Spinward Marches Preview

[kchoisez]

As some people have pointed out:

Just for the record, it should be "Andor", not "Andory".

The difference can be explained the same way as names of countries are changed for political reasons.

Example: Maldives and Faulklands

or Burma and whatever it is being called this week.

[Bishop Odo]

I don’t care about who said what, all I care about is the final product. Isn’t there a Non-Discloser agreement in effect, I could not go to lunch with a game writer friend and his publisher without a NDA. I mean all this speculation and posturing is hurting the brand. In fact it seem like someone’s trying to get out of there contract and I’m not speculating on who it is. Lets seem some professionalism here.

[GypsyComet]

I don’t care about who said what, all I care about is the final product.

Insert rants regarding the Traveller "Community" (ha ha ho ho) and its blind spots, Marc Miller's blind spots, proper playtesting practice, the dangers and advantages of both open and closed playtesting, and a reminder of what "fan" is short for here.

(If you really want to read all that ranting, its all on the net somewhere. I'm not going to repeat myself at this time.)


Belatedly, I welcome Mongoose to the Traveller Community. Yes, those are Canon Cannon on the walls; we keep them big to repel newcomers. You already seem to have a list of addresses to visit, so I'll just warn you about the grass in the parks (full of fun-sucking leeches), the pond off in the old part of town (physics-spouting sharks and a Great Old One or Two), and remind you that most of the residents turn a blind eye to the New part of town except to visit the mechanic. Don't ask any of the folks in Imperial Mourning garb for directions, as they are constantly correcting themselves and will only confuse you. We aren't sure who actually lives in the Fourth Ward, though they seem to get a lot of rotten fruit shipped their way. The Esoteric Tower of the Creator (the fifth so far) is the one with the rose-colored windows and polite-but-firm guards. The Generic residents are actually quite friendly as long as you don't ask them about their health or the news (stick to the weather). Don't mind the kilt-wearing Marines, stay away from the rock gardens near C Street, and please attempt to keep any Aslan you may meet away from the katanas (as a public service), though you may ask their women for directions to the best shoe stores.

Have fun!

[MJD]

I *think* I'm being criticised here. Oh well, I got actual death threats over the last marches book.

Very soon, you will see certain members of the 'old' traveller community attacking me (and maybe Mongoose) for things that are in the SM book. I would prefer it to be publicly known that, for example, the map says Andory because Marc Miller vetoed the fix (even though it's supposed to be Andor and says that in all other places) than I get sniped at for a decade for being so stupid as to make that particular mistake, or this other one, or whatever.

It's happened too many times before y'see. I've grown weary of being attacked for things that actually were never my fault.

[tneva82]

for example, the map says Andory because Marc Miller vetoed the fix (even though it's supposed to be Andor and says that in all other places)

Just out of curiosity. I see references to this Andory/Andor all the time. I'll take it that it first appeared in some publicication as Andor, then got somewhere printed as Andory(probably the source Mongoose had to use as basis?) and then Marc vetoed the fix. Is that how it was?

Just curious.

[MJD]

It's supposed to be Andor, but it got put on a map many years ago as Andory and a lot of people get confused. This was flagged as a fix for the Marches book but for some reason Marc decided not to include it.

[tneva82]

It's supposed to be Andor, but it got put on a map many years ago as Andory and a lot of people get confused. This was flagged as a fix for the Marches book but for some reason Marc decided not to include it.

I'll take it Andor is how it was first refered in some supplement?

[MJD]

Yes.

[cbrunish]

Hey MJD, just put out a good product. Thats all that matters. I've been playing Traveller since 1982 and thats all that I ask from a game publisher. As the GM I take and drop from the OTU. For example the Solomani Confederation in MTU is not nearly as racist and actually kept the 3I out of the Solomani Rim (with the help of the Vegans).

All I ask for is a good product that gives myself and my group a good basis and start. I'll do the rest. If the new Spinward Marches is as good as the MGT core rules, I'll be very happy.

[MJD]

Well then you're going to be very happy indeed because it's awesome with awesome sauce and a sprinking of crystallised win. Really. It's that good.

[fridge]

Unbelievable - one week to go before Spinward Marches gets published and Amazon cancels my pre-order as they can not obtain the book. This is the second one they have cancelled on me.

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Well then you're going to be very happy indeed because it's awesome with awesome sauce and a sprinking of crystallised win. Really. It's that good.

....when it finally arrives

<Scuttles away quickly>

[Infojunky]

I *think* I'm being criticised here. Oh well, I got actual death threats over the last marches book.

Not directly, it is more a commentary to the level Traveller Fandom has sunk to in some venues. In specific relation is to Marc's isolation from the fan base by a group that has Views.

Very soon, you will see certain members of the 'old' traveller community attacking me (and maybe Mongoose) for things that are in the SM book. I would prefer it to be publicly known that, for example, the map says Andory because Marc Miller vetoed the fix (even though it's supposed to be Andor and says that in all other places) than I get sniped at for a decade for being so stupid as to make that particular mistake, or this other one, or whatever.

Martin I understand your position. I also understand that a whole boat load of editorial changes are made that you can't control.

Martin, your doing a good job. (I hope that helps)

[MJD]

Yeah, it helps.

Well, as we speak the first Avenger/Comstar traveller product for the new Marches is with Marc awaiting approval. The second is about ready to go too.

[Infojunky]

Yeah, it helps.

Well, as we speak the first Avenger/Comstar traveller product for the new Marches is with Marc awaiting approval. The second is about ready to go too.

Well Good then.

I just finished Out of the Darkness again last week, it is one of the best game books I have read in a long while, so much so, I am running in that era as there is just so much to do to players in there.....

[-Daniel-]

Very soon, you will see certain members of the 'old' traveller community attacking me (and maybe Mongoose) for things that are in the SM book. I would prefer it to be publicly known that, for example, the map says Andory because Marc Miller vetoed the fix (even though it's supposed to be Andor and says that in all other places) than I get sniped at for a decade for being so stupid as to make that particular mistake, or this other one, or whatever.

Even though we do not have the book yet, I have a couple of the older grognards in my group chanting "It's not MJDs Fault" in preporation for the books arrival.

Daniel

[MJD]

That's good, keep that up. Except for the good bits. You're allowed to credit that to me.

'Do to players'- I respect your attitide, keep that up.

As I once said, in the New Era things are such that you can be the captain of your own fate. Of course the ship is leaky, the crew have scurvy and the sea is pretty damn rough. But you're the captain, hell yes.

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Yeah, it helps.

Well, as we speak the first Avenger/Comstar traveller product for the new Marches is with Marc awaiting approval. The second is about ready to go too.

Well Good then.

I just finished Out of the Darkness again last week, it is one of the best game books I have read in a long while, so much so, I am running in that era as there is just so much to do to players in there.....

Me too. I am running at game in the New Era using MGT rules. So far so good.

I am having a bit of trouble with the CRB since the ships only go to 2000 tons, but I have worked around it. Larger ships are handwaved right now based on their old HG statistics. Large Scale combat not affecting the players directly is cinematic and the outcomes of battles are my decision, not the dice. Having a lot of fun right now.

[Infojunky]

I am having a bit of trouble with the CRB since the ships only go to 2000 tons, but I have worked around it. Larger ships are handwaved right now based on their old HG statistics. Large Scale combat not affecting the players directly is cinematic and the outcomes of battles are my decision, not the dice. Having a lot of fun right now.

I'm not finding that so much a limitation, RCES Clippers where all under 2000 dTons, and most of other ships where under 1000 dTons. In the neck of space I am running there are very few ships over about 5000 tons still flying. Though some of the larger powers have some bigger stuff, most of that was taken out in the various inter-factional fighting or hoarded for the day they are really needed.

But with all YMMV.

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Well my PCs are running around the Spinward States (Book 3 of the 1248 series) in a 2000 ton Destroyer Escort. BUT, they are part of a larger fleet that includes Heavy Cruisers and such. That is the fluff part currently. The performance of the bigger ships is J4, 6G with BIG guns that would blast the PC's ship in one round and I leave it that way. When the big boys start fighting each other, the PCs run and hide and pick on smaller ships. Makes for a very cinematic game since I know how I want the battles to end and what ships to be damaged and how much, so I just describe it. Only combat directly involving the PC's ship is rolled. Everything else is my imagination.

There has only been 1 big battle so far (at Rhylanor) and the PCs got involved knocking out some smaller ships that were, uhm, in the way...

Rhylanor didn't come out so well in that encounter... The Imperial Regency is a bit nasty at times, especially when provoked...