Difference between revisions of "2300 AD"

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{{for|the year 2300 AD|23rd century}}
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[[Image:2300AD.jpg|right|271px|Box cover]]
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[[2300 AD]] is a hard science fiction/cyberpunk role playing game created by {{GDW}}, The art of 1st Edition books had an allegedly [[Wikipedia:comic book|comic book]] feel, which was replaced by a more technical style in the second edition.
  
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{{Infobox RPG
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== Background ==
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|title=2300 AD
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2300 AD is set at the dawn of the 24th century (between 2298 and 2301 depending on the book or supplement). At the end of the 20th century, a global thermonuclear war took place between the United States, China, the U.S.S.R. and other nuclear powers. (This is the same "Twilight War" that is depicted in the role-playing game [[Wikipedia:Twilight: 2000|Twilight: 2000]], also produced by [[Wikipedia:Game Designer's Workshop|Game Designer's Workshop]].) In the intervening three centuries, mankind has rebuilt and returned to space. A practical means of faster-than-light ([[Wikipedia:FTL|FTL]]) travel has been discovered, leading to the exploration and eventual colonization of interstellar planets. The post-[[Wikipedia:Treaty of Westphalia|Westphalian]] [[Wikipedia:nation-state|nation-state]] remains dominant, and most space colonies are considered the territories of various nations back on Earth. This ''[[Wikipedia:fin de siècle|fin de siècle]]'' society is analogous to the European colonial era of the 18th and 19th century (indeed, this seems to have been a great source of inspiration for some of GDW's other games). The dominant power, both on Earth and in space, is the Third French Empire, which escaped the nuclear war relatively unscathed by abandoning its [[Wikipedia:NATO|NATO]] allies at the start of the war, and thus had a head start in the technology race. Competing powers include [[Wikipedia:Great Britain|Great Britain]], [[Wikipedia:Manchuria|Manchuria]], [[Wikipedia:Germany|Germany]], and an alliance of [[Wikipedia:United States|America]] and [[Wikipedia:Australia|Australia]], all of which control certain extrasolar planets themselves.
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|publisher=[[Game Designers Workshop]]
 
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|genre=[[Hard science fiction]]
 
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}}
 
  
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'''2300 AD''' is a [[hard science fiction]] [[role playing game]] created by [[Game Designers Workshop]], originally offered as an alternative to the looser [[space opera]] portrayed by the company's leading science fiction role-playing game, [[Traveller]]. In fact it was originally titled '''Traveller 2300''', but this caused confusion as the game used neither the rules system nor setting of the original [[Traveller (role-playing game)|Traveller]]. The game was therefore renamed in its 2nd edition.
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Mankind has met with several alien species, all of which are decidedly strange and truly alien, from the genetically-engineered Pentapod to the vicious Kafers (The game writers coined this name based on the German word ''Käfer'' for bug, not on the [[Wikipedia:Africa|African]] insult "[[Wikipedia:kaffir (ethnic slur)|kaffir]]" or its [[Wikipedia:Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] equivalent ''kaffer''.) The Kafers are the most humanoid of the alien species; unfortunately their history and biology means that war between the Kafer and mankind is inevitable; in 2301 the Kafer start an invasion of human space that will be costly to both attackers and defenders and serves as one of the major dramatic events of the game line.
−
 
 
−
The art of 1st Edition books had an allegedly [[comic book]] feel, which was replaced by a more technical style in the second edition.
 
−
 
 
−
==Background==
 
−
2300 AD is set at the dawn of the 24th century (between 2298 and 2301 depending on the book or supplement). At the end of the 20th century, a limited nuclear exchange took place between the United States, China, the U.S.S.R. and other nuclear powers.  (This is the same "Twilight War" that is depicted in the role-playing game [[Twilight: 2000]], also produced by [[Game Designer's Workshop]].)  In the intervening three centuries, mankind has rebuilt and returned to space.  A practical means of faster-than-light ([[FTL]]) travel has been discovered, leading to the exploration and eventual colonization of interstellar planets. The post-[[Treaty of Westphalia|Westphalian]] [[nation-state]] remains dominant, and most space colonies are considered the territories of various nations back on Earth. This ''[[fin de siècle]]'' society is analogous to the European colonial era of the 18th and 19th century (indeed, this seems to have been a great source of inspiration for some of GDW's other games). The dominant power, both on Earth and in space, is the Third French Empire, which escaped the nuclear war relatively unscathed by abandoning its [[NATO]] allies at the start of the war, and thus had a head start in the technology race. Competing powers include [[Great Britain]], [[Manchuria]], [[Germany]], and an alliance of [[United States|America]] and [[Australia]], all of which control certain extrasolar planets themselves.
 
