Monday, April 29, 2019

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
LocationStellarNameProfileRemarksBasesTravel
Code
Gas
Giants
2512M1 VSinottA431742-ENa Po Ht Tz  G
  DagmarGC85551-7Co Fa Tz   
2518G1 V G9 VPankowA561412-CNi Ht An  G
2519G9 VVeneetC742865-8Po Co  G
  ZessenFD84734-7    
2616M0 VFORNORBC997A85-AHi In  G
  KHIRUNAFC7A9A9-ACo Tz   
2617M2 VDixE8C9343-9Fl Lo Ni Tz A 
2715K9 V M1 VByrleyC687538-9Ag Ni Ga  G
  RiikhadamYDA5525-8    
2716G5 VMilbrathE430896-7De Na Po Lk  G
2717M1 VHerculisA421402-ENi Po Ht Tz  G
2718M1 VUdkukhiiC8C6789-9Fl Tz   
  SamotkY100520-7    
2811M2 VNakiimC777862-8Tz  G
  LirshurriF6237A6-7Fr   
2813G3 VLonelundC516320-AIc Lo Ni Co  G
2815M2 VUdikaaC6A5754-AFl Fr  G
  KolarF556661-8Cy Fa Tz   
2816M1 VTyrrellC421663-ANa Ni Po Fr Sa  G
  VerrouilleG88A544-8Tz   
2817K0 VHrongdingB621511-CNi Po Ht Tz HoNS G
  IduukadanY854402-7Fa   
2912M2 V M3 VGyurenekB778458-CNi Ht An CoN G
2913M2 V M6 VRamliC7B5114-AFl Lo Ni Tz  G
2914K4 VBrandC541364-9Lo Ni Po  G
2915K8 VNorkioC67578A-8Ag Tu  G
  ShursiirFBAA546-8    
2917F7 V G5 VParperidesC765335-9Ga Lo Ni Tr  G
3012M0 V M1 VKLINEA642987-EHi In Po Ht Cp Tz Co  G
  SHUGAMMIIRF622ACE-CTz   
3014F5 VGuptaE422214-7Lo Ni Po  G
3019M1 VAmelbarC6A4775-9Fl FrS G
  KanumshikaaG755456-7Fa Tz   
3020F4 VEinkampE8648BD-6  AG
3113G2 VCursonC580310-9De Lo Ni  G
3114G2 VMelodyD5578C8-6Co A 
  TriticumG778640-5Fa   
3118G1 VSkyhavenB588501-CAg Ni Ht  G
  MimgishkarH554469-5Fa Ho   
3212G4 VSterchiB697663-AAg Ni MrNAG
  JiinashaY20057A-7Sa   
3213M1 VRouernD5568DC-4Lt Tz AG
  Rouern BeltH00078B-9    
3214G1 V G4 VKanamsaB577355-CLo Ni Ht  G
3219M0 V M4 VVallanceA6B4598-EFl Ni Ht Tz AG
  UnsharlurF8A5835-8Tz   
3220M2 VGikirB6A78DD-9Fl Tz AG
  Mumuuar BeltF000778-7    

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.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

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!

Monday, April 22, 2019

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.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

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  TonsCost (MCr)
Hull300 tons, streamlined-18.00
ArmorCrystaliron, Armor 4153.60
M-DriveThrust 3918.00
J-DriveJump 327.541.25
Power PlantFusion, Power 1801212.00
Fuel Tanks4 weeks operation, J-391-
BridgeSmall (DM-1)101.50
ComputerComputer 15-2.00
SensorsCivilian grade (DM-2)13.00
WeaponsTriple turret missile rack x226.50
 Triple turret beam laser12.50
SystemsFuel scoops-1.00
 Fuel processors (30 tons/day)30.15
 Docking space (4 tons)51.25
 Air/Raft-0.25
 Mail vault1-
 Medical bay42.00
StateroomsStandard x17688.50
 Barracks80.40
 Low berths x52.50.25
SoftwareJump Control/3-0.30
 Library--
 Maneuver--
Common Areas 181.80
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.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

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

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

Level 3 and Turret

  1. Avionics/sensors
  2. Bridge
  3. Storage
  4. Fresher
  5. Passenger stateroom (12)
  6. Passenger lounge
  7. Crew lounge
  8. Crew stateroom (5)
  9. Clinic
  10. Ship’s locker
  11. Barracks
  12. 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.

