Imperial Charter?

[MasterGwydion]

Well, there is a reason why I keep insisting on a 'style guide' for Traveller...

Look, way back in the LBBs 'the Imperium' was whatever you made it. It was as corrupt or fascist or venal or lazy as the story called for. But then, back then almost every adventure was the PCs committing an illegal raid against some facility... INCLUDING AN IMPERIAL PRISON HULK

As Traveller has grown older more details were filled out. The assassination of Strephon told us more about How The Imperium Really Worked than any other source. And from there the follow-on authors took the ball and ran with it. With so many spoons in the soup, it's no wonder that things have continuity issues. And these things happen even with IPs that have a continuity czar from step one... just look at how much sturm und drang Star Wars has gone through even before Lucas told that toxic fan base to piss off and sold them out to Disney.

I think my take on the Imperial Charter is a good one for my game. It might work for your game too.

But My TU reflects a 'Grey Imperium' that is not the 'good guys' [they CERTAINLY don't suffer from the US' desperate need to wear the white hat] and not the 'bad guys'. My version of the Imperium acts for the good of the Imperium and is utterly unapologetic about it. It tries to act for the benefit of all 11,000 worlds but it realizes that acting for the good of the high pop /high tech 'islands of civilization' is the best way to provide the most benefits to the most citizens. Sometimes that means that worlds like Aramis/Aramis get eff'd over for the 'greater good'. My Imperium is one of Bismark-like 'realpolitik', where the power structure rules with as light a hand as it can but with as iron a fist as it has to. And my version of Emperor Strephon loses precisely zero sleep over that unfortunate fact of life.

You have more detail now about that the Third Imperium is and is not than ever before, Gwyd. You have as much information about the Traveller Third Imperium setting as the authors of the FASA Star Trek had about their setting in 1982. Let that one sink in.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to you when I say that you can just as easily pick a sector with the bare minimum of details... Fulani Sector for example [a full three sectors Spinward from the nearest Imperial possession] and put together a setting and government that makes more sense to you. Traveller is not the Third Imperium. The Third Imperium is a part, but just a part, of Traveller.

Did you miss the other posts I have made on this forum about how Traveller is a ruleset and not a setting? Charted Space is an official Mongoose setting. Yes, I understand that at my table, I can do whatever I want, same as you at your table, but somehow you have managed to totally miss the point.

The point is, why have an "officially published setting" at all if they are not going to flesh it out? Why not just make everyone create their own universes? More detailed settings = more setting books = more money for Mongoose. Players who want things more general can either ignore the settingbooks or make up their own setting. No problem, but people who want things more filled out are left in the cold with no option but to build it for themselves. So, your method only helps people who want to game like you. My method takes care of both since written material can be Rule 0ed as always, but you can't ignore setting information that doesn't exist. I want it to exist. You don't. If Mongoose wrote it, you could simply not buy it since that is not YTU. I could buy it and use it and then we both get what we need. Both styles of play can be supported by having a detailed setting, but only your method is supposed by not having one.

 

[ottarrus]

Did you miss the other posts I have made on this forum about how Traveller is a ruleset and not a setting? Charted Space is an official Mongoose setting. Yes, I understand that at my table, I can do whatever I want, same as you at your table, but somehow you have managed to totally miss the point.

The point is, why have an "officially published setting" at all if they are not going to flesh it out? Why not just make everyone create their own universes? More detailed settings = more setting books = more money for Mongoose. Players who want things more general can either ignore the settingbooks or make up their own setting. No problem, but people who want things more filled out are left in the cold with no option but to build it for themselves. So, your method only helps people who want to game like you. My method takes care of both since written material can be Rule 0ed as always, but you can't ignore setting information that doesn't exist. I want it to exist. You don't. If Mongoose wrote it, you could simply not buy it since that is not YTU. I could buy it and use it and then we both get what we need. Both styles of play can be supported by having a detailed setting, but only your method is supposed by not having one.

Let me be clearer... sometimes I get too hooked on an idea and I don't fully describe the whole concept.

