On 7 Mar 2020, at 11:42, Timothy Collinson - timothy.collinson at port.ac.uk (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:
<snip>
>
> Not sure, if under the Chekov's Gun prinicple I should somehow mention to the PCs that nuclear missiles are illegal, or can I reasonably expect players to know that?  It would be quite hard to say it anywhere without it putting them off using them I reckon.  (At least, it would be with my players).

This seems to be the ideal use of the TNS reports.

Alongside the usual recent local stuff, something quite old from a distant planet about an Imperial intervention triggered by nuclear weapon use.

If this highlights that the Imperium considers nuclear weapons important and the locals left it to them and the Imperial squadron of Gazelles jumps out system on an important mission as the players arrive, that might be what you need?

> Also, does anyone know where their illegality is mentioned in classic Traveller?  I can find it in MgT1 (p.111) and MgT2 (High Guard, p.31) but not in The Traveller Book.  I'm just curious.  TravCon in theory requires MgT2 rules although other things occasionally crop up.  (And there are those of us - Steve E is a good example and I'm close behind - who are hard pressed to actually need to open a rule book in a four hour session.  (And that's not because we know them so well!)

adv 7 Broadsword, p46: Imperial Rules of War

The footnote to these:

“Unlike the above rules, one prohibition is clear and firm throughout the Imperium: use or possession of nuclear weapons, if discovered, and regardless of size or type, will almost certainly trigger Imperial intervention. The Imperium alone retains rights to such weapon.”

Phil Kitching