Canon Timeline?

[FentonGib]

Hey everyone

Last time I Refereed Traveller (about 2 years ago) we did the Reign of Discordia setting. This time I'm prepping a campaign in the Third Imperium setting (using the last set of books as sources, with the new Traveller core books as system) and am prepping my campaign. I believe the current game timeline is 1105, and I've been trying to find out about official Third Imperium events (recent past and present) that will affect my players (they're all ex-imperial navy or IISS agents, and I want to get them involved with big events as a result of ACERs in these events).

I've been using http://wiki.travellerrpg.com as a resource - I know it states it's not canon, but I assume the events of 1116+ (the beginning of the end of the Third Imperium with the assassination of the Emperor) are taken from other Traveller products/timelines which would be canon in those sources.

My question is this... from the perspective of the Third Imperium setting and Mongoose's version - are these timeline events considered canon? I know as a Referee there's the GM's fiat to do whatever I want, but I'd like to know if they're considered canonical "will happen unless GM alters the setting" events, or some other company's "we said this happened" but not necesarilly canon from the Third Imperium setting point of view.

As I imagine many of you have used the OTU for a while and perhaps surpassed that 1115 end of era, can I ask what you'd done/state of things in your setting?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NOLATrav]

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/126509/Classic-Traveller-Orientation-Pack

This is a $1 PDF that includes the late Don McKinney's 'Traveller Integrated Timeline' which I think is the penultimate collection of canon history for the Third Imperium. It covers the year -9236 all the way up to 1115.

Personally I was never a fan of MegaTrav but the 1248 material by MJD is quite good. FFE sells the entire New Era collection on CD for $35.

I'm not really a canon-oriented player, I generally run home-made sandbox settings. Hopefully others will chime in with how they've handled the post-Golden Age.

You may want to ask over at Citizens of the Imperium but there's a lot of old guard over there that can be pretty myopic in their view of the setting and the game.

 

[FentonGib]

Thanks for that. Will purchase it in a few minutes.

It's what happens at the 1115 mark that I'm most curious about though - I gather MegaTraveller carries on/starts at 1115? Are the events there considered canonical in the OTU (ie should be respected if you're playing Mongoose Traveller and it goes on past 1115)?

I know it's aways away, and likelihood is that my players won't get that far... but I like to think ahead and seed things for the players. I gather there's a "alternative" version or something where the Emperor survives? Or his double is killed or something? Are any of the three versions canon for Mongoose Traveller, or all just "possible futures" ? I just like to know how badly I'm breaking away from the OTU canon if I do things (I like to "bend" canon but not exactly break it).

Hadn't heard of Citizens of the Imperium - will check it out, thanks.

Thanks again.

 

[NOLATrav]

No worries!

Yeah so MegaTrav essentially begins with the assassination of Emperor Strephon - 1115 I think. From there you have a few decades (IIRC) of the Shattered Imperium (various sector dukes clamoring for control as well as other foreign entities taking advantage of the situation). This leads to Hard Times (everything's pretty much apocalyptic) and then later comes the Virus (malicious AI destroys everything electronic, so basically everything). By the late New Era (1248) things have settled down and Charted Space is a mish-mash of pocket empires, the much smaller Fourth Imperium, upstart despots and well-meaning leaders of star cluster nations, black Virus-ridden wastelands and so on.

Mongoose 1E was/is centered squarely on the Golden Age (1105, before the assassination). GURPS Trav has an alternate timeline where the Emperor is not killed (it was his double) and things continue on in the Golden Age timeline with little disruption to the status quo. Mongoose 2E seems to be 1105-ish but they are planning a new book specifically about the Third Imperium setting so it remains to be seen which direction they're headed with that.

As you say, the death of Strephon (if it occurs ) is a ways away in the basic setting timeline. If you want to stay close to canon, the death should probably occur and the Third Imperium should begin to disintegrate, since the GURPS timeline is considered 'alternate.' But since the assassination occurs at Capitol and creates immediate chaos there, depending on where your PCs are it could many months or even a year(s) before the news reaches their area, which gives you some freedom.

 

[mancerbear]

My current campaign starts in 1105, Mongoose timeline. I'll be taking the players through the Fifth Frontier War and the establisment of Archduke Norris (we're playing in the Spinward Marches). From 1115, I will diverge to the GURPS timeline, primarily because I don't want a Shattered Imperium and would like to see it continue on. I agree, it is some distance in the future, but the nature of jump travel and such means that hte campaign can move on quickly and cover a large amount of time in just a few sentances.

 

[fusor]

It's what happens at the 1115 mark that I'm most curious about though - I gather MegaTraveller carries on/starts at 1115? Are the events there considered canonical in the OTU (ie should be respected if you're playing Mongoose Traveller and it goes on past 1115)?

