Cyberpunk setting for Traveller

[mdavidj]

Good day everyone,

I'm going to be publishing a Cyberpunk setting for the Traveller game system.

As some of you know. I already publish Interface Zero; a cyberpunk world for the True20 and Modern20 game systems. IZ will also see publication for the Savage Worlds game system soon.

I'm not sure I want to publish it for Traveller, however. IZ's very cool, but I'm not convinced it fits well conceptually with the Traveller game system.

So that said, what do YOU want to see in a cyberpunk game setting?

Thanks for your time.

 

[kafka]

Have you read Hard Times (http://www.waynesbooks.com/images/graphics/hardtimes.jpg)? It is a good example of Traveller cyberpunk. Essentially, you need to tweak out why this Sector has gone bad and its relative isolation from mainstream society. I think the Solomani had a series of worlds that were dominated by Corporations...hence maybe that could be your source.

 

[dreamingbadger]

I think Traveller could work very well as a cyberpunk rules engine, the question, which kafka allueded to is do you want to use the Third Imperium as your setting?

 

[apoc527]

I'd like to see a cyberpunk setting supplement especially if it focused on game mechanics like hacking, cyberware, etc. Im not as interested in setting details, though i would buy a book based on a setting if it was sufficiently crunchy.

But that's just me. I like crunch.

 

[mdavidj]

Hi guys, thanks for the comments.

I won't be publishing a cyberpunk world that is a part of the Third Imperium.

This setting will be primarily on earth in an age where there are colonies on the moon, mars and mining colonies as far out as Jupiter.

My main goal is to provide crunchy rules for hacking, cyberware, etc, and wrap it all up in a cool setting for you to sink your teeth into.

I like alot of elements form Anime like Ghost in the Shell, and Appleseed, and think that sort of thing would be cool, but I want to find out what other cool elements you guys might want to see as well.

Do you want to see magic, ala shadowrun?

What about Psionics?

Maybe some areas of the world are post-apocalyptic wastelands?

How about androids like you see in I-robot?

I think a setting with all of those elements could be very cool.

 

[Sylvre Phire]

This setting will be primarily on earth in an age where there are colonies on the moon, mars and mining colonies as far out as Jupiter.

My main goal is to provide crunchy rules for hacking, cyberware, etc, and wrap it all up in a cool setting for you to sink your teeth into.

I like alot of elements form Anime like Ghost in the Shell, and Appleseed, and think that sort of thing would be cool, but I want to find out what other cool elements you guys might want to see as well.

Sounds cool thus far.

Do you want to see magic, ala shadowrun?

Personally, no. I think Shadowrun, Cthulhutech, GURPS Cthulhupunk, and maybe even some futuristic CoC adventures have filled that niche well.

What about Psionics?

I'm kind of torn on this. It depends on how far or near the future of the setting is. If it's too close (say 50 years or so), probably not. If it's further out (a century or more), then the further out you get, the more likely psionics would fit IMO. Psionics are kind of a bugaboo for some Traveller players. Some like them and use them either full burn or in small amounts while other players detest them. It's good to really feel this one out, especially in the playtesting stage.

Maybe some areas of the world are post-apocalyptic wastelands?

Yes, definitely. You may want to watch out if you want to include mutations. Maybe have a "dial" or some sort of setting where players and GMs can adjust the power level/wildness of mutations in the setting for their personal tastes.

How about androids like you see in I-robot?

Androids and bioroids (like the clones in Appleseed) would really rock. Perhaps include some way of playing them as PCs as well as maybe have a rights movement (Automaton Rights Movement - ARM?) dedicated to them.

I think a setting with all of those elements could be very cool.

As I noted before, magic, mutations, and psionics are sticky wickets for some players and GMs. Too much and some complain about a lack of realism. Too low and others will complain about them being too weak to bother including. I think a "dial" or power-level system that players and GMs can adjust might help with this.

Pax et bonum,

Dale

 

[SnowDog]

As all things cyberpunk (and post-cyberpunk) interest me, this is very cool news.

Personally I am with Sylvre that magic is not that good idea to include. Even when it gives a whole new dimension to the setting I think there are already too many settings with magic (like CthulhuTech, Shadowrun and Cthulhu Rising).

I am not entirely sure if I would want psionics, either. If they exist then in low power and very restricted like in B5 or you need a specific "gland" or something to kick up the ability (like in the Mind Star Rising trilogy).

Other aspects of your projected ideas sound cool to me and I'm a big fan of Appleseed and GitS, as well. Still, I would be a bit careful about mecha. Personally I am not that keen on giant mecha (like in BattleTech) but landmate scale mecha are for some reason OK.

As cyberpunk would not be cyberpunk without augments I want to address this. Please, no more mere 80's cybernetics but rather a new wave augments. I am talking about more biological augments or biomechanical augments like in transhuman literature and games. Having said this, I am not sure if I would want to see the game go all the way to transhumanism as it is a pretty hard genre to play.

