Kline Subsector Overview

The starting base of operations for the Into the Interface campaign is Kline subsector, an Imperial territory near the Magyar border of the Solomani Confederation. This is a great place to begin, since many of the interesting conflicts in Magyar are in play within Kline: Vilani/Solomani, Imperium/Confederation, “natural”/“artificial.”

Below are some initial notes on the region. A few things to point out:

1. The world data below is presented for a Mongoose Traveller game, but was based on the T5 Second Survey data available at Traveller Map. The trade codes use the MgT definitions, which are usually close but not always exactly the same as Traveller⁵ trade classifications.
2. I’ve generated a lot of Traveller⁵ data for Magyar such as world orbit position (which drives climate and whether the world is tide-locked or not) as well as whether the world is a planet or satellite. Although not used in MongTrav, I think it’s useful. Relevant Traveller⁵ codes include Co (cold), Ho (hot), Fr (frozen), Tu (tundra), Tr (tropic), Tz (tide-locked), Sa (satellite), and Lk (a satellite tide-locked its world).
3. I’ve also pulled together a few suggestions for the T5SS team to consider for Magyar, which has a lot of worlds with the exact same size, atmo, and hydro codes. Some of this repetition goes back to the old Sunbane data and some of this was inadvertently created during a prior T5SS pass. The data below reflects some of my recommendations.
4. I’ve also generated a lot of secondary worlds for Magyar based on the article “Statistics from the Second Imperial Grand Survey” from the Travellers’ Digest 10 (1987). In general, Traveller games only deal with the MainWorld, the most important world in a star system. While many other secondary worlds are assumed to exist, they are normally just not interesting enough to detail. The TD article holds that Magyar has an unusual number of significant secondary worlds, so I have fleshed many of those out, as shown in the data below. Traveller⁵ secondary world codes include Cy (colony), Fa (farming world), Mi (mining world), and Mr (military rule).

Kline Subsector

Kline, subsector H of Magyar sector, contains 31 systems, all claimed by the Third Imperium. 25 of the 31 systems are located on the Walpurgian Main. Kline is notable for the large number of significant secondary worlds. While the highest population mainworld is 20 billion, at Fornorb, the secondary world of Shugammiir has over 40 billion. The highest tech level is E at Sinott, Randzo, Kline and Vallance. The subsector capital is at Kline. Kline is administered by the Duchess of Walpurgis, whose title recalls the former name of the subsector. The Duchess is also responsible for the 10 Imperial worlds in Voyager subsector.

The Worlds of Kline

Location	Stellar	Name	Profile	Remarks	Bases	Travel Code	Gas Giants
2512	M1 V	Sinott	A431742-E	Na Po Ht Tz			G
		Dagmar	GC85551-7	Co Fa Tz
2518	G1 V G9 V	Pankow	A561412-C	Ni Ht An			G
2519	G9 V	Veneet	C742865-8	Po Co			G
		Zessen	FD84734-7
2616	M0 V	FORNORB	C997A85-A	Hi In			G
		KHIRUNA	FC7A9A9-A	Co Tz
2617	M2 V	Dix	E8C9343-9	Fl Lo Ni Tz		A
2715	K9 V M1 V	Byrley	C687538-9	Ag Ni Ga			G
		Riikhadam	YDA5525-8
2716	G5 V	Milbrath	E430896-7	De Na Po Lk			G
2717	M1 V	Herculis	A421402-E	Ni Po Ht Tz			G
2718	M1 V	Udkukhii	C8C6789-9	Fl Tz
		Samotk	Y100520-7
2811	M2 V	Nakiim	C777862-8	Tz			G
		Lirshurri	F6237A6-7	Fr
2813	G3 V	Lonelund	C516320-A	Ic Lo Ni Co			G
2815	M2 V	Udikaa	C6A5754-A	Fl Fr			G
		Kolar	F556661-8	Cy Fa Tz
2816	M1 V	Tyrrell	C421663-A	Na Ni Po Fr Sa			G
		Verrouille	G88A544-8	Tz
2817	K0 V	Hrongding	B621511-C	Ni Po Ht Tz Ho	NS		G
		Iduukadan	Y854402-7	Fa
2912	M2 V M3 V	Gyurenek	B778458-C	Ni Ht An Co	N		G
2913	M2 V M6 V	Ramli	C7B5114-A	Fl Lo Ni Tz			G
2914	K4 V	Brand	C541364-9	Lo Ni Po			G
2915	K8 V	Norkio	C67578A-8	Ag Tu			G
		Shursiir	FBAA546-8
2917	F7 V G5 V	Parperides	C765335-9	Ga Lo Ni Tr			G
3012	M0 V M1 V	KLINE	A642987-E	Hi In Po Ht Cp Tz Co			G
		SHUGAMMIIR	F622ACE-C	Tz
3014	F5 V	Gupta	E422214-7	Lo Ni Po			G
3019	M1 V	Amelbar	C6A4775-9	Fl Fr	S		G
		Kanumshikaa	G755456-7	Fa Tz
3020	F4 V	Einkamp	E8648BD-6			A	G
3113	G2 V	Curson	C580310-9	De Lo Ni			G
3114	G2 V	Melody	D5578C8-6	Co		A
		Triticum	G778640-5	Fa
3118	G1 V	Skyhaven	B588501-C	Ag Ni Ht			G
		Mimgishkar	H554469-5	Fa Ho
3212	G4 V	Sterchi	B697663-A	Ag Ni Mr	N	A	G
		Jiinasha	Y20057A-7	Sa
3213	M1 V	Rouern	D5568DC-4	Lt Tz		A	G
		Rouern Belt	H00078B-9
3214	G1 V G4 V	Kanamsa	B577355-C	Lo Ni Ht			G
3219	M0 V M4 V	Vallance	A6B4598-E	Fl Ni Ht Tz		A	G
		Unsharlur	F8A5835-8	Tz
3220	M2 V	Gikir	B6A78DD-9	Fl Tz		A	G
		Mumuuar Belt	F000778-7

