993 ATU (Gateway Domain)

[G. K. Zhukov]

In this post in another Traveller-related forum, Martin J. Dougherty explains that with the lapsing of the Traveller license held by QLI, the 993 millieu in the Gateway Domain ATU materials are once again free to be developed by other Traveller license holders (like Mongoose).

Dear Matt, are there any chances that we see some more material from this millieu over the next years, before your Traveller license expires?

For those who do not know, games from this this millieu take place several sectors to trailing/rimward of the Spinward Marches, more than a century before the classic/canonical Golden Age Traveller (during the Solomani Rim War).

 

[Blix]

Why bother? The Gateway era was not really all that different from the default CT era - the location was the main difference, and Mongoose could just update that to the 1100s if they wanted. But I don't think that is really worth doing. And even though it was set around the Rim War era, the T20 material didn't really cover that at all anyway (and in fact it was set pretty far from the action).

I would rather see a brand new area developed, if anything. How many times do new editions need to regurgitate material that has already been released for earlier editions?

 

[Cyphr]

I love the Gateway sourcebook. Except for some stats in the adventure it was not rules set heavy. It had a very good mix of.Imperial territory, pocket empires, and non-aligned. Also it has four sectors.

 

[hdan]

Gateway seemed like an interesting setting from the few things I read, and more MJD is never a bad thing.

I like the idea of a more "trailing" setting than the 'marches so we can bring in Hivers and K'Kree, though of course I want to see more Reaver's Deep (like the Trojan Reaches but with more Solomani) and Far Frontiers (many pocket empires far from Imperial influence but still under the influence of the Zho) stuff.

In fact, I hope the Zho book includes the Far Frontiers sector like the Aslan did the Trojan Reaches. And the Solomani book should include Reaver's Deep. But I'm just daydreaming at this point.

 

[kafka]

So long as it does not repeat the QLI sourcebook (Gateway to Destiny) and incorporates and updates the Lords of Thunder adventure path...but I will not want to pay twice for what I already have.

 

[Jame Rowe]

Yes please! I would like to see, specifically, area books for such locations as the Galian Federation and such, detailing the worlds for each, and some adventure books set in those areas.

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Why bother? The Gateway era was not really all that different from the default CT era - the location was the main difference, and Mongoose could just update that to the 1100s if they wanted. But I don't think that is really worth doing. And even though it was set around the Rim War era, the T20 material didn't really cover that at all anyway (and in fact it was set pretty far from the action).

I would rather see a brand new area developed, if anything. How many times do new editions need to regurgitate material that has already been released for earlier editions?

Simply as a friendly discussion, I'd ask then if you feel the sector books about the Spinward Marches and Reft were of worth to you then, since the Marches have been covered with most versions and Reft in at least a couple. Or the recent Darrian alien module, since CT's Alien Module 8, GT's Humaniti and possibly other books already covered them in fair detail. Or the other two (so far) MGT alien modules, and the sectors included with them. And so forth.

I'm not saying Mongoose shouldn't look at areas of the Imperium (or outside of it) that have yet to have any real coverage, I'd LOVE to see that in fact. But why not do a MGT coverage of Gateway Domain, either set circa year 990-1000 or circa year 1105? Or if they just want to do one sector, of Ley or Gateway sector? There's IMO a lot of minor races in that area that are worth merit if nothing else. I'd love to see more about the one of the minor human races there, the Luriani for instance.

Anyway, again just meant as a friendly discussion of course.

To come closer to answering the poll directly, I'd like to see it, either just as a covering of Gateway Domain circa 1105 or as one that also covers year 990 to 1000 or so. But I wouldn't be upset if they went and covered another era and/or location and decided to give T20's material a pass too.

As an alternative suggestion, how about circa year 820 or so, give or take. Right before the Psionic supressions? THAT IMO could be interesting. Or the Spinward Marches, around year 200 or 300, when it's much more of a frontier still being settled.

 

[kafka]

While, we are dreaming a dream...why not - Jae's Gushemege Sector & Dagudashaag Sector which were in Signal GK....there was an interesting group of Sectors...

I am willing to give away my work on the Verge Sector to be published in S&P on the condition if it does get published more formally I would get a royalty check.

