Hello again all. I have been prompted to be less vague on my questions about
Startports. My primary complaint is that whereas there is a World Builder's
Handbook, and a COACC book, now there are even rules for Seagoing vessels of
the 14th century, there are relatively few rules for Starports. Here is a
very incomplete compendium of what I can remember offhand:
For Classic Trav (still useful in MT):
Judges Guild - 50 Starbases. The first half is somewhat useful. They suggest
that 'high' ports be broken down into: Orbital Docks
Orbital Ports
Orbital Cities
In addition, there is a basic, standard, and extended version of each. There
are also some rules suggestions for navigation beacons, and 20 short tables
to generate local 'color' for any starport. The second half consists of some
50 undocumented starport maps. Some of these look like they could be adapted
for realistic use, most do not. Worth getting, provided you don't pay more
that $10 for it. It's been out of print for years, but suprisingly easy to
find.
Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society #19: The Skyport Authority. Mercenary-
style character generation for the people who work at Starports. Can be
directly used in MT, as this corresponds to advanced character generation.
Good for generating NPC's, but that's about all. Out of print, but it can
be found.
Dragon #59(?): Exonidas Starport. A pull out for Traveller, detailing
adventure situations in and around an extensive type A starport. Out of
print, but many game shops stock Dragon back issues. Check to make sure
the pull out is still inside before you buy.
High Passage/Far Traveller: The Port Authority. A series of short articles
by J. Keith on the ins and outs of starship regulation, including
transponders, merchant convoys, inward clearance, restricted planets, and
communications channels. Very useful, but out of print and extremely hard
to find.
Adventure Class Ships Vol. II: The Orbital Facility. A deckplan for a small
orbital facility. Useful either as the a complete extended orbital dock,
or as a portion of a more extensive facility. Out of print, extremely hard
to find.
Best of the Journal Vol. 2: Startown. A brief discussion of the red-light
district that seems to grow up around Starports across the Imperium.
Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society #7: Can't remember the title of the
article, but it was a discussion of a 'typical' type A starport.
There are also brief discussions of starports in the Traveller Book.
For MegaTraveller:
Far & Away #1: Two articles by J. Keith on rules for Starports. Quite useful,
but this magazine didn't sell well for some reason, and it may be hard to
find this issue.
There are more, of course, but I can't remember the details. I will post a
more complete listing later. Now, as to my problem. Even possessing all of
the above mentioned 'hard to find', 'out of print' documents, I still don't
really think I know a lot about Starports. Most of these were short magazine
articles. What I am interested in is a sort of Port Authority Handbook, with a
summary of pre-Rebellion Imperial Port Authority policies. If such rules don't
exist, I perhaps could work on producing some of my own, but if they do exist,
well, I have graduate school to worry about.
In addition, any suggestions for references I didn't mention, or examples from
your own campaigns are welcome. Please e-mail me.
Just one second... (Zipppp). Asbestos suit on. I must refuse any requests
for photocopies of the above out-of-print documents, unless you can provide
me with photocopies of some other out-of-print document I am looking for.
Sorry.