Broadening someone's sci-fi horizons

[IanBruntlett]

Hi,

In my Traveller campaign I have a player whose exposure to Science-Fiction has been limited to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm looking for recommendations for DVDs to watch that might broaden those horizons. I'm thinking of Serenity or Firefly but I am open to other suggestions.

Thank you


Ian

 

[MasterGwydion]

Hi,

In my Traveller campaign I have a player whose exposure to Science-Fiction has been limited to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm looking for recommendations for DVDs to watch that might broaden those horizons. I'm thinking of Serenity or Firefly but I am open to other suggestions.

Thank you


Ian

Someone is alive now that has never seen Star Wars or Star Trek? I didn't know that was possible. lol.

Firefly is a good one. Starship Troopers if running an Imperial Military campaign. Killjoys is another good one to watch. (Basically, space bounty hunters.)

 

[MarcusIII]

Hi,

In my Traveller campaign I have a player whose exposure to Science-Fiction has been limited to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm looking for recommendations for DVDs to watch that might broaden those horizons. I'm thinking of Serenity or Firefly but I am open to other suggestions.

Thank you


Ian

No DVDs come to mind but a sci fi book series you should point him to is Niven's Ringworld. If that doesn't get him amp'ed up try a defibrillator

 

[IanBruntlett]

No DVDs come to mind but a sci fi book series you should point him to is Niven's Ringworld. If that doesn't get him amp'ed up try a defibrillator

Thank you. I'll read it myself (it was on my To Be Read Pile) and lend it to her. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" might be another one to try...

 

[Sigtrygg]

How old are they? I would go for nBSG, the Expanse, and Foundation tv series.

 

[AndrewW]

Someone is alive now that has never seen Star Wars or Star Trek? I didn't know that was possible. lol.

Yup, I know some.

 

[IanBruntlett]

How old are they? I would go for nBSG, the Expanse, and Foundation tv series.

She is middle-aged. Does not like TV programmes - does not own a TV. Time is of the essence - she is working full time and studying part time as well.

Maybe some short stories would be a good idea. Got any recommendations?

 

[MarcusIII]

She is middle-aged. Does not like TV programmes - does not own a TV. Time is of the essence - she is working full time and studying part time as well.

Maybe some short stories would be a good idea. Got any recommendations?

Here's some Traveller short stories to read https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/traveller-fiction

 

[long-jon]

Book wise anything by:- Philip K. Dick,
E. E. 'Doc' Smith,
Isaac Asimov,
Larry Niven,
The Altered Carbon books, 'Altered Carbon', 'Broken Angels', 'Woken Furies'.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Maybe some short stories would be a good idea. Got any recommendations?

Short Stories:
Martian Chronicles (it's a 'fix-up' novel, and can be read as several short stories, or one continuous theme.)

 

[Condottiere]

In the short run, something similar to the campaign you're planning to run.

If you're running a Western frontier space opera, obviously Firefly.

Something more serious, Andor.

 

[IanBruntlett]

Here's some Traveller short stories to read https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/traveller-fiction

Interesting. I have 4 issues of Far Trader (on TBR pile) and 2 issues of Rift Breaker (also TBR). I've briefly looked at the other Traveller fiction books but I haven't seen and reviews.

 

[IanBruntlett]

In the short run, something similar to the campaign you're planning to run.

If you're running a Western frontier space opera, obviously Firefly.

Something more serious, Andor.

We've played the the modules "High And Dry", "Mission to Mithril", and "Search and Rescue" from The Marches Adventures 1-5 and will likely play the other 2 modules. Due to time shortages, it takes me about a month and a half in real time to get to grips with a module and make notes and flesh out certain parts of it.

 

[Condottiere]

Analyze your refereeing style, and the tone you are presenting the adventure(s), and setting.

Murderbot season one has a humourous aspect, and sort of represents collaborative gameplay.

 

[IanBruntlett]

Analyze your refereeing style, and the tone you are presenting the adventure(s), and setting.

Murderbot season one has a humourous aspect, and sort of represents collaborative gameplay.

Well, I prepare for the gaming session by repeatedly reading the module, making notes to "run" the game from - but not as a flow chart. It is quite focussed in that the module presents the players with a goal. There are 4 players - Sally (no TTRPG experience), Alan (a wargamer at squad level), Richard (previously took part in Mongoose 1st edition adventures),and Martyn (no TTRPG experience). Because of the lack of experience, I sometimes have to remind them of things their characters would know - that is a bit of a balancing act.