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.

Monday, March 18, 2019

Kill your Darlings

“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”

So wrote Stephen King, even if he didn’t originate the notion.

It’s plenty good advice for game designers and referees alike. Developing Library Data entries helped refine my thinking about the Into the Interface game: the act of selecting entries required me to consider what elements I wanted to emphasize to the players.

But it also forced me to think hard about how much information I wanted to provide. As I noted at the outset, the genius of the early Library Data entries was their brevity: they could quickly convey just enough information to provide context and spark interest, but not so much detail to become boring or confining. One of the key insights of the Old School Renaissance was an appreciation for the terse, open-ended nature of early adventures and setting books.

And yet, as I worked on my own entries, I kept fighting against bloat.

It’s a natural struggle, really. I’ve had a lot of fun tinkering around with Magyar sector, developing histories, fictional personalities, generating system details, and so on. They’ve been interesting exercises and produced a lot of raw material over the years.

But it is vital for a good referee to understand the difference between material that is personally interesting, and material that is actually important to the players. The important material usually only represents 1/100th of the interesting stuff. That doesn’t mean the interesting stuff is useless or wasted, but it does mean it has to have its place.

Plenty of professional game designers miss the distinction. Popular games naturally accumulate more and more details over time; these eventually calcify into canon. While fans like these details—I like these details—they can be overwhelming, particularly to new players.

So I chopped my Library Data entries, but even so they could still use even more pruning.

Take, for example, the Interstellar Wars, the birth of the Third Imperium, and the Solomani Rim War. All are major events in the Official Traveller Universe and Magyar sector. They’re all interesting, but they aren’t directly important to player characters. These events are as distant to the PCs as King Solomon, the First Crusade, and World War I would be to us. If you’re going to visit Paris, your guidebook might have some very brief historical notes, but it’s not going to have a major treatise on Bronze Age culture. You turn to the guidebook to find a good meal, a nice place to stay.

And when you start thinking about Library Data as future guidebook excerpts, you start looking a lot more critically at your entries. Here’s a good example of an entry that should have been hacked more:

Gjerdingen (Magyar 3123 X5758A9-5). An interdicted wet world on the Rim Main in New Mars subsector. The mainworld has a standard oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere tainted by bioweapon agents.

In -4445 the rapidly expanding Vilani attacked the small Vegan interstellar community in the Solomani Rim. In response some 200,000 Vegans fled down the Rim Main, settling on an uncharted world they named Dzosuiken. They were able to remain independent until -3400, when Dzosuiken was forcibly absorbed into the First Imperium. A remnant Vegan population persisted onworld for at least another 2,000 years before passing from history. As the Long Night fell across Magyar sector, the Aslan led by the Tralyeaeawi clan assumed control of interstellar trade in the region. During this period Gjerdingen was a prominent and relatively safe world on the route connecting the Solomani Rim and Dark Nebula. While Reaver attacks drove Vilani and Terran refugees to the world, who named it Nisuru, Aslan also settled there, naming it Hlokherlyal.

During the Solomani period both the Aslan and Vilani-identified populations suffered greatly and developed deep resentments. Gjerdingen has been settled for over 5,500 years by various species and cultures. As a result of the Rim War the ruling Solomani government was replaced, but the world quickly descended into vicious ethnic fighting that was covertly supported by both the Imperium and the Confederation. The troubles culminated in the release of a genetically engineered “superflu” in 1053 that killed nearly 40% of the world’s population. In response the Imperium interdicted the world and naval forces carefully patrol the system preventing unauthorized landings.

