What is the purpose of the Carl Sagan quote on page 2 of Traveller CRB 2022?

[Limpin Legin]

How does drawing attention to Carl Sagan, as a person or scientist, or how does this quote, as a whole or as individual paragraphs, actually contribute to the understanding of Traveller as the science-fiction roleplaying game?

 

[hughsieman]

For someone new to the game, and as the very first thing they may read, I think it sets the scene very well for everything that is about to come…

 

[ColinD]

While most role playing games inhabit a time that never was, Traveller imagines a Future that could be, one filled with adventures across the Cosmos. I don't speak for the writers of the Core Rule Book but I love that quote. Carl Sagan not only imagined, and but showed through experimentation , that life like ours was possible on other worlds. He also wrote a science fiction novel about first contact.

 

[Sigtrygg]

On our small planet, at this moment, here we face a critical branch point in history. What we do with our planet, right now, will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants.
It is well within our power to destroy our civilisation and, perhaps, our species as well. If we capitulate to superstition, greed or stupidity, we can plunge our world into a darkness deeper than the time between the collapse of classical civilisation and the Italian renaissance.
But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to create an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet. To enhance enormously our understanding of the universe, and to carry us to the stars...
- Carl Sagan, Cosmos

 

[Otronatis]

I love that quote. It's a good illustration of the role of science in societies, and a great way to let the reader know that it's going to be about hard SF. What's your problem with it?

 

[Limpin Legin]

I love that quote. It's a good illustration of the role of science in societies, and a great way to let the reader know that it's going to be about hard SF. What's your problem with it?

Need something be a problem, before it becomes a question? To answer, I had several motivations:

• It is new to CRB 2022. Just healthy curiosity wondered why the addition was now included.
• It is a different narrative and perspective to the original "Mayday, Mayday ..." found on CT boxset, and later.
• It is relevant. So curious if anyone was or has discussed quote in a literary/creative way.
• The last line in particular quotes Carl saying "carry us to the stars", like Traveller history hadn't happened yet, because Traveller Chartered Space assumes "being in the stars" has already happened. So the last line sounded odd without it turning into a complaint.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Incidentally, Traveller Companion now quote from author Douglas Adams saying:

Space is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that's just peanuts to space. – Douglas Adams

Humorous, humbling and consistent.

 

[CordwainerFish]

Need something be a problem, before it becomes a question?

Your phrasing had a strong aura of 'this is a bad thing and I disapprove of it'.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Your phrasing had a strong aura of 'this is a bad thing and I disapprove of it'.

Well, the aura is yours not mine. You only see my words, not an aura. I am very surprised at your assertion. Maybe the word "actually" should be dropped from the question, if that is helpful. Thx.

 

[GabrielGABFonseca]

How does drawing attention to Carl Sagan, as a person or scientist, or how does this quote, as a whole or as individual paragraphs, actually contribute to the understanding of Traveller as the science-fiction roleplaying game?

 

[nats]

What is the quote?

 

[Sigtrygg]

What is the quote?

On our small planet, at this moment, here we face a critical branch point in history. What we do with our planet, right now, will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants.
It is well within our power to destroy our civilisation and, perhaps, our species as well. If we capitulate to superstition, greed or stupidity, we can plunge our world into a darkness deeper than the time between the collapse of classical civilisation and the Italian renaissance.
But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to create an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet. To enhance enormously our understanding of the universe, and to carry us to the stars...
- Carl Sagan, Cosmos

 

[MongooseMatt]

Need something be a problem, before it becomes a question? To answer, I had several motivations:

• It is new to CRB 2022. Just healthy curiosity wondered why the addition was now included.
• It is a different narrative and perspective to the original "Mayday, Mayday ..." found on CT boxset, and later.
• It is relevant. So curious if anyone was or has discussed quote in a literary/creative way.
• The last line in particular quotes Carl saying "carry us to the stars", like Traveller history hadn't happened yet, because Traveller Chartered Space assumes "being in the stars" has already happened. So the last line sounded odd without it turning into a complaint.

We felt it encapsulated Traveller nicely. In the Charted Space universe humanity (and others) have certainly taken their problems and evolutionary baggage with them, but there still remains hope for a better future. It is also very relevant to our own world and our own time, as all good science fiction tends to reflect.

As for 'carry us to the stars', well, there are always more stars

Incidentally, if anyone is after bonus points, this is not the first time we have used that quote at the start of one of our books. Anyone know which book it first appeared in?

 

[Limpin Legin]

We felt it encapsulated Traveller nicely. In the Charted Space universe humanity (and others) have certainly taken their problems and evolutionary baggage with them, but there still remains hope for a better future. It is also very relevant to our own world and our own time, as all good science fiction tends to reflect.

As for 'carry us to the stars', well, there are always more stars

Beautiful. I imagine it could be especially noteworthy for Deepnight and 2300AD players.

Does that mean "Mayday, Mayday ..." message is now literally consigned to history? (That is the message that what got me into the game, and got me into roleplaying in general.)

Incidentally, if anyone is after bonus points, this is not the first time we have used that quote at the start of one of our books. Anyone know which book it first appeared in?

Nobodies replied, so I guess in a totally random way, that it is from a 2300AD rulebook.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Does that mean "Mayday, Mayday ..." message is now literally consigned to history? (That is the message that what got me into the game, and got me into roleplaying in general.)

Not at all - in fact, there are some t-shirts on the way with it!

 

[NOLATrav]

Cool Traveller merch available direct from Mongoose would be soooo nice….

Stickers, patches, shirts, caps…

*Imperial Service Badges
*Anything and Everything Scouts - a shirt with that great pic of a Scout riding a Poni waving hello (goodbye?) to a Type S in the background would be fantastic. No text, just the image. Also Branch patches/stickers
*Images of iconic Imperial ships
*Since you’ve got the whole line now why not coffee mugs with the Traveller Book illos of AL Jamison, Daarla (sp?) etc etc

I’m sure you’re way ahead of me but couldn’t resist throwing it out there. Cheers

 

[Condottiere]

MY NEXT LIFE AS A VILANINESS
All Routes Lead to Doom!

 

[Limpin Legin]

MY NEXT LIFE AS A VILANINESS
All Routes Lead to Doom!

Each sophont has an intelligent way of dealing with doom, which makes them more than animals. Plus, you'd need to get yourself noticed first, etc.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Cool Traveller merch available direct from Mongoose would be soooo nice….

Stickers, patches, shirts, caps…

*Imperial Service Badges
*Anything and Everything Scouts - a shirt with that great pic of a Scout riding a Poni waving hello (goodbye?) to a Type S in the background would be fantastic. No text, just the image. Also Branch patches/stickers
*Images of iconic Imperial ships
*Since you’ve got the whole line now why not coffee mugs with the Traveller Book illos of AL Jamison, Daarla (sp?) etc etc

I’m sure you’re way ahead of me but couldn’t resist throwing it out there. Cheers

The trouble with too much merch is that it makes the company look like they are just in it to profit in every way possible.

The patches idea is fantastic, and already used in Mongoose Kickstarters. If they started using it elsewhere, then that might distract from future kickstarters.

Not at all - in fact, there are some t-shirts on the way with it!

Great. But please avoid looking like a Joy Division "Unknown Pleasures" Tee-Shirt I don't wear T-Shirts, because of body shape, but I got stuff and friends with other stuff already like that.
Joy Division "Unknown Pleasures" Tee-Shirts (Bing Images).

 

[TrippyHippy]

Just need to say:

Carl Sagan quotes are cool (and so are Joy Division T-Shirts).