Name the Alien book you'd like to see first

[EDG]

Yeah, the Vegans have had remarkably little written about them (officially anyway). Modern Vilani also haven't had much done about them (nothing since DGP's excellent Vilani and Vargr book, though old Vilani had a big writeup in GT:IW).

 

[BenTOGS]

I voted Solomani. But I want instead a "Humaniti" book, perhaps separated into two three polity/nation section or books.

Most of all I want an "ANCIENTS" race book, not just Grandfather, but his sibs also.

But, I know that Hiver book will be last, simply because the Hivers will be secretly editing it of material which they do not want us to know...

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Me...um..all of them. Guess since they picked Year 1105 Spinward Marches, the spinward races first. Vargr, Zhodani, Darrians too. Enough Aslan in the Spinward Marches that seeing them as one of the first books makes sense. Stretching the definition, a Sword Worlders handbook could be good. (Or maybe do Darrians and Sword Worlders as one big book, since they are neighbors and have been involved in a lot of conflict with each other).

But I'd not oppose K'Kree, Hivers or a Solomani book either. Or any other race, major or minor. Haven't read any posts yet, but Vegans could be amusing. Or at least do a "notable minor races" handbook..anyone want to play a Bwapp?

 

[RedBeardSean]

I voted Vilani, though to be honest I'd rather see a book full of minor races first: Bwaps, Ael Yael, Virushi, Vegans, minor human races, et al. Not as in-depth maybe as the Major Race books (c.f. the Alien Modules from CT), but with more info on each than they ever got in the old JTAS.

 

[RandyT0001]

Ganymedean Green Grimlens led by their evil meglomanciac ph(u)d'er!

Yank! Yank on the leg!



Sorry, I just couldn't resist Doc.

 

[EDG]

Thing is, what's the point of republishing the alien race books? if you're a CT purist you can get all of them on the CT CD-ROM, and if you just want the GURPS versions (which are basically the same, but with more detail and GURPS stats) you can probably still find them on the shelves (can't get them from e23 yet, oddly).

Sure, it makes Mongoose more money, but do we really have to keep reinventing the wheel with every new edition? All that's really necessary I think are rules specific to MGT to let people make alien characters.

 

[captainjack23]

Sure, it makes Mongoose more money, but do we really have to keep reinventing the wheel with every new edition? All that's really necessary I think are rules specific to MGT to let people make alien characters.

1. Money for mongoose seems like a pretty good reason.
2. one doesn't have to be a CT purist (whatever that is) to want to play in the OTU; and they are part of it
3. not everyone has a complete a CT collection as you do..
4. Having a generic rules set doesn't mean abandoning the thirty year old traveller universe -which is a big part of why it has lasted this long. Sure there can be more settings, lots more, but there is a mine of OTU information and setting detail available -and a ready audience....I understand that you don't like the OTU at all, but lots of people do - even sales to completists, grognards and CT Purists would be worthwhile -and there are clearly more people buying than these mythical beasts. Not a snark, just a suggestion that your perspective is a bit off.
5. And, now if you want different traveller rulesettings & aliens -you can write them yourselves ! How cool is that ?

 

[Infojunky]

Hey, there where no Greys on the list....

Thats the book I want....

 

[EDG]

1. Money for mongoose seems like a pretty good reason.

For them, sure. But the point remains that a lot of the info that anyone wants on the OTU aliens is still around out there. I think the only pressing reasons that they'd have to buy a Mongoose version is (a) loyalty to Mongoose's version, (b) the need for Mongoose Traveller stats, and/or (c) general convenience. MGT is still competing with several other versions of Traveller that are still being published, and when you're talking about things that are mostly "fluff" or setting then it's that much harder to compete.

2. one doesn't have to be a CT purist (whatever that is) to want to play in the OTU; and they are part of it

I mentioned that because some people throw a fit if one suggest that one should look at GT. So I just mentioned that there is a CT-specific option (the Alien Modules) that should satisfy that crowd that is readily available on the CT CD-ROM. If you're reading anything else into it then that's your interpretation, but it's nothing to do with what I said or why I said it.

3. not everyone has a complete a CT collection as you do..

True, but AFAIK the CT CD-ROM is still available for purchase and has all that information in it.

4. Having a generic rules set doesn't mean abandoning the thirty year old traveller universe -which is a big part of why it has lasted this long. Sure there can be more settings, lots more, but there is a mine of OTU information and setting detail available -and a ready audience....I understand that you don't like the OTU at all, but lots of people do - even sales to completists, grognards and CT Purists would be worthwhile -and there are clearly more people buying than these mythical beasts. Not a snark, just a suggestion that your perspective is a bit off.

