There are a lot of differences, sure, but I feel like those differences could compliment each other. Transhuman Space's exuberant optimism regarding AI and biotech balances out 2300 AD's in places laughably conservative (and now dated) notions regarding future tech. Adjusting in the direction of 2300 AD's temporal setting (maybe meeting in the middle at 2200) would make Transhuman Space's rosy tech and space travel outlook look more conservative. Bringing in 2300 AD's stutterwarp drive and "realistically alien" aliens broadens Transhuman Space into interstellar science fiction, which is often more to the rpg crowds' liking than solar system-confined post-cyberpunk, while staying relatively true to the hardish sci-fi leanings of TS. Plus, 2300 AD has a star map and young space colonies ready for you.
Of course, you could do without FTL and keep 2300 AD's aliens and colonies. If you had things like Alastair Reynolds' "lighthuggers" and suspended animation sleep, you could still maintain 2300 AD style civilization, particular when you factor in Transhuman Space tech regrading brain downloading and bioroid bodies.
They seem like a good match for each other. TH would cover some of the more outdated tech predictions in 2300 without moving too far in the "magic nano/biotech" direction, and T2300 really only has the one major "impossible" tech in the stutterwarp drive, which is pretty tame and limited by most FTL drive standards.
ReplyDeleteMan, I remember thumbing through he original Transhuman Space (a GURPS supplement) back when it was at the local game shop. Found it strange and fascinating (mainly due to NOT being steeped in SciFi lore) but something about it rubbed me such that I didn't want to buy it.
ReplyDeleteThat may have just been GURPS, but I'm guessing it had more to do with a complete departure from space opera elements (I was terribly immature when it came to any type of "hard science" back in those days).
These days, I admire the hell out of Traveller (a game I played in the "Classic" version as a kid), but dislike many of the "updates," especially its "aliens" (a strange term for a space-faring humanity to use). The idea of using it small scale (i.e. confined to the solar system) as opposed to "galactic empire style" is an idea that I've toyed with in my head a lot over the last couple years.
Maybe I need to take another look at Transhuman, and see if I can make its setting material work with old school Traveller mechanics. Though I hesitate to add "uplifted animal" as a career option.
; )