This topic is the place to discuss, link to, and otherwise present for consideration any resource, book, gaming aid, or tool geared to the creation of vibrant and detailed settings for Traveller.

What we hope to accomplish is a topic that the Referee who is running out of ideas can use to kick-start their creative processes.

A couple of worlds from my most recent game, created with CT Book 6.
The New Territories are an area of MTU just beyond the Rim, and have not yet been formally Adopted into the Imperium.

World Description
Name: Frigidia
Location: NT-0808
UPP: B-857618-B NB GG
Starport: The starport is essentially designed for military use, with civilians tolerated for the trade advantages they bring. Facilities for civilian use are significantly less than would be expected for a port of this size and rating, as most of the port is a military zone.
Surface Conditions: Frigidia is an average sized, cold world with a thin atmosphere. Temperatures vary from sub-arctic to arctic, with a brief, semi-temperate summer in equatorial latitudes. It has 70% standing water, mostly in the form of ice.
Demographics: There are some 7,000,000 inhabitants, depending on military and seasonal fluctuations. Many inhabitants are employed in support of military operations and are under martial law. There are several population centres, but large swathes of land are designated military zones with no public access. Frigidia is currently acting as the Subsector Capital and hopes to retain that status when the New Territories are Adopted.
Laws: All military and support personnel are subject to martial law and a civilian police force works closely with the military police to ensure that order is kept in the areas that are leased to civilian enterprise. The Starport and its environs are LL8.
Technology: Frigidia enjoys average technology levels, largely thanks to its military connections.
Trade: Frigidia is open to any trade that will help it in its quest to retain Capital status.
Military Operations: As a Naval Base, the planet has a strong military presence. Travel abroad from the starport is monitored and anyone venturing near the restricted zones is quickly turned away.

World Description
Name: Egg
Location: NT-0609
UWP: B-9E2497-3 NI GG
Starport: The starport was originally designed for scientific missions, it is somewhat more friendly than nearby Naval Bases, but is not ideal for commerce.
Surface Conditions: The planet gets its name from its egg-shape, producing unique conditions on the surface of this world and offering an explanation for interest from scientific and commercial research operations. It has an essentially spherical atmosphere, though, which gives rise to a wide variety of strange surface conditions, such as variable gravitic and atmospheric densities at different times and locations on the surface. The pressure can vary from extensive low pressure to a thick dense fog, whilst gravity can fluctuate from 0.5g to 1.5g.
Demographics: There are some 70,000 inhabitants spread amongst the various research stations on Egg, most of whom are science or engineering experts. There is a small agricultural contingent, often themselves involved in food research projects, whose food output feeds the population. The planet is owned by a consortium of technology companies.
Laws: The Starport and its environs are LL8, as is usual, but blades are permitted elsewhere on the planet. Few people bear arms, however, as the majority of the population are peaceable researchers.
Technology: Egg imports its technology and is of an average level (11), however, its indigenous technology is only TL3, and there are a number of ‘Organicists’ who are determined to populate Egg within the bounds of its own technology. This movement began as a research project, but attracted a strong following thanks to its moral and spiritual status.
Trade: Egg's primary outputs are information and finished products. It imports most of its materials and machinery.
Military Operations: Military presence here is minimal, limited usually to escort duties for important personnel or projects.

Here's a book recommendation for Traveller referee-types who are looking for a different setting:

Title:  The Void Captain's Tale
Author: Norman Spinrad

WARNING:  This book contains mature subject matter which the reviewer will attempt to deftly skirt around in this review.

The Void Captain's Tale takes place in Mr. Spinrad's Third Starfaring Age setting.  In the story, humankind takes to the stars at first in arcologies or generation ships, then discovers the relics of a race known only as Those Who Have Gone Before.  One of these technological relics was adapted by humankind into a Jump Drive.

The Jump Drive of this universe requires a willing and living component, a Void Pilot:  a human female who has never known a man's touch must, of her own free will, enter the jump module, be joined to the jump circuit, and achieve a "psychesomic" state we won't explicitly mention here because of content restrictions.  This specific state causes the Jump Drive to create a drive envelope around the vessel, which transits from origin to destination in the space of an augenblick (literally:  in the blink of an eye - that is, instantly).  Once the jump is completed, the Pilot must be helped to Sickbay where the complex process of replenishing her vital nutrients and allowing her to recover takes no less than a week.