World Notes

Pankow (Magyar 2518 A561412-C) contains an Ancients site. The world is under the direct control of the megacorporation Ling-Standard Products, which also runs the small shipyard attached to the starport. Pankow is infamous for its Fancifulment entertainment parks, which are staffed almost exclusively by androids. Offworld clients are said to spend small fortunes to indulge any number of decadent fantasies at these resorts.

The Fornorb system (Magyar 2616) has two major high-population worlds, both orbiting within the 100 diameter limit of the M0 V primary. The eponymous mainworld (C997A85-A) occupies the innermost position in a resonant orbit, while the second world, Khiruna (FC7A9A9-A), occupies the next orbit. Fornorb is ruled by the Federated States of Fornorb and its Imperial representative is Count Ganidiirse Nukhula. Fornorb maintains a close relationship with Khiruna and controls the nearby worlds of Veneet (2519) and Tyrrell (2816). Khiruna is an ostensible democracy, but ruled by a charismatic dictator, the Ishakku Melagargam Darur. She came to power in 1083 and has remained in office ever since.

Fornorb provides a large proportion of troops to the Unified Army of Walpurgis, with some 120 regimental units. Fornorb also supports its own TL10 colonial armies as well as a colonial fleet. Although Fornorb’s starport is only rated Class C, it offers refined fuel and excellent repair facilities for even very large ships. Although not currently authorized to construct new starships or spacecraft, the distinction appears somewhat arbitrary when considering the extensive refits undertaken at the old Magyar Starcraft yards.

Dix (2617 E8C9343-9) is a greenhouse world with an insidious atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds. Dix supports a small community of researchers living in an underground habitat. Along with the neighboring Beanland (Magyar 2718 C8C6789-9), Dix historically formed a substantial impediment to travel along the Walpurgian Main, as neither system offers readily available water for refueling. During the Solomani Rim War the Confederation Admiral Coglan stranded several Imperial squadrons when he intentionally destroyed the Class C starport in orbit around Dix.

The Danko (Magyar 2811) system, formerly known as both Nakiim and Niobe, features two notable worlds. The mainworld (C777862-8) orbits the M2 V primary within the 100 diameter limit; a secondary world, Lirshurri (F6237A6-7), is a frozen planet outside the habitable zone and supports a majority Vilani population. At the time of the Solomani Rim War the mainworld, then called Niobe, was a prosperous industrial world with a class A starport and a majority Solomani population. Danko is currently controlled by the world of Kline, and has become infamous for its android pleasure markets.

