Alien-ish Traveller

[kafka]

For me Science Fiction is all about mood, as is Horror. The film that brings both of those together is Alien(s).

Now, we have run entire threads on the conversion and possibilty of have a Alien(s) RPG powered by Traveller.

But, I am looking at it from the other aspect...what have people brought from the Alien universe into their Traveller Universe...other than the xenomorph...

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

I can't say I have done this for 'Traveller'... but I have used concepts and ideas from 'Alien(s)' in a 'Space Opera' campaign.

You're right, it's mood and atmosphere that really is at the heart of it, and slightly "cheap-ass" technology that always seems to slightly under perform, or fail to live up to it's promise. Everything should be slightly difficult and merely functional if it does what it claims.

Oh, and spaceships always either smell of over-boiled brussel sprouts, or of overpowering cheap disinfectant.

 

[Jarec]

I'm slowly pushing my Traveller campaign towards introducing a Xenomorph as part of a background plot. To set the scene for this I've been slowly pushing the party away from the mainstream space areas into the lesser areas of Trojan's Reach. Here the universe is much more under the control of the corporations and there is a growing sense that the party are just pawns to be used and lied to. Also with imperial installations being at a premium technology slowly breaks down as parts and regular servicing becomes scarce.

Oh and the smell of boiled cabbage and a lack of replacement lightbulbs are good.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Oh, and remember to make all the PC's come from "Third World" or "cheap" political/racial (whatever is appropriate—not necessarily human or "modern" countries)/sub-contracting corporate entities.

The company(s) always outsources to the cheapest provider.

 

[Jarec]

Outcast Aslan fit this very well, especially in the Trojan Reach. The first Aslan I tried rolling up turned out to be an Outcast cargo loader. He is now on my standby NPC list

 

[kafka]

For me, it is also about the sounds of Alien(s). Hatches that go hiss and sound of air being vacated. Alien landscapes/environs LV-80 from the first film or a prison. Tech level that equally support pulse rifles and shotguns and flamethrowers recognizing all are lethal in a real life tin can traveling at hyper-relativistic speeds. Working Class stiffs pressganged into jobs they may not love.