Origins of the Traveller's Aid Society?

[Flynn]

Good Afternoon, All:

I have an interesting question for you guys. (Well, at least I think it's interesting.) What are the Real World origins of the idea behind the Traveller's Aid Society?

At first, I thought it might be something like Club Med, but after doing a little reading on wikipedia, Club Med doesn't quite work in the same manner (although I can see Club Med elements in the TAS facilities.)

After pondering it for a while and getting nowhere, I thought I'd post this to ask my peers if they could shed some insight into the origins of the Traveller's Aid Society.

Thanks In Advance,
Flynn

 

[tjoneslo]

Probably the best historical example would be the Templars. During the crusades they provided all the need of a Knight-errant or pilgrim who wished to travel from Europe to the Holy Land. They had an entire banking system, so you could carry only a writ, not cash, the Templars would provide guides, hook you up with "safe" companions, cash your writ into real cash at the end of the journey, allow you to buy food and other supplies.

Another historical example would be the East India Tea company. Though not as direct, it would provide travel arrangements, and (with the backing of the British Empire) take care of it's employees.

This should give you two places to start.

 

[rust]

A third place to start could be the quite famous Explorers Club, founded
1904 in New York.
While it did not provide hostels, it still is an excellent information and mu-
tual support network for the kind of people who love to travel where the
usual tourist does not go.

 

[SSWarlock]

Probably the best historical example would be the Templars.

One of the best websites I've found for the Templars is at
http://www.templarhistory.com/

 

[captainjack23]

Good Afternoon, All:

I have an interesting question for you guys. (Well, at least I think it's interesting.) What are the Real World origins of the idea behind the Traveller's Aid Society?

At first, I thought it might be something like Club Med, but after doing a little reading on wikipedia, Club Med doesn't quite work in the same manner (although I can see Club Med elements in the TAS facilities.)

After pondering it for a while and getting nowhere, I thought I'd post this to ask my peers if they could shed some insight into the origins of the Traveller's Aid Society.

Thanks In Advance,
Flynn

Much of the OTU history of the TAS is discussed in Twilights Peak - (GDW adventure 8 ? 10 ?);its predesessor in the rule of man was the Octagon Society. I'm pretty usre there was info in some of the old printed JTAS, and in the new online JTAS at Steve Jackson Games. Hope that helps !

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Would the American Auto Association (AAA) of the 1970s be a source too?

The AAA provides travel info and planning and even route planning. Adding hostels etc, is not a big leap.

 

[Xoph]

Don't forget Hostelling International http://www.hihostels.com/

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Much of the OTU history of the TAS is discussed in Twilights Peak - (GDW adventure 8 ? 10 ?)

... that'd be Adventure 3, mate ...

 

[AKAramis]

Would the American Auto Association (AAA) of the 1970s be a source too?

The AAA provides travel info and planning and even route planning. Adding hostels etc, is not a big leap.

Combine AAA, KOA and an annuity.

 

[serene_muse]

I always thought it was like early credit card companies and travel agencies, esp. companies like American Express which combined several of those functions and more. The entry barrier was high but the benefits were very good.

 

[EDG]

TAS strikes me as a mixture of something like the YMCA and an automobile association with a dash of Lonely Planet, plus added news bulletins.

 

[-Daniel-]

I always figure the TAS was a mix of various real world companies and a dash of "in game need" then baked into TAS. This thread so far has seemed to support that idea. Lots of great ideas of organizations that may have had an influence on the TAS.

Daniel

 

[simonh]

It's a Gentleman's Club (...er, Gentleperson... er, Gentlebeing... whatever).

The top Gentlemen's Clubs of Europe in the 18th and 19th century routinely granted each other's members guest membership privileges so a Gentleman on tour could take advantage of the facilities in return for swapping news and conversation with the local members. There was a network of such clubs across the British Empire and they were essential infrastructure for any Officer or Gentleman on his travels.

Simon Hibbs

 

[AKAramis]

It's a Gentleman's Club (...er, Gentleperson... er, Gentlebeing... whatever).

The top Gentlemen's Clubs of Europe in the 18th and 19th century routinely granted each other's members guest membership privileges so a Gentleman on tour could take advantage of the facilities in return for swapping news and conversation with the local members. There was a network of such clubs across the British Empire and they were essential infrastructure for any Officer or Gentleman on his travels.

Simon Hibbs

the traditional travellerism is "Gentlesophont".

The Britishism of the setting is why I strongly dislike the US enlisted ranks being used in Bk4-5, MegaT, T4 and TNE.

 

[E.T.Smith]

It's a Gentleman's Club (...er, Gentleperson... er, Gentlebeing... whatever).

The top Gentlemen's Clubs of Europe in the 18th and 19th century ...

Given what "Gentleman's Club" has come to mean nowadays, a wildly different image was invoked by the use of the phrase.