The Gateway Quadrant History Project.

I own physical copies of some Judges’ Guild Traveler material, which I had never referenced before 2019. Covid came.  I thought it would be fun to retcon JG to 1105, but discovered, after expending too much time, that it was no longer part of the OTU. 

Then I discovered QLI’s Gateway to Destiny on a Far Future Enterprises CD ROM (available at Traveller20 Contents.pdf (farfuture.net).  The system was T20, but the background material was intriguing, and TBH, far better than the Judges Guild material.  But that’s not a high bar to step over.  The plan changed. 

I decided to build a campaign that fits into OTU, in the Gateway Sector.  Gateway to Destiny is set in 990, written in 2004.  I also own a physical copy of MegaTraveler Journal #4 (available on E-Bay), detailing the Gateway Sector Post Rebellion ~ 1120, written in 1993.  It's not all "Canon" but a some of the material is incorporated into the OTU.

The set up is wonderful: At the edge of the Imperium there are a bunch of small independent worlds, federations and alliances, bickering amongst themselves.  Piracy is an ongoing problem.  Uncle Imperium has its own problems and lacks resources to deal with these pissant pocket empire wannabes.

In the distance (30+ parsecs from the Imperial border) is a growing empire of xenophobic, genocidal (carnocidal?) herbivore zealots who want to erase all non-vegetarians from the universe.  In the OTU the herbivore zealot empire, known as the Lords of Thunder, expands towards the Imperium, conquering huge tracts of space between 990 and 1105.

The QLI Gateway to Destiny lays the foundation for a lot of near future changes in that Sector, during the Solomani Rim War (990-1002).  TheTravelerMap shows what the Sector will become in 1105, although I believe it’s “In Review.” 

Shortly after the war, as troops are demobilized, the characters find themselves in a Quadrant that is missing key players.  The Imperium is less interested and smaller polities have exerted themselves into  the space. 

To retcon this from 1105 to 990, I’m randomly adjusting 1105 population, mostly downwards, to reflect population growth, but occasionally upward to reflect a declining population.  In the course of 100 years this rarely affects the Starport or Tech Level.  I’m also adding Naval forces to larger planets as this is important to figuring out who can afford to fight, and who can afford to buy from Sheridan or other Strong Planets.  More on the methodology to follow.    

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