If Hostile is based on the movie Alien, Zozer Game’s Godstar has a lot in common with Frank Herbert’s novel Dune or Free League’s Coriolis game. Of course, it’s neither. There are no sandworms, spice or Icons granting magical powers. The planet Aurelia attracts pilgrims as it has a sentient star that can be consulted (for a large fee). It gives out practical and scientific knowledge, not the meaning of existence. Aurelia is also the centre of administration for the area of space around it. The game is about playing the various people and factions that live on Aurelia. You can include as much as you like about the influence of the Godstar, I thought it was not essential to involve it. Godstar’s a supplement, you need to have a copy of the Cepheus Engine rules (or one of the versions of Traveller) to make best use of the material. The nice thing about this is that even if you don’t want to play in this setting, it’s really good for things to use in other games.
Tag Archives: Cepheus Engine
Cepheus Journal Issue #003
Cepheus Journal Issue #003 is here. The theme for this issue is the Closest Stars. There is an article about Alpha Centauri and another one about Tau Ceti. There is also an article about Vega Subsector about a number of nearby worlds, based on the Near Stars map from Stellagama Publishing.
Cepheus Journal Issue #002
Now there is a second issue of the Cepheus Journal. The first one was a success with over 500 downloads so far.
There are some great articles and great maps in this issue. The sector maps from this issue can also be found at TravellerMap.
Cepheus Journal Issue #001
Cepheus Journal is a fanzine for the Cepheus Engine rules. With these rules you can not only play space adventures. You can play in lots of other settings. That is why some of us thought that a fanzine was needed. And here it is! Issue #001 of Cepheus Journal is ready for (free) download.
Traveller Memes
I have made a few Traveller memes in the past. A new facebook group about Traveller memes started recently. There I posted one of my memes and John Watts (from GKG) posted another of my memes.
Both of these memes were about Cepheus Engine.
I made the one above for a post about Cepheus Engine.
The one above was made just for fun. Mongoose had changed the license agreement for the small publishers. Almost all of them started using Cepheus Engine instead. Continue reading Traveller Memes
Zhodani Base Awards 2016
Welcome to the Zhodani Base Awards 2016! 2016 has been another good year for Traveller products. Lots of new stuff from the small publishers (and Mongoose).
The first category is “Best Cover“. The nominees are:
- Anderson & Felix Guide to Naval Architecture : from GKG
- Traveller Referee’s Screen : from Mongoose
- Foreven Worlds: Fessor Subsector : from JBE
- Fate of the Kinunir : from GDW
The winner of the “Best Cover” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: Fate of the Kinunir from GDW.
There were lots of Traveller products with nice covers this year. Lots of love for all nice covers. Fate of the Kinunir combined a classic Traveller cover with a nice image. I really liked that.
Next category is “Best Fanzine or Online Magazine“. The nominees are:
The winner of the “Best Fanzine/Online Magazine” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: Freelance Traveller
Freelance Traveller has once again proved that they are the best fanzine by publishing monthly issues with lots of good contents for free.
Freelance Traveller has won this category every year since 2011!
Next category is “Best Adventure“. The nominees are:
- Theories of Everything : from Mongoose
- The Rose of Death : from JBE
- Castrobancla, The City of Aliens : from Alex Greene
- The Calixcuel Incident : from Mongoose
The winner of the “Best Adventure” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: The Calixcuel Incident from Mongoose.
There were lots of fine Traveller Adventures for different settings published. This year Mongoose did a few really good ones. The Calixcuel Incident was in my opinion the best one.
Next category is “Best Ship or Deckplan“. The nominees are:
- Quick Decks: TL 9 Yacht : from DSL Ironworks
- Rucker-class Merchant : from GKG
- Type S Scout/Courier : from Moon Toad Publishing
- Crusader Class Close Escort : from Gamer Printshop
The winner of the “Best Ship or Deckplan” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: Type S Scout/Courier from Moon Toad Publishing.
There were lots of fine ships for Traveller published this year. Moon Toad Publishing made the best one for this category and won.
I do love the classic Traveller ships.
Next category is “Best ATU Product“. The nominees are:
- Skull and Crossbones: Piracy in Clement Sector : from GKG
- Orbital 2100 : from Zozer Games
- The Space Patrol : from Stellagama Publishing
- Wendy’s Guide to the Fleets of Hub Subsector : from GKG
The winner of the “Best ATU Product” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: The Space Patrol from Stellagama Publishing.
This category always make me happy since you can always find so many cool ideas. This year The Space Patrol win. Not only because it is really good, but also because it could have been useful for one of my own campaigns. (Unfortunately it was published a bit too late to help me.)
Next category is “Best OTU Product“. The nominees are:
- Central Supply Catalogue : from Mongoose
- High Guard : from Mongoose
- Going Portside : from Mongoose
- Mercenary Forces : from Mongoose
The winner of the “Best OTU Product” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: High Guard from Mongoose
Only products from Mongoose was nominated this year. I hope that will change next year. High Guard was the best one.
A final bonus category this year is “Best Free or Pay What You Want Traveller Product“. The nominees are:
- Castrobancla from Alex Greene
- Prelude to War: Player’s Guide from JBE
- Near Space from Stellagama Publishing
- Cepheus Engine from Samardan Press
The winner of the “Best Free or Pay What You Want Traveller Product” category of the Zhodani Base Awards 2016 is: Cepheus Engine from Samardan Press.
Cepheus Engine wins because it has enabled many other small publishers to produce cool Traveller products without being limited by the restrictions from Mongoose. Read my review here.