Over the last 20 years the Imperium has occasionally deployed peace-keeping forces onworld in an attempt to prevent complete genocide. Today the mainworld is a haunted ruin of empty cities and broken infrastructure, reduced to an early electricity tech level. The most powerful faction is lead by a dictator dedicated to the Solomani Cause.

As much as I like the story of Vegan refugees, it's literally ancient history to the players. Maybe worth retelling if they interact with Vegans or visit Gjerdingen, but otherwise? Not important.

That said, one can chop too much: there needs to be something in the entry that sparks interest, some quirk or hook. Some of the OSR products went much too far down this path, and here’s an example of one of my Library Data entries that needed just a little more juice:

Schaut (Magyar 2418 C830115-9). Also known as Lirkig, a poor, desert hellworld with a thin atmosphere, a Class C starport, and a low population, early stellar society. The system is located on the Walpurgian Main in Voyager subsector. The mainworld is a former holding of the Dootchen Estates and had a Class B starport that was destroyed during the Solomani Rim War. The world is under the control of the Magyar Redevelopment Corporation, an Imperial agency funded by the Ministry of Commerce. The few inhabitants working for the Corporation are engaged in ongoing cleanup of the old highport, which scattered debris over millions of kilometers when it broke up in Schaut’s atmosphere.

Just a couple of extra sentences tell a much more interesting story and provide some possible adventure hooks. Maybe the players have been hired to salvage radioactives from a cordoned-off region? Maybe an Aslan merchant ship laden with platinum was docked at the highport when it was destroyed? Maybe Imperial funds or materials earmarked for Schaut’s cleanup keep disappearing?

After playing around with the format, I think a good entry length is probably about 100-120 words, with a maximum of maybe 200 words. Any more than that and you either have something that should be split into multiple entries, or a lot of stuff that should be left on the chopping block.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Library Data: S-Y

Schaut (Magyar 2418 C830115-9). Also known as Lirkig, a poor, desert hellworld with a thin atmosphere, a Class C starport, and a low population, early stellar society. The system is located on the Walpurgian Main in Voyager subsector. The mainworld is a former holding of the Dootchen Estates and had a Class B starport that was destroyed during the Solomani Rim War. The world is under the control of the Magyar Redevelopment Corporation, an Imperial agency funded by the Ministry of Commerce. The few inhabitants working for the Corporation are engaged in ongoing cleanup of the old highport, which scattered debris over millions of kilometers when it broke up in Schaut’s atmosphere.

sector. Mapping unit in astrography consisting of sixteen subsectors arranged in a pattern of four across and four deep, normally forming an administrative region. Sectors are broad measures of area and have an average of 480 to 840 worlds in each.

Seloo (Magyar 2102 A4319BA-E). A system located on a major trade route in the Seloo Cluster in Clown subsector, consisting of a G9 V primary and an M8 V far companion. The mainworld, which orbits the far companion, is a small, dry, tide-locked world with a very thin atmosphere, a Class A starport, and a high population, extreme law, high stellar society. A second major world, Pune (F687AA8-B), orbits the G9 V primary.

Although the mainworld is much less habitable than Pune, Seloo is an industrial workhorse. Throughout history Seloo and Pune have had a mutually beneficial relationship, with Seloo providing industrial might and Pune offering a bounty of agricultural resources. Following the Solomani Rim War Seloo was placed under martial law, but for the last 30 years has been ruled by an on-world government directly appointed by and closely overseen by the Navy.

The Imperial representative to Seloo is the Countess Ivo Aylen. The Imperial University of Seloo is a chartered university that features advanced sophontology and xenology studies as well as a renowned medical school. The Unified Army of Kobayashi stations the 21st Lift Cavalry Army onworld. The mainworld hosts Kalsubai Naval Base, associated with Alandi Highport and Naval Yard No. 33. The base is the headquarters for the Magyar Sector Fleet, the 131st Subsector Fleet, and the 3,411th Marine Line Regiment. As Magyar does not have a Naval Depot Kalsubai is the site of the Imperial Naval Academy for the sector.