Hrongding (Magyar 2817 B621511-C) is a poor, hot, hellworld tide-locked to its K2 V primary on the Walpurgian Main. The system also contains a secondary farming world, Iduukadan (Y854402-7). Formerly known as Ausmuliam, Hrongding is the headquarters for the 109th Fleet and hosts associated Gunnery, Engineering, and Intelligence schools. During the Solomani period Hrongding remained a non-aligned world inside the Confederation, becoming an Imperial client state in 1030 before joining the imperium in 1071. The world is currently controlled by the megacorporation Geschichtkreis Sternshiffbau AG (GSbAG), which had been awarded a controversial contract to redevelop the naval base. Hrongding also hosts an Imperial Interstellar Scout Service base that is the subsector headquarters for the offices of Administration, Operations, Technical Services, and Survey.

Skyhaven (Magyar 3118 B588501-C), formerly known as both Shuurashana and Herrero, is a temperate, agricultural world that has become a popular tourist destination due to its vibrant native ecosystem. Skyhaven is an astrographically isolated system on the edge of the Cygnus Rift. The system also contains the significant secondary world, Mimgishkar (H554469-5), a hot farming world.

Sterchi (3212 B697663-A) is an amber-zoned agricultural world under military rule. The system contains a naval base supporting 109th Fleet. The Imperial representative is Baron Erasmo Iiken haut-Hinton, the husband of Duchess Shanika. Sterchi is notable for its native Droyne population, which has existed onworld for at least 6,000 years and potentially far longer. As was common throughout the First Imperium, initial Vilani explorers mistook these Droyne for a new minor species that they named the Garaki; they would not be recognized as Droyne until the 800s. The system also contains the secondary world of Jiinasha (Y20057A-7).

Doucette (Magyar 3220 B6A78DD-9), also known as Gikir, is a pre-high population world tide-locked to its M2 V primary, with an exotic atmosphere rich with carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The mainworld is populated by adherents of the Solomani Catholic Church and ruled by the Diocese of Doucette. The system also contains the metal-laden Mumuuar Belt (F000778-7).

Copyright Information

The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright © 1977 – 2019 Far Future Enterprises. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises. Far Future permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Far Future Enterprises’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

Materials produced by Digest Group Publications (DGP) are copyright © Roger Sanger. Any use of Digest Group Publications' copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this Web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights. Usage is intended to follow the guidelines announced by Roger Sanger on the Traveller Mailing List for preserving the overall Traveller milieu.

Kickstarter Haul

I recently received the results of not one, but two different Kickstarters.

The Fantasy Trip is a very interesting product. Steve Jackson (US) created a fantasy role-playing game back in 1977, partially in response to D&D. The system was simple and elegant, using a 2D6 mechanic. It’s pretty impressive to see just how good a game design could be so early in the hobby’s history. The game was published by Metagaming as The Fantasy Trip.

Jackson eventually parted ways with Metagaming and went on to form his own company. Unfortunately, the rights to the Fantasy Trip did not go with him, and so he went on to design GURPS, which shares a lot of genetic material with TFT. Although I own and use many GURPS books—they are consistently some of the best researched and edited game books around—I was never been as big a fan of the GURPS system as TFT. GURPS was just much too fiddly for my tastes.

Fortunately, after being off the market for decades the rights to TFT finally reverted to Jackson, who promptly launched a Kickstarter to get a lightly updated version of the game back into print. Although I haven’t had a chance to dig too deeply into the contents, this set is huge and like any SJG product, seems to be well-made and an excellent value.

The Reaper Miniatures Bones 4 is the latest Kickstarter to bring a horde of new plastic miniature to market. I have been in on all three previous Kickstarters, which have been a great deal and were instrumental in getting me back into painting miniatures. I did not go quite so crazy for this Kickstarter, only getting the core set and a handful of expansions. I am really looking forward to painting the new frost and hill giant figures and—finally—some war apes!

One interesting surprise with this set: it seems that all of the figures were cast in the new “Bones Black” material, which isn’t actually black but more of a dark gray. This is a stiffer plastic that appears to hold details better. It is certainly easier to pick out mold lines on these figures. I look forward to seeing how they take paint!

Traveller New Service

Traveller News Service bulletins can be a convenient and effective in-game method to provide players with some interesting color or background information, to drop in some adventure hooks, and to establish a sense of time passing.

