Borrowing the term from Marvel's Ultimate line: how would I do things to if I started from scratch and wanted to keep as many Traveller elements as possible
Traveller has some great ideas including some intriguing alien races. The problem is that even the six major races are scattered across Charted Space and wanting to introduce some of these races into a campaign without completely displacing it by sectors at a time can mean some pretty far fetched reasoning. Sure you can create your own sectors and backgrounds and slot them in but it seems a pity to lose all of the 3I background in the process. So here is my idea for a Spinward Marches that involves as many Traveller elements as possible without moving things around too much.
Timeline
No dates here as yet just a potted history to be fleshed out
The Ancient Period – this was a long time ago!
Vilani develop jump drive, begin expansion
Vilani contact the K’kree, sporadic conflict
Vilani close borders
Hiver-K’kree War
K’kree launch major colonisation efforts immediately to coreward of the Vilani border
Solomani contact the Vilani, beginning of Interstellar Wars
Solomani make extensive use of cybernetics in their naval personnel. TheVargr race is geneered and cloned in vast numbers to boost ground troop numbers
Renewed Vilani-K’kree conflict as new K’kree colonies send out their own expeditions
Major war breaks out as K’kree launch attacks against Vilani across three sectors
Many Vilani and other races take to vegetarianism in order to survive K’kree conquest
Solomani develop jump 3 and begin to sweep through Vilani space
Vilani surrender to Solomani Navy, beginning of Rule of Man
Solomani fleets move to engage the K’kree bringing their offensives to a halt and regaining some territory
K’kree cease hostilities and concentrate on planting colonies coreward of the Imperial border to ‘contain the vermin’. These colonies eventually reach Gvurrdon sector and begin to move rimward into the Spinward Marches
Rule of Man stagnates economically and local admirals begin to fight over resources: the Vulture Wars usher in the Long Night
Hiver traders begin to provide aid to key states in former Imperial space. One large mission bases itself at Sylea and aids the development of Zhunastu Industries and the Sylean Federation.
Cleon Zhunastu revives the Imperium
Psionics becomes popular in some parts of the Imperium
Zhodani and Imperial settlement of the Spinward Marches begins. Hiver technical and trading missions accompany Imperial efforts.
First Frontier War is a three way fight between Zhodani, Imperial and K’kree forces. Imperium becomes dominant in the Marches but populations from the other powers remain as enclaves ostensibly independent of the Consulate and 2000 Worlds
Civil War
Second and Third Frontier Wars see the Imperium give up territory
Psionic Suppressions sees the end of organised psionics in the Imperium
The popularity of cybernetics also decreases, isolating some parts of the Solomani aristocracy
During the Third Frontier War Aslan begin to appear in the Marches having crossed the Great Rift
Many Solomani nobles move to the Rim where cybernetics remain mainstream
Solomani declare themselves independent
Solomani Rim War begins as the Imperium attempts to re-integrate the Rim
In a surprise development a grass roots revolt by religious Solomani who reject the use of cybernetics sweeps the Rim sector. While not actively fighting for the Imperium the rebels split the defending Solomani forces allowing the Imperial Navy to take Terra and declare victory
The Unified Church spreads its influence widely
Major Races in the Marches
Aslan
The Aslan have been crossing the Great Rift for the last hundred or so years and are now pushing into the Marches. Humaniti finds them confusing, many come on trading voyages bargaining hard for freight contracts or trade goods. Some come as armed settlers determined to take land, sometimes these groups can be employed as mercenaries who prefer to fight in exchange for land rather than credits.
Droyne
The Droyne are a widespread and at the same time mysterious race. No one can seem to get accurate ideas of their numbers, locations or tech levels. An apparently small, stone age community made up of workers and a handful of leaders and drones might suddenly turn into an industrial station with techs and warriors armed with TL15 weapons hand crafted by the techs. A year later with some task accomplished no more warriors or technicians are casted and the community slowly reverts to its former state. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE DROYNE
Hivers
In the Marches Hiver trade and technical missions accompanied many Imperial settlers. Some worlds now have a Hiver majority population and are run along similar lines to the worlds of the Hive Federation.
Humaniti
Three major branches of Humaniti are represented in the Marches, Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani
The Solomani are themselves split into those who still wholeheartedly embrace cybernetics, those who accept modest and prosthetic use and followers of the Unified Church who condemn any use as blasphemous
Other human offshoots in the Marches include the Darrians, Sword Worlders and some groups of Geonee, Nexines, and Florians.