Sinott (Magyar 2512 A431742-E). A small, poor, tide-locked world located in Kline subsector. The system also has a notable secondary world, Dagmar (GC85551-7), a cold tide-locked farming planet. The mainworld was largely unexploited until the Solomani period, when the Dootchen Estates claimed the world. Following the temporary collapse of the Estates during the Solomani Rim War, Sinott joined the Imperium. Sinott is currently located on a main trade route. Its shipyard, which is capable of manufacturing large starships, is owned by Allied Prefabricated Ships and Vessels. Kline Synthetic Technologies maintain a manufacturing center on the mainworld.

Solamani. One of three major human races within the known galaxy. Solomani originated on Terra (Solomani Rim 1827 A867A69-F), and are concentrated in the rimward regions of the Imperium. The term Solomani is of unknown origin, but has variously been translated as men of Sol, only men, or true men.

Solomani Catholic Church. A militant human supremacist religion with great influence within the Solomani Sphere. The Solomani Catholic Church uses the New Solomani Bible and is actively engaged in both missionary work and political affairs.

The Solomani Catholic Church is one of the various Turin Rite churches originating on Turin (Alpha Crucis 0630 A623A99-E) and neighboring worlds. This region was mostly settled by European Christians from the Alpha Crucis Foundation. These immigrants left Terra just prior to the Third Interstellar War, largely over a doctrinal split with the Vatican in regard to the salvation of non-Human aliens. During the Long Night these worlds formed the Consolidation of Turin, an interstellar commonwealth united by strong belief in a shared religion. In the 700s and 800s the rise of the Solomani Catholic Church brought Turin into the forefront of the nascent Solomani Movement and gave it significant influence in the Solomani Confederation.

In the late 400s missionaries from the Turin Consolidation begin evangelizing in Beta and Delta quadrants of Magyar sector. Turin Rite churches quickly gained converts and by the late 600s had become well established on several worlds in New Mars subsector. In the 700s proxy conflicts between the Solomani Catholic Church and the Church of the First Cross resulted in schismatic violence that was only quelled by Imperial intervention. Following the Rim War, the Church was suppressed by the Imperial occupiers, but a popular outcry quickly led to its restoration.

Centers of the Solomani Catholic Church in Magyar include Beta (Magyar 3128 C576ADA-9), Doucette (Magyar 3220 B6A78DD-9), Rouern (Magyar 3213 D5568DC-4), and Guenivier (Magyar 2505 AAE78D9-B).

Solomani Confederation. A human-dominated interstellar community located directly to rimward of the Imperium. The majority of its worlds are part of the old Solomani Sphere, which was originally defined as the worlds that are within 50 parsecs of Terra (Solomani Rim 1827). The Confederation currently claims nearly 2,000 worlds within a region over 400 light-years across.

Formerly the Solomani Autonomous Region, the Confederation was a part of the Third Imperium granted autonomy in 704. In 871, the government reorganized itself as the Solomani Confederation, a move tantamount to a declaration of independence. At first ignored by the Imperial government, the belligerent and extremist policies of the Confederation led eventually to the Solomani Rim War. Since the war, the Confederation government has maintained an official détente with the Imperium.

The chief governing body of the Solomani Confederation is the Secretariat. The Secretariat is presided over by the Secretary General, who is elected from its membership. The Secretary General is the chief administrative officer of the Solomani government, and while the office holds great power, it is fully accountable to the Secretariat.

All government officeholders and officials must be members of the official party, the Solomani Movement. Still, the real power in the Confederation is held by the government and its factions. Because of the greater degree of local autonomy that exists in the Solomani Confederation, interworld factionalism exists to a much greater degree than had been allowed in the Imperium. Coalitions of worlds exist outside the normal government channels which sometimes equal them in importance within a given region. Examples of such coalitions within Magyar include the New Slavic Solidarity, the Reformed Dootchen Estates, and the Wuan Technology Association.

Solomanl Movement. An organization devoted to the doctrine that humans of Solomani descent are superior to all others and are most fit to rule the galaxy.