In this setting, the availability of Void Pilots (who must fit a certain psychological profile) is generally limited to no more than approximately 200 individuals at any one time, which limits the number of transluminal ships which can ply the star lanes at any given time.  The health of the Void Pilot is the limiting factor on the speed of transluminal travel.

There's more to the story, but I can't say more here.  For anyone wanting to gather story ideas for use with Traveller, though, it's a book worth reading at least once.

Great books for mining Traveller settings are the future history books by Pournelle.  'The Mercenary' and 'West of Honor' are classics.

This is the same setting as 'Mote in God's Eye'.

What do you guys think of the GURPS Traveller Interstellar Wars setting.  The setting book is worth the reading just for the ultra cool background on the Terran conflicts with the Vilani.

I think the IW does a better job at laying out great technical details on how the Vilani work and think as an empire and a culture than even 'Dogs and Cogs' or better know as 'Vargr and Vilani'.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Wed 20 Dec 2017.

I'm very unfamiliar with GURPS Traveller, so can't express an opinion there.  From your description, though, it may be worth finding.

I loved it, one of the best GT books, up there with nobles. I've run a few games in it. Must run another

I agree that the IW book is one of the best in the GT line and arguably in the top ten of all of Traveller.  It is written to be very system-agnostic so you could run it in CT as easily in MT or GURPS.  I think it is well balanced and provides numerous very practical examples of how the Vilani think and handle culture and technology.

Nici if you ever run a game in IW you can count me in even if I have to play a human and not a Vargr barbarian... :)

Regarding any proposed game in the IW setting Nici may or may not decide to run:  This sounds like fun (i.e., I'd love to play), but would be a better topic for 0300 - The Hiring Hall if it gathers much more steam.  (If so, please post here a short note pointing there.  Thanks.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:52, Thu 21 Dec 2017.

I have a lot of material from my old pre GT:IW work which could be adapted. Jon used some of it in the GURPS version. And if I do, I'd probably use either MgT, T4 or CT. I don't much like MT, T5, GT or TNE (the systems are getting to be a real alphabet soup now lol). I'll think on it, right now it could be tricky due to RL issues and most of my games are set in M0 in Ley :-)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:35, Thu 21 Dec 2017.

Did you do some work in the IW setting?  I'd love to see it.

I'd vote Mong Trav if I had to pick.  It's easy, modern and feels like CT.

In reply to Montezgvegh (msg # 11):

Yes I started developing the IW era before GT:IW. Jon used some of my concepts in it, Sharik Yangula, the Empty and Long Peace, the Free Traders. You'll even find my name in the credits, but since I loath that particular iteration of my name with a passion you literally can not understand, I won't mention it and would very much appreciate if nobody else ever mentions it either. I'll see if I can find a way to make the material available.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Sat 23 Dec 2017.

That's neat that a good deal of your work got into the GT:IW book.

Just a quick playing aid for all you Traveller Referees:

This is a dice roller link that pre-configures the RPoL dice roller for a 2d6 Traveller task throw.

[dice=2d6 record=yes memo="Task Throw" text="Cast a Task Throw."]

Cast a Task Throw.

Note that it is possible to add DMs to a throw created from a link of this type, and to amend the memo (shown in the roller as "Reason for the roll").

Keeping the flag "record=yes" also lets this roll double as a d66 if needed.  (RPoL does not explicitly support d66 rolls, probably for this very reason.)

Just remember to select a valid character before casting the virtual dice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Sat 27 Jan 2018.

