News dissemination time?

[FentonGib]

Hey everyone

Quick question - I've read that the X-boat service operates at jump-4, and averages Jump 2.6 in practice in how fast news is disseminated (although Naval Couriers can deliver important, secret news at Jump-6). Within a sector/subsector that's fair enough.

But if I'm doing a campain in the Solomani Rim, anyone have any idea of how long it would take for news from the Spinwards Marches (e.g. news relevant to the build-up of the FFW or similar)? Would the players likely find out the war has started as it's likely drawing to a close? :lol: Dunno how many parsecs from one end to the other so can't do the math meself, but hoping one of you may have an idea. I'd like to try to be consistent/accurate (as much as possible) in my game as to how quickly players get news updates.

Thanx!

 

[AnotherDilbert]

The Traveller Map, https://travellermap.com, can answer these questions for you. Press the squiggly symbol after the search field (in the top left corner).

From Regina/Spinward Marches to Terra/Solomani Rim is 73 jumps at J4, so the official x-boat news will take 1.5 - 2 years to get there.

With J6 Imperial couriers it is 48 jumps, so little more than a year.

 

[FentonGib]

The Traveller Map, https://travellermap.com, can answer these questions for you. Press the squiggly symbol after the search field (in the top left corner).

From Regina/Spinward Marches to Terra/Solomani Rim is 73 jumps at J4, so the official x-boat news will take 1.5 - 2 years to get there.

With J6 Imperial couriers it is 48 jumps, so little more than a year.

Yowch! Thanks for that!

 

[-Daniel-]

The Traveller Map, https://travellermap.com, can answer these questions for you. Press the squiggly symbol after the search field (in the top left corner).

From Regina/Spinward Marches to Terra/Solomani Rim is 73 jumps at J4, so the official x-boat news will take 1.5 - 2 years to get there.

Quite a delay in send and receive conversations. :lol:

 

[FentonGib]

Quite a delay in send and receive conversations. :lol:

And I thought my ISP was bad! :lol:

 

[mancerbear]

Half the trouble I have is figuring out when news gets to the player characters. Every pre-session prep I take note of where they are, where what news is coming from, then calculate when they'll get it at which system.

 

[-Daniel-]

Half the trouble I have is figuring out when news gets to the player characters. Every pre-session prep I take note of where they are, where what news is coming from, then calculate when they'll get it at which system.

I have been guilty at times in the past of just giving up and giving the PCs the news I want them to have and deal with any fall out later. If I give it to them a week or two early, so be it.

 

[FentonGib]

I have been guilty at times in the past of just giving up and giving the PCs the news I want them to have and deal with any fall out later. If I give it to them a week or two early, so be it.

I won't deny that I'll most probably do the same... just give it a few months after the event and let them know. It's not like any of them are going to check official canon info, and no point in giving them news that's no longer relevant!

I just like the idea to make it a common thing that when the players arrive at a starport, as they pass through customs they hear a news announcement "Headline on TNS: Duke Norris buys a fluffy pink bunny for his daughter" - it may not directly affect them, but I think it'll add to the atmosphere and feel of being part of a greater universe, just hearing news updates and knowing that things are happening out there, not just around their actions.

 

[-Daniel-]

I just like the idea to make it a common thing that when the players arrive at a starport, as they pass through customs they hear a news announcement "Headline on TNS: Duke Norris buys a fluffy pink bunny for his daughter" - it may not directly affect them, but I think it'll add to the atmosphere and feel of being part of a greater universe, just hearing news updates and knowing that things are happening out there, not just around their actions.

Maybe that would be a great place to offer "local" flavor as well. Rather than imperium news, they hear local news. "The Ashmar Heights Rockdogs won last night and will now move to the finals" or "Crime is up in Starport City again for the third year in a row. The Security Forces are implementing more measures to bring this crime wave under control". Just a thought.

 

[FentonGib]

I just like the idea to make it a common thing that when the players arrive at a starport, as they pass through customs they hear a news announcement "Headline on TNS: Duke Norris buys a fluffy pink bunny for his daughter" - it may not directly affect them, but I think it'll add to the atmosphere and feel of being part of a greater universe, just hearing news updates and knowing that things are happening out there, not just around their actions.

Maybe that would be a great place to offer "local" flavor as well. Rather than imperium news, they hear local news. "The Ashmar Heights Rockdogs won last night and will now move to the finals" or "Crime is up in Starport City again for the third year in a row. The Security Forces are implementing more measures to bring this crime wave under control". Just a thought.

Agreed - but I'm new to this setting so am trying to get hold of big/official events which are already out there before making up lots of local stuff (especially not knowing what style of games my players will go for... whether they'll stick to an area or keep moving constantly) - though have been reading up on megacorps and other things so I can keep re-using company names, locations and so forth for this reason. It would be nice if e.g. they get offered a job by a corp if they recall some news flashes relevant to them they may have heard (may give a clue as to if a patron can be trusted). If they stick to an area or "home" location, then I'll certainly want to flesh out each world in far more detail including things like you suggest (which are good suggestions btw, thanks).

 

[mancerbear]

FentonGib, I strongly recommend getting hold of any JTAS back issues you can, as they have an article called Traveller News Service. Granted, it's focused primarily in the Spinward Marches, but it's a place to start

 

[FentonGib]

FentonGib, I strongly recommend getting hold of any JTAS back issues you can, as they have an article called Traveller News Service. Granted, it's focused primarily in the Spinward Marches, but it's a place to start

Thanks for that. Shared a link I stumbled upon earlier on the online resources sticky thread, and the Traveller Wiki has TNS stuff on it - your advice just made me realise that both of those seem to get the TNS stuff from the JTAS docs (saw it in the Drivethrurpg preview) which at least indicates reliability of sources.