Bulletins can also be used to transmit metaplot events, for both good and bad. If used well, metaplots provide an exciting stage for players to do something. The Fifth Frontier War, for example, generally succeeds at this. But if used poorly, metaplots become backdrop, and the players are stuck as a passive audience while massive events unspool before their eyes and distant NPCs drive the action. Much of the Rebellion suffered from this sort of railroading.

For my money, the GURPS Traveller TNS bulletins are a great example of walking the line. They evoke a living, active world—but a world in which the players have agency to act.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 046-1102

Images of atrocities from the Imperial world of Einkamp (Magyar 3020 E8648BD-6) continue to spark public concern and condemnation across the subsector. A recent exposé by “lifestyle holographer” HotLolz69420xxx documented civilian suffering from a conflict that pits the paramilitary regime of General Carlos Zakiah against a growing insurgency. Sophont rights groups have called upon the Duchess of Walpurgis to launch a formal investigation into onworld conditions.

Kugle (Magyar 2423) Date: 081-1102

The interface line Celestine Transfers announced that one of its merchant vessels has been seized at the foreign port of Ensley (Magyar 2019 B420578-D) in the Reformed Dootchen Estates. Celestine Transfers is seeking help from the Imperial Ministry of State to secure freedom for the detained crew of the far trader Béziers, which has been held now for over 90 days.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 095-1102

Hong Borges, the Minister of Information for the embattled world of Einkamp (Magyar 3020), issued a fiery rebuke to reports linking his planetary government to recent atrocities. Minister Borges insisted that such reports were the fabrications of off-world agitators with ties to the Solomani Confederation. The minister further asserted that the Einkamp government remains firmly in control of its world.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 097-1102

In her daily press briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Hermila Fierro, spokesperson for the Unified Armies of Walpurgis, noted that the Imperial Army, at the direction of the Duchess of Walpurgis, had recently offered military assistance to General Zakiah of Einkamp (Magyar 3020), whose military forces are battling an insurgency outside the capital city of Zaidium. Although jump troop regiments from the 30th Lift Infantry Army stand ready for deployment, General Zakiah’s government has not yet responded to the offers of aid.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 099-1102

In a widely disseminated article titled “Our Einkamp Problem,” Solomani playwright and activist Henrik Liu claims that the Third Imperium’s myopic focus on interstellar trade cause it to prioritize stability and control over individual freedoms and personal expression, resulting in support for repressive dictators such as General Zakiah.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 110-1102

The Imperial financial megacorporation Hortalez et Cie announced today that it had canceled a significant development loan package to Einkamp (Magyar 3020), citing concerns about the stability of the world’s government. Subsector stocks fell sharply for two corporations with significant holdings on Einkamp, Ling-Standard Products and Instellarms, while stock for Hortelez moved up in heavy trading.

Skyhaven (Magyar 3118) Date: 112-1102

Delgado corporate executive Sir Mason Nealy and his family have been reported missing while vacationing on Skyhaven (Magyar 3118 B588501-C). Nealy has been an assistant regional director for the Delgado megacorporation since 1099. Skyhaven, known for its lush and exotic native ecosphere, has become a popular tourist destination over the last 40 years. The Imperial Ministry of Justice has reportedly focused its investigation on the Jarslavi Cartel, a powerful criminal network known to kidnap wealthy individuals for ransom. So far no party has claimed responsibility for the Nealy family’s disappearance.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 118-1102

No evidence of any Solomani interference on Einkamp, say sources within the Kline Security Directorate. The KSD, the planetary intelligence service for Kline, monitors and evaluates subsector-wide threats and is known to work closely with Imperial intelligence agencies. The unnamed KSD sources directly contradict the recent accounts of General Zakiah, the dictatorial ruler of Einkamp (Magyar 3020 E8648BD-6). The KSD believes that the Einkamp insurgency is a largely domestic movement with few interstellar ties.

