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Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/05/review-traveller-alien-modules-1984.html
I thought it behooves me to spend some time with the major Alien races we encounter in Traveller. Indeed, it was the aliens and the ads for the first three books in Dragon Magazine that made me want to go back and check out Traveller some more.
Alien Module 1 - Aslan
PDF. 44 pages, color cover, black and white interior art.
While not the first Traveller alien I encountered, this is the first module or data file for the various aliens Traveller has to offer. This one seemed like a no-brainer to me at the time. I had read Joan D. Vinge's "psion" earlier that year and between the Caitian and Kzinti (introduced to me by Star Trek) I was primed to want a Cat-like race in space.
The book covers the basics. Aslan physiognomy, which includes some evolutionary details and how it plays into their current civilization. Their political structure (or almost lack thereof) is also discussed. While the Aslan (named such by the first human explorers to make first contact) are described as proud warrior race, they are not really a unified one.
We are given a bit of their history and their forays into space and their encounters with the Imperium. We get a bit on their psychology, which includes the territorial nature of the males (explained the loose confederacy) and their ritual duels.
The next large section is Aslan character creation. This covers the basic character creation going back to the 3 LBBs and "Expanded" character creation for other types of characters.
We are also given background on the Aslan homeworld, worlds within the Imperium, and a bit on starship design. There is even some detail on the Aslan language, at least in terms of names.
For 44 pages it is pretty well packed. There is not a lot of "fluff" here, mostly all "crunch." So no fiction from the point of view of an Aslan mercenary or a human living on an Aslan world. Just the basics and enough to get you going on to your own adventures. Honestly, it is all you need.
This was the Alien Module I wanted the most back in the day. Researching it now I see that a lot of people did what I was going to do with it; mix in liberal amounts of Kzinti and some Caitian as well. Plus I was going to have psionic ability be a bit stronger in Aslan women. A nod to a lot of the scifi I was reading at the time. I also noticed just as many people complaining about others doing exactly what I wanted and described! Yes, the Aslan are fine just as they are but I also like my ideas too. Thankfully this book lets me do all of that.
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