------------------------------ Bundle: 560 Archive-Message-Number: 7041 From: Anthony "K." Baggaley [-- REDACTED --] Date: Tue, 22 Mar 94 16:29:04 GMT Subject: Star Vikings Re: Path of Tears As Allen? Shock pointed out, the RCES are now described as a reasonably "peaceful" and diplomatic group. You could always guess that it was the intention of GDW to paint them in a good light, it was just that all the previous descriptions of the Chicken Stealers in TNE tended to show their "Ubermensch" (sp) attitude. Those who considered the RCES to be self-serving totalitarian evangelicals trying to force people to accept their twisted morality... certainly had a point- but they never thought that was the whole story. I think it's good that they HAVE finally shown the nice side of the Star Vikings in more detail, and Path of Tears sounds a good book- I would have difficulty running the RCES as good guys with the info in TNE, and I do want to hear about it, for the following reason... As Traveller as gone on, it has certainly made it a tradition to show both sides of the story for every society- it was always at the GMs discretion whether to use good/bad (Zhodani/Solomani/K'Kree etc) or simply "tell it as it is" and let the PCs decide, so doing the same for the RCES is to be expected (and BTW- the two sides certainly applied to the Third Imperium,does anyone remember how nasty it seemed in Adventure 1- The Kinunir?) Here's a big hello to the new, improved, nicer RCES. Some have been using them from the start, some just wanted a bit more evidence than that given in TNE. And, Allen, it's a bit unfair to knock T:2000 to defend TNE- the time in T:2000 is ALSO a time of rebuilding when looked at in an optimistic way- most of the scenarios are "Help these people/ Do this Mission because it will help to rebuild society" it's just that most of the time this involves breaking heads. Looked at that way the basic TNE "smash and grab" missions do sound like T:2000 in space. TNE is certainly "Dark" in the sense that things are still unpleasant out there, the problem is where PCs use this as an excuse to be amoral mercenaries, which isn't the intention even in many other games that have been labeled "Dark" (maybe so they will sell). - - fortunately in TNE it is clearly stated that the goal is to improve things (This is not too different to other "Dark" games- Mike Pondsmith got fed up of PCs refusing to act as the heros he expected in CP2020 so he wrote CyberGeneration, which says clearly "things are bad, you have to improve them". TNE isn't out there on it's own). ------------------------------------ and Simon Hibbs pointed out... >As for the 'TNE is a load of crap' versus 'TNE is as good a background as >any' debate. I realy don't give a toss. I will continue to buy what I want, >raid for useable material then run whatever kind of game I like. Why can't >everyone else just do that same and stop slaging off each other's campaign >background. I think that pretty much says it all. (but I still think it was a good question for discussion) and finally, for David Johnson- Star Vikings are what people call the RCES when they first arrive Arses are what people call the RCES when they have left Sir is what people call the RCES once they arrive to stay Regency is the new name for the Domain of Deneb, with slightly more democratic government and legal psionics. Norris set it rolling and was first Regent. I cann't believe I defended T:2000 Anthony K. (someone must have been telling lies about me) ------------------------------