 

[AndrewW]

While, we are dreaming a dream...why not - Jae's Gushemege Sector & Dagudashaag Sector which were in Signal GK....there was an interesting group of Sectors...

I am willing to give away my work on the Verge Sector to be published in S&P on the condition if it does get published more formally I would get a royalty check.

Could try submitting it, see what happens.

 

[Blix]

Simply as a friendly discussion, I'd ask then if you feel the sector books about the Spinward Marches and Reft were of worth to you then, since the Marches have been covered with most versions and Reft in at least a couple. Or the recent Darrian alien module, since CT's Alien Module 8, GT's Humaniti and possibly other books already covered them in fair detail. Or the other two (so far) MGT alien modules, and the sectors included with them. And so forth.

The Reft book was at least interesting because that area hasn't really been covered much before. I got sick of the Marches a long time ago and have no interest in Mongoose's version or any other version. The Rim is covered to my satisfaction by the GT Rim of Fire book and I have no interest in any other version. I also have no interest in the MGT Aliens books either, since they've been done multiple times before to my satisfaction.

Original books are getting few and far between for the OTU. GURPS Traveller covered a lot of material quite definitively for the 1100s era as far as I am concerned, so it's hard to see what is left to cover apart from books describing other sectors of the OTU (Reft was a nice start). The MGT black books are more interesting to me because they at least are starting to cover careers that haven't been done before. I am not a collector that will buy anything and everything made for Traveller just for its own sake; if I'm going to spend my money then I want to spend it on something I don't already have in another form.

As far as I am concerned, the 990s era that T20 covered is too similar to the 1100s era to be of interest (indeed, Mongoose's 1105 era is too similar to CT's 1110 era as well). If I want to play in one of the Gateway sectors I can pretty much use it as described in the T20 book with some very minor changes.

Personally, I would love to see completely new eras of the OTU, equivalent to SJG's Interstellar Wars, and Avenger's 1248. That way we can get new material instead of recycled material, and some setting material to make the current edition unique.

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Simply as a friendly discussion, I'd ask then if you feel the sector books about the Spinward Marches and Reft were of worth to you then, since the Marches have been covered with most versions and Reft in at least a couple. Or the recent Darrian alien module, since CT's Alien Module 8, GT's Humaniti and possibly other books already covered them in fair detail. Or the other two (so far) MGT alien modules, and the sectors included with them. And so forth.

The Reft book was at least interesting because that area hasn't really been covered much before. I got sick of the Marches a long time ago and have no interest in Mongoose's version or any other version. The Rim is covered to my satisfaction by the GT Rim of Fire book and I have no interest in any other version. I also have no interest in the MGT Aliens books either, since they've been done multiple times before to my satisfaction.

Original books are getting few and far between for the OTU. GURPS Traveller covered a lot of material quite definitively for the 1100s era as far as I am concerned, so it's hard to see what is left to cover apart from books describing other sectors of the OTU (Reft was a nice start). The MGT black books are more interesting to me because they at least are starting to cover careers that haven't been done before. I am not a collector that will buy anything and everything made for Traveller just for its own sake; if I'm going to spend my money then I want to spend it on something I don't already have in another form.

As far as I am concerned, the 990s era that T20 covered is too similar to the 1100s era to be of interest (indeed, Mongoose's 1105 era is too similar to CT's 1110 era as well). If I want to play in one of the Gateway sectors I can pretty much use it as described in the T20 book with some very minor changes.

Personally, I would love to see completely new eras of the OTU, equivalent to SJG's Interstellar Wars, and Avenger's 1248. That way we can get new material instead of recycled material, and some setting material to make the current edition unique.

Fair enough, although I do feel that MGT has added things with their rehashes of the various aliens, the Marches and so forth that are noteworthy too. But then again some editions of Traveller I do have complete or almost complete as far as the collections go, some I know about them and the general idea with them, but I don't have every book put out for that edition, far from it. But I can see your viewpoint too, even if I feel in general they have managed to make even the material that's been already covered "their own" while sticking fairly true to what's already been published as well.

As an aside, I did mention the "Psionic Supressions" era, circa 800 to 826 or so if I recall right. I always felt that could be interesting. The early 600's due to the first Civil War is maybe of worth as well. If I may ask, would you agree?