They're canonical only if you're writing official products for Traveller. If you're just playing Traveller, you can do whatever you want.

In Megatraveller, Strephon gets assassinated, but it turns out that it may or may not have been a body double/clone/android. Or maybe the one that claims it's "the real Strephon" is. Civil War erupts in MT, which leads to Hard Times, which leads to Virus, which leads to The New Era, which leads to 1248. (incidentally, 1248 also fills in all the setting gaps between Hard Times and 1248 that weren't covered in TNE, so it's well worth getting just for that, but the rest is really good too).

In GURPS Traveller the assassination "was all a dream" and never happens, and it's basically "the Golden Age" continued. But it's all done in GURPS Traveller style (which is really good). I don't think anything hugely significant happens in the timeline that was covered by GT, I think it stops around 1120?

I have no idea what's planned for MGT, if anything. But as I pointed out, you can do what you like in your games.

 

[FentonGib]

Thanks everone! Things are clearer now, and I think I know which direction I'd head in...

I will diverge to the GURPS timeline, primarily because I don't want a Shattered Imperium and would like to see it continue on. I agree, it is some distance in the future, but the nature of jump travel and such means that hte campaign can move on quickly and cover a large amount of time in just a few sentances.

This is exactly how I feel. 10 years is a long time, but it's basically 520 weeks - and with each journey being over a week (including 100D travel time) + adventuring time, they can add up quickly if the campaign goes on long-term. Like to be prepared.

Like you, I'm a bit iffy about starting a game in a golden era, just 10 years before it collapses. On the other hand, living in tumultuous times is also interesting.

there you have a few decades (IIRC) of the Shattered Imperium (various sector dukes clamoring for control as well as other foreign entities taking advantage of the situation). This leads to Hard Times (everything's pretty much apocalyptic) and then later comes the Virus (malicious AI destroys everything electronic, so basically everything). By the late New Era (1248) things have settled down and Charted Space is a mish-mash of pocket empires, the much smaller Fourth Imperium, upstart despots and well-meaning leaders of star cluster nations, black Virus-ridden wastelands and so on.

Thanks for that - read up on those events that follow - and even though my players will likely die of old age before it gets to that point, I really don't like the whole virus thing and the effect it has on the universe (even once things settle to 4th Imperium - I'm gathering virus is never actually fully eradicated?). It feels like an all-encompassing theme that will heavily direct the game, and I prefer things more open. It'd make interesting fiction to read, but feel a bit restraining for an RPG setting imo. I think this is the main reason I might follow the GT timeline insted when/if it comes to it, or perhaps go into Shattered Imperium but have the war resolve differently (one side wins, or maybe Norris forms the new Imperium once the other two beat each other senseless (ie ignore Virus and what happens afterwards).

Thanks again everyone

 

[fusor]

Thanks for that - read up on those events that follow - and even though my players will likely die of old age before it gets to that point, I really don't like the whole virus thing and the effect it has on the universe (even once things settle to 4th Imperium - I'm gathering virus is never actually fully eradicated?). It feels like an all-encompassing theme that will heavily direct the game, and I prefer things more open. It'd make interesting fiction to read, but feel a bit restraining for an RPG setting imo. I think this is the main reason I might follow the GT timeline insted when/if it comes to it, or perhaps go into Shattered Imperium but have the war resolve differently (one side wins, or maybe Norris forms the new Imperium once the other two beat each other senseless (ie ignore Virus and what happens afterwards).

Virus isn't so much "eradicated" as "evolved". The destructive Virus strains burn out fairly early as they do their thing and destroy themselves in the process. The ones that survive are the strains that become smarter about destroying things (forming ungodly alliances with the K'Kree, for example), or that become less homicidal. There are still Vampire Fleets that want to destroy humans, but there are also Sandman strains that have become true AI and are even benevolent towards humanity.

 

[FentonGib]

Ok that sounds less bleak, lol. Thanks for that.

Still not keen on it as a setting - but as that's very very far away in game time, it likely won't matter. If we get as far as 1115 then I'll decide then if to go onto GT timeline or start the rebellion but perhaps ignore the way it ends.

Anyone know if Mongoose is planning on bringing out any canon timeline/setting info? Atm it seems like everything is scattered amongst various books (and Third Imperium setting stuff especially - I'd rather not have to buy sector/adventure books I don't need (or rely on an unofficial Wiki) just to have to piece together everything relevant to the setting.

 

[fusor]

Ok that sounds less bleak, lol. Thanks for that.

