Traveller: Echoes of Intrigue

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DaveW

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Game Information

Created Feb 15 '09
Last Post Mar 24 '09 at 2:20am
Status Complete
System GURPS

Game Description

Echoes of Intrigue, a GURPS: Traveller campaign using GURPS 4th edition rules
Anticipated start date: February 16, 2009.

Campaign setting: Post Fifth Frontier War; Spinward Marches Sector
Player character homeworld (actual or adopted): Sacnoth (Spinward Marches 1325)
Campaign Base TL = GURPS TL 10
Allowable character TL = TL12 or lower.

Knowledge of the GURPS system (4th edition rules) and of the Traveller setting are vital for prospective players. Good Traveller setting infomation can be found online. In particular, the "Canon" and "Library" sections may be useful.

Campaign basis: Combination mercantile and political / corporate intrigue, with possible paramilitary involvement. All characters work for a secret division of Ling-Standard Products, and pose as more-or-less typical merchant ship operators trying to make a living while at, and en route to mission sites.

Homeworld notes: Sacnoth is a TL10 world. It is a member of the Border Worlds Confederation, the only one of which has so far been granted home rule by the Imperium. The Border Worlds are situated in the Spinward Marches between the Imperium and one of its rivals, the Sword Worlds Confederation. Although the war is over, Echoes of Intrigue still are being felt throughout the region. While the Imperium and Sword Worlds have the highest stake in events on the Border Worlds, Sacnoth does come under a variety of other influences... some more subtle than others.

Character basis: The characters will have been hired by a subsidiary of the megacorp Ling-Standard Products on Sacnoth (Border Worlds Confederation, Spinward Marches 1325). They must be believed to be loyal to the company as well as be willing to resort to less-than-legal methods when required. Each character will hold a crew position aboard a small merchant ship, as well as be an integral part of a team (comprised of his or her shipmates) designed to further the company's goals... wherever that may lead them.

I am seeking somewhere around six players. If you may be interested, please simply note that here so I may be aware of your interest. If you would like to be considered for a spot in the game please post your character name, idea, a note regarding which position(s) the character would fill aboard the ship, and how the character will be useful when working in various settings planetside (which is where much of the action will take place). A complete character background story will be required of all players once selected... but there is no need to go through that amount of detail unless you are going to play. The specific ship class that we will use will depend on the number of characters.

Characters are to be created using 200 points, with no more than -50 points in disadvantages (including no more than -5 in quirks). Stats below 10 count against the disadvantage limit, as do quirks. Meta-traits and alien template costs are exempt from the disadvantage limit, but please discuss the selection of these with me in advance.

Many minor races are possible for PCs. Major races that are specifically not permitted include K'Kree and Hivers. Droyne and Vargr are discouraged... you will need to be very convincing if you wish to play a member of one of those two races. Of Humaniti, Zhodani are discouraged but also are possible. Anyone not selecting a race will be assumed to be Human (a typical mix of Solomani and Vilani). Please discuss racial options with me before designing the character.

Character wealth is according to wealth level and as modified by TL. All characters will be assumed to have a household, personal vehicle, etc. that costs 80% of their starting wealth.

Characters must speak and read/write Galanglic (the most common tongue spoken within the Imperium and other locations) at least at accented level. Other languages may be purchased normally, provided that they are supported by the character's background story. You may choose your character's native language.

Cultural Familiarities must include either or both Imperial or Sword Worlder, depending on your background. (Characters with both CF's pay one character point.) A maximum of two CFs may be selected. CF costs for other CFs will vary depending on distance and racial considerations...please ask first.

Social Status above level 2 or below level -1 is unavailable to player characters.

Secondary stat (HP, Fatigue, Will, or Perception) reductions are limited to a total of -10 points, which will count against the disad limit. Increases of up to two levels in each are allowable without specific permission. No more than one level of Lifting ST or Striking ST is availabe without prior GM consent.

No gadgeteering. Anyone with any cybernetics at all will have a Social Stigma if they are relatively obvious, or a -5 point Secret if not. Limited Biotech is possible; please ask first. Having Psionics requires both a ten-point UB and a -10 point Secret which counts against the disad limit.

Since the characters will be hired to work closely with others in stressful situations, no character may have any quirk or other disadvantage which would tend to offend or alienate others from simple coexistence with them. This most definately applies to Odious Personal Habits and a number of mental disadvantages. Please use your judgment when selecting these types of items.

Portions of the character background story may be hidden with the PRIVATE tag if you wish, but please use that only for things which you truly would not share with the other characters even after prolonged companionship.