How does Traveller Library Data compare to what's on the Internet (in real life)?

[Limpin Legin]

Completely aware that Traveller was originally created before the arrival of the global Internet. Just wondered what Mongoose Traveller or modern referees/players have to say about including informational sources within their campaigns/adventures, in the light of the Internet and it's capabilities?

Some things I've noticed:

• Traveller Library Data seems exclusively monolithic whereas the Internet is open, distributed and multi-sourced.
• Library Data depends on having access permissions, whereas the Internet provides sources that are either subscription-based or freely accessible.
• I have seen mention of data/information/news arriving late or being out of date, because of problems of distance between star systems. But the detail is sketchy at best.

Some of the published adventure stories depend on these characteristics, in spite of everyone's growing familiarity of the Internet's capabilities. Should we adjust our perceptions and introduce something similar to the Internet for gameplay, or might there be bona fide reasons for an implementation that deviates from current understanding or expectations?

 

[Reisender]

Each referees picks what makes sense to him/her and what he/she likes. Sometimes the first encounter determines what is used by the referee, even if information later may contradict this first data.
Why should the Traveller universe be the same for everyone when each referee creates his/her universe anyway? In the late 70s/beginning 80s it was common that roleplaying system had the rules but almost no background, leaving that part to the customer.

 

[Anstett]

Completely aware that Traveller was originally created before the arrival of the global Internet. Just wondered what Mongoose Traveller or modern referees/players have to say about including informational sources within their campaigns/adventures, in the light of the Internet and it's capabilities?.....
.... might there be bona fide reasons for an implementation that deviates from current understanding or expectations?

Yes to a planet based information system similar to what we think of as The Internet.
Stretched out to cover the full System works well with a small bit of lag.

But the key point where Traveller is different is the 1 week of Jump = the fastest information can travel.

So new players have to adjust to the idea that if you are asking about details for a system 2 jumps away:
Basic information that rarely changes is likely available in the local data sources
Detailed information will be at least 2-3 weeks out of date in the Imperium and longer in other parts of Charted Space
Specific information that the players ask about a topic (What is the price of gold at system X) will be likely be at least 4-8 weeks out of date. Now extend that out across thousands of parsecs, hundreds of jumps.

I have used the phrase 'sneaker net by way of steamship' to help explain the communication delays.

 

[Condottiere]

It probably varies.

Each planet or system should be considered having a closed internet, having a Great Firewall.

Whether data imported from other systems is permitted to be freely available, or gets gatekeeped for any number of valid reasons, that would depend on the Dungeon Master.