Still not keen on it as a setting - but as that's very very far away in game time, it likely won't matter. If we get as far as 1115 then I'll decide then if to go onto GT timeline or start the rebellion but perhaps ignore the way it ends.

Anyone know if Mongoose is planning on bringing out any canon timeline/setting info? Atm it seems like everything is scattered amongst various books (and Third Imperium setting stuff especially - I'd rather not have to buy sector/adventure books I don't need (or rely on an unofficial Wiki) just to have to piece together everything relevant to the setting.

If you do follow the MT timeline, an alternative idea was proposed by some who really didn't like Virus which proposed that Hard Times just led to a "normal" total collapse of interstellar society (i.e. another Long Night).

Either way the collapse of the 3I is inevitable as a consequence of MT. It's just that one collapse is quick and devastating (Virus), while the other is slow and messy (Long Night). Either way, the 3I was very much on its knees and about to topple over anyway when it happened.

 

[FentonGib]

If you do follow the MT timeline, an alternative idea was proposed by some who really didn't like Virus which proposed that Hard Times just led to a "normal" total collapse of interstellar society (i.e. another Long Night).

Either way the collapse of the 3I is inevitable as a consequence of MT. It's just that one collapse is quick and devastating (Virus), while the other is slow and messy (Long Night). Either way, the 3I was very much on its knees and about to topple over anyway when it happened.

Thanx for that. I don't mind the collapse so much, and as said on here the setting is so big it can take months or years for the players to find out or things destabilize to that point (they're in the Solomani Rim, and dunno if they'll likely leave) - the last we played we used the Reign of Discordia setting, in which the game start time is just as the Stellar Imperium collapses after losing a war against invading aliens. It was interesting the fact that the players were trying to survive in an economically-declining galaxy with the alien threat still out there, rival former-imperial factions starting to go at each other's throats, etc... very much like what will happen here. My only gripe is that whilst RoD's setting was the collapse, the 3I setting is placed just before the collapse, which kinda forces the hand a bit if you're sticking to canon events and times and the game goes on long enough. I know, there's always the possibility of setting it at a different time, but want to try to stick with the OTU and timeline if I can, especially with new MT products coming out.

I'd likely either do as you just mentioned and have the Hard Times lead to another long night, or have a faction win at the end (likely with the players somehow getting involved and helping tip things). Am currently in process of compiling a timeline of key events (that may be relevant to the players) from 1063 (the birth year of the oldest player character) to 1116 (Strephon's murder) so that if need be I can quickly look up things that they would know about/live through (e.g. like I recall the Falklands War when I was a child) and events to come that I can try to get them involved in somehow (or at least have effect - e.g. maybe because of a border war, imperial ships get moved around, making some places now easier to try to sneak into?).

 

[theodis]

If you do follow the MT timeline, an alternative idea was proposed by some who really didn't like Virus which proposed that Hard Times just led to a "normal" total collapse of interstellar society (i.e. another Long Night).

Not only by some, but by Charles E. Gannon, writer of Hard Times himself. He wrote a series of proposals named "road not Travellered" back in 1991/92 and sent them to Marc Miller. These were to be the foundations to deal with the period to follow. They were called "Midnight", "MegaTrav" and "MTProd".

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Don't forget the Fifth Frontier War! That occurs a long time before the Assassination and is just around the corner in 1105.

No matter how you do it, war is coming - even Matt said a long time ago - War appears Inevitable, although MGT hasn't advanced the timeline and seems to have moved Rimward of the Marches.

If the PCs are anywhere in the Marches, they are going to be affected by the up-coming FFW. That might be more fun to set up than worrying about Imperial Assassination that won't show up for over a decade. LOTS of material out there on the build up to the war and its aftermath. No matter what kind of game you are playing, they will feel the effects of that war. Even if they are just Free Traders trying to stay out of the way, trade will be disrupted, refugees will be moving every-which-way, Naval patrols will be encountered on all sides.

 

[FentonGib]

If the PCs are anywhere in the Marches, they are going to be affected by the up-coming FFW. That might be more fun to set up than worrying about Imperial Assassination that won't show up for over a decade. LOTS of material out there on the build up to the war and its aftermath. No matter what kind of game you are playing, they will feel the effects of that war. Even if they are just Free Traders trying to stay out of the way, trade will be disrupted, refugees will be moving every-which-way, Naval patrols will be encountered on all sides.

My players are starting in the Solomani Rim, where I plan to keep the game. It's a small group comprised of an ex-ISS intelligence agent, a naval engineer and an Imperial marine, and their backgrounds have had them involved with espionage and border events along the rim until a bad event caused them to leave Imperial service, and have now started Travelling together.