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−
Mankind has met with several alien species, all of which are decidedly strange and truly alien, from the genetically-engineered Pentapod to the vicious Kafers (The game writers coined this name based on the German word ''Käfer'' for bug, not on the [[South Africa]]n insult "[[kaffir (ethnic slur)|kaffir]]" or its [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] equivalent ''kaffer''.) The Kafers are the most humanoid of the alien species; unfortunately their history and biology means that war between the Kafer and mankind is inevitable; in 2301 the Kafer start an invasion of human space that will be costly to both attackers and defenders and serves as one of the major dramatic events of the game line.
 
  
 
==Technology==
 
==Technology==
−
A [[faster than light]] device called the ''Stutterwarp Drive'' allows mankind to colonize other solar systems. Ships can usually reach about 3.5 light years per day as a maximum speed; the real limitation of the Stutterwarp drive is that it can only propel a ship up to a maximum of 7.7 light years before it needs to enter a gravity well and discharge lethal radiation that would otherwise kill the crew. Because ships need to reach a world within this distance, the effect of this limitation is the creation of lanes along which travel and commerce are conducted and along which wars are fought. There are three major lanes through known space, called Arms, named after the nations which dominate them (thus the French Arm, The American Arm and the Chinese Arm). It is still early in mankind's expansion into space, thus exploration has reached little beyond 20-40 light years from Earth.
+
A [[Wikipedia:faster than light|faster than light]] device called the ''Stutterwarp Drive'' allows mankind to colonize other solar systems. Ships can usually reach about 3.5 light years per day as a maximum speed; the real limitation of the Stutterwarp drive is that it can only propel a ship up to a maximum of 7.7 light years before it needs to enter a gravity well and discharge lethal radiation that would otherwise kill the crew. Because ships need to reach a world within this distance, the effect of this limitation is the creation of lanes along which travel and commerce are conducted and along which wars are fought. There are three major lanes through known space, called Arms, named after the nations which dominate them (thus the French Arm, The American Arm and the Chinese Arm). It is still early in mankind's expansion into space, thus exploration has reached little beyond 20-40 light years from Earth.
  
−
Overall, the technological level of 2300 AD is not terribly more advanced than the modern day. What is depicted refines or updates currently used technology, with occaisonal instances of breakthroughs predicted by modern science. The wonder-tech cliches of [[Space Opera]] are deliberately absent (with the notable exception of [[FTL]]). For example, most personal combat is still conducted with guns firing chemically projected slugs even though energy weapons do exist.
+
Overall, the technological level of 2300 AD is not terribly more advanced than the modern day. What is depicted refines or updates currently used technology, with occasional instances of breakthroughs predicted by modern science. The wonder-tech cliches of [[Wikipedia:Space Opera|Space Opera]] are deliberately absent (with the notable exception of [[Wikipedia:FTL|FTL]]). For example, most personal combat is still conducted with guns firing chemically projected slugs even though energy weapons do exist.
  
 
==Influences==
 
==Influences==
−
The background history of 2300 AD is a continuation of the nuclear war depicted in the [[Twilight 2000]] role-playing game by the same company. A custom strategy game called "The Great Game" was used by the authors to develop the background history for 2300 AD.
+
The background history of 2300 AD is a continuation of the nuclear war depicted in the [[Wikipedia:Twilight 2000|Twilight 2000]] role-playing game by the same company. A custom strategy game called "The Great Game" was used by the authors to develop the background history for 2300 AD.
  
−
The game has some very obvious influences. In various supplements and adventures one can find characters, situations and equipment which were clearly modelled on items from popular science fiction movies and novels. Guns and the power loader from the movie ''[[Aliens (1986 movie)|Aliens]]'' and a buggy from ''[[Silent Running]]'', for example.
+
The game has some very obvious influences. In various supplements and adventures one can find characters, situations and equipment which were clearly modelled on items from popular science fiction movies and novels. Guns and the power loader from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:Aliens (1986 movie)|Aliens]]'' and a buggy from ''[[Wikipedia:Silent Running|Silent Running]]'', for example.
  