 

[rust]

I do not use the Third Imperium setting, and so use the material descri-
bing it only to "borrow" interesting bits and pieces for my own settings.
I am therefore not really interested in new Gateway material, and would
most probably not buy it.

On the other hand, I have to admit that Mongoose succeeded in adding
quite a few new ideas to the "traditional" material of previous Traveller
versions, so I could be tempted to take a look at the new stuff - certainly
the Darrians supplement, perhaps even a Gateway supplement written by
MJD, since these authors usually write very useful material.

 

[kafka]

MJD is the writer, if one likes the OTU. But, having said that...Gar and Simon are doing good jobs. As we get more OTU stuff...hopefully other writers will emerge.

Also, as a seasoned grognard, I am all for the multiplicity of settings but I remain loyal to the OTU. However, I readily admit, it is a difficult setting to write for...as one is constrained by canonistas and the structure and flow of a grand narrative on the other.

However, having said that, I do believe that it is still one big sandbox. For no other setting has 11,000 worlds to create vastly different cultures, technologies, etc. There is no need to for anything else but the basic rules**...now, if you find the basic rules constraining then indeed other settings do help.

So, if you look the boundaries of any sandbox, you also find it constraining - the secret however lies inside in what you want to build..if it is using other materials than sand...then you have created your own limitations. YTU may vary. And, simply because Original is not Official ie laid down by GDW does not really make any different than what was proliferating in fanzines, HWIG discussions, the Internet and lastly around the gaming table where each Referee takes what they want from the OTU and rejects the rest.

**The basic rules also contain assumptions of science and the humanities...which while are not universal they do provide a good framework for play.

 

[Blix]

As an aside, I did mention the "Psionic Supressions" era, circa 800 to 826 or so if I recall right. I always felt that could be interesting. The early 600's due to the first Civil War is maybe of worth as well. If I may ask, would you agree?

I'm not really interested in the Imperium's past - I'd rather see the timeline continued into the future. There have been enough random eras picked out of the OTU for my tastes, and I don't think any of the periods since Milieu 0 really offer anything significantly different to the default 1100s era that can't just be covered in a few pages (a whole setting book would be overkill I think).

Maybe Mongoose could kill all those birds with a very large stone by releasing a single book that breaks down the OTU history into say 100 year chunks (or into eras defined by signficant events), that devotes a few pages on each that covers what the differences are and how to run games in those eras?

 

[captainjack23]

In this post in another Traveller-related forum,

.....droll. 8)

Gateway was great, its a shame it was D20. Its an underexploited area for traveller campaigns in the 900's or in the 1100's. Much less of an imperial presence plus lots of small polities makes a very different campaign area. Not so much the great game of the spinwards, more the nasty little intrigues of the pre WWI balkans.....its also a place where characters can have uch more impact on events than in the big imperial areas.

 

[kafka]

The advantage of Gateway would be it would provide a great segway for the K'kree alien module. The problem is the Lords of Thunder are still just getting off the ground. True, more powerful than the Golden Age but not nearly as 1248. Here I would like to see more a transhumanist (trans-K'kreeist(?) setting... as having the K'kree as one more expansionist empire without the cybernetic biomodified k'kree does not seem to be much fun. It would be interesting to also explore why the K'kree expelled the LoT from the main Herd. Perhaps, those experimentation with perfecting the race did result in more "crazies"...

As per my intention vis-a-vis Verge, it is a manuscript that I have not looked at in 5yrs...so I know it needs brushing up.

 

[Vile]

Now, a Spica Sector Book ... that would be pretty cool ... :twisted:

 

[kristof65]

So am I the only one who would really like to see a book centered on Core/Capital?

 

[Cleon the Mad]

So am I the only one who would really like to see a book centered on Core/Capital?

I wouldn't mind that. One I'd want to see a bit more if we're going to do an "old established" sector might be Vland. That would also open up a possible "alien module" about the Vilani (mostly a book about their culture and history I'm sure, although the fact that they live quite long would be in there as well I'd assume).

If I may mention alien modules in general, I wouldn't mind seeing a minor race one, and/or one that covers other minor human races of note.

 

[Bense]

Vland sector received pretty good treatment in Vilani & Vargr, and GURPS did excellent books on both the minor races and human minor races.