K’kree
The K’kree have been slowly extending their empire for millennia, they now form a major threat to the Imperium to Trailing and Coreward. They dominate the sector coreward of the Marches and before the Imperium’s borders were firmed up in the Marches settled on many worlds. Some business is done with the coreward K’kree, particularly by the agricultural worlds of the Aramis subsector and K’kree merchants are granted passage in Imperial space. However these ships often transport weapons and sometimes troops to K’kree settled worlds, especially those where other sentients have settled.
Vargr
In this TU the Vargr are a race geneered by the Solomani during the Interstellar Wars. Initially cloned in large batches they later bred in large numbers and are now make up around 5-10% of the population of Solomani worlds. They usually get jobs as soldiers, drivers, hired muscle for the underworld or are rootless drifters.
Worlds
Leave all of the locations, bases, astrographic features alone. Use the map as is. Leave the UWPs as they are EXCEPT for the Government codes, they have new meanings given below:
Code OTU Description Ultimate description
0 – Anarchy 22 Anarchy
1 – Corporate 27 Corporate
2 – Participating Democracy 28 Participating Democracy (2)
3 – Self Perpetuating Oligarchy 39 Direct Noble Rule
4 – Representative Democracy 52 Americana (4)
5 – Feudal Technocracy 35 Cyber-Solomani ruling class
6 – Colony/Captive 38 Direct Imperial Rule (6)
7 – Balkanised 36 Mixed – being fought over (7)
8 – Civil Service Buro 31 Vilani Bureaux
9 – Impersonal Buro 35 Hiver governed
A – Charismatic Dictatorship 15 Zhodani
B – Non-Charismatic Dictatorship 6 K’kree
C – Charismatic Oligarchy 8 Dominant Caste (C)
D – Religious Dictatorship 4 Unified Church
(2) the local population holds town meetings to agree any course of action
(4) these worlds resemble the idealised US of TV shows
(6) Or Darrian Confederation, Sword Worlds, Zhodani Consulate where appropriate
(7) Typical balkanised worlds (most likely location)
K'kree versus just about anyone (Coreward)
Ihatei versus anyone (Rimward)
Church versus Cybers (Trailing)
Zhodani versus Imperial (Spinward)
(C) Floriani, Geonee etc
Droyne worlds are represented by Amber and Red Zones. The normal population, government and law codes apply to the none-Droyne of those worlds. These populations are however under the dominion of the Droyne residents. Figures for Droyne numbers are incredibly difficult to gather and cannot be given. Amber zones represent worlds where none Droyne starships may visit freely. Red zone worlds may only be visited by those with an invitation. Visitors without one risk destruction or a very long stay.
Traveller has some great ideas including some intriguing alien races. The problem is that even the six major races are scattered across Charted Space and wanting to introduce some of these races into a campaign without completely displacing it by sectors at a time can mean some pretty far fetched reasoning. Sure you can create your own sectors and backgrounds and slot them in but it seems a pity to lose all of the 3I background in the process. So here is my idea for a Spinward Marches that involves as many Traveller elements as possible without moving things around too much.
Timeline
No dates here as yet just a potted history to be fleshed out
The Ancient Period – this was a long time ago!
Vilani develop jump drive, begin expansion
Vilani contact the K’kree, sporadic conflict
Vilani close borders
Hiver-K’kree War
K’kree launch major colonisation efforts immediately to coreward of the Vilani border
Solomani contact the Vilani, beginning of Interstellar Wars
Solomani make extensive use of cybernetics in their naval personnel. TheVargr race is geneered and cloned in vast numbers to boost ground troop numbers
Renewed Vilani-K’kree conflict as new K’kree colonies send out their own expeditions
Major war breaks out as K’kree launch attacks against Vilani across three sectors
Many Vilani and other races take to vegetarianism in order to survive K’kree conquest
Solomani develop jump 3 and begin to sweep through Vilani space
Vilani surrender to Solomani Navy, beginning of Rule of Man
Solomani fleets move to engage the K’kree bringing their offensives to a halt and regaining some territory
K’kree cease hostilities and concentrate on planting colonies coreward of the Imperial border to ‘contain the vermin’. These colonies eventually reach Gvurrdon sector and begin to move rimward into the Spinward Marches
Rule of Man stagnates economically and local admirals begin to fight over resources: the Vulture Wars usher in the Long Night
Hiver traders begin to provide aid to key states in former Imperial space. One large mission bases itself at Sylea and aids the development of Zhunastu Industries and the Sylean Federation.
Cleon Zhunastu revives the Imperium
Psionics becomes popular in some parts of the Imperium
Zhodani and Imperial settlement of the Spinward Marches begins. Hiver technical and trading missions accompany Imperial efforts.
