I have been playing Traveller since about 1977. I was an early adopter, and have continued playing on and off since then. I prefer the original but have obtained newer versions and have included some of the innovations into my game.

I've had the same ship and crew since ... well a long time ago. Regrettably their ship was damaged by a nosy battleship and they have crash lnded on a low tech world. Their stay may be prolonged as the materials for repairs may be scarce.

The planet they (crash)landed on has an interesting history. Centuries ago, a passenger liner, renamed the Mind of Mankind was bought by a group of psionically enabled humans who used it  tp try to escape the Imperium. The ship misjumped. This may have been because Imperium agents planted a bomb in the jump drive, that the Zhodani sent a battleship to actively dissuade the migrants, or even that the ship genuinely misumped.

The upshot was a crippled Mind of Mankind shedding escape pods over an unknown world. Many died in the attempt, or were sent in the wrong direction to die a cold, airless death in space. Of those that survived, many more died, prey to the natural fauna of the new world.

Humans are however somewhat resilient. Slowly, groups of survivors linked up and learned how to survive on the new world. They built villages, and towns; stongholds in which they could live and grow.

Over the centuries, the descendents of the survivors lost much of the knowledge and the technology of the original passengers of the Mind of Mankind. Scientific psionic abilities were retained only in the most degraded and basic form.

This then is the planet Brenda, a low tech Traveller environment, with widespread but crude psionics. It is not, repeat not a fantasy world.

Brenda is a grey world. Why? All my SF figures have grey bases because they're either on a space ship or in a city.

But how to diffentiate Brenda from other environments such as Eric? This is the chalenge. I gave myself a weekend, and a budget of £10 to pop down to the local B&M to source some B&M goods to repurpose in the pursuit of gaming expedience.

One intreresting fact about Brenda is that much of the flora and the geology is blue tinted. Why? Well, it's a combination of the high amount of copper in the crust, the refractive index of certain elements of the atmosphere and I had a can of blue spray paint to use up.

How did I do? Err .. mixed.  I spent £9 on pom-poms, a start shaped trinket box, some small tubs and a bucket and spade set. (I have deprived a child of the happiness of making sand castles. I am ashamed.)
 

The bucket an spade set had 7 pieces. I rejected the spade, but was left with 2 bridges, 3 vaguely fortification type buildings, and one very large keep. I did have vague intentions of using the start shaped trinket box as a landing pad for shuttles - then remembered that it was a low tech world, so it's now a blockhouse. The pompoms spiked onto florists wire become clusters of spherical plants. I've used both original colours and sprayed others. I like the sprayed ones best.   


I was going to use the tubs as rude dwellings, but that didn't really work for me, so there may have to be a plan B.

For less that £10, I'm quite pleased with the results. I have lots of the pom-poms left, and they may have a use as starshells or explosions.



       

An entertaining read for a Sunday morning. You even make a game of shopping by setting a limit for your purchases. To me the flora looks like it might be dangerous as well. Does it have locomotion? Is it a single individual or a collective?

Enjoy Brenda.

Thank you.

Indeed some of these creations do possess an ophidian quality. 

Perhaps something akin to a venus flytrap?

Superb idea. Nice one Nobby

This looks fun!

You get a lot more in a bucket and spade set these days than I recall. 

It's 'not a fantasy world', but has a blue keep? You might need to keep reminding us of the first point. 

QuoteIt's 'not a fantasy world', but has a blue keep? You might need to keep reminding us of the first point.

No, definitely not fantasy. 

Large blue carniverous goats are perfectly scientifically feasible.

Would that be Eric of Melnibone?

Excellent job, sir! That sandcastle set looks intriguing.

Quote from: fsn on 11 May 2025, 01:20:54 PMOne intreresting fact about Brenda is that much of the flora and the geology is blue tinted. Why? Well, it's a combination of the high amount of copper in the crust, the refractive index of certain elements of the atmosphere and I had a can of blue spray paint to use up.

 

QuoteThank you.

Indeed some of these creations do possess an ophidian quality. 

Perhaps something akin to a venus flytrap?

Maybe you could return the pots and swap them for some pipe-cleaners and googly eyes... 

Argh, no! Googly eyes are terrifying, and surely a work of Lucifer himself!

So is Brenda the blue planet ruled by a benevolent Blue Queen (aka the Blue Voice)?

Or are the tyrannical Blue Meanies in charge, making sure no one has any fun at all? 

QuoteWould that be Eric of Melnibone?

Nay tis Eric of Morecambe.



(Brief excerpt from a play what I wrote).

Nailed it, Ithoriel 

I can't help thinking that my very serious attempt to create a cost effective low tech SF where psionics are widespread if not well developed, and definitely not a fantasy setting, is being treated with less than the gravitas it deserves.   



Is it the name? If it helps, Brenda derives from the Old Norse and means "sword" or "flaming blade".