I have absolutely no idea what this has to do with anything I've said here. The OP is asking about what OTU alien books that people want done first, I'm pointing out that there are a lot of official, published sources that are still readily available that describe all of them. I've not even remotely suggested here that the OTU should be abandoned at all (and whether I like or dislike the OTU is similarly irrelevant here), so my "perspective" is fine, thank you.

5. And, now if you want different traveller rulesettings & aliens -you can write them yourselves ! How cool is that ?

Great, but not what the OP is asking and therefore not really relevant to the point.

 

[newtraveller]

Zhodani, because they seem like the main protagonists, from what I've read.

 

[captainjack23]

Great, but not what the OP is asking and therefore not really relevant to the point.

My apologies. I missed the post where you were appointed content moderator.

 

[captainjack23]

Vargr - they're just the most fun, and the mostvaried. For me that means the most grist for roleplaying. Plus, in the OTU, they are everywhere.

 

[EDG]

My apologies. I missed the post where you were appointed content moderator.

Well, excuse me for sticking to the topic. :roll:

All I did was say that material on all the OTU alien races was still available elsewhere. Like I said, the OP wasn't asking about new races, so bringing that up isn't really helpful or useful to him.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

.....Hivers?......

 

[Fireflame]

As I have always run games in the Spinward Marches, I think the races there, both Major and Minor.

But for my current campaign, I would have to say Zhodani first, then Vargr, then the minor races, then the Droyne.

FF

 

[captainjack23]

Strangely enough, if I understand E's post, I actually agree - (and willingly absolve him for his efforts to stay on thread - "ego te absolvo, arise good doctor, all is excused" ..)although simply steering people to other companies pubs seems a bit self defeating for mongoose - fact is, there's lots of room to expand on the basics of the races if need be - SJG/DGP and even CT did a pretty good job of that - but yes, in many ways they do invent the wheel again. Theres lots to add to the basic traveller races ....for instance, the whole human varger interaction in the imperium....to what extent does Vargr charisma create an issue in the imperium ? Or is it cultural ?. Really, anything that fleshes out the races beyond a fairly homogenious description would be a good thing.

On which topic, one of the reasons I like the treatment of Vargrs, is that unlike lots of alien races, they aren't presented as culturally homogenous; sure, a brief description of any sentient race will need to rely on broad generalities, but there is room for more development than what already exists for most (not just traveller) SF races.

 

[EDG]

although simply steering people to other companies pubs seems a bit self defeating for mongoose

*shrug*. It's not my fault that the stuff is still available. Given Traveller's obvious multi-publisher history, I think it would be remiss to not mention other sources for things that people are asking about. If Mongoose have a problem with me doing that then they're free to let me know and I'll happily refrain from doing it anymore here.

- fact is, there's lots of room to expand on the basics of the races if need be - SJG/DGP and even CT did a pretty good job of that - but yes, in many ways they do invent the wheel again. Theres lots to add to the basic traveller races ....for instance, the whole human varger interaction in the imperium....to what extent does Vargr charisma create an issue in the imperium ? Or is it cultural ?. Really, anything that fleshes out the races beyond a fairly homogenious description would be a good thing.

Yes, but then you get to diminishing returns because all the obvious stuff about the races has been covered already elsewhere and Mongoose would only be rehashing what was said before. The two DGP alien books and the GT books after that arguably did that already (and the GT:AR4 also covered some of the minor races too), so in order to provide something new, Mongoose would have to dig a lot deeper than just rehashing what was done before in CT.

They don't have that problem with the rule books since it's fairly easy to add new material (even if some people will froth about things "not being Traveller"), but the fluff/setting books are a different story.

What I would suggest is that Mongoose covers the basics as briefly as possible and spends as much of the book detailing things that haven't been described before in other books. That way all OTU fans - even the ones who have the CT Alien Modules, and the DGP and the GT books and will get good value for their money. But I really doubt that people who have the books already will be interested in just another regurgitation of previous work.

On which topic, one of the reasons I like the treatment of Vargrs, is that unlike lots of alien races, they aren't presented as culturally homogenous; sure, a brief description of any sentient race will need to rely on broad generalities, but there is room for more development than what already exists for most (not just traveller) SF races.

See that's the sort of thing that would be good in a Mongoose Vargr book - a detailed breakdown of the various Vargr cultures (maybe even doing it like GT: Humaniti, except with different cultures/factions instead of human subspecies - though there could be various breeds of Vargr too. I vaguely recall something about a psionic breed of Vargr that were physically scrawny and a bit loopy, possibly in the DGP book?)