Wicker (Magyar 2728) Date: 119-1102

The non-governmental organization Emancipation Interstellar (EI), based on Tolson (Magyar 2106 A432ADH-E), has launched a new advocacy campaign targeting the android bloodsports that are a multi-million-credit industry on Wicker (Magyar 2728 A742843-C). While these events draw enthusiastic spectators from across the sector, EI holds that these sports are inhumane and should be banned under Imperial law, which extends broad protections to intelligent, living beings while withholding such rights from intelligent, non-living beings such as robots. An EI press release notes that, while androids may have some mechanical components they are largely biological creatures and as such should be afforded the same rights as any other living beings under Imperial law.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 134-1102

A recent report from the Solomani Confederation-backed news outlet Veriti questions the financial relationship between the Adelbert family of Duchess Shanika and General Star Construction. The corporation had been awarded a no-bid contract for the construction of a new starport terminal at Mirjam Downport on Kline. The project, which has been undertaken amidst unusual levels of secrecy, has been subject to much speculation over the last 15 months. Veriti bureau chief Katrina Peron also intimated that further revelations about the starport terminal would be forthcoming. A spokesman for the Duchy of Walpurgis declined to comment on the Veriti allegations.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 141-1102

Dame Ofelia Abrams of the Imperial Starport Authority denies any impropriety associated with the no-bid contract that was awarded to General Star Construction for the new terminal at the Kline starport. She noted that all such contracts are subject to strict anti-corruption review, and that Duchess Shanika’s family had no influence on the award. Dame Ofelia further noted that, under Imperial regulations the Authority is only permitted to utilize no-bid contracts under very specific circumstances, such as to provide disaster relief or address economically critical infrastructure.

Einkamp (Magyar 3020) Date: 142-1102

In a nearly four-hour speech transmitted across the worldnet of Einkamp, a defiant General Zakiah blamed an “offworld conspiracy” for planting false stories about his embattled government in the interstellar press. The General called on his citizens to hold fast in the face of recent economic hardships, and vowed revenge against “all foreign enemies of Einkamp.”

Hrongding (Magyar 2817) Date: 144-1102

The 109th Fleet is reportedly investigating accounts of a recent Solomani intrusion into the Veneet (Magyar 2519 C742865-8) system. Witnesses claim that a squadron of Confederation Navy cruisers emerged briefly into the outer system, then jumped away before local defense forces could intercept. Such provocations are not unusual on both sides of the border, as the Imperial and Confederation navies regularly probe the defences of their rivals.

Gyurenek (Magyar 2912) Date: 154-1102

Force Commander Venita Sauls of the 1,670th Imperial Marines Line Regiment announced today that Operation Proud Copper was finally drawing to a close and all marine forces would soon leave the surface of Rouern (Magyar 3213 D5568DC-4). The low-tech world is dominated by a religious sect that has rejected most technology to embrace a radically simplified lifestyle. An offshoot of the Solomani Catholic Church, adherents of the sect have been blamed for acts of violence against Imperial institutions. Operation Proud Copper was a police action launched in 1097 in an attempt to prevent further violence. The Diocese of Rouern issued a terse statement thanking the Marines for their assistance.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 155-1102

Sir Virgilio Khan, seneschal to Duchess Shanika, announced the imminent opening of a new starport terminal at Mirjam Downport. The terminal is notable for accommodating the low-gravity, thin-atmosphere environmental preferences of the Vegans, an alien race native to Muan Gwi (Solomani Rim 1717). Sir Virgilio explained that the terminal is intended to encourage trade with the high-tech Vegan Autonomous District. The seneschal noted that the Duchess believes that with Vegan assistance Kline could become the first world in Magyar to reach Technology Level 15.

Kline (Magyar 3012) Date: 165-1102

The famed solicitor Deon Lund, attorney for Veriti editor Katrina Perot, held a press conference today to announce that his client was being detained by Imperial authorities and had not been seen for over two weeks. “Ms Perot is the bureau chief for an accredited news organization, one responsible for important investigative reporting across Kline subsector. For her to be held incommunicado is yet one more example of the rampant abuses allowed to the Third Imperium under the over-broad Official Secrets Act. The Act circumvents due process, and allows for indiscriminate harassment and suppression of freedom of the press.”

Traveller News Service is another Imperium wide benefit of membership in the Travellers’ Aid Society.

Copyright Information

The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright © 1977 – 2019 Far Future Enterprises. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises. Far Future permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Far Future Enterprises’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

Materials produced by Digest Group Publications (DGP) are copyright © Roger Sanger. Any use of Digest Group Publications' copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this Web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights. Usage is intended to follow the guidelines announced by Roger Sanger on the Traveller Mailing List for preserving the overall Traveller milieu.

