#metaplot

The Journal of the Travellers’ Aid Society number 9 (Summer, 1981?) takes the subtle metaplot of a moving fictional date and a quarterly news report and ups the ante significantly. This issue’s news report details the outbreak of war between the Duke of Regina and a new alien species, the Zhodani. Much of the issue is given over to fleshing out aspects of the conflict, which play out fully in the Fifth Frontier War wargame. The effects of this war are felt all over the Spinward Marches campaign setting materials for years (the war itself continued through 1984, ending around the same time as the Journal ceased publication). This is the sort of stuff TSR would experiment with in the DL-series Dragonlance modules (1984 on) and with the Avatar modules/novels (1989) that transitioned Forgotten Realms into second edition, but Traveller was light years ahead of them.

Firstly, bc it feels like people are just sort of slapping it in there because they're trying to assuage their discomfort with this aspect of his character— “No, no, it wasn't his fault, it was the traumaaaaaa.” Like if it makes you uncomfortable, okay, that's understandable! It makes most people uncomfortable! Even the crusty old grognards consider the assault scene in his clan novel at best extremely tasteless. But imo it's just so transparently a very slight recolor of “Liking non-con is (only) okay if you're uSiNg iT to cOpE,” which is also a take I have a whole cow's worth of beef with. Like I promise you aren't going to hell if you don't make excuses for a guy who isn't real 😭

And secondly, from a writing perspective, because it is just so. Incredibly. Fucking. BORING. It is the most painfully on-the-nose, simplistic thing you can do with the character. I find JP so interesting because his relationship with his sire is a microcosm of how the Cam operates as a whole (he is frequently referred to an official material as the “childe of the Cam.”) Ol’ Hardy groomed him for his role from a very early age, poured the Kool-Aid into him to make him the perfect, obedient Vntrue childe, the archetypal Cam vampire. JP does all the things that he does because he has been molded into a true believer in the Cam cause but also because (and he admits this to himself) he is terrified of his own sire. He knows if he fucks up bad enough H. will kill him, that's what old school Vntrue do.  And even with this indoctrination and fear, it still isn't enough to keep him in line! H. has to rely on Dominate to keep making him him forget stuff that contradicts the propaganda. 

As you may have already noticed something is afoot. You’ve heard the rumours, you’ve seen what’s been happening around the city of London… it’s none other than the up and coming Plot that has been voted for in the anniversary survey!

That’s right, there’s going to be a bigger metaplot happening very, very soon. But I’m not going to spoil the surprise!

Consider this a little interest check for the team to finalize our schedule with.

So! Which ones of you would want to participate in Plot-heavy ST-ran scenes? This isn’t a first come first serve, nor the be all end all opportunity for you to participate. It’s actually quite simple, really.

This is meant to see how many of you feel confident in being able to commit and participate in guided scenes with bigger player numbers. If you’re not ready at this time, don’t worry, for there will be other opportunities in the future. But if you think you are capable of committing, please react to this announcement [on discord] with your PC’s Clan symbol so we can assess what familiar faces we might see involved in this future plot!