Solomani Rim sector. A long-settled, well-established sector which lies on the rimward frontier of the Third Imperium. The humans of Terra (Solomani Rim 1827 A867A69-F) have dominated interstellar history for the past three thousand years. The Solomani Rim has an estimated population of more than 1.66 trillion.

Solomani Rim War [990 to 1002]. War between the Third Imperium and the Solomani Confederation during which a large portion of the Solomani Rim sector was returned to Imperial control.

While the initial phase of the war went very well for the Solomani, the period from 993 to 998 was one of stalemate. The Solomani abandoned their plans for further expansion in order to rebuild their forces, but were never able to regain the initiative. By 998, the Imperial Navy had achieved strategic dominance as the greater industrial base of the Imperium made its power felt.

The last phase of the war, 998 to 1002, consisted of a near continual advance by Imperial forces into the heart of the Solomani Sphere. In 1000 the main Imperial force entered the Solomani Rim with the objective of capturing the strategically important Vegan District. Meanwhile Admiral Miiri Elixabeth Kemper conducted the Magyar Campaign to spinward, which cut off the Confederation’s Daibei and Magyar sector fleets from the Rim and severely degraded Confederation industrial capabilities in Magyar. By 1001 Imperial forces had captured the Vegan District, and in early 1002 scattered the Solomani Grand Fleet at the Battle of Dingir.

A TL7 simulation of the Battle of Terra.

The Imperial high command decided that Terra, the capital of the Confederation, would have to be invaded in order to end forever all claims of Solomani superiority. They assembled a sizable fraction of the Imperial forces in the Solomani Sphere into an assault force. The invasion began in the second quarter of 1002, and the hard-fought campaign lasted until nearly the end of the year.

In the end, the Imperium conquered the planet. However, the Battle for Terra had consumed so many military resources that the Imperial high command felt they lacked sufficient strength to resume their advance into the rest of the Solomani Sphere. Accordingly, they negotiated a temporary armistice with the Solomani military commanders, who were glad to gain a respite. The war ended on this basis as both the Imperial and Solomani civilian governments, who were concerned with the strain placed on their economies by the protracted war, informally agreed to extend the armistice indefinitely.

starport. Establishment for the landing, servicing, refueling, and control of starships. Starports range in quality from A (the best and most extensive) to E (the worst, little more than a spot of cleared ground).

Starports generally have two components: a surface facility and an orbital facility. The surface facility includes cargo handling installations, a landing field, control towers, and other necessary areas. Surface starport components are frequently called Down (as in Mirjam Down Starport on Kline). Orbital facilities are present (usually in stationary orbit above the surface component) to enable handling of unstreamlined ships and to allow construction of heavy craft in orbit. The orbital component is often called Orbital (as in Mirjam Orbital Starport) or Highport. Type D and E starports have no extensive orbital facilities, but they usually have navigational satellites or similar equipment. Nonstreamlined ships at these starports must be serviced by shuttles.

subsector. Mapping unit in astrography 8 by 10 parsecs in size, normally forming an administrative region. Average density is 30 to 40 worlds per subsector. Subsectors are noted within a sector by their position using the first sixteen letters of the alphabet (A-P).

system. A star and its associated companion stars (if any), orbiting planets, and their associated bodies. One world of the system is designated the mainworld and identifies the system.

Terran Confederation [-2398 to -2204]. Interstellar government consisting of Terra (Solomani Rim 1827) and its colony worlds. Following the conclusion of the Interstellar Wars the Confederation was dissolved in -2204 upon the proclamation of the Rule of Man to replace the Vilani First Imperium.

Third Imperium [0 to present]. Founded in the Year 0 by Cleon, first Emperor, as the successor to the Sylean Federation, a growing, expanding government centered in territory formerly part of the First and Second Imperiums. The rise of the Third Imperium marked the end of the Long Night and the beginning of present day interstellar government. The Third Imperium contains more than 11,000 worlds in an area more than 700 parsecs across.