[Anden Tor/Glimmerdrift Reaches 2202][ca.993]

Anden Tor is a small planet that struggles to maintain its atmosphere with the benefit of a stronger than normal magnetic field. Unpopulated for decades, except for the occasional failed colonial effort. The system is serviced by a private starport managed by a subsidiary of the Domain supercorp, Transtellar. Featuring top-of-the line repair and refit facilities, the Anden Stationplex was a commercial venture that has seen its fortunes rise slowly as trade in the Glimmerdrift and Crucis Margin sectors began to expand towards the Imperium. The War has certainly had an impact as well in pushing commercial activity coreward. It is well-situated for a transit junction between the Lunbar Cluster, Shashka Main and Rimward towards the Broken Chain. With the high prices and J-2 legs required, the Anden Stationplex has focused on large-scale commercial traffic from a welcoming Free Trader attitude of years past.

Farfast
Due to the mercantile activity, the Anden Tor primary has recently become the site of an impromptu community of Free Traders, smugglers, criminals and those catering to the same. The community, known as Farfast Harbor, has grown organically from an informal meeting between local Free Traders away from the Stationplex to a standing community as individuals set up basic amenities. The community lacks any governmental structure beyond a Planning Committee but is gaining a reputation as a wild locale. There are indications that its prominence as a shadowport will continue to rise since trade volumes are not expected to subside in the near future. This volume has begun attracting pirate elements and the infrastructure to support them. For now, a balance is maintained as Free Traders continue to frequent the community in larger numbers than other, shadier, elements. In addition, the corporate interests at Anden Stationplex have been disinterested in the growing population beneath them as it has yet to effect their revenue stream. This may change in the future if attacks on shipping continue to increase to the point that Transtellar, a corporation of significant assets and resolve, takes official notice.

Black Molly’s [Bar]
Black Molly’s is a nightclub/bar formed out of an abandoned 1200dt merchant liner. The proprietor is a retired Free Trader from the GTC, Dominic Jisky, and he has patiently improved the establishment over the years. The cargo hull has been converted into the bar and dining area. The main cargo doors have been welded shut although huge panels have been carved out of each door and replaced with plasteel windows to provide an enormous view of the landscape. The establishment is entered through an airlock positioned over the ventral cargo lift entry. The food is considered excellent due to the long-running employment of a scratch chef from the Khuur League. Prices fluctuate constantly as does the menu as the venue is dependent on irregular shipments, donations from other Free Traders, and the occasional local fare. The establishment retains the feel of a Free Trader while overlooking the growing community. The staterooms have been refurbished into functional quarters and rooms for rent by visitors. Security is adequate and there are few concerns as paying renters are generally short-term and low in quantity.

The Black Molly has become known as a place where independents, Free Traders, questionable scavengers and Travellers can meet and relax outside of an official starport. Dominic is hardline about the prohibition on trading or freight contracting and throws out anyone doing so blatantly. However, the amount of black market and shady deals being conducted is a point often ignored by Dominic and his staff. Since the agreement with Transtellar applies mainly to legitimate competition for the Stationplex, the black market deals are considered fair on the planet’s surface.

The Black Molly was a XXXX-registered liner that shipped freight and passengers along the XXXX route. Nearly a century ago, the jump drive catastrophically malfunctioned due to a jump attempt within the 100d boundary of the primary body. The reason for this attempt is unknown since the malfunction caused the drive to slag itself and the resulting energy discharge wiped out the entire crew. The Molly drifted into the planetary orbit where it remained for several decades until Transtellar proposed the Anden Orbital Stationplex. To satisfy creditors, the corporation agreed to remove the hulk from orbit to stem any concerns about orbital obstructions or collisions. The firm hired was less than professional and more interested in scavenging the vessel as part of their fee. They drifted it to the planetary surface but tethers failed in the final approach. The Molly slammed into the planet surface from a distance of 300m; sufficiently high enough to cause considerable damage and render it useless for refurbishment. The firm stripped the hull bare of anything salvageable and left it on the surface. In time, the ship hull became the centerpoint of the informal gatherings on Anden Tor which gave rise to the Farfast community.

[NOTE: I had a great image but the link is now dead. Dang. This is from an expanded 993 almanac I work on periodically for the Glimmerdrift Sector. Also the setting of on/off again Solo play.]

Great setting!  I've always thought that Glimmerdrift had a lot of potential.

In reply to Kilgs (msg # 15):

Good stuff, man!  Thanks for posting that.