[19:01] <+BPIJonathan> Good evening everyone. I am Jonathan M. Thompson, owner of Battlefield Press. We are currently using indigogo to finance a series of preorders for the Savage Worlds setting, Terran Trade Authority: The Proxima War.
[19:01] <+BPIJonathan> This is an officially licensed product from Stewart Cowley, the creator of the Terran Trade Authority
[19:05] <~Dan> (Please give us a (done) when you’re ready for questions. 🙂 )
[19:06] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:06] <~Dan> Thanks! The floor is open to questions!
[19:06] <+BPIJonathan> (sorry, its been awhile since I was at one of these things)
[19:06] <~Dan> (S’okay. 🙂 )
[19:07] <~Dan> So for those who don’t know, what is the Terran Trade Authority?
[19:09] <@Silverlion> Will all the races be playable, and do you reveal any connections between them?
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[19:10] <+BPIJonathan> IT is a sci fi setting that basically started as a series of ship images in 1978. Later a story was developed to connect all the pieces. The story is told from the point of view of the Earth organization, The Terran Trade Authority. In this book we meet the Alphans from Alpha Centauri, the Proximans (from Proxima Centuari) and of course the Terrans, who end
[19:10] <+BPIJonathan> up involved in this little ware.
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[19:10] <+BPIJonathan> war
[19:11] <+BPIJonathan> contact was established with the inhabitants of the Alpha Centauri star system (the ‘Alphans’), with whom Terrans quickly became friends and allies. The second alien encounter at Proxima Centauri (with the ‘Proximans’ – long antagonistic towards the Alphans) resulted in the two-decade long ‘Proximan War.’ This war drove the development of space technology, re
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[19:12] <+BPIJonathan> resulting in many of the starship designs that inhabit the TTA universe
[19:12] <+BPIJonathan> Each race will be playable, each to its own abilities.
[19:12] <+BPIJonathan> (done, I think)
[19:13] <+BPIJonathan> TTA TPW is based off material found in the book Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD by Stewart Cowley
[19:13] <~Dan> So as I recall, Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD never describes the Alphans or the Proximans. How did you decide what they should be like?
[19:14] <+BPIJonathan> One of the authors had a discussion with Mr. Cowley, and it was that determination that decided what they looked like.
[19:15] <~Dan> And what do they look like? 🙂
[19:15] <+BPIJonathan> Some of the material was used in an earlier version of the RPG, but the rights reverted back to the author, and so we were able to reuse some material.
[19:16] <+BPIJonathan> That would be telling, besides the material is quite a few words.
[19:17] <+BPIJonathan> Let me see if I can pull up some relevant info
[19:17] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
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[19:18] <~Dan> (Howdy, Andy-C!)
[19:18] <+Andy-C> (Hi!)
[19:18] <~Dan> How would you describe the tech level of the setting?
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[19:19] <~Dan> (Howdy, BlasterKyubey210!)
[19:19] <+BPIJonathan> Alphans are elegant and graceful beings, tall but slightly built, quick in reflexes and intelligence. They share a striking physical and genetic resemblance to humans, and evidence is overwhelming that humans, Alphans, and Proximans all share common roots.
[19:20] <+BPIJonathan> Proximans are short and thickly-built bipedal humanoids, slow-moving, thoughtful, philosophical and generally tenacious. They bear a striking resemblance to Terrans and Alphans, and in fact it has become clear that humans, Alphans, and Proximans all share common genetic roots, evolving from a shared common stock.
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[19:20] <@Silverlion> So who transplanted the stock?
[19:20] <+BPIJonathan> That is not revealed.
[19:21] <~Dan> (Howdy, RandBrittain!)
[19:21] <+RandBrittain> Good evening.
[19:21] <~Dan> They sound a bit like space elves and space dwarves, respectively.
[19:21] <+BPIJonathan> There are rumors of ancient civilizations and ruins on worlds of those civilzations
[19:22] <+BPIJonathan> I think of the Humanx Commonwealth when I think of the tech.
[19:23] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:24] <+BPIJonathan> Advanced but not way out there.
[19:24] <~Dan> I’m not familiar with that aside from the name… Would you call this “imperial sci-fi”?
[19:25] <+BPIJonathan> Its a set of stories by Alan Dean Foster. No, its more upbeat. Cowley projects a bright future for mankind,almost utopian…but not quite.
[19:26] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:26] <~Dan> I’m assuming there’s no cybernetics or other such augmentation, correct?
[19:27] <+BPIJonathan> That is correct
[19:27] <~Dan> Is there an in-setting reason for that?
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[19:30] <+BPIJonathan> No there is not, in fact it was not even a question we asked so there is no answer to give even for out of setting.
[19:30] * ~Dan nods
[19:31] <~Dan> What about psionics?
[19:33] <+BPIJonathan> Again, they are not part of the setting. Now, since the rare individual has been known to develop them we were able to keep from “disallowing them” So a player can make someone that is psionic and still be official, even though they
[19:33] <+BPIJonathan> are not officially in the book.