The Revised Armed Packet

I received some excellent feedback on the initial design of the Armed Packet, enough to easily fuel a revision. In addition to catching some of my math errors, many suggested that the layout should separate the crew from the passengers, which makes good logistical sense. Several others suggested that somewhat more cargo space would probably be in order.

AnotherDilbert in particular gave some very helpful suggestions specific to the Mongoose Traveller 2e rules. One of the most important was to downsize the power plant, which brought down the costs and freed up some space. He also had the following ideas that all make great "add-ons," far better than the dealer’s rust-proofing package:

• Improve sensors to either Military (+1.1 MCr and 1 ton) or Improved (+2.3 MCr and 2 tons)
• Add a backup m/10bis computer (+.16 MCr)
• Add repair Drones (+.6 MCr and 3 tons)
• Add a small Collapsible Tank to enhance power plant endurance when needed
• Swap the beam laser in one triple turret for a pulse laser (+1.5 MCr, does double damage)

Edit: I finally threw in the towel on the aerofins, swapping them out for crystaliron armor. I was persuaded by the fact that this ship will likely come under fire, as well as a review of the free and far traders, which both have armor. (And the simple fact that the aerofins could be dropped with no further changes to the deck plan.)

So without further adieu, here’s the revised Armed Packet:

Ship Details

Hull Points

120

Crew

Pilot, Astrogator, 2 Engineers

Running Costs

Maintenance Cost: Cr9321.25/month

Purchase Cost: MCr111.885

Armed Packet [Type UF]

TL12		Tons	Cost (MCr)
Hull	300 tons, streamlined	-	18.00
Armor	Crystaliron, Armor 4	15	3.60
M-Drive	Thrust 3	9	18.00
J-Drive	Jump 3	27.5	41.25
Power Plant	Fusion, Power 180	12	12.00
Fuel Tanks	4 weeks operation, J-3	91	-
Bridge	Small (DM-1)	10	1.50
Computer	Computer 15	-	2.00
Sensors	Civilian grade (DM-2)	1	3.00
Weapons	Triple turret missile rack x2	2	6.50
	Triple turret beam laser	1	2.50
Systems	Fuel scoops	-	1.00
	Fuel processors (30 tons/day)	3	0.15
	Docking space (4 tons)	5	1.25
	Air/Raft	-	0.25
	Mail vault	1	-
	Medical bay	4	2.00
Staterooms	Standard x17	68	8.50
	Barracks	8	0.40
	Low berths x5	2.5	0.25
Software	Jump Control/3	-	0.30
	Library	-	-
	Maneuver	-	-
Common Areas		18	1.80
Cargo		15	-

Power Requirements

Basic Ship Systems: 60

Maneuver Drive: 90

Jump Drive: 90

Sensors: 1

Fuel Consumption

Jump-1: 30 tons

Jump-2: 60 tons

Jump-3: 90 tons

Deckplans

Levels 1 and 2

1. Cargo bay
2. Air/raft dock
3. Missile triple turret
4. Airlock
5. Fuel scoop and processor
6. Low berths (5)
7. Lift
8. Fresher
9. Mail vault
10. Engineering
11. Jump drive
12. Power plant
13. Maneuver drive

Level 3 and Turret

1. Avionics/sensors
2. Bridge
3. Storage
4. Crew stateroom (5)
5. Barracks
6. Entryway
7. Lift
8. Fresher
9. Crew common space
10. Ship’s locker
11. Clinic
12. Passenger stateroom (12)
13. Passenger common space
14. Emergency airlock

Copyright Information

The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright © 1977 – 2019 Far Future Enterprises. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises. Far Future permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Far Future Enterprises’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

Materials produced by Digest Group Publications (DGP) are copyright © Roger Sanger. Any use of Digest Group Publications' copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this Web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights. Usage is intended to follow the guidelines announced by Roger Sanger on the Traveller Mailing List for preserving the overall Traveller milieu.

The Armed Packet

In Traveller, players inevitably gravitate toward a ship of their own. However, I have always been dissatisfied with the ship classes traditionally available to players. The scout ship? Too small for most of my groups. The beloved Type A trader, or fat trader, or far trader? Again, too small, and Jump-1 seems much too limiting. And since I’ve never really gravitated toward mercantile games, all that cargo space feels wasted. And even the far trader’s Jump-2 seems a bit wimpy. From there the choices quickly become too weird, too specialized, or too large. Safari ship? Nope. Broadsword or AHL? Too military and too large.

