The Deep and the Dark - on PDF and Pre-Order

MongooseMatt

Administrator
Staff member
Visit the fan-favourite sectors of Reaver's Deep and the Dark Nebula in the latest release for Traveller... The Deep and the Dark!

You can grab your own copy right here: https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/products/the-deep-and-the-dark

The Deep and the Dark cover - cover front.jpg

Steeped in history, riven by conflict, and filled with contradiction, The Deep and the Dark covers two sectors at the interface of human and Aslan space, where rival species and civilisations have long contended for influence and power. Here lie the ancient battlegrounds of the Aslan Border Wars and the Cultural Purge. Here are found worlds abandoned or ignored for centuries, which shelter strange, isolated societies that have fallen back to primitive conditions.

Reaver’s Deep lies on the edge of the Great Rift, with a wide Buffer Zone separating the human systems of the Third Imperium and Solomani Confederation from the Aslan worlds of the Hierate. Within this Buffer independent states and worlds harbour fierce animal life and many alien species, while fierce marauders and petty warlords plague the sector. Into this wild area venture intrepid trade pioneers in search of new opportunities.

The Dark Nebula is named for the mysterious Celella Nebula, a jumpspace phenomenon that has devilled astrogators for millennia. The sector is also the home of Kusyu, homeworld of the Aslan and spiritual heart of their star-spanning Hierate. The Deep and the Dark also provides an overview of the complex, ever-shifting politics of the Hierate and the nature of Aslan culture.

Includes a giant two-sided poster map of the two sectors.
 
I really appreciate the lengthy section on corporations active in the region. That was a highlight of the Solomani Front volume and I'm glad to see the feature reproduced here. It's useful worldbuilding (and seeing old familiar names among the new is always fun).

EDIT: The same goes for the section on notable animals that follows. Useful, and nice to see old faces (some rather obscure) with expanded descriptions and new art.
 
eae60d8f88c84ff60158e6d9239c8190dc49151b.gif
 
I really appreciate the lengthy section on corporations active in the region. That was a highlight of the Solomani Front volume and I'm glad to see the feature reproduced here. It's useful worldbuilding (and seeing old familiar names among the new is always fun).

EDIT: The same goes for the section on notable animals that follows. Useful, and nice to see old faces (some rather obscure) with expanded descriptions and new art.
There are some really obscure Easter Eggs in this one.
 
I really like how this one is laid out. Starting with the historical overview as usual, then clear distinct sections for species, governments, corporations, animals, and starships relevant to the region; followed by chapters for the Imperium, Confederation and Hierate that really go into detail regarding how each of them functions in this area, and the various organizations/divisions/internal issues that each has to work with. Including a directory of Aslan clans, which we've long needed, I think (and will definitely be useful when you need to create Aslan characters or add some politics to an Aslan encounter -- and what is an Aslan encounter without clan politics?). Then the sector breakdowns. It progresses nicely, and all the interesting/useful information is easy to find.

A minor detail; I like how commonly popular culture and in-universe literature, etc., is referenced. Along with all the corporations, clans, etc., it adds to the sense that this is a fleshed-out world, which is what a setting sourcebook should be going for.
 
I would have to agree with the praise. The layout, selection of information (strategic, local, and cultural) make this look very impressive.
Unless the physical copies of Trailing Frontier or Imperial Navy arrive first, this will certainly be the next book I do a cover-to-cover on.
 
So I don't know if anyone has had a problem with this but my pdf of TD&D's cover was really scrambled... like a 3d picture that doesn't fully resolve into focus. Image included. The rest of the document is fine, only the cover is bugged up.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-12-08 at 17-49-31 Traveller - The Deep and the Dark.pdf.png
    Screenshot 2023-12-08 at 17-49-31 Traveller - The Deep and the Dark.pdf.png
    2.4 MB · Views: 10
Back
Top