 

[captainjack23]

What I would suggest is that Mongoose covers the basics as briefly as possible and spends as much of the book detailing things that haven't been described before in other books. That way all OTU fans - even the ones who have the CT Alien Modules, and the DGP and the GT books and will get good value for their money. But I really doubt that people who have the books already will be interested in just another regurgitation of previous work.

Exactly - although the DGP stuff was both good, detailed, and...unfortunately...forever in limbo. So arguably the best treatment is unavailable. Gurps stuff was good, but had a more limited page count, as well as having to rehash some basics for the new players.

However, one should also consider that most of the mongoose traveller customers do not have the old books; sales numbers suggest that they have very effectively reached beyond the nostalgia and completist markets; so, in essence, one would be handicapping the usefullness to new players to please a few of the old guard...and who wants that.....?

On which topic, one of the reasons I like the treatment of Vargrs, is that unlike lots of alien races, they aren't presented as culturally homogenous; sure, a brief description of any sentient race will need to rely on broad generalities, but there is room for more development than what already exists for most (not just traveller) SF races.

See that's the sort of thing that would be good in a Mongoose Vargr book - a detailed breakdown of the various Vargr cultures (maybe even doing it like GT: Humaniti, except with different cultures/factions instead of human subspecies - though there could be various breeds of Vargr too. I vaguely recall something about a psionic breed of Vargr that were physically scrawny and a bit loopy, possibly in the DGP book?)

Yes, see ? we do agree.

And yes...the source of the psionic vargrs (who IIRC are blind from birth) and the studly ones are both from Cogs and dogs, AKA Vargr and Vilanii, by DGP.

Still, the thing is, that still tends to play to fact that aliens are monolithic...we don't have different Vargr cultures, we have subspecies. most of what would be (for humans) simple local differences, or cultural at best, in aliens tend to be presented as hardwired ....for instance, .I've never believed the story that the Aslan males tell about abeing a technologically savvy branch of a race that doesn't understand economics -seems like just a convenient excuse to pilfer and shoplift....and are all Aslan honor obsessed ? Or just the loud ones.....? And how do the Vargr get anything done - like say, develop jump drive on their own ?

 

[EDG]

Exactly - although the DGP stuff was both good, detailed, and...unfortunately...forever in limbo. So arguably the best treatment is unavailable. Gurps stuff was good, but had a more limited page count, as well as having to rehash some basics for the new players.

Both pulled from the CT sources though. And yes, it is VERY annoying that the DGP stuff is unavailable - IMO they wrote some of the best material ever written for Traveller.

However, one should also consider that most of the mongoose traveller customers do not have the old books; sales numbers suggest that they have very effectively reached beyond the nostalgia and completist markets; so, in essence, one would be handicapping the usefullness to new players to please a few of the old guard...and who wants that.....?

Right, which is why I suggested that the Mongoose books should cover the basics as well. If they do a full book on each race then there should be ample room - the CT AMs were 50 pages each, the GT races were two to a book (plus minor races) and covered about 64 pages per race. A full 144 page Mongoose book per race should cover the basics plus a lot extra (preferably more useful cultural info, rather than new ships stats and equipment).

And yes...the source of the psionic vargrs (who IIRC are blind from birth) and the studly ones are both from Cogs and dogs, AKA Vargr and Vilanii, by DGP.

I was afraid of that - this makes it "limbo" material...

Still, the thing is, that still tends to play to fact that aliens are monolithic...we don't have different Vargr cultures, we have subspecies. most of what would be (for humans) simple local differences, or cultural at best, in aliens tend to be presented as hardwired ....for instance, .I've never believed the story that the Aslan males tell about abeing a technologically savvy branch of a race that doesn't understand economics -seems like just a convenient excuse to pilfer and shoplift....and are all Aslan honor obsessed ? Or just the loud ones.....? And how do the Vargr get anything done - like say, develop jump drive on their own ?

I agree (again, *gasp*). As another example, Hivers have a huge variety of "Topical Clubs" too that are almost different sub-cultures that would be worth describing in detail.

 

[captainjack23]

As another example, Hivers have a huge variety of "Topical Clubs" too that are almost different sub-cultures that would be worth describing in detail.

I wonder....perhaps the Hiver success at creating a federation of many races has as much to do with hivers finding aliens easy to deal with after trying to work with each other.

That said, it's an interesting motivation for a race -one that finds other sophont species less alien than other groups of their own species. Try adding that to the Aslan mix - whoooo-hoooo.

And oh yeah. One that really needs detail -the Vegans...one of the better non-rubbersuit aliens in the OTU -and, let us not forget, the Dandylions ! NAtive to the spinwards, even (LLewwwwellyyyoiiii or something in space-welsh). Most Confusing Social System Ev-ah.

Okay, that last suggestion about the Dandys was a joke.....maybe.