does Traveller 2E not include aliens?

[Dizzy]

Btw, I am not seeing the Traveller Companion in the Release schedule. How is it going with this one?

I've also been very curious about this. Mentioned all over the corebook but not on the current release schedule at all? odd.

[TrippyHippy]

I think the Companion is proving to be the trickiest of Traveller supplements, from what it appears. Maybe they should return to the idea of making an indefinite series of Compendiums instead?

Anyway, I'd like to see all the Major Races detailed in some fashion, along with Robots and A.I. to make a full set of options available for exotic characters. The Aslan are currently the one race to see a full supplement as part of the Pirates of Drinax campaign. Maybe the others should be merged with adventure books of this type too?

[arcador]

I emailed Matt about the companion. The bad news is - they delayed it to early 2018. Good news is, it's going to happen.

[qstor]

I've been asking for the Hiver and K'Kree books since like 2011? Any ETA?!?!

[paltrysum]

In the Great Rift Kickstarter comments, they've indicated that the K'kree are high on their list. Sounds like there might be something in 2018.

[TrippyHippy]

Y'know, at this stage, what I'd actually like considered is one, big "Aliens of the Imperium" sourcebook, to detail in some capacity all of the major Alien species - Aslan, Vargr, Hivers, Kree, maybe others, and then maybe another book strictly for Humanity species - Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani.

All should have details of making them playable races.

Also, I want a Robots/A.I. book. With playable Robots.

[NOLATrav]

Y'know, at this stage, what I'd actually like considered is one, big "Aliens of the Imperium" sourcebook, to detail in some capacity all of the major Alien species - Aslan, Vargr, Hivers, Kree, maybe others, and then maybe another book strictly for Humanity species - Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani.

All should have details of making them playable races.

Also, I want a Robots/A.I. book. With playable Robots.

THIS. Motion seconded!

[Condottiere]

Compendium.

[EvilDM]

Seconded.
One book with all major (and maybe some minor) aliens in it would probably the best compromise between information density and value for the player.

But please, use this chance to actually go through the rules and update or even improve them instead of a copy-paste. For example the Aslan SOC issue is still there. (Yes you can argue that this is intended that most Aslan are landless looser, but considering how easy it is to be a high ranking noble as human I don't see why the average SOC for Aslan should be 3). Some prices are also rather strange and far different than equal human equipment, the battle dress being the worst offender (the inferior Aslan version costs 5 times as much). Although this was worse in the last version.

The art is nice though

[ShawnDriscoll]

But please, use this chance to actually go through the rules and update or even improve them instead of a copy-paste. For example the Aslan SOC issue is still there. (Yes you can argue that this is intended that most Aslan are landless looser, but considering how easy it is to be a high ranking noble as human I don't see why the average SOC for Aslan should be 3). Some prices are also rather strange and far different than equal human equipment, the battle dress being the worst offender (the inferior Aslan version costs 5 times as much). Although this was worse in the last version.

I'm against any further anthropomorphizing of the Aslan. No furries. Keep them more alien.

[EvilDM]

But please, use this chance to actually go through the rules and update or even improve them instead of a copy-paste. For example the Aslan SOC issue is still there. (Yes you can argue that this is intended that most Aslan are landless looser, but considering how easy it is to be a high ranking noble as human I don't see why the average SOC for Aslan should be 3). Some prices are also rather strange and far different than equal human equipment, the battle dress being the worst offender (the inferior Aslan version costs 5 times as much). Although this was worse in the last version.

I'm against any further anthropomorphizing of the Aslan. No furries. Keep them more alien.

That would have been nice but I think that train has passed. When Mongoose commissioned the art they probably just said "lion men doing X" which is why you get anthro lions. Only one artists drew them more like humanoids with lion like features (Ihatei camp picture) And if a future artists is looning for aslan references he will find the anthro lions.

Personally I can live with it. The furries are already there because of the Vargr. Its just a bit silly that the intro text talks about them only having a superficial resemblence to lions and then you get full anthro lions in the pictures.
With my comment about the art I rather meant the overall quality and that they are full color. And I find it nice that they settled on a uniform design of the claw. How it looked like was a bit strange in the 1st edition.
Anyway, RPGs are games of imagination, so the pictures dont bother me as much as the mechanics. Average rolls only get you SOC 3 and a single bad roll guarantees it. To get even SOC 7 you need to roll above average.