First Frontier War is a three way fight between Zhodani, Imperial and K’kree forces. Imperium becomes dominant in the Marches but populations from the other powers remain as enclaves ostensibly independent of the Consulate and 2000 Worlds
Civil War
Second and Third Frontier Wars see the Imperium give up territory
Psionic Suppressions sees the end of organised psionics in the Imperium
The popularity of cybernetics also decreases, isolating some parts of the Solomani aristocracy
During the Third Frontier War Aslan begin to appear in the Marches having crossed the Great Rift
Many Solomani nobles move to the Rim where cybernetics remain mainstream
Solomani declare themselves independent
Solomani Rim War begins as the Imperium attempts to re-integrate the Rim
In a surprise development a grass roots revolt by religious Solomani who reject the use of cybernetics sweeps the Rim sector. While not actively fighting for the Imperium the rebels split the defending Solomani forces allowing the Imperial Navy to take Terra and declare victory
The Unified Church spreads its influence widely
Major Races in the Marches
Aslan
The Aslan have been crossing the Great Rift for the last hundred or so years and are now pushing into the Marches. Humaniti finds them confusing, many come on trading voyages bargaining hard for freight contracts or trade goods. Some come as armed settlers determined to take land, sometimes these groups can be employed as mercenaries who prefer to fight in exchange for land rather than credits.
Droyne
The Droyne are a widespread and at the same time mysterious race. No one can seem to get accurate ideas of their numbers, locations or tech levels. An apparently small, stone age community made up of workers and a handful of leaders and drones might suddenly turn into an industrial station with techs and warriors armed with TL15 weapons hand crafted by the techs. A year later with some task accomplished no more warriors or technicians are casted and the community slowly reverts to its former state. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE DROYNE
Hivers
In the Marches Hiver trade and technical missions accompanied many Imperial settlers. Some worlds now have a Hiver majority population and are run along similar lines to the worlds of the Hive Federation.
Humaniti
Three major branches of Humaniti are represented in the Marches, Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani
The Solomani are themselves split into those who still wholeheartedly embrace cybernetics, those who accept modest and prosthetic use and followers of the Unified Church who condemn any use as blasphemous
Other human offshoots in the Marches include the Darrians, Sword Worlders and some groups of Geonee, Nexines, and Florians.
K’kree
The K’kree have been slowly extending their empire for millennia, they now form a major threat to the Imperium to Trailing and Coreward. They dominate the sector coreward of the Marches and before the Imperium’s borders were firmed up in the Marches settled on many worlds. Some business is done with the coreward K’kree, particularly by the agricultural worlds of the Aramis subsector and K’kree merchants are granted passage in Imperial space. However these ships often transport weapons and sometimes troops to K’kree settled worlds, especially those where other sentients have settled.
Vargr
In this TU the Vargr are a race geneered by the Solomani during the Interstellar Wars. Initially cloned in large batches they later bred in large numbers and are now make up around 5-10% of the population of Solomani worlds. They usually get jobs as soldiers, drivers, hired muscle for the underworld or are rootless drifters.
Worlds
Leave all of the locations, bases, astrographic features alone. Use the map as is. Leave the UWPs as they are EXCEPT for the Government codes, they have new meanings given below:
Code OTU Description Ultimate description
0 – Anarchy 22 Anarchy
1 – Corporate 27 Corporate
2 – Participating Democracy 28 Participating Democracy (2)
3 – Self Perpetuating Oligarchy 39 Direct Noble Rule
4 – Representative Democracy 52 Americana (4)
5 – Feudal Technocracy 35 Cyber-Solomani ruling class
6 – Colony/Captive 38 Direct Imperial Rule (6)
7 – Balkanised 36 Mixed – being fought over (7)
8 – Civil Service Buro 31 Vilani Bureaux
9 – Impersonal Buro 35 Hiver governed
A – Charismatic Dictatorship 15 Zhodani
B – Non-Charismatic Dictatorship 6 K’kree
C – Charismatic Oligarchy 8 Dominant Caste (C)
D – Religious Dictatorship 4 Unified Church
(2) the local population holds town meetings to agree any course of action
(4) these worlds resemble the idealised US of TV shows
(6) Or Darrian Confederation, Sword Worlds, Zhodani Consulate where appropriate
(7) Typical balkanised worlds (most likely location)
K'kree versus just about anyone (Coreward)
Ihatei versus anyone (Rimward)
Church versus Cybers (Trailing)
Zhodani versus Imperial (Spinward)
(C) Floriani, Geonee etc
Droyne worlds are represented by Amber and Red Zones. The normal population, government and law codes apply to the none-Droyne of those worlds. These populations are however under the dominion of the Droyne residents. Figures for Droyne numbers are incredibly difficult to gather and cannot be given. Amber zones represent worlds where none Droyne starships may visit freely. Red zone worlds may only be visited by those with an invitation. Visitors without one risk destruction or a very long stay.