Drugs are an essential part of any cyberpunk game, so please include them.

Devastated parts of Earth sound cool to me. They give a nice place to set post-apoc adventures, if you want those (like the opening part of the Appleseed manga and Borderlines comic to some extent). Still, I would not want to see mutants in there. Maybe some isolated human settlements and/or raiders but not mutants. Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog has a place for mutants, obviously but not necessary a cyberpunk game.

In the end I think that sometimes less is more and more esoteric parts could be dropped (like magic, psionics and mutants). Having said this, I think some occasional monster might be appropriate (like an experiment gone bad and then escaped to the bad lands for example).

 

[TrippyHippy]

I can't see how the gritty realism of the Traveller system isn't suited to the Cyberpunk genre myself. Certainly more so than the 'pulp' orientated Savage Worlds system.

I just see thins as being one of the big myths about Traveller - that it can't handle genres like Cyberpunk perfectly.

 

[kafka]

I won't be publishing a cyberpunk world that is a part of the Third Imperium.

This setting will be primarily on earth in an age where there are colonies on the moon, mars and mining colonies as far out as Jupiter.

Darn...I was really hoping for something more for the OTU...

My main goal is to provide crunchy rules for hacking, cyberware, etc, and wrap it all up in a cool setting for you to sink your teeth into.

Having rules for this kind of thing would be good. I would want to see some of the angst the cyberware users. For this is something that Traveller has glossed over.

I like alot of elements form Anime like Ghost in the Shell, and Appleseed, and think that sort of thing would be cool, but I want to find out what other cool elements you guys might want to see as well.

I don't read anime but the commentary that I have read from those would make one cool Traveller setting.

Do you want to see magic, ala shadowrun?

No, magic and Traveller never go together in my opinion. Despite the billions of credits being spent at Imperial Research Stations to discover what it really is...

What about Psionics?

OTU, psionics works well. But if we are going to do a homegrown system...I could only see that psionics would interfere with what setting you have outlined.

Maybe some areas of the world are post-apocalyptic wastelands?

Completely plausible. Although, I would not say post-apocalyptic. Rather, I would use the term collapsed as in much of the former USSR. People still live and work but the degree of cohesion would make it look it look like a post-apocalyptic. Particularly, if you introduce provulutionist/posthumanist terror to the equation.

How about androids like you see in I-robot?

Again, something Traveller does well. Androids with intelligence but not yet sentience. Just don't make them as strong as the I-Robot ones...that is what broke the film for me. Robots will be only as strong as the materials we build them from. If we raise the strength level it makes them heavier and hence less agile. Whoever is doing the Robot book I hope you are clear on this.

 

[mdavidj]

This is some really good feedback.

Thanks guys!

I'm not so much into the idea of gigantic mecha, but power armor and Landmate styled mecha would fit the bill nicely.

As far as bioroids, I've been exploring those concepts in Interface Zero, actually, with a megacorporation that has been doing research into creating some monstrous cybernetically enhanced bio-forms. It's rumored that they've somehow managed to obtain alien DNA which they splice into these creatures. It's got a bit of a "District 9" feel to it.

I'm certainly keen on writing that sort of thing into this new setting.

I like the idea of Bioware being more prevalent, but I also like cyberware. The best I can do, I think, would be to give both and let you guys choose which ones you want in your game.

Presently, I'm a bit stumped on the TL for a good cyberpunk game. The technology levels in the core book are sort of all over the place as far as technology goes. You can have cultures colonizing other worlds by T9, but can't have AI until TL11, or effective cloning technology until TL13.

I might simply ignore the tech levels, or make the setting TL a modified TL 12/13.

I'm also thinking that there isn't a huge need for new careers. Pretty much all of the Careers in the core rules can be used perfectly.

That said, would you guys like to see new Careers?

 

[mdavidj]

Just a few more thoughts on this:

As I make notes about the basic concepts for this project, I'm starting to think this book -no working title yet- is going to have a very interesting feel to it, something like Blade Runner meets Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell, Outland, Red Planet, Total Recall and the first two Alien movies.

It's a Tall order to capture all of those cool sci-Fi elements, but I think the book is going to be really great if I can do it right.

 

[SnowDog]

Like I said, I don't wan giant mecha either

TLs are showing their age so I would suggest that you discard the TL-system (I think there are no TLs in Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog or even in Hammer's Slammers) or you use differen TLs for different categories. For example TL for weapons is up to 9 (or something) and computers between 8 and 11. Well, you get the point.

New careers would be cool, something that are setting specific (maybe netrunners, meme programmers, etc.).

Otherwise what you are suggesting sounds extremely interesting, especially as I am looking forward to get a new pretty open setting for Traveller system.

