Strange New Worlds 1, Part 3

Looking into a few other resources, I did find this in the Mongoose World Builder's Book:

This tells us a few things about how long we'll need to stay in each system. 

Next, let's look at our starting point in the D'Arlee Quadrant, and decide who and what is behind the exploration. Looking at the map below, the D'Arlee Quadrant is entirely surrounded by the Imperium. The systems in the lower right, marked by X, are non-explored worlds. You may notice I did mark one as Corsairs, which is the system that the Corsairs game ran on. And yes, it does exist in MTU and there is, of course, a history there. Which sadly we never got to in our games.

The question is: who is exploring? 

1. The Imperium, which can leverage a lot of resources. But is it worth their while?
2. The League of Independent Planets, which has far fewer resources but, like the Imperium, is trade-based and this could open up new markets?
3. Private company of some sort, either for trade, for science and exploration, or some other purpose.

I'll also note that the map already indicates gas giants, and honestly after a few years probably the probability of a world in the inhabited zone. It is not like they are just going blindly out into the void. So: we have at least a class I survey of those systems based on probably decades of work with a much higher tech level than we have. And, perhaps, there have been traders already out there. Corsairs was colonized centuries ago, and while its unique system causes issues for grav drives, that is probably unique there.

But back to my question, as I am going to be running my solo game and exploring the unknown. Do I want to run as the Imperium, the League of Independent Planets, or a 3rd party similar to the Leviathan adventure? Since I am running it for me, I'm going back to my early history of the Quadrant - it was explored simply to be explored. It will be a joint venture: the League of Independent Planets, and the great-great-great granddaughter of Baroness Felicia D’Arlee Johon. Johon is an Imperial world, Amber zoned (and no idea why: that system was never expanded and we never had any adventures there). The League is supplying some of the support ships, while Juila Johon, utilizing her family fortunes, will supply the main scout ship with some providence for trade as well. 

We'll need the main ship, and it will have to be large enough for an extended trip of months. We'll make sure it is fresh out of its yearly maintenance, so we have a full year. The Johon Expedition, as it is named, has the following goals:

1. Give detailed system information on each system it explores
2. If possible, see if there are any trading opportunities
3. Search for resources that, despite a multi-jump trip, would be worth exploiting
4. and from the ancient vids: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before!

I'll go through the ships I have, both Traveller and others, and find something that will work. I want a relatively small crew, no more than 30-50 or so people. Many will be scientists, ex-Scouts and the like. But, like the game I thought I may try to run, there will be room for security, pilots and others. I figure the traditional landing party to explore new worlds will work. 

But for the moment, we have the broad outlines of the next adventure. I may even write it up similar to a classic adventure book. I will have to figure out a new desktop publishing tool, as Publisher (which was simple, easy to use and did decent stuff) is sadly no longer supported and Microsoft is actually removing edit access. Which, while I understand from a security viewpoint, really sucks. 

No real plans on how often I'll get to this: if I set a specific schedule, it becomes work. 

We also played another game of Windward, bringing in the Black Market. Which also can bring in the Kroka, a leviathan of the deeps that has 10 attack dice! Like our last game, I started with a small headstart, then got really far behind. But again luck was with me. My friend got to the notoriety needed to win, but that just starts the last cycle. Like other games sometimes do, just getting 1st to the winning points does not mean you win: the other players get a last turn. I managed to tie on my last turn. The next turn he managed to get a red crester, and turning in all his gas got 7 points ahead. The wind was blowing in the right direction for me, so I ended up on the Black Market, and called out the Kroka. While it had 10 dice and I only had 8 or so, I also had a few cards that just barely put me over the edge. And defeating that beast gives 9 notoriety. Meaning I won the game, though it was via some lucky dice.

And remember, for me, Windward is also on the Corsairs planet. So our crew may find it!