Forgive me if this is long, but, after all, it was asked for...
In Archive-Message-Number 6958, [email removed] (David
Johnson) writes:
>Are there any folks out there who are more interested in campaign
>background rather than rules and such?
Absolutely. However, the rules and such serve to shape the background.
I cant play Star Trek using Traveller rules since the tech base is so
different. The rules are a framework in which all else resides. You can
change the frame but not without warping the picture in it.
>Is there anyone else who thinks discussions about weapon penetration,
>craft design, and planetary science is a little moot in a
>two-dimensional universe?
Nope. The only 2D universe I see is the post-virus TNE Imperium. Now
theres a flat universe if I've ever seen one.:)
Actually, I've rationalized the 2D maps (yes, I can rationalize things
too, just not as good...). WARNING: this is a load of Vargr's Kidneys:
UNREALITY MODE---ON!
The 2D maps are maps of space showing the relationships of starts
- -according to their positions in jump space-. To wit: space has three Ds and
time. In jump space, the only things that matter are direction and time
(that is jump-time or J rating). The 2D map shows direction (in a j-space
analogy of sperical coords, ie: so many over, so many up) and time in J ratings
(jump 1, jump 2,) as physical distance.
Actually, this explination tears my little CS/physics studying brain to
shreads, but that hasn't stopped me from playing Traveller.
Also, [email removed] asks:
>What adventures have you run lately?
>Any cool stories to tell?
>How did your players wriggle free from the grasp of death? Or
>did they die wimpering on the end of a spit?
Some people just don't know what they're asking...:)
Ok, here goes:
Our campaign has been on hold for several months due to the fact that
one of our players has exercises the use of his masters degree to get a real
job. Unfortunately, he's in New York (we're in Tennessee- the place the Virus
hit hardest). With luck, he'll be back next week (spring break) and we'll
resolve his character out of the picture (he'll go home) and allow the rest of
the gang to continue.
Cast of Characters ( and every one of them are, too :))
Ahz Dueth: Self grandized Vargr captain. Owns 440 ton upgraded Vargr
coursair. Unfortunately, his original crew deserted him and he has been
reduced to the life of hioring *HUMANS* to crew his ship, and he's has to give
up some of his finer pleasures in life to carry cargo. Ugh. Decent pilot,
fairly good at the seedier skills (streetwise, etc). Models himself on
old-Earth pirate documentaires, especiall "The Sea Hawk" and dresses the part.
Has a gauss pistol shaped to look like a black-powder pistol. Remember: he's
never been *convicted* of a crime ( something about lack of evidence, or
witnesses disappearing, or *something* like that...) Has started a collection
of 300,000 year old chicken bones (ancient artifacts) and wishs to posses the
last Harley-Davidson in existence (in the Terran Museum of Transportation
History on Luna)
Helen: An ex navy rating raised with Vargr. She's from Corridor Sector
and her family worked in a small mining town owned mostly by Imperial Vargr.
Their family was one of few living in a city full of Vargr. Unfortunately, she
seems to think and act like a Vargr sometimes (like the night her and Ahz got
ahold of some Scout's Brew, decided to buy grav-bikes, cricket bats, and rotten
tomatoes and drive down the corridors of Aramis Upstation. The local law was
NOT pleased, but since no-one was hurt, they merely had to pay damages and
clean up the rotten tomatoe sploches covering most of the main shopping levels.
My players...:) ) She will be departing from the group sometime next week,
when she recieves a message from her brother. She is also a follower of St.
Elvoos of Terra, the Bringer of Music and Celebration.
Margareth : Ex Imperial Navy commander-intelligence. Had long love
affair with a commanding officer who disappeared right after the 5th Frontier
War (don't tell her, but he's a deep cover spy working for the Zhodani...) She
comes from a high-noble family on Trin, and has turned out to be quite the
black sheet of the family (something about her family religion- arranged
marriages, etc). She once had a run in with the Ahz right after the 5FW, when
the light cruiser she commanded stumbled onto one of Ahz's *ahem* creative ways
of aquiring cargo. High administration/command/computer skills, coupled with
high security clearence.
Marcus : Free trader extraordinaare. Long time friend of Margareth,
Marcus' own 200 ton freigher is on lease to a subsector line based on Regina.
(he gets monthly lease payments). Spend most of his young life making money,
got tired of it, and decided to seek out adventure. (Actually, this is my NPC-
allows me to impart knowledge to the characters. Marcus can get in and out of
any computer ne
And last but not least, a reoccuring villian..
Gladia Corachelli (aka Jennifer Qunlin, aka Anna Rebkka, aka a whole
long list): carrer criminal. This is one of my first CT player characters who
kind of turned on me. I stopped playing her about 6 years ago when she
murdered her best friend (long story). Since, she's become an NPC thorn in the
side of many planetary law enforcement agencies. Currently, she is in a low
berth on the Vargrs ship until Ahz decides what they are going to do with
her(another long story...*sigh*...)
Current time: 110-1116. Place: Aramis/Aramis
First adventure: What do you do when you stumble onto a Zhodani spy
ring? Go looking for chicken bones?
Ahz first totally Vargr-like act was this: through her family/military
connections, Margareth knows Norris (when she was little, her father was a good
friend of the Duke). She called upon him for help/information during the
characters investigation of the Zho spy ring. Norris gave some help and
information, but in exchange, he asked for the characters to deliver a secret
communique to the Imperial garrison on Esalin (the characters don't know
why...). The Vargr, enthralled by the charisma of Norris, agreed to perform
the task. On their second jump from Regina, the Vargr got ahold of a rumor of
300,000 year old chicken bones. Since Norris was half-a-dozen parsecs away,
Ahz own thoughts kicked in, he decided the only thing asked of him was to
deliver the message, so he dumped the secret communique into the mail, and
changen course. Instead of jumping for Esalin, they are heading somewhere
else.
No one else knows knows this yet...
This campaign is centered aroung Margareth (although she doesnt know it
yet and her affair with her commander. Eventually, they will find Margareths
lost love after a runin with Imperial Intelligence, the Ine Givar, the Vargr,
and the Aslan. During the first chaotic years of the Rebellion and the unknown
war the Zhos are having on their spinward borders, a chance will be found to
rescue her love (she thinks he is working for Imperial Intelligence- she
suspected his psionic abilities during their affair...) in a deep penetration
raid into Zhodani space. However, the rescue scene will be full of suprises...
When will all of this happen? Well, the first pieces have already been
put into place (we've played about five adventures so far, just barely
scratching the surface of the Zho spy ring), but its a very free form campaign.
Most of the session start with me asking "OK, where are you going to go next?",
then I wing about 75% of it. We're playing again next Wednesday (Happy, Happy!
Joy, Joy!)
In service to the Imperium
-Vanya