Originally shared by Robert Weaver
I recently came upon a small volume by one J. Eric Holmes, who is famous for his work with a different classic RPG. But in it he mentions Traveller quite a bit, and even shares his thoughts on the sci-fi literature that inspired it.
What authors do you credit with the most influence on your Traveller game? I would have to say H. Beam Piper's been my biggest influence.
Actually, authors had very little to do with it for me. The biggest single influence on MTU was my weekly dose of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. :-)
ReplyDeleteen.wikipedia.org - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series) - Wikipedia
While they may exist, I can't think of anything that influences directly into my Traveller game except to say that Sci-Fi generally just seems to be Fantasy but in Space, if you get my meaning. FRPG and SF-RPG are the same adventures modified slightly by setting. :) When I envision my Traveller games, I can't really find any books or movies offhand that fit. Aliens? Keys of Marinus (Dr. Who)? Starship Troopers? Not many books where the odds are nigh impossible and every effort goes sideways. Perhaps I have a sheltered Sci-Fi life.
ReplyDeleteThere is a good deal of Piper's universe incorporated into Traveller. Piper's work is adventurerous to say the least.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I believe you are the first fan of Buck Rogers TV show I have ever heard of. Dad did not own a TV at the time. He was fond of Metamorfose Alpha which was inspired by Heinlein, his favorite Sci fi writer.
ReplyDeleteChris Holmes the show was on Irish TV at the time I bought my Deluxe Traveller boxed set, and it was pretty much the only SF programme then, apart from Blake's 7 (we only had 4 or 5 channels!), so it's no wonder it exercised a great deal of influence over our teenage minds. Mind you, in terms of overall atmosphere I guess B7 had a greater influence. Authority = bad, rebels = grey, good guys = nope. You could say MTU looked like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and felt like Blake's 7. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat show was a lot of fun. Buster Crabbe, the actor who played Buck Rogers in the old serials (also Flash in the Flash Gordon serials), had a guest appearance I still recall. The old serials were on re-runs for a while on one of the local channels in Kansas City, MO.
ReplyDeleteSorry if I got us off topic. I think we're supposed to be talking Traveler.
ReplyDeleteI was a fan of the Buck Rogers show, though I was only around six yo when it started. I remember the 2nd season being very different, more like Star Trek
ReplyDeleteChris Holmes you didn't get off topic, I posted this because I wasn't aware of it. Thanks for shedding some light
ReplyDeleteDefinitely on topic. :-)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason my early gaming days were inspired by the written word for fantasy, and TV/ Cinema for SF. Partly because there was lots of SF on TV, and partly because I was reading Stanisław Lem who was very hard to use in a game. I did have a scout called Pirx, though!
ReplyDeleteAll my Traveller characters died before I could play...
ReplyDelete~single massive tear rests on cheek~
Funny Jon, and even funnier if true.
ReplyDeleteThe field of Sci fi writers was pretty vast even in the 70's which made it harder to relate to other fans and players. Where as every one has read Tolkien, I have never read Lem.
I exaggerate, though I'm fairly sure my first character died during character creation.
ReplyDeleteBut other kids in the circles I played with in the late 70s had similar experiences, and I think there was a high degree of looking at Traveller from the sides of our eyes...
Over the past 10 years I've become a huge fan of James H. Schmitz (info @ Wikipedia below) and his "Federation of the Hub" stories. Never read them BITD, but had I, I might have perhaps played Traveller (which I've still never done).
ReplyDeleteen.wikipedia.org - James H. Schmitz - Wikipedia