Hey folks,
I wanted to clarify something that came up in another forum. Some people thought I was calling
all of 2300AD bland, but I was specifically referring to the
current edition. Yes, it’s visually stunning—but still feels bland to me, especially compared to earlier versions. That’s why I’ve been advocating for the return of
nationalistic flavor in the game.
I'm not sure if the loss of flavor is due to the emphasis on the "Great Game," but if you go back to the original source material, you’ll see clues and details sprinkled everywhere that added depth.
Take Beowulf, for example: the
British and French colonists hated each other and were on the brink of war over economic control of the archipelagos between their continents. If it hadn’t been for the Kaefers, who knows what would’ve happened—and how that might’ve impacted Earth?
Then there are other questions that I think would add richness to the setting:
- Why did Canada go down the Chinese Arm instead of sticking with the Americans?
- How did the U.S. react to that?
- How did the colonization of Beowulf influence the development of BC-4?
These are the kinds of things that could really bring the colonies to life with more narrative flavor.
What is 2300AD to me?
It’s not
Traveller Lite, and it’s not a retro space opera. To me, 2300AD is about a
pivotal moment in human history—when we finally reached for the stars, not as a unified species, but as a bunch of
bickering tribes, still caught in old rivalries. And now, for the first time, humanity faces a
true rival power: the Kaefers. A real competitor, just as we’re hitting our “lifeburst”* moment.
Will humanity unite to face the threat? Or remain divided?
Either way, I believe the 24th century will
change us forever.
Frontier mindset: 17th century in space
One of the things I love about 2300AD is its
frontier tone. It’s got a 17th-century vibe—unlike Traveller, where most of the “wild” space is way out at the edge of the Imperium. In 2300AD, even core colonies like
Tirane are still sparsely settled, mostly unexplored, and often dangerous.
This should shape how we describe and play those settings. Getting
lost or isolated on a colony should be a real threat. And since 2300AD has
fewer worlds than Traveller, each one should be described in more detail—emphasizing how wild and untamed it still is, especially compared to Earth.
Campaigns & scenarios: Mixed feelings
Now, I know there’s a lot of demand for official campaigns and scenarios—but I’m a bit of a skeptic here. Not because I doubt the quality, but because over the years (even back on the old mailing lists), I’ve seen why some folks struggle to get into the setting.
Some players felt
locked into a war-game because of the Kaefer conflict. Others were overwhelmed by the
Bayern campaign, which is basically a long-form
Star Trek-style voyage that could take
5–6 years of gaming time. That’s a huge time investment—not everyone wants that.
Also, I’d be cautious about
over-theming the Arms:
- Making the American Arm all about corruption
- Or the Chinese Arm about piracy and smuggling
Doing this could box the setting into three rigid "flavors" that might not appeal to everyone. Personally, it would feel like a limitation on creative freedom—but again, that’s just me.
Scenario ideas that do work
If we need scenarios, I’d vote for treating some of the classics with the same care as
Secret of the Ancients. These ones come to mind:
- Beanstalk
- Energy Curve
- Rotten to the Core
- Maybe even Worm in the Big Apple as an intro scenario
Each offers a different take on the setting and shows off its potential.
On canon, Kaefers, and Mongoose's direction
I don’t know what Mongoose’s long-term plans are. But now that they’ve got
Twilight: 2000 under their roof, I agree with Bryn—
WW3 should be reestablished as canon. 2300AD has clearly moved into alternate history territory by now, and that's okay—it just needs to lean into that identity.
As for the Kaefers, if you haven’t read my old write-up on
Keafer 2.0, I really recommend checking it out. I think it could help reshape the Kaefers into the
formidable challenge they’re meant to be.
Final thought: Beowulf is just the beginning
I really hope the
Kaefer Invasion campaign includes both a
before and
after Beowulf phase. Because honestly?
Beowulf wasn’t the end of the Kaefer War—it was just the
end of the beginning. The real struggle, the one that will define humanity’s future, is still to come.
Sincerely hopeful,
Alain Vollant
*Lifeburst by Jack Williamson – ISBN 0-345-32977-5
