Traveller Questions

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date Sent:18-Jan-1994 02:07pm
                                        From:     Alistair Langsford
                                                  LANGSFORD ALISTAIR
                                        Dept:     Information Services
                                        Tel No:   289 7870

TO:  Remote Addressee                     ( _traveller@engrg.uwo.ca )


Subject: Traveller Questions

Traveller Questions(Long):
==========================

I have been doing some preparation for when my Traveller campaign comes out
of cold sleep later on this year. This has prompted the following
questions. I've sketched out some answers I've thought of and would like to
know what other people's views are, for and against - any feedback would be
appreciated, especially from the point of view of the 'Classic' Third
Imperium, c.1100-1115

Q: I can't remember where it is stated but it is my impression that once
you go outside the boundaries of the starport on the world you are subject
to that world's law level. So what happens if/when PCs get in trouble? Can
the Imperial gov't intervene, and does it? How would this relate to the
Imperial Ministry of Justice as described in a Challenge article some time
ago?

A: It depends on the circumstances of the treaty by which the world became
a member of the imperium. A standard agreement would be that no world could
harbour an 'Enemy of the Imperium' - ie wanted for an Imperial offense. In
return, those guilty of local crime are extradited if caught back to the
planet, with the exception of status B (nobles) and above, who can elect to
be tried by an Imperial court - typically for the crime of 'Conduct
prejudicial to the good of the Imperium'.

Imperial military have better things to do than hunt down any but major
criminals, so bounty hunters are likely to do a thriving trade. There are
also likely to be extradition agreements and police cooperation agreements
between many collections of systems, 'brokered' as it were by the Imperium:
perhaps by the Imperial Ministry of Justice?

As for the idea of the Imperial Ministry of Justice, except for such
Interstellar Crime and influence on Military Justice I don't think it would
have much say about what happens locally.  I'm not real sure: I can't find
the article in my collection so I could be remembering incorrectly.

Q: If the law & government level describes the world outside the starport,
what determines what is the law level and government type -in- the
starport?

A: Law level and Government are based on the applicable subsector capital.
Note however that appeals could be made to the Sector Court at the Sector
Capital, and are likely to be influenced by the Sector Capital's law/Gov't
type.

Q: If you assume the UWP is describing the world and not the starport, what
tech level should the starports be?

A: Average Stellar, or world tech, whichever is higher.

Q: If a world is TL'n', does that mean that outside the starport the PCs
are limited to TL'n' equipment? If not, how do you deal with the effects of
having PCs with high tech equipment on low tech worlds? And what about the
reverse?

A: Yes, characters are limited to equipment in the same tech code. Why? so
they don't disrupt the local society and economy too much. Political,
social, and economic stability are valued highly, and having all three most
of the time is probably why the Imperium lasted as long as it did.

Alistair,
[email removed]