The Third Imperium has been growing as a setting literally since Adv 1: Kinunir. We currently have the most information about the Third Imperium that we've ever had... especially if you look at the GURPS: Traveller material. I recommend that, btw. There's a lot of good writing in that series. There's dumb stuff too, but overall a fair bit of IMTU's Third Imperium stems from ideas presented in GT.

Something else to consider: Mongoose hasn't had control of the OTU IP for a full year yet. They're only just beginning to put their spin on the property. I'm pretty convinced that the post 5FW Imperium of Mongoose is gonna look a whole lot different than GDW's. But we have to wait and see.

In any event, Mongoose IS fleshing out the OTU and the Third Imperium. The Third Imperium sourcebook is rich in detail... yes, with some old material, but with a Hell of a lot of new material as well. And I appreciate the work that Mongoose is doing to rectify the continuity between all the Traveller editions, especially the T4 'Foundation of the Empire' series and the 'present' of 1108.

What you want, Gwyd, is in the process of happening. And you can even be part of it happening. If you have clear ideas about the Imperial Charter or anything else, write an article about it for the next round JTAS volumes. I for one would be very interested in seeing what you have to say all spelled out and without a whole bunch 'yeah, but' on the forums [yes, I know... Guilty as charged, yer honner ]

 

[MasterGwydion]

Let me be clearer... sometimes I get too hooked on an idea and I don't fully describe the whole concept.

The Third Imperium has been growing as a setting literally since Adv 1: Kinunir. We currently have the most information about the Third Imperium that we've ever had... especially if you look at the GURPS: Traveller material. I recommend that, btw. There's a lot of good writing in that series. There's dumb stuff too, but overall a fair bit of IMTU's Third Imperium stems from ideas presented in GT.

Something else to consider: Mongoose hasn't had control of the OTU IP for a full year yet. They're only just beginning to put their spin on the property. I'm pretty convinced that the post 5FW Imperium of Mongoose is gonna look a whole lot different than GDW's. But we have to wait and see.

These are all valid points and I agree with them. Let's see what happens. I am discouraged though by @MongooseMatt statements on other threads that they have no interest in further defining or refining the systems in Traveller, such as UWPs, or even telling us what an Imperial Charter is.

In any event, Mongoose IS fleshing out the OTU and the Third Imperium. The Third Imperium sourcebook is rich in detail... yes, with some old material, but with a Hell of a lot of new material as well. And I appreciate the work that Mongoose is doing to rectify the continuity between all the Traveller editions, especially the T4 'Foundation of the Empire' series and the 'present' of 1108.

With this FFW stuff that Mongoose published and the current discussion on other threads about the disaster Mongoose made of declaring the Third Imperium Army to be TL-12, but they fight like they were TL-15.

What you want, Gwyd, is in the process of happening. And you can even be part of it happening. If you have clear ideas about the Imperial Charter or anything else, write an article about it for the next round JTAS volumes. I for one would be very interested in seeing what you have to say all spelled out and without a whole bunch 'yeah, but' on the forums [yes, I know... Guilty as charged, yer honner ]

I wish I knew what an Imperial Charter was. I am not a good writer, but I could write something if I at least understood Mongoose's intent with it, but I don't. It seems to be used very specifically and very generally with no guidance about what is what or which is which. That is kind of why game design is a collaborative effort. I can't just make something up until I know if it fits in with the overall vision of Charted Space and doesn't violate other things that have already been written. Sadly, I am not well-enough studied in Traveller lore, to know everything, to be able to write stuff with no collaboration, but I do like to read and learn more.