I typically run the adventure, using my notes as a core, with references to the actual module, and ad libbing where needed.

As for my experience, I started off with Basic D&D, briefly looked at 1st Edition AD&D, played and ran a lot of 2nd Edition AD&D (Greyhawk and Ravenloft) and then moved over to running Traveller with Mongoose's 1st Edition and moved over to their 2nd Edition.

 

[AndrewW]

Book wise anything by:- Philip K. Dick,
E. E. 'Doc' Smith,
Isaac Asimov,
Larry Niven,
The Altered Carbon books, 'Altered Carbon', 'Broken Angels', 'Woken Furies'.

Asimov's Foundation started out as short stories.

 

[Condottiere]

Well, I prepare for the gaming session by repeatedly reading the module, making notes to "run" the game from - but not as a flow chart. It is quite focussed in that the module presents the players with a goal. There are 4 players - Sally (no TTRPG experience), Alan (a wargamer at squad level), Richard (previously took part in Mongoose 1st edition adventures),and Martyn (no TTRPG experience). Because of the lack of experience, I sometimes have to remind them of things their characters would know - that is a bit of a balancing act.

I typically run the adventure, using my notes as a core, with references to the actual module, and ad libbing where needed.

As for my experience, I started off with Basic D&D, briefly looked at 1st Edition AD&D, played and ran a lot of 2nd Edition AD&D (Greyhawk and Ravenloft) and then moved over to running Traveller with Mongoose's 1st Edition and moved over to their 2nd Edition.

The vast majority of players are very forgiving.

And actually refereeing tends to fill in holes, regardless of game.

 

[OriginalCaruso]

I like throwing in vignettes which can be completed with a single session or two.

As an example: Travellers receive a distress signal from a fuel skimmer having to intercept the skimmer before it gets sucked deep down into the atmosphere before the hull blows. Comms are intermittent and the Travellers have to figure out whether they have a spare part, can machine a replacement or need to exfiltrate the crew. Pilot and mechanical skills are critical here along with good judgement and skill rolls.

I have glossed over the time it takes to transit to the gas giant and communication times too, the scenario can be varied for asteroid mining or inhospitable high gravity planet - you get the idea.

My aim is to use the scenario to learn the rules over time and not overwhelm my Travellers with the expectation that they must know everything up front.

Jerry Pournelle wrote some pretty good stuff back in the day too

 

[MasterGwydion]

I like throwing in vignettes which can be completed with a single session or two.

As an example: Travellers receive a distress signal from a fuel skimmer having to intercept the skimmer before it gets sucked deep down into the atmosphere before the hull blows. Comms are intermittent and the Travellers have to figure out whether they have a spare part, can machine a replacement or need to exfiltrate the crew. Pilot and mechanical skills are critical here along with good judgement and skill rolls.

I have glossed over the time it takes to transit to the gas giant and communication times too, the scenario can be varied for asteroid mining or inhospitable high gravity planet - you get the idea.

My aim is to use the scenario to learn the rules over time and not overwhelm my Travellers with the expectation that they must know everything up front.

Jerry Pournelle wrote some pretty good stuff back in the day too

Side quests. They are fun.

 

[Saladman]

DVDs

If by some small chance she hasn't seen it already, Alien fits Traveller very well. Thumbs up on Firefly as well. Serenity is better saved to the end if she'll watch the whole tv season, but if that's too much homework skipping straight there isn't the end of the world.

Maybe some short stories would be a good idea. Got any recommendations?

The Black Destroyer, AE van Vogt. The Menace From Earth, Heinlein. Burning Chrome, by William Gibson, isn't very Traveller in setting but I always thought cyberpunk shorts felt like Traveller adventures and PCs. I, Robot, Asimov.

Novels because I can't stop myself, but use your own discretion. Any one book by H Beam Piper; the usual recommendation from Traveller fans is Space Viking, but for a lighter read that hits many of the same themes consider Little Fuzzy.

Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan universe post-dates Traveller but is otherwise great for feel and ideas. Stand-alones she might like include Cryoburn and Ethan of Athos. Borders of Infinity collects three novellas, so halfway to short stories, but also focuses more on the military sf side of her universe.

Jerry Pournelle wrote some pretty good stuff back in the day too

I loved The Mote in God's Eye, but as I recall it's not a light or fast read, so it's the kind of thing I'd mention to her only if she's loving earlier recommendations and making time for more.