Perseus Arm - An Overview
Perseus Arm is a campaign setting for use with the Traveller RPG system - in any of its variants, including the OGL-supported Cepheus Engine.
Sometimes, the native fauna can be quite dangerous. At least four varieties of "Acid Dragons" are known to exist - each independently evolved on different worlds. Even the flora could be deadly: two planets are known for their ambulatory, carnivorous plants. Many others have plants whose pollen (or pollen equivalent) can have a variety of effects upon humans who are exposed to it.
From a game-master point of view, each world developed provides an opportunity for new, unique challenges for players in the setting.
Much to the chagrin of some of the New Pioneers, the humans in the Perseus Arm discovered that - even this far removed from the galactic core - they were not the only sentient beings in the local space. Nor were they even the only space-farers. Two other races of beings had developed Jump Drive technology. Fortunately, though, the three races have - thus far - gotten along amicably. There is even a fair amount of trade commerce occurring among the three. Nevertheless, occasional cultural misunderstandings and ancient xenophobic biases can sometimes result in disruptions of the general peace of the Perseus Arm.
These creatures can function for short periods out of water, but prefer not to have to.
In addition, elements of gameplay take place in space itself. Combat between starships is a common thing. Space Pirates are a thing. Defense forces of occupied worlds whose cultures have developed extreme cases of xenophobia are a thing. And the opportunity for a new, aggressive sentient race arriving from some (nearby) part of the galaxy in an attempt to colonize or conquer will always exist as well.
When fully developed, the Perseus Arm campaing setting will encompass all of these things and more.
Next, branch colony worlds will be named, located on the map, and roughly spec'ed out. The Traveller (and Cepheus Engine) system for assigning planets/cultures a numeric "index" will help drive this effort tremendously.
Perseus Arm is envisioned to be a giant "sandbox" environment in which players can almost randomly explore and encounter things during gameplay sessions. There will, however, be a number of prepared "adventure modules" to enable gamemasters to provide a team of players with some mission to complete while they are exploring everything Perseus Arm has to offer.
Campaign Environmental Features
The Timeframe
The timeframe for the campaign coincides with approximately the year 4350 Earth Reckoning - approximately two thousand years (one hundred generations) after the initial colonization of the Perseus Arm by humans from Earth. During that time, the Earth-origined civilization had a few ups and down, but overall it has expanded across most of the M37 star cluster and its surrounding regions of space.Cultures
Over the years, there have been several instances where groups have broken away from their home colonies in order to establish different societal ways of living. Some of these were retro-cultural movements that sought to celebrate - if not re-establish - national cultural identities of their ancestors on Earth. Others breakaway movements were more economically or socially driven.Critters
The three main worlds chosen by the initial pioneers, and most of the planets that humans chosen for human colonization since, were already teeming with life. And while the flora and fauna of each of these may have great similarities to "earth-born" varieties; these are all unique and native to their home planets. For example, one planet is home to small cat-like creatures that are easily domesticated as pets - once their fangs and poison glands are surgically removed.Sometimes, the native fauna can be quite dangerous. At least four varieties of "Acid Dragons" are known to exist - each independently evolved on different worlds. Even the flora could be deadly: two planets are known for their ambulatory, carnivorous plants. Many others have plants whose pollen (or pollen equivalent) can have a variety of effects upon humans who are exposed to it.
From a game-master point of view, each world developed provides an opportunity for new, unique challenges for players in the setting.
Other Sentient Life
Much to the chagrin of some of the New Pioneers, the humans in the Perseus Arm discovered that - even this far removed from the galactic core - they were not the only sentient beings in the local space. Nor were they even the only space-farers. Two other races of beings had developed Jump Drive technology. Fortunately, though, the three races have - thus far - gotten along amicably. There is even a fair amount of trade commerce occurring among the three. Nevertheless, occasional cultural misunderstandings and ancient xenophobic biases can sometimes result in disruptions of the general peace of the Perseus Arm.
(Race 1 - octopoid)
These beings evolved on a water world from creatures that resembled earth-like cephalopods. Six highly articulate "arms", each ending with four branched "fingers" provided these creatures with sufficient manual dexterity to manipulate things in their world with great precision. Large, well-developed brains permitted sufficient intelligence to evolve.These creatures can function for short periods out of water, but prefer not to have to.
Race 2 - raccoon-like
These creatures evolved on a planet that was Earth-like in most respects. Animal life evolved forms that resembled earth mammals, and one of these species ultimately evoived to be bipedal, with grasping hands and opposable thumbs. These creatures vaguely resemble large versions of earth's raccoons. A natural curiosity underlies their intelligence.Race 3 - reptilian
These creatures evolved on an earthlike planet, but one with far less open water and atmospheric moisture. Species resembling earth reptiles have dominated the evolutionary scene on this world for eons; mammal-like creatures never developed here. Three species of these pseudo-reptiles developed the intelligence and had the manual dexterity required to make technological advances; these creatures are reminiscent of bipedal hadrosaurs from earth's age of the dinosaurs. Rather than compete with one another, these three species intermingle freely and cooperate on common efforts.Gameplay Atmosphere
One of the advantages of a space-based science fiction campaign setting is the opportunity to explore a variety of look-and-feel options for particular worlds. One may be truly utopian, another may seem to be so, but some dark secret underlies the seeming serenity. A third world may be truly harsh, driven by corporate and personal greed of those at the top of the "food chain" who use and abuse the common folk at the bottom. A world may be "uninhabited"... a wilderness of exotic (and dangerous) flora and fauna to explore and discover. Perseus Arm will feature all of these.In addition, elements of gameplay take place in space itself. Combat between starships is a common thing. Space Pirates are a thing. Defense forces of occupied worlds whose cultures have developed extreme cases of xenophobia are a thing. And the opportunity for a new, aggressive sentient race arriving from some (nearby) part of the galaxy in an attempt to colonize or conquer will always exist as well.
When fully developed, the Perseus Arm campaing setting will encompass all of these things and more.
The Plan
The initial historical lore of the Perseus Arm speaks of three "seed" colony worlds. A "star map" of the Perseus Arm region needs to be established, and these three worlds need to be placed. Likewise, the homeworlds for the other sentient beings need to be located. The next step is to fully "develop" each of these worlds. It is the intent that each will have its own cultural, social, and economic "flavor".Next, branch colony worlds will be named, located on the map, and roughly spec'ed out. The Traveller (and Cepheus Engine) system for assigning planets/cultures a numeric "index" will help drive this effort tremendously.
Perseus Arm is envisioned to be a giant "sandbox" environment in which players can almost randomly explore and encounter things during gameplay sessions. There will, however, be a number of prepared "adventure modules" to enable gamemasters to provide a team of players with some mission to complete while they are exploring everything Perseus Arm has to offer.
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