sure that you are not between them and their new food source.