Using Terradyne in THS

[griffin]

I have the GURPS Space book Terradyne. I'm going through my GURPS 3e collection and purging books. I want to know if Terradyne would be useful as source material for a THS campaign. I'm moving entirely to GURPS 4e and don't think I'd ever run or play in a Terradyne campaign, however, I may someday run or play in a THS campaign.

So how useful is GURPS Terradyne for a THS campaign? Could I make Terradyne a major corporation in the THS setting?

I posted this question in the main GURPS forum here as well.

Thanks in advance for your input, comments, and recommendations.

[hackbarth]

Terradyne is an excellent setting. The major hard SF GURPS setting before THS. I even say that THS is an Terradyne 2.0.

But Terradyne material was overwritten by the THS setting. For every part of the setting described in Terradyne, there is a part of THS setting more developed and more relevant to real world discoveries and developments. There are few blank slots in THS that could be filled with the Terradyne equivalent. (none of the planets, for example.)

[griffin]

Originally Posted by hackbarth

Terradyne is an excellent setting. The major hard SF GURPS setting before THS. I even say that THS is an Terradyne 2.0.

But Terradyne material was overwritten by the THS setting. For every part of the setting described in Terradyne, there is a part of THS setting more developed and more relevant to real world discoveries and developments. There are few blank slots in THS that could be filled with the Terradyne equivalent. (none of the planets, for example.)

What about the actual company Terradyne? Any way to fit it in?

What about Luna City? Does the version in THS have a map of the place? Is it possible to pull in stuff from Terradyne into THS? Is there a THS book that covers Luna (the Moon)?

[hackbarth]

From what I remember, the distinctive thing about Terradyne is that it was a corporation that had such a monopoly on space travel, that it shaped the history of earth. Also the stranglehold they have on the earth countries is givem by their monopoly in orbital solar genereted beamed power.

It also wouldn't do in THS, since the space was conquered by free enterprise and competition, and the politics of the earth where shaped in a race for H3 depositis in the moon and gas giants, the fuel for the power giving technolgy of the setting: fusion.

So they are mutualy exclusive, or will have monopoly or free competition driving the space technology. And the particularities of the power source (orbital solar power vs portable fusion generators) also differ.

For the moon, the book you are searching is THS: High Frontier, where it details the mining operations on the moon, and the various cities there. Curiously, Luna City is a biomechanical city, a living organism inhabited by humans. RPGs are popular there :-)

[griffin]

Originally Posted by hackbarth

From what I remember, the distinctive thing about Terradyne is that it was a corporation that had such a monopoly on space travel, that it shaped the history of earth. Also the stranglehold they have on the earth countries is givem by their monopoly in orbital solar genereted beamed power.

It also wouldn't do in THS, since the space was conquered by free enterprise and competition, and the politics of the earth where shaped in a race for H3 depositis in the moon and gas giants, the fuel for the power giving technolgy of the setting: fusion.

OK, so I modify this to Terradyne is a major player (rather than a monopoly) with rapidly declining market share in the energy business as fusion supplants beamed solar power as the Earth's main energy source.

I definitely would NOT try to maintain Terradyne as the monopoly powerhouse it is in the Terradyne book.

So they are mutualy exclusive, or will have monopoly or free competition driving the space technology. And the particularities of the power source (orbital solar power vs portable fusion generators) also differ.

If a monopoly isn't forced and new competing product enters the market than the monopoly goes away. AT&T once held a monopoly of telecommunications, but that's definitely no longer the case. Microsoft still holds a virtual monopoly over desktop computing, but as convergence continues this may no longer be the case in ten years or so, perhaps it will be an iWorld or perhaps Sony, Goggle, or another major player will cut heavily into Microsoft's territory.

Monopoly's not forced by legislation can always change, albeit slowly due to market inertia and customer brand loyalty as well as the market leader's vigorous defense of their monopoly marketshare.

For the moon, the book you are searching is THS: High Frontier, where it details the mining operations on the moon, and the various cities there. Curiously, Luna City is a biomechanical city, a living organism inhabited by humans. RPGs are popular there :-)

OK, thanks. I'll have to mull over how much I want to run/play in a GURPS 4e campaign. I think I'd want to either start on Earth or the moon as a starting point and perhaps remain focused on one or perhaps both of these for a long while. Currently I only have the main THS book.

Looks like I'd need the following:

• 1. Changing Times
• 2. Broken Dreams
• 3. High-Frontier

Thanks,

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by griffin

I think I'd want to either start on Earth...

You should probably add 5th Wave (which is basically the Earth book), and possibly Under Pressure (which is really cool, and any Earth based game is probably going to involve the oceans sooner or later).

[David L Pulver]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

You should probably add 5th Wave (which is basically the Earth book), and possibly Under Pressure (which is really cool, and any Earth based game is probably going to involve the oceans sooner or later).

One interesting thing about Terradyne is that interstellar space travel is a lot more advanced than THS. Terraydne company (for a private society) built seven 400-man sleeper ships in 2037-39, which were launched to Alpha Centauri and Tau Ceti. Listed arrival date 2090 for the Alpha Centauri fleet was 2090, indicating speeds of about 8% of light, which is damn impressive that early in the history. I hate to think what they'd be capable of by 2120.

[David L Pulver]

Originally Posted by David L Pulver

One interesting thing about Terradyne is that interstellar space travel is a lot more advanced than THS. Terraydne company (for a private society) built seven 400-man sleeper ships in 2037-39, which were launched to Alpha Centauri and Tau Ceti. Listed arrival date 2090 for the Alpha Centauri fleet was 2090, indicating speeds of about 8% of light, which is damn impressive that early in the history. I hate to think what they'd be capable of by 2120.

(In GURPS Spaceships I have trouble reaching 12% of light and that was with a TL11+ multi-staged advanced fusion pulse drive ... anything better seemed to either TL12 ramjet-augmented fusion drives or various types of superscience)

[Apache]

Terradyne is kinda like THS, in a very safetech sort of way. Very reminiscent of the Allen Steele stories. Easy to convert over to an 'early FTL' background.

[griffin]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

You should probably add 5th Wave (which is basically the Earth book), and possibly Under Pressure (which is really cool, and any Earth based game is probably going to involve the oceans sooner or later).

OK so m list is as follows:

1. Changing Times
2. Broken Dreams
3. High-Frontier
4. 5th Wave
5. Under Pressure

So now suppose I'm on a limited budget and only want to start with 3 books. I view Changing Times as essential since I want to run a GURPS 4e THS campaign and I also need the GM advice and guidance on how to run a THS campaign and design of adventures.

So which of the other two do you recommend I start with if my emphasis will be Terra and it's surrounding orbit - Luna and any space colonies orbiting earth?

Also I thought Broken Dreams is the Earth book. What's the difference between 5th Wave and Broken Dreams? Which is more needed for running a campaign based on Earth and it's immediate surrounding space?

Thanks,

- James