I intend to have them involved in shadowy events via connections (Imperial Intelligence officially disavowed him because of what happened for political expediency, but now they'll consider them useful - deniable - assets, and to the players it'll just be "a job"). If they choose to travel to other areas (like the Marches) then I'll allow them - but the Rim being so big already, and this being our first 3I game, I don't see that happening. But as you say, just because they may not directly get involved in far away events (like the FFW) it will have ripple effects that will effect them such as the refugee and troop migrations and trade disruptions you mention - I'm just trying to get the "big picture" of coming events to know what to factor, what may be of interest, etc...

 

[NOLATrav]

that sounds like a great setup!

 

[FentonGib]

that sounds like a great setup!

Thanks

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Likely the first big event after the actual announcement of the war starting will be increased Imperial vigilance because they know those sneaky Sollies will try to take advantage of the situation. What the brave-hearted independent humans of the Solomani Confederation ACTUALLY do it more open. I don't remember any Canon material about what happened on the Rim during the FFW, so you likely can have it play out anyway you like.

Should the Imperium start moving assets out of the Rim area to support the war in the Marches, then the Solomani may indeed increase their activity across the border.

Missions involving stopping Solomani spies (or just suspected spies) or even covert missions into the Confederacy are likely to increase as the cold war between the Imperium and the Confederation heats up. But, I don't suspect that a LOT will change on the Rim border. The actions in the Marches are so far away that it will be unlikely to have a direct effect on what is happening in the Rim.

 

[mancerbear]

My research into the FFW is reaping good results. I was at first going to have them involved in the Zhodani Theatre, but have decided that the will instead be involved in the Sword Worlds Theatre. I plan on having them present when the Sword World fleet attacks Lanth. The X-Boat Base will be destroyed first, then the fleet will move insystem to attack Lanth itself.

Outlying fleet elements will be on standby to prevent any ships from leaving the system, which is were a PCs brother will become involved. The PCs will be given a naval dispatch to get to the nearest Navy Base. The PCs brother, an escort commander, uses his ship to protect the PCs ship (a detached duty scout). Fire will occur, and just before the PCs jump they will see the brother's ship explode. Give them a personal stake in the war

 

[Nathan Brazil]

To the OP: :roll: :lol: You missed all the flamewars of the '90s concerning the versions of Traveller.

As another person posted, canon is only for writers. Very true. However the much older players of Traveller have....preferences we do not all agree on. Sometimes these preferences express themselves in subtle ways.

As an example the person who wrote the consolidated timeline did not wish to address events post 1115 because of the primary disagreement over the Rebellion having happened/not happened. To acknowledge that some events or eras occurred means you have taken a side....I for example freely admit it all happened all the way to the year 1900. So take even my opinion with a grain of salt. Maybe I have an agenda and my opinion sucks.

The "Golden Age" is what MgT and original Classic Traveller (CT) write about. Roughly years 1105 to 1115. Most people agree this happens. The first split is Strephon's Assassination and Rebellion. This cause sufficient disruption of an is/isnot situation that you have to split the timeline into two universes to accomodate the products. By the IP and publisher's directions no Rebellion is the Alternate Traveller Universe (ATU). Rebellion occurring is the Original Traveller Universe (OTU). From there the timeline(s) are definable:

So the ATU is like this
GURPS 4th Edition: Interstellar Wars (Years around -2200)
Marc Miller's Traveller (Years around 0 to 200)
Agent of the Imperium novel (Years around 400 to 800)
Traveller 20 (D20 version) (Years around 1000 or so)
Classic Traveller and Mongoose Traveller (Years around 1105 to 1115
GURP 3rd Edition Traveller (Years around 1115 to 1130 - The Rebellion NEVER happened)

 

[Nathan Brazil]

The OTU has much more disagreements/dislikes

From here you get into more discrete likes/dislikes
A supplement for MegaTraveller was published called Hard Times. It starts in 1128 and the book was written extending the timeline to the 1140's as the new Long Night.
MegaTraveller - Hard Times (1128 - 1140+)
However very soon after, the publisher of CT and MegaTraveller, the very same publisher of Hard Times published a new version of the game Traveller: The New Era and introduced the Second Split. Virus starts in 1130, effectively destroying Charted Space. This was so disliked by many that all future events are not acknowledged by that segment. So say perhaps
MegaTraveller - Hard Times (1128 - 1130)
Traveller: The New Era (1195-1209)

Then came Traveller: 1248 which timeline fills in the gaps from 1130 to 1195 and 1209 to 1248
Traveller: 1248 (1130-1195)
Traveller: 1248 (1209-1248)

Finally, Travveller 5th Edition came out and suggests the current year is 1902, but other than the year, no details have been as yet provided