Travellers’ Aid Society (TAS). A private interstellar organization dedicated to assisting its members as they travel throughout the Imperium and beyond. With offices at most major starports, TAS provides several services, including member hostels at all Class A starports, free access to the Traveller News Service on all worlds with TAS offices, free Travel Zone advisories, and one paid high passage every two months. This passage may be used, retained, or sold. A lifetime membership can be purchased for a one-time MCr1 fee, subject to TAS review and approval. Sometimes the Imperium awards TAS membership for long service or acts of extreme heroism.

Typoer (Magyar 3210 X6428AB-5). A dry hellworld in Anise subsector with a thin oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere tainted by radiation. The planet is cold, orbiting just at the outer edge of the K0 V primary’s habitable zone. Originally known as Kaniir, Typoer was explored during the First Imperium but not settled in earnest until five hundred years ago. The world was deeply divided during the Solomani period, with hostilities eventually escalating into a brutal civil war two hundred years ago that leveled many of Typoer’s cities and reduced its overall tech level to early electricity. The remaining population of 600 million ekes out a meager existence in the ruins. After a bloody, decades-long campaign most of the world has been united for the last 40 years under the rule of the “Unified World Leader,” Emila Rohit, who has instituted extreme law and has resisted all Imperial offers of assistance. Despite this the Imperium carefully monitors the situation and has occasionally deployed troops onworld to curtail outright atrocities. The system has been issued a Red Zone travel advisory and planetfall is forbidden.

University of Neidenhafen. Large institution of higher learning on Gerwalk (Magyar 2631 C100941-D).

Vallance (Magyar 3219 A6B4598-E). A tide-locked world with a nitrogen atmosphere and ammonia seas, a Class A starport, and a high law, high stellar society. It is located on an important trade route, and most of the population of 100,000 live and work either in the orbital highport or in small research stations clustered around the downport. A Vegan joint venture has recently acquired the shipyards, much to the consternation of Solomani observers. Vallance has been issued an Amber Zone travel advisory due to the dangerous conditions on the planetary surface. A secondary world, Unsharlur (F8A5835-8), orbits the system’s far companion and is the location of the Unsharlur Eduba, an independent merchant academy.

Vegan. An intelligent minor race originating on Muan Gwi (Solomani Rim 1717 A456A86-F) and inhabiting the Vegan Autonomous District; they are named by Humans after the bright star near their homeworld. The Vegans are an enigmatic alien species with an efficient, peaceful society and great technical ability. The worlds of the District are under a single, centralized government. State power is contained in a civil service and is chosen and promoted by competitive examinations.

In the century since the Solomani Rim War, the Vegan Autonomous District has blossomed economically and culturally. The Vegans have begun to explore commercial opportunities in Magyar sector, particularly within nearby Kline subsector.

Veriti. A regional news organization funded by the Solomani Confederation government and covering Magyar, Daibei, Reavers Deep, Dark Nebula, and Ustral Quadrant. Veriti’s slogan is The Truth will Out. The organization maintains offices on any Solomani world with a class A starport and specializes in investigative journalism highly critical of the nobility and the megacorporations. While Veriti has been very effective at uncovering governmental corruption, it is subject to frequent Imperial censoring and as such is a prime advocate for journalistic freedoms in the Imperium.

Vilani. One of three major human races within the known galaxy. Responsible for the First Imperium, a predecessor to the current Imperium, which had its capital at Vland (Vland 1717 A967A9A-F) for several thousand years. Vilani are the most widespread of human races.

Dissidents from the First Imperium were the first known humans to explore Magyar sector beginning around -4100. They claimed most of Anise and Kline subsectors, as well as part of Voyager subsector. This area marked the spinward and rimward boundary of the First Imperium. These Vilani worlds suffered greatly from the collapse of the Rule of Man and were frequently at the mercy of the Reavers. Many of these worlds emerged from the Long Night with only a tenuous connection to their Vilani roots. It is ironic, then, that Solomani racial and separatist policies directly led to a resurgence of the Vilani language and identity in the region.