A Type UF armed packet, from the Green List, “the casual user’s recognition guide, distributed by the Travellers’ Aid Society.”

Traveller⁵, though, introduced the Armed Packet, a 300 ton, Jump-3 ship providing “unscheduled passenger service for those in a hurry. The crew can be trusted, but these little ships still find themselves jumping in harm’s way.” This really is the Goldilocks ship I have waiting for all this time. It’s the right size, has got a nice Jump number, and a great mission type that matches up well with the type of Traveller games I like to run. Someone needs to get off planet, and quickly? Or deliver a high priority message? Or evade a blockade or two? An armed packet is the ship to look for.

The only problem? Traveller⁵ provides no ship stats for the packet. Luckily, Rob Eaglestone, who has done a great job fleshing out the Traveller⁵ rules, posted a nice version of the Armed Packet to RPGnet back in 2013.

Using Rob’s design for guidance, I created my own packet for Mongoose Traveller 2e using the High Guard rules. It was a good opportunity both to try out the revised HG ship design and to compare this to Traveller⁵ ship design. In general, there is a nice continuity between the systems. Traveller⁵ has a “airframe” hull configuration, which is basically streamlined but optimized for atmospheric operations. While there’s no match in HG2, MgT does have an “aerofin” option which more-or-less accomplishes the same thing.

Edit: The eagle-eyed poster AnotherDilbert over on the Mongoose Traveller forums spotted a couple of errors in my calcs, the most significant was in the costing of staterooms. I’ve fixed the math below, which brings the cost for the ship down considerably. He also offered some excellent suggestions, which I’ll eventually incorporate into a revised design.

Pemami-class Armed Packet

The TL12 Pemami-class armed packet is an Allied Prefabricated Ships and Vessels product, derived from the standard Type UF design used throughout the Imperium. The Pemami has proven a popular class in Magyar sector. Using a 300 ton hull, the packet is a secure transport ship for unscheduled passenger service for those in a hurry. Its drives and fuel tankage support one jump 3 and up to 3g acceleration for a month. It has scoops and processors allowing it to gather and purify fuel from gas giants and oceans.

The ship requires a crew of four: Pilot, Astrogator, and two Engineers. There are 5 crew staterooms and a barracks for the gunners, 12 passenger staterooms, and 5 low berths. On the bridge is a Computer 15. For armament, the ship sports two triple missile launcher turrets, and one triple beam laser turret. It has an air/raft, carries four tons cargo, and has a mail vault for express boat contracts.

Ship Details

Armed Packet [Type UF]

TL12		Tons
Hull	300 tons, streamlined	-
Armor	Armor 0	-
M-Drive	Thrust 3	9
J-Drive	Jump 3	27.5
Power Plant	Fusion, Power 240	16
Fuel Tanks	4 weeks operation, J-3	92
Bridge	Small (DM-1)	10
Computer	Computer 15	-
Sensors	Civilian grade (DM-2)	1
Weapons	Triple turret missile rack x2	2
	Triple turret beam laser	1
Systems	Aerofins	15
	Fuel scoops	0
	Fuel processors (30 tons/day)	3
	Air/Raft	-
	Docking space (4 tons)	5
	Mail vault	1
	Medical bay	4
Staterooms	Crew x5	20
	Passenger x12	48
	Barracks	8
	Low berths x5	2.5
Common Areas		18
Cargo		4

Hull Points

120

Crew

Pilot, Astrogator, 2 Engineers

Running Costs

Maintenance Cost: Cr9918.75/month

Purchase Cost: MCr119.025

Power Requirements

Basic Ship Systems: 60

Maneuver Drive: 90

Jump Drive: 90

Sensors: 1

Fuel Consumption

Jump-1: 30 tons

Jump-2: 60 tons

Jump-3: 90 tons

Deckplans

	Levels 1 and 2 Airlock Cargo bay and air/raft dock Missile triple turret Missile storage Airlock Mail vault Low berths (5) Aerofins Lift Fresher Jump drive Power plant Maneuver drive
	Level 3 and Turret Avionics/sensors Bridge Storage Fresher Passenger stateroom (12) Passenger lounge Crew lounge Crew stateroom (5) Clinic Ship’s locker Barracks Triple turret beam laser

Final Note: I received enough helpful feedback on this post that I was able to do a revised armed packet design.

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