Mertactor

[Darren66]

So I have a wee conundrum. I’m setting an adventure set on Mertactor District 268/ Spinward Marches 1537) and there seems to be three sets of descriptions for the world and it’s history. One on the Traveller Wiki and one by Matthew Sprange in the new addition of JTAS vol 6. They’re different from each other, so which is the ‘official’ description and background?

I’m more inclined to use the one on the Wiki, but more than open to be schooled on which one is official.

 

[rinku]

First thing is to check the dates, they could describe different eras. But Wiki draws from many different editions and it may have only been described in one of them until now (however, on investigation it appears that it has been described a fair bit)

If the other description is not from Mongoose Traveller, the JTAS one is official for Mongoose, but anyone can use one that they prefer.

I don't have any of the sources cited, but the Wiki article does cite JTAS 6 as well as the three publications that Martin Dougherty authored (GURPS Behind the Claw, 1998; Mongoose 1e The Spinward Marches, 2008; Mongoose 2e Behind the Claw, 2019). If the 2020 JTAS6 description is at odds with the 2019 Behind the Claw one, it's a Mongoose problem.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Find out what service provided the planetary survey data. They could be different leading to different interpretations. Could be the Imperial Scout Service, Travellers Aid Society, or some other Explorer Service such as a local megacorp.

 

[rinku]

I checked the CT through TNE sources, but none of them really have much about Mertactor except that it's the subsector capital. CT UWP is the same as TNE: B262732-B S. Somewhere to refuel while going from Glisten subsector to parts spinward or coreward.

GURPS Behind the Claw is the same. No real history or local details.

Doesn't even get that much in the MGT1e product. Mentioned as one of two Imperial worlds and same UWP.

I don't have access to the MGT2e Behind the Claw, or to 2020 JTAS6.

I would note that a big chunk of the Wiki has been listed as "alternate history". That's likely the HIWG stuff that was likely de-canonised, or never formally made it to canon. Some of the text appears to have come from Regency era sources (mentions of "Plankwell Subsector" and "lobbying the Archduke" are at best post-Rebellion references. There is no Archduke in 1105.). As well, there's the usual auto-generated entries that may or may not line up with published sources, especially if they were generated a while ago.

All of which suggests to me the 2020 article is what you really should rely on, but do not HAVE to.

 

[boggo2300]

Well, for Mongoose traveller I'd kind of assume the guy that owns Mongoose's version is most likely what is considered correct in this game...

 

[ResslynHalvik]

So I have a wee conundrum. I’m setting an adventure set on Mertactor District 268/ Spinward Marches 1537) and there seems to be three sets of descriptions for the world and it’s history. One on the Traveller Wiki and one by Matthew Sprange in the new addition of JTAS vol 6. They’re different from each other, so which is the ‘official’ description and background?

I’m more inclined to use the one on the Wiki, but more than open to be schooled on which one is official.

If you meet the Halviks and the other emigrant Sword World clans mining in the Mertactor belt, say hi!

 

[Midas]

Weird, you can't go straight there, but if you go to Obsidian Portal, open Traveller campaigns, Mustered Out on Mertactor, you'll get another write up.
The answer to the OP's question is - of course - "It depends." If your Travellers are just going there and you don't plan an adventure, use whatever you like. If you want to surprise your players (or if you don't like people playing the system) tell your players to check the wiki, and then custom design the planet .

 

[collins355]

Sadly, Traveller wiki is an ‘unreliable’ narrator. Too much fandom for me.

I like using this chap’s site for working out where to find canon references…

Trav Canon: Mertactor/District 268 [1537 Spinward Marches]

 

[Darren66]

Thanks for the feedback fellow Travellers. I’ll be using the Mongoose version