−
The alien Kafer (bugs) could be seen as loosely modelled after the Bugs of [[Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]]'s ''[[Starship Troopers]]''. The game also includes several types of powered armor combat suits quite similar to those of the Mobile Infantry of the same novel.
+
The alien Kafer (bugs) could be seen as loosely modelled after the Bugs of [[Wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]]''. The game also includes several types of powered armor combat suits quite similar to those of the Mobile Infantry of the same novel.
  
−
Finally, the authors added a [[Cyberpunk]] campaign to the game with the publication of the "Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook" and two adventures for the same, trying to capitalize on the Cyberpunk fad of the 1990s. References to such works as ''[[Neuromancer]]'' or ''[[Blade Runner]]'' inevitablely appear.
+
Finally, the authors added a [[Wikipedia:Cyberpunk|Cyberpunk]] campaign to the game with the publication of the "Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook" and two adventures for the same, trying to capitalize on the Cyberpunk fad of the 1990s. References to such works as ''[[Wikipedia:Neuromancer|Neuromancer]]'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Blade Runner|Blade Runner]]'' inevitablely appear.
  
 
==Publications==
 
==Publications==
 
===New Version===
 
===New Version===
−
* 2320AD is due out soon, and is a sourcebook for the Traveller D20 rules.  
+
* 2320AD is now out, and is a sourcebook for the [[T20|Traveller D20]] rules.
  
 
* According to web sources, 2320AD will continue the original Twilight 2000 - 2300AD timeline, positioning a limited nuclear war between Russia, China, and the U.S.A. around the turn of the 21st century.
 
* According to web sources, 2320AD will continue the original Twilight 2000 - 2300AD timeline, positioning a limited nuclear war between Russia, China, and the U.S.A. around the turn of the 21st century.
 +
* Mongoose has released their own version of 2300AD. It is based on the Mongoose Traveller core rule book (you actually need a copy to play as the 2300AD books are just setting information). Currently there are two additional books available for Pre-Order: French Arm Adventures and Tools for Frontier Living.
  
 
===Boxed Sets===
 
===Boxed Sets===
Line 68: Line 60:
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
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Several RPG magazines carried articles for 2300 AD, but GDW's own [[Challenge (magazine)|Challenge]] stands out for its quality 2300 AD contributions.
+
Several RPG magazines carried articles for 2300 AD, but GDW's own [[Challenge]] magazine stands out for its quality 2300 AD contributions.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
Line 74: Line 66:
 
* http://www.geocities.com/Area51/9292/2300/ - The United Kingdom in 2300AD
 
* http://www.geocities.com/Area51/9292/2300/ - The United Kingdom in 2300AD
 
* http://www.travellerrpg.com/2320/ - QuikLink Interactive's page on the upcoming 2320AD game setting
 
* http://www.travellerrpg.com/2320/ - QuikLink Interactive's page on the upcoming 2320AD game setting
 +
* https://sites.google.com/site/2300adcollective2/home - 2300 AD Collective
 
* http://www.geocities.com/pentapod2300/kevin.htm - Pentapod's World
 
* http://www.geocities.com/pentapod2300/kevin.htm - Pentapod's World
  
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[[Category:Science fiction role-playing games]]
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{{Wikipedia|2300AD}}
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[[Category:Games]]

Revision as of 06:57, 7 January 2018

Box cover

2300 AD is a hard science fiction/cyberpunk role playing game created by Game Designers' Workshop, The art of 1st Edition books had an allegedly comic book feel, which was replaced by a more technical style in the second edition.

Background

2300 AD is set at the dawn of the 24th century (between 2298 and 2301 depending on the book or supplement). At the end of the 20th century, a global thermonuclear war took place between the United States, China, the U.S.S.R. and other nuclear powers. (This is the same "Twilight War" that is depicted in the role-playing game Twilight: 2000, also produced by Game Designer's Workshop.) In the intervening three centuries, mankind has rebuilt and returned to space. A practical means of faster-than-light (FTL) travel has been discovered, leading to the exploration and eventual colonization of interstellar planets. The post-Westphalian nation-state remains dominant, and most space colonies are considered the territories of various nations back on Earth. This fin de siècle society is analogous to the European colonial era of the 18th and 19th century (indeed, this seems to have been a great source of inspiration for some of GDW's other games). The dominant power, both on Earth and in space, is the Third French Empire, which escaped the nuclear war relatively unscathed by abandoning its NATO allies at the start of the war, and thus had a head start in the technology race. Competing powers include Great Britain, Manchuria, Germany, and an alliance of America and Australia, all of which control certain extrasolar planets themselves.