[19:33] <+BPIJonathan> If that makes sense. (done)
[19:34] <~Dan> Given the source material, is the majority of the game about ship-to-ship combat?
[19:35] <+BPIJonathan> The game is open. It is about whatever the GM decides. We provide the history of when and where things happen, but you can play as a spy, in combat, or as free traders.
[19:36] <+BPIJonathan> Just because its backdrop is a war, doesnt mean that war is the only game you can play
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[19:36] <+BPIJonathan> It has plenty of room for whatever strikes your fancy
[19:36] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:36] <~Dan> Do you cover alien flora and fauna?
[19:37] <+BPIJonathan> We do not, mostly because its a little sparce. If this does well enough, then we have permission to develop new material for the setting…including a book about alien creatures and plants
[19:38] <+BPIJonathan> However, we do well pulling just about anything reasonable (to the GM) into the setting from bestiaries without hurting anything.
[19:38] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:39] <~Dan> (brb)
[19:39] <+GenoFoxx> (darn I’m late)
[19:39] <@Silverlion> (Yes you are..)
[19:39] <+BPIJonathan> (Welcome GenoFoxx)
[19:39] <+BPIJonathan> (dont feel bad, I was almost late myself)
[19:43] <+GenoFoxx> How will this edition differ from the previous TTA rpg?
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[19:43] <~Dan> (back, sorry)
[19:44] <+BPIJonathan> Different system, different focus, and hopefully better support
[19:44] <~Dan> Different focus?
[19:44] <+BPIJonathan> We are limiting this book to the Proxima War, the next book will focus on the Leguna War
[19:45] <+BPIJonathan> We are not trying to cover everything at once, we are breaking it up into chunks in hopes that it doesnt overwhelm everyone.
[19:45] <~Dan> Are you able to use material from the Galactic Encounters books?
[19:47] <+BPIJonathan> Currently we are not licensed for that material, but that has a high probability of change depending on how this initial release goes
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[19:48] <~Dan> (Howdy, jeffszusz!)
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[19:48] <~Dan> wb, BPIJonathan!
[19:49] <+BPIJonathan> Sorry, browser crashed
[19:49] <~Dan> No problem.
[19:49] <+BPIJonathan> Did I miss a question?
[19:49] <&Le_Squide> I love the material; is there a reason you decided to go with a flexible funding campaign?
[19:49] <~Dan> Would you use the Galactic Encounters books for such things as alien animals?
[19:49] <+xyphoid> so TTA for me has always been all about the lush 70s SF novel cover art and engineering SF – do you have a particular tone that you’re trying to hit in your SF? are you keeping retro as a thing, or is this targetting more modern SF?
[19:50] <+xyphoid> ( man I wish I could find my copy of Starliners 😦 )
[19:51] <+Huli> ((
[19:51] <+Huli> All I have is great space battles
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[19:52] <@Silverlion> (Remind me and I’ll send you my spacecraft guide sometime..the first one 2000-2100
[19:52] <+BPIJonathan> Yes, because when we tried to launch this last time, it failed. We decided to go with this basically as a preorder set. Everyone that backs will get a book.
[19:53] <+BPIJonathan> We also see that there is interests and we can actually cut Mr. Cowley a check from these funds.
[19:53] <+BPIJonathan> As for art. Art is being done by Ian Stead, who did the art in Mindjammer.
[19:53] <+Huli> are you keeping the history the same or updating it for the passage of time since the 70’s and 80’s
[19:54] <+BPIJonathan> He was able to learn the same technique used originally and has been able to duplicate the style of the artwork
[19:54] <~Dan> Nice!
[19:54] <+BPIJonathan> The timeline is as it was originally, there is no add ons or additions to it.
[19:55] <+BPIJonathan> So the timeline in the Spacecraft 2000 – 2100 book, is the same one in the RPG
[19:55] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[19:55] <+Huli> let’s face it real history for space travel and exploration has gone downhill
[19:56] <+BPIJonathan> I cant help but agree with you, when I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut.
[19:57] <~Dan> What are your thoughts on using Savage Worlds for the setting?
[19:58] <+BPIJonathan> At the time it was developed, Savage Worlds didnt have a licensed (or official) Science Fiction setting. We felt that it was something that was lacking. Since then, we have released two (Double Spiral War, Eldritch Skies) and PEG has released one (Last Parsec).
[19:58] <+BPIJonathan> It is still an area that could use some additional material.
[19:59] <+BPIJonathan> Savage Worlds is flexible enough to handle just about anything (done)
[20:00] <~Dan> How many spacecraft do you stat out?
[20:03] <+BPIJonathan> Looks like about 20-25 across all three major races.
[20:04] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[20:04] <~Dan> Do you cover capital ships?
[20:04] <+BPIJonathan> There are some in there, yes.
[20:05] <~Dan> How do you handle PCs’ involvement in combat on such ships?