 

[mdavidj]

Like I said, I don't wan giant mecha either

TLs are showing their age so I would suggest that you discard the TL-system (I think there are no TLs in Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog or even in Hammer's Slammers) or you use differen TLs for different categories. For example TL for weapons is up to 9 (or something) and computers between 8 and 11. Well, you get the point.

New careers would be cool, something that are setting specific (maybe netrunners, meme programmers, etc.).

Otherwise what you are suggesting sounds extremely interesting, especially as I am looking forward to get a new pretty open setting for Traveller system.

Thnaks for the advice, and I'm glad you're liking what you're seeing so far.

Some of these ideas are in Interface Zero, actually, so I'm re-thinking on whether or not I should port it over.

 

[Sylvre Phire]

Just a few more thoughts on this:

As I make notes about the basic concepts for this project, I'm starting to think this book -no working title yet- is going to have a very interesting feel to it, something like Blade Runner meets Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell, Outland, Red Planet, Total Recall and the first two Alien movies.

It's a Tall order to capture all of those cool sci-Fi elements, but I think the book is going to be really great if I can do it right.

:shock:

Please show me where to sign my soul over to your custody in exchange for the first copy of this setting book. :lol:

Like I said, I don't wan giant mecha either

TLs are showing their age so I would suggest that you discard the TL-system (I think there are no TLs in Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog or even in Hammer's Slammers) or you use differen TLs for different categories. For example TL for weapons is up to 9 (or something) and computers between 8 and 11. Well, you get the point.

New careers would be cool, something that are setting specific (maybe netrunners, meme programmers, etc.).

Otherwise what you are suggesting sounds extremely interesting, especially as I am looking forward to get a new pretty open setting for Traveller system.

Thnaks for the advice, and I'm glad you're liking what you're seeing so far.

Some of these ideas are in Interface Zero, actually, so I'm re-thinking on whether or not I should port it over.

To be honest, I think you should port Interface Zero over and make the new setting; with regard to TLs, keep them. They're a fixture in Traveller, and while they're in need of updating from time to time, they do provide some reference point as to technological development, IMO.

Pax et bonum,

Dale

 

[mdavidj]

Thanks for the advice. I'm glad you're liking the ideas being posted as well.

To be clear, you think I should do Interface Zero, or just make a completely new setting?

I can do either, but I don't want to do both.

I can reinvent IZ, keeping what I like and sort of redesign it for Traveller, so it's not a carbon copy of other versions.

That might be the funnest way to do it.

 

[Travellingdave]

I can reinvent IZ, keeping what I like and sort of redesign it for Traveller, so it's not a carbon copy of other versions.

That might be the funnest way to do it.

I might agree. It's probably not worth re-inventing the wheel unless you have a really exciting central concept you want to pursue and don't see IZ as the right vehicle for it.

I've skimmed through the IZ PDF for Mod20 and it looks like a fairly solid CP setting. Getting to refine and revise it further in your translation to Traveller could prove very entertaining. And now you could take that future further into space if you wanted.

 

[mdavidj]

I might agree. It's probably not worth re-inventing the wheel unless you have a really exciting central concept you want to pursue and don't see IZ as the right vehicle for it.

I've skimmed through the IZ PDF for Mod20 and it looks like a fairly solid CP setting. Getting to refine and revise it further in your translation to Traveller could prove very entertaining. And now you could take that future further into space if you wanted.

Thanks for the advice, and I'm glad you like the Modern20 version!

I'll give it some heavy thought before I decide one way or the other.

Hacking in Interface Zero is much cooler than other cyberpunk settings I've played.

Hyper reality feels like a natural progression of some things we're seeing in real life computer technology. Yet, at the same time, it also takes a bit of suspension of disbelief to accept certain concepts, like Ghosting; a process akin to leaving your physical body and traveling, not inside a computer system, but through the world around you.

Ghosting goes a long way towards making hacking more dynamic and definitely keeps the party together, but Traveller fans may not like it because it's not hard sci-fi... it's more theoretical, fringe sci-fi if anything.

That's what worries me the most about Interface Zero.

 

[SnowDog]

We must keep in mind that Traveller in this context is "just" a game engine. The same game engine used for Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog which are quite far away from hard scifi

So, I wouldn't be too much worried about that one

But yes, I agree that you should keep what works in IZ and alter what you think would work better using other aspects and especially taking to consideration how Traveller engine differs from engines used in previous incarnations of the game.

 

[Gamerguy]

Cyberpunk worlds could easily be played out with the Traveller rules.

Cyberpunk is simply defined as: "high tech, low life" and "fast-paced science fiction in a world dominated by computers."

No magic - period.

No Psionics - period.

I'd save the post-apocalyptic wastelands for Post-Holocaust SF myself.

Androids are a must.

I'd see the three cyberpunk modules published for 2300AD for reference and OGL Cybernet too.

 

[mdavidj]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Gamerguy,

Where did you get that definition from?