A Return to Traveller

[Haltherrion]

The Third Imperium also linked well with a lot of the popular science fiction of the era (1980's) from Asimov's foundation to the Flandry series. The idea of space empire was rich, compelling and there was a dense body of literature to give ideas as adventure seeds. In that sense, I thought that the Third Imperium was a good way to frame the game and make it accessible.

I always thought of it was heavily influenced by Mote in God's EyeThe tech might be TL 16 (with their shields) but the feel was very similar. I'm sure there were lots of influences, though.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Well, let me be more precise and state that books like this were commonly available in the 1970's and 1980's. If a contemporary reference is needed then how about Miles Vorkosigan's saga or the Mote in God's Eye stuff (which brackets the 1980's quite nicely)?

I think the key point is that the idea of a space empire governing a vast expanse was a common literary trope and that this made it easy for people to understand the game universe.

Sorry about my picky joke! To be completely honest I was reading Foundation, Poul Anderson, E E Doc Smith in the early 70's so I was ripe for Traveller when it first appeared.

So I actually do agree with you - the space empire was a solid trope at the time Traveller appeared. Where I was disappointed with the original books was the lack of sci-fi weaponry - it was all knives and revolvers!

 

[Votan]

Sorry about my picky joke! To be completely honest I was reading Foundation, Poul Anderson, E E Doc Smith in the early 70's so I was ripe for Traveller when it first appeared.

So I actually do agree with you - the space empire was a solid trope at the time Traveller appeared. Where I was disappointed with the original books was the lack of sci-fi weaponry - it was all knives and revolvers!

No troubles. I was just surprised at the real vintage of some of these works. I grew up reading at the public library so my sense of timing for some of these books is quite off.