[20:06] <+BPIJonathan> Combat is handled on the pc level. Their skills are what determines the results. So the ships gunner would role his skill at gunnery, etc.
[20:08] <+xyphoid> how do you deal with ship combat – is this a custom system or is there existing SW stuff covering it
[20:09] <+BPIJonathan> There is existing SW stuff t cover it, we use the existing vehicle rules
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[20:10] <~Dan> What sorts of personal weapons are available?
[20:12] <+BPIJonathan> Beam weapons, slug throwers, archaic style.
[20:12] <+BPIJonathan> For example, the Alphans have their own version of the crossbow
[20:13] <@Silverlion> Is there a system for building ships?
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[20:13] <~Dan> How effective are slug throwers?
[20:14] <+BPIJonathan> There is not a system for building your own ships….at least not officially.
[20:14] <+BPIJonathan> They are the same as they are now, armor exists, but slugs can still tear up the wearer.
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[20:16] <~Dan> Which are more common: energy weapons or slug throwers?
[20:17] <+BPIJonathan> energy, but depending on where you live or are, then that could change.
[20:18] <~Dan> Are slug throwers more primitive, or are some of them state of the art?
[20:19] <+Huli> are they just chemical propellant/ Electromagnetic (gauss and railguns) or are both types available
[20:19] <+BPIJonathan> They are all based off of modern weapons, mechanically. If they are still manufactured,we dont really go into it, but my personal opinion is that they are still made using modern techniques and materials.
[20:20] <+BPIJonathan> (modern from the point of view of the TTA)
[20:20] <+BPIJonathan> (done)
[20:20] <+Huli> so no gauss guns? 😦
[20:21] <~Dan> As I recall, nuclear weapons are pretty standard in the setting. How hard was it to account for their use in a gaming context?
[20:21] <+BPIJonathan> Not in this book, but will see whta I can do to have you some.
[20:22] <+BPIJonathan> We do not actually include them, except in passing. There is an old saying, if you stat a god someone is giong to want to kill it.. we basically said… if we have them in there people will be using them. So we asked if he minded if we left them out mechanically
[20:23] <~Dan> When BPIJonathan will get around to them is anybody’s gauss.
[20:23] <+BPIJonathan> Someone hold own Dan while I beat him
[20:23] <+BPIJonathan> 🙂
[20:23] <~Dan> 😀
[20:23] * +Motulev volunteers
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[20:25] <~Dan> (Howdy, GrimTheWanderer!)
[20:26] <~Dan> Is there a default period during the Proxima War that gameplay starts?
[20:26] <+BPIJonathan> (come in, have a seat…await your turn to be blown out of an airlock)
[20:26] <+Vorthon> Nonono, beating is a short-term solution.
[20:26] <+Vorthon> What we need is a box full of very angry centipedes.
[20:27] <+BPIJonathan> No, the book covers it like the original book… so you are free to start at any point
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[20:28] <+Vorthon> Also, dunno if this was already asked, but is the ‘proxima war’ part of the title a pun on ‘Proxy war’? :u
[20:29] <+BPIJonathan> No, it just means it covers the period in TTA history known as “The Proxima War” the time when the Alphans and the Terrans were are war against the PRoximans
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[20:31] <~Dan> How would you describe the feel of the setting in moral terms? Are the Proximans pretty unambiguously bad guys?
[20:32] <+BPIJonathan> They are neighbors to the Alphas (galactically speaking) and they just cant figure out where the property line is.
[20:35] <~Dan> And why did they attack the Terrans?
[20:39] <+BPIJonathan> Mostly over a misunderstanding, and the Alphans over reacted.
[20:40] <+BPIJonathan> there is a huge section about the causes ofthe war, having trouble finding the specific paragraph
[20:41] <+Vorthon> …What exactly are the worlds of P. Centauri like, anyways? I mean, the first thing that comes to mind when picturing such a system is arid inner worlds with thin atmospheres, and small gas giants/large gas dwarfs in the outer system.
[20:41] <+Vorthon> Low mass, low resource, etc. >_>
[20:45] <+BPIJonathan> The survey crew arrived at Proxima and was astonished to find that the innermost planet, far from being the predicted lifeless ball of rock, possessed a breathable atmosphere, oceans… and life. Scans revealed what were clearly settlements on the surface.
[20:46] <+Vorthon> …That /would/ be astonishing, given the rather… volatile nature of stars like proxima. >_>
[20:49] <~Dan> In what remains of “regular time”, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[20:50] <+BPIJonathan> No, I think we got everything.I am going to have to go soon to pick up my son from work. The fact he had to work today is why I can be here with you lovely people (otherwise I would be out gaming 😀 )
[20:50] * ~Dan chuckles
[20:50] <~Dan> Fair enough. Thanks very much for coming by!
[20:50] <+BPIJonathan> For those that missed it – (Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/terran-trade-authority-the-proxima-war–2#/story)https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/terran-trade-authority-the-proxima-war–2#/story
The Hardboiled GMshoe's Office 