Mankind has met with several alien species, all of which are decidedly strange and truly alien, from the genetically-engineered Pentapod to the vicious Kafers (The game writers coined this name based on the German word Käfer for bug, not on the African insult "kaffir" or its Afrikaans equivalent kaffer.) The Kafers are the most humanoid of the alien species; unfortunately their history and biology means that war between the Kafer and mankind is inevitable; in 2301 the Kafer start an invasion of human space that will be costly to both attackers and defenders and serves as one of the major dramatic events of the game line.

Technology

A faster than light device called the Stutterwarp Drive allows mankind to colonize other solar systems. Ships can usually reach about 3.5 light years per day as a maximum speed; the real limitation of the Stutterwarp drive is that it can only propel a ship up to a maximum of 7.7 light years before it needs to enter a gravity well and discharge lethal radiation that would otherwise kill the crew. Because ships need to reach a world within this distance, the effect of this limitation is the creation of lanes along which travel and commerce are conducted and along which wars are fought. There are three major lanes through known space, called Arms, named after the nations which dominate them (thus the French Arm, The American Arm and the Chinese Arm). It is still early in mankind's expansion into space, thus exploration has reached little beyond 20-40 light years from Earth.

Overall, the technological level of 2300 AD is not terribly more advanced than the modern day. What is depicted refines or updates currently used technology, with occasional instances of breakthroughs predicted by modern science. The wonder-tech cliches of Space Opera are deliberately absent (with the notable exception of FTL). For example, most personal combat is still conducted with guns firing chemically projected slugs even though energy weapons do exist.

Influences

The background history of 2300 AD is a continuation of the nuclear war depicted in the Twilight 2000 role-playing game by the same company. A custom strategy game called "The Great Game" was used by the authors to develop the background history for 2300 AD.

The game has some very obvious influences. In various supplements and adventures one can find characters, situations and equipment which were clearly modelled on items from popular science fiction movies and novels. Guns and the power loader from the movie Aliens and a buggy from Silent Running, for example.

The alien Kafer (bugs) could be seen as loosely modelled after the Bugs of Heinlein's Starship Troopers. The game also includes several types of powered armor combat suits quite similar to those of the Mobile Infantry of the same novel.

Finally, the authors added a Cyberpunk campaign to the game with the publication of the "Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook" and two adventures for the same, trying to capitalize on the Cyberpunk fad of the 1990s. References to such works as Neuromancer or Blade Runner inevitablely appear.

Publications

New Version

  • 2320AD is now out, and is a sourcebook for the Traveller D20 rules.
  • According to web sources, 2320AD will continue the original Twilight 2000 - 2300AD timeline, positioning a limited nuclear war between Russia, China, and the U.S.A. around the turn of the 21st century.
  • Mongoose has released their own version of 2300AD. It is based on the Mongoose Traveller core rule book (you actually need a copy to play as the 2300AD books are just setting information). Currently there are two additional books available for Pre-Order: French Arm Adventures and Tools for Frontier Living.

Boxed Sets

  • 2300 AD boxed set - Basic rules
  • Star Cruiser - Ship construction and tactical boardgame

Sourcebooks

  • Colonial Atlas
  • Aurore Sourcebook
  • Nyotekundu Sourcebook
  • Invasion
  • Kafer Sourcebook
  • Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook
  • Ships of the French Arm
  • Ground Vehicle Guide
  • Equipment Guide

Adventures

  • Kafer Dawn
  • Ranger
  • Bayern
  • Beanstalk
  • Energy Curve
  • Mission Arcturus
  • Deathwatch Program (Cyberpunk subcampaign)
  • Rotten to the Core (Cyberpunk subcampaign)
  • Operation: Overlord (Kafer War adventure, published by 3W Games)


Magazine articles

Several RPG magazines carried articles for 2300 AD, but GDW's own Challenge magazine stands out for its quality 2300 AD contributions.

External links

Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 2300AD. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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