Re: Background

[email removed] (David Johnson) says:

 >In an effort to start a `Background' discussion, here's a question:  What
 >is there to recommend TNE (vs. MT or CT) from a `background' point of
 >view?  Forget the new rules and such, is the new campaign an improvement
 >over the ante-Rebellion, Rebellion and Hard Times eras?

 While I admit to being a fan of TNE, my answer to this question must
be "it depends."
 The New Era has, thanks to the surviving Regency, more variety than
the previous eras.  It has old, well established civilization. It has
endless battles against a foe that nobody likes (even that foe's
relatives).  It has exploration and reclamation, salvage and new
construction.  Everywhere you look, there is an exploratory frontier
(as opposed to a political one, the only kind the previous eras knew).
 Granted, there are those Traveller players who _want_ a wide expanse
of "predictable" Imperial civilization, who want an Imperium at peace.
Depending on the scope of their games the Regency might be enough, but
probably not. I accept that.

 New Era: scrabble for basic supplies.
 Classic Era: scrabble for the next ship's payment.

 Classic Era: be shot at while breaking the law.
 New Era: be shot at while making the law.

 Classic Era: "It's two years cruising to Capital.  Who's going?"
 New Era: "This ain't the King Richard, boy, and that ain't a
    Customs cruiser.  Shoot the Vampire before it shoots you."

 Classic Era: "Time for annual maintenance. Where's the nearest A-port?"
 New Era: "Captain, we only made that jump because the coils like me.
    Unless you want to depend on that friendship, you'll find us a
    junkyard or a wreck I can plunder for new coils."

 Classic Era: "Hmm. The Second Survey must have missed these guys, but
    they sure look intelligent, don't they?"
 New Era: "Everything the old records say is suspect, and we can only
    verify the stellar type..."

 Classic Era: adventurers' lives are a lesson in bad Karma.
 New Era: Live fast, kill Virus, make history. Screw Karma.

 Ahem.

  One of the biggest complaints about the Rebellion period was that it
quickly became "the largest spectator event in history".  By comparison,
Classic Traveller was going nowhere, doing nothing.  An ambitious
referee could chart his own major events for two reasons: the developed
parts of the Imperium were its frontiers, not the important stuff
around Capital; and there were no other major events that had to be
conformed to.  Every group has its own Imperium from that period.
  Then came the Rebellion, and MegaTraveller.  Most of us old Classic
players can remember the cold shiver we got when Traveller's Digest
#9 hit the stands: "Emperor Strephon Assassinated!"  We knew, even
then, that "our" Imperium had been taken away from us.  Most of us
looked on as MT supplements appeared, moving the Rebellion forward
while leaving us behind.  No more home-cooked "major" events; here
was the future plotted in detail.
  Finally came the news: The New Era.  DGP retreats in disarray. GDW
takes back Traveller.  There was much rejoicing... But what's this?
GDW says they're going to finish the job the Rebellion started, and
tear down the Imperium completely.  70 YEARS?!?  Caused by a COMPUTER
VIRUS?  Thus we arrive at today.  What is different from MT, you
ask?  Here we sit while GDW puts on the "Let's Rebuild the
Imperium" show.
  Unlikely. At best. Recall, those of you who have the material, that
the Spinward Marches were settled by the expanding Third Imperium
in the 300's!  This was during an era of optimistic expansion and
exploration, with no Virus to slow them down. Three HUNDRED years
from Capital to Regina.  In this light, I don't think the maps will
change much, except to get more informative, unless GDW keeps
the calendar going breakneck.  Lines of communication will open
within the first 40 or 50 years sufficient to allow the historical
quotes in the TNE book, but actual sovereign borders will change
very slowly.  Pocket Empires will boom to a point, then discover that
quarantine is impossible on an expanding border. The RCES makes no
bones about expansion, but suffers the same problems of secure
borders.  The Regency won't advance a single parsec without extensive
cleansing operations and establishment of new links in the Quarantine
Line, and will reach the trailing end of Corridor to face the realities
of a Line that is not just advancing, but expanding as well. All while
recalling that the Line is held by charisma-happy Vargr in places
beyond the Regency's control. Enough to give a Regent nightmares.
  No, the map will not change quickly.  And when it does, there will
always be areas of the Third Imperium that will not come under the new
flag for centuries or more. Pick the right spot for your campaign and
have no interference from GDW, major events or no, for 50-150 years.
I strongly suspect that the interior of the Regency will be one of
those areas, barring initial development for the New Era.  Each
group can have "its own" New Era, knowing (and caring) only that
the universe gets a little bigger, and a little more Virus-free,
with each passing year.


 (Whew!)



James Kundert [email removed]
              [email removed]

There was a young lady named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster, much faster than Light.
She departed one day in a relative way,
And returned on the previous Night.
   --Albert & the Heart of Gold