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Clement Sector is the house setting for Gypsy Knight Games. It represents an alternative universe for use with the Traveller RPG and is designed to be used with the Mongoose Traveller rules. 'An Introduction to' does just what it says on the cover, providing a wealth of background and flavour for the setting.
The layout is A4 in a two-column format, and is clear and easy to read. The artwork is excellent and the whole feel is crisp and professional.
Clement Sector itself is a region of space around 60,000 light years from Earth, originally connected to the homeworld by a wormhole called the Conduit. Eleven years ago the Conduit collapsed, leaving the sector utterly isolated from the rest of humanity and reliant upon itself for survival.
The book opens with a credits page and some scene-setting fiction. It includes an overview of the sector's history and background, including early developments on Earth, the nature of the Conduit, exploration, colonization and expansion, and finally isolation. Sidebars provide additional atmosphere, including notes on sporting leagues and narcotic substances.
It also covers, in pleasing detail, the Zimm drive, the device that allows faster than light travel. This technology is functionally quite different to the Jump Drive familiar to most Traveller players. Rules for its use are included.
A Sector/Subsector map gives a good sense of the layout of Clement sector. Human settlement in the region is concentrated in the coreward regions; expansion is restricted by areas of low stellar density and the limitations of the Zimm Drive.
'An Introduction to' includes a comprehensive lest of recommended books and some FAQs, including a few notes relating to possible future developments. It also has a sample scenario from Gypsy Knights' '21' series. This adventure meshes well with the other background material presented in the book.
And this is pretty much where the introduction ends. It is an excellent teaser for the setting and is produced to a very high standard. Thoroughly recommended.
But theres more!
The Osiris system is provided as an example of a star system within Clement Sector. The material makes up nearly a half of the content of the 'An Introduction to' book. There are no less than seven pages of text and four pages of full colour maps.
It begins with brief overviews of each of the planets and bodies orbitting Ra, the primary star. The maps show the layout of the system and also depict all of the major worlds in a classic geodesic format. Next comes a detailed physical examination of Osiris itself, including its atmosphere, geography, hydrosphere, and major flora.
The people who live on the world are examined in some degree of detail. Their society and government are covered, as are local laws. The population's general outlook, attitudes, and culture are also detailed. There is even information about the major centres of population.
Osiris is excellently detailed and is arguably comparable to similar Traveller products such as GDW's Tarsus and Beltstrike. It could easily be used with almost any other Traveller setting or version of the rules, with only minimal effort. Though the population is low the whole system is awash with opportunities for adventure.
Osiris is an unexpected gem. Perhaps Gypsy Knights should make more of the fact that An Introduction to Clement Sector is also a free Osiris System Sourcebook.
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