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[Recruiting!](Mongoose)Traveller:The Spinward Marches.

Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
edited June 2009 in Critical Failures
Travcover.png

What is TRAVELLER?

D:

You poor, poor bastard.
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The current edition is produced by Mongoose Publishing.

Originally Traveller was intended to be a system for playing generic space opera themed science fiction adventures, in the same sense that Dungeons & Dragons is a system for generic fantasy adventures. However, a suggested setting called the Third Imperium was detailed with the publication of following supplements and since then this setting has become strongly identified with the game, such that to fans the name Traveller and the Third Imperium are synonymous.

The Traveller rules help construct a far future society that draws inspiration from the Dumarest saga series by E.C. Tubb, the Foundation stories of Isaac Asimov, H. Beam Piper's Space Viking, Larry Niven's Known Space, Jerry Pournelle's CoDominium, Poul Anderson's Polesotechnic League and several other works of science fiction literature[citation needed]. Characters are expected to travel between star systems, engage in battle on the ground and in space, and involve themselves in interstellar economics. Traveller characters are defined less by the need to increase native skill and ability and more by achieving positional advancement in the form of wealth, gadgets, titles and political power. While any version of the game system could be used in many science fiction settings, most published supplements have dealt in some way with the Third Imperium, also sometimes referred to as the Official Traveller Universe, or "OTU".

The newest version, Mongoose Traveller, is awesome.

Further Questions:
Why should I play this instead of Bounty Head Bebop and Serenity RPG

Because they suck.

So, what's gameplay/chargen like?

Good of you to ask.

Chargen:
Characteristics are generated by rolling 2d6, there are six of them, Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Intelligence, Education, and Social Standing. Numbers 10-15 are represented by the letters A-F.

The player then selects Homeworld and Education skills, these begin at Level 0, meaning that the character has a familiarity with these. The character is now 18 years old and shall enter the WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORK, by picking a Career, rolling to see if he is qualified(if not he can either take the Drifter career or submit to the Draft), he then takes a list of skills at level 0, for his first career only, then rolls for wonderful things like Survival, Advancement, Skills, and Events, repeat until the character has had three four year terms in a career and you get your basic Traveller character.

Gameplay:
But Erich, how do you do things, you ask?

You do things by rolling 2d6 and getting a result of Target Number+, positive points in a skill add to the character's chance to succeed, a Twelve is an automatic Success, a 2 an automatic failure, missing the target number by one you may, if the Referee permits, barely succeed, losing something in the process.

More info is available here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveller_