This is an idea that’s been bouncing around in my head ever since Seth Skorkowsky (a YouTube content creator) said during a livestream that although he was aware of 2300AD, he didn’t find it compelling enough to try. I know many of you are asking for adventure modules set in this universe, but his response really put its finger on the core problem with this franchise: it's bland.
This blandness comes from the fact that 2300AD is being treated the same way as Traveller—that is, as a Star Trek (or Star Wars)-style universe where players hop from planet to planet, visiting a few locations before heading off on a new adventure.
But what works well for Traveller doesn’t necessarily work for 2300AD. Like Traveller, the setting focuses on humanity’s colonized worlds and the existential threat posed by the Kaefers. What often gets overlooked is that these colonies have national identities. It’s fine to say that a certain world was colonized by France, Germany, or America—but it would be better, in my view, to present them through the national lens of their founding countries.
If I go back to Traveller as an example, one of the most essential series, in my opinion, is the Aliens books—four volumes, the first two of which offer a concise overview of the major non-human races. This could serve as a model for 2300AD: a series of volumes focusing on nations with interstellar colonies. Since there are roughly twenty such nations, they could be grouped into four volumes, each providing a description of the nation in the 24th century, its history, and each of its colonies. And here, I want to be clear: I mean a description centered on the colony itself—its infrastructure, key locations, important NPCs, as well as its challenges, concerns, and future projects—not just the planet.
These volumes could be:
The advantage of this approach, in my view, is twofold: First, it offers a glimpse of life on Earth (as nation “X”) while also providing a broader vision of that nation's space colonization program—a program that the Kaefers have just thrown into question. The second advantage is that if (hopefully) Mongoose Publishing ever releases a book on Earth and Tirane (The Core), having already covered these nations in previous publications would free up a significant number of pages. Those pages could then be used to cover other topics that would normally have to be left out. Let’s not kid ourselves—any book covering Earth and Tirane would require an enormous amount of information.
“But what about the planets?” you might ask. Like many of you, I’m salivating at the idea of a new Colonial Atlas. But I also recognize that part of me will never be satisfied with such a book—I’ll always want more. That’s why, like the previous Atlas, where much of the info is already well covered in the core box, I’d opt for individual sourcebooks like the venerable Aurore Sourcebook. These PDF-format publications, about 90–120 pages each, would be ideal for detailing everything you need to know about a world—from astrography, climate, and ecology, to survival tips in case things go wrong, complete with detailed maps. And as a bonus, each one could include a scenario tailored to help players explore and experience that world.
Anyway, that’s my opinion—let me know what you think.
This blandness comes from the fact that 2300AD is being treated the same way as Traveller—that is, as a Star Trek (or Star Wars)-style universe where players hop from planet to planet, visiting a few locations before heading off on a new adventure.
But what works well for Traveller doesn’t necessarily work for 2300AD. Like Traveller, the setting focuses on humanity’s colonized worlds and the existential threat posed by the Kaefers. What often gets overlooked is that these colonies have national identities. It’s fine to say that a certain world was colonized by France, Germany, or America—but it would be better, in my view, to present them through the national lens of their founding countries.
If I go back to Traveller as an example, one of the most essential series, in my opinion, is the Aliens books—four volumes, the first two of which offer a concise overview of the major non-human races. This could serve as a model for 2300AD: a series of volumes focusing on nations with interstellar colonies. Since there are roughly twenty such nations, they could be grouped into four volumes, each providing a description of the nation in the 24th century, its history, and each of its colonies. And here, I want to be clear: I mean a description centered on the colony itself—its infrastructure, key locations, important NPCs, as well as its challenges, concerns, and future projects—not just the planet.
These volumes could be:
- The Third Empire (France): Simply by the sheer size of its territory on Earth, Tirane, and across the French Arm (including Élysium), this nation deserves a book of its own.
- The North American Nations: Grouping together America and Australia (on the American Arm), but also including Canada, Texas, and Mexico. If space permits, a few independent colonization organizations like the Life Foundation could be added.
- The European Nations: Covering Britain, Germany, Ukraine, and Azania, with perhaps articles on Scandinavia and Russia, as well as some independent organizations.
- The Pacific Nations: Primarily covering Canton, Inca, Japan, and Manchuria, but also including others such as Arabia, Argentina, and Brazil.
The advantage of this approach, in my view, is twofold: First, it offers a glimpse of life on Earth (as nation “X”) while also providing a broader vision of that nation's space colonization program—a program that the Kaefers have just thrown into question. The second advantage is that if (hopefully) Mongoose Publishing ever releases a book on Earth and Tirane (The Core), having already covered these nations in previous publications would free up a significant number of pages. Those pages could then be used to cover other topics that would normally have to be left out. Let’s not kid ourselves—any book covering Earth and Tirane would require an enormous amount of information.
“But what about the planets?” you might ask. Like many of you, I’m salivating at the idea of a new Colonial Atlas. But I also recognize that part of me will never be satisfied with such a book—I’ll always want more. That’s why, like the previous Atlas, where much of the info is already well covered in the core box, I’d opt for individual sourcebooks like the venerable Aurore Sourcebook. These PDF-format publications, about 90–120 pages each, would be ideal for detailing everything you need to know about a world—from astrography, climate, and ecology, to survival tips in case things go wrong, complete with detailed maps. And as a bonus, each one could include a scenario tailored to help players explore and experience that world.
Anyway, that’s my opinion—let me know what you think.