[Reynard]

Getting ready to go to work so can't reference the aslan alien book. I seem to be under the impression the character generation in it didn't make high SOC easy for a beginning aslan reflecting their society but it was possible with the right family history. Explains why so many males go out and earn that honor if they can. Social status in their society is critical.

As to the physical appearance of an aslan, what should they look like so they absolutely don't look 'furry'? Same for vargr.

[EvilDM]

Getting ready to go to work so can't reference the aslan alien book. I seem to be under the impression the character generation in it didn't make high SOC easy for a beginning aslan reflecting their society but it was possible with the right family history. Explains why so many males go out and earn that honor if they can. Social status in their society is critical.

As to the physical appearance of an aslan, what should they look like so they absolutely don't look 'furry'? Same for vargr.

On the other hand rolling a human baron is rather easy. And I think there are less barons out there than aslan who own a house.

Tieing Soc to Ter might have been a mistake as a high or even just average Soc as far as the game rules are concerned removes some reasons why an aslan should travel. Although the example about Ter trumping Soc talks about a Soc 15 landless heir (derived from the Ter of the father).
The main problem is that most OC aslans have a big Soc penalty even when they interact with other landless aslan.

And Vargr are anthromorphic dogs according to their backstory so thats how they should look like. Aslan looked a lot less lion like in older versions of Traveller.

[Sigtrygg]

Vargr are not anthropomorphic dogs, there were no dogs 300,000 years ago. They are based on wolves, not dogs.

As to the Aslan:

Early Terran explorers regarded the Aslan as "lion-like," and the simile has stuck ever since, although the Aslan bear little resemblance to Terrestrial lions

or how about the earlier:

The earliest Terran explorers saw in them a vague resemblance to the terran lion. and they have been described as lion-like ever since, although there is very little resemblance.

[ShawnDriscoll]

And Vargr are anthromorphic dogs according to their backstory so thats how they should look like. Aslan looked a lot less lion like in older versions of Traveller.

Yes. Most players treat them as humans with dog heads and prefer them drawn that way as well, if not drawn as out-right furries. My group treats Vargr as wolves, and their physical appearance is that of Skyrim's werewolves.

[paltrysum]

I've always found the Aslan "bear little resemblance to Terran lions" a little disingenuous when every single illustration of them by Traveller-employed illustrators makes them look pretty lionlike. Their evolutionary predecessors on Kusyu even sound much like Terran lions. Then there's the fact that females outnumber males, the males do little other than lead, the females do most of the work, they're territorial. Seems pretty lionlike. Where it falls down a bit is the honor system and the clans which are obviously inspired by medieval Japan.

In any case, I have no problem with the Terrestrial inspirations of Traveller's alien races. Makes the races more relatable to most players. What I do like to see from players who take on an alien race is an attempt to play that race as alien. Coming up with excuses for why their particular character doesn't behave in an alien manner is a cop out; one which I'll allow since I try not to take the fun out of it for the players, but it's always more enjoyable for me as a ref when the players make their aliens seem like actual aliens.

[Linwood]

One of the things that’s puzzled me about playing an Aslan (or Vargr) is how much of their behavior is cultural and how much is deep-rooted instinct. Having some guidance on that would help distinguish between Aslan born and raised in the Imperium (for example) and those born in the Hierate.

[Sigtrygg]

The artists got it wrong and later authors didn't do their research - hence we end up with liono and catgirl.

Every so often there is someone who pops up thinking Aslan are uplifted Terran cats...

As to culture vs instinct - intelligence means culture trumps most instincts besides those hard wired into your glands. How many evenings of late have you groomed your family and close friends hair for lice...

BANG - fight or flight - notice the difference?

[Condottiere]

It's the reason RPGs tend to really invest in illustrators, since humans tend to be rather visually orientated.

I'm a fan of Japanese culture, but I wouldn't think of playing an Aslan like that, mostly because on a whole I find them rather boring.

Wouldn't play them as cats, either.



Maybe Mongols

As regards to the Vargr, since it's Old Norse, I'd go for Vikings; as the meanings range from wolf, robber, outlaw, evildoer, destroyer.

And doggy tropes for the win.

[ShawnDriscoll]

I'll role-play manners and mannerisms of alien NPCs in social circles. Somewhere, the Vargr got stamped with always wearing loud bright colors. Seems like a stereotype thing now to me. But if a player wants their Vargr to dress that way, I let it happen. I don't allow doggy-jokes players at the table. Tiresome.