 

[Condottiere]

Subject: Charter granted by Richard I to Northampton
Original source: Copy in borough archives
Transcription in: Christopher Markham, ed. The Records of the Borough of Northampton, (Northampton, 1898), vol.1, 25-26.
Original language: Latin
Location: Northampton
Date: 1189


TRANSLATION
Richard, by the grace of God King of England, Duke of Normandy [and] Aquitaine, Count of Anjou, to his archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, and all officers and loyal subjects, French and English, greetings. Know that we have granted to our burgesses of Northampton that none of them – except our officers and money-minters – need answer any plea [introduced in any court] outside the walls of the borough of Northampton, except pleas concerning lands held outside [the town]. We have granted to them freedom from murdrum within the borough and in the portsoken, that none of them need undertake [trial by] battle, that in pleas within the jurisdiction of the Crown they may defend themselves according to the custom of the city of London, and that within the walls of the town no-one may take lodging by force or through command of the Marshal. We have also granted this: that all burgesses of Northampton are exempt from toll and lastage throughout England and the seaports. And that none of them receive judgement of [paying] an amercement except as determined by the law which our citizens of London have. Miskenning is not to be [applicable] in any plea [tried] in the borough. And that a husting may be held once a week; and that they have a legal right to their lands and tenures and to their pledges and debts, regardless of who is answerable to them [for the same]. With regard to those lands and tenures that are within the borough, justice shall be done to them according to the [legal] customs of the borough; and for all debts incurred or pledges made at Northampton, the pleas shall be held in Northampton. If anyone anywhere in England takes toll or custom from Northampton men and afterwards fails to rectify this, the reeve of Northampton may take retribution for the same at Northampton. Furthermore, to improve things in the borough, we have granted that they are exempt from brudtol, childwite, heresgive and scot-ale; the reeve of Northampton, nor any other bailiff, may not make any scotale. These aforementioned customs we have granted them along with all other liberties and free customs which our citizens of London had or have, when they had them best or most freely according to the liberties of London and laws of the borough of Northampton. It is our will and firm command that they and their heirs have and hold all these aforesaid things hereditarily of us and our heirs, in return for £120 by tale from the town of Northampton and all its appurtenances [i.e. the portsoken], paid at our Exchequer at Michaelmas term by the hands of the reeve of Northampton. The burgesses of Northampton may appoint as reeve for the year whomever they want from among themselves, so long as he is suitable to us and them. Witnesses: Hugh bishop of Durham, John bishop of Norwich, Hubert bishop of Salisbury, Earl Alber', William earl of Arundel, Richard earl of Clare, Hamelin earl of Warenne, Walter fitz Rodbert. Given at [Bury] St. Edmunds on 18 November 1189, by the hands of our Chancellor, William bishop Elect of Ely.

 

[Sigtrygg]

And has nothing what so ever to do with what Cleon enforced in order to grow his Imperium.

At least it is better than the T4 fanon/canon authors thinking the US constitution was a good starting point...

 

[Condottiere]

Charters are grants, and clearly list out what you get, in exchange for consideration, presumably, in perpetuity.

 

[ottarrus]

A charter details an exchange between two legal entities... sovereign and town, monastery and bishop, town and guild, etc. It lists everything the exchange includes, property, rights, privileges and duties, taxes, and liabilities. In the US we would call it a contract, but in Europe there is a connotation of medieval nobility to the term. In both cases 'charter' implies an agreement between the government or sovereign and another legal entity... a college, town, diocese, other nobles etc.

Ergo, the Imperial Charter could very well be two separate but related things:
1. It is a clause in the Warrant for the Restoration defining the zone of interests between the Third Imperium and its member worlds. Imperial interests are these and planetary interests are those.
2. The specific Charter between a specific world and the Third Imperium. Not only the world's rights and responsibilities but also under whose authority the world falls under [which county or duchy the world falls under]. And by 'specific' I mean VERY specific. For example:
- The specific navigational coordinates of a world's sole sovereignty, the specific zone of shared jurisdiction, the specific coords of sole Imperial jurisdiction.
- How much the world owes the Imperium in taxes
- Specific benefits the world receives in exchange for those taxes
- What does the world owe in regards to Imperial Army recruitment
And so on... The Planetary Charter would list every single ticky-tack legal detail of the world's membership in the Third Imperium.

It's also logical to presume that the Second Survey took so freaking long because changes in 11,000 worlds' populations, governments, law levels and tech levels significantly altered the codicils of each world's Charter [taxes, Army recruiting, readjusting county and ducal fiefs etc.]. Eleven thousand new official Charters would take a fair bit of work to generate on Capital....