The Vilani language is one of the two official languages of the Third Imperium. In Magyar, both Anglic and Vilani are in common usage and are mandated to be equally emphasized. The enforcement of this requirement is generally resented by those citizens with strong Solomani sympathies.

wafer jack. A cyber implant allowing use of skill or personality wafers and providing direct access to computer systems. Wafer technology records essential skills, knowledges, talents, memories, and even personalities on portable wafers: thin chips which temporarily implant specific elements of a personality. Single Skill Wafers (SSW) convey temporary expertise in a single skill, but the user’s personality predominates. Many ships carry a reserve kit of SSW for emergency use. Emergency Personality Wafers (EPW) contain a recorded personality with memories and experiences. The recorded personality predominates. Major organizations maintain EPWs loaded with a specific (perhaps edited) personality suited for specific situations. Entertainment Wafers contain a less intense personality transfer for entertainment purposes: the user feels like he is the new personality until it dissipates upon awakening from the next sleep period, but he retains memories of the experience.

During the Solomani Rim War’s Second Battle of Fornorb, the bridge of the CSS Valvasone, a Victory-class battlecruiser and flagship of the 71st FleetRon, suffered a catastrophic hit killing the captain and all other senior officers. The only available spacer with a wafer jack was one Ensign Wright Henrii, who activated an EPW containing the personality of Confederation Admiral Ezra “No Retreat” Novak. The Novak personality immediately took control of the situation, rallying the 71st FleetRon. Although the Valvasone was destroyed and Ensign Henrii killed, Novak’s actions avoided a complete rout. Henrii received a posthumous promotion to captain, the only such honor for an ensign in the entire history of the Confederation Navy.

Walpurgian Main. A string of 65 worlds connected by Jump-1 that traverses Anise and Kline subsectors, with spurs in both Clown and Voyager subsectors.

Walpurgis. Former name for Kline subsector. The subsector was known as Uruk to the Vilani First Imperium.

Wicker (Magyar 2728 A742843-C). A poor, dry, and frozen hellworld with a thin atmosphere, a Class A starport, and a high population, low law, average stellar tech society. The system also contains a tide-locked secondary world, Marston (F4346AB-9). Located on a major trade route, Wicker is the subsector capital and seat of the Duchy of Fugue. Wicker hosts the headquarters of the Unified Army of Fugue, which maintains an Imperial Military Academy, a Command College, and a Staff College. Wicker also hosts the Merchant Academy of Fugue. The mainworld’s shipyards are run by General Products. Wicker hosts regular android fighting matches that draw crowds from across the sector.

yard. Commercial facility for the building and repair of starships and spacecraft. Starports, being the primary point at which starships interact with a system, are the usual location for shipyards. Any class A starport has a shipyard that can build any kind of ship, including starships with jump drives; any class B starport can build small craft and ships that do not have jump drives.

Magyar was famed as a major shipbuilder for the Solomani Confederation. “Magyar Built” was synonymous with durability and reliability, if not aesthetics or cutting edge tech. During the Solomani Rim War an unsustainable level of Magyar’s economic resources were diverted to military shipbuilding. As a shipbuilding center, the sector was specifically targeted by Imperial war planners. Many shipyards were destroyed during the brutal Magyar Campaign, and the sector economy crashed into recession in the wake of the war, shuttering many more yards.

Several Imperial corporations snatched up contracts for new Magyar shipyards, contracts made even more lucrative due to corporate subsidies, endemically low wages, and limited regulations. A few Confederation firms made the transition to Imperial control, most notably Allied Prefabricated Ships and Vessels, which bought up many competitor yards and by 1040 had become the dominant builder of small and medium sized civilian craft in the region. In addition to APS&V, major Imperial shipbuilders in Magyar include General Products and Ling-Standard Products. Major Solomani builders include Iouo Interstellar Yards, Panstellar, Solomani Military Industries, and Transstar. The overall tech lag in the sector limits the most lucrative military contracts. Kimel (Daibei 2239 A555AEH-F), Shululsish (Solomani Rim 0214 A584A52-F), and Yrsai (Solomani Rim 0511 A663A9B-F) are the few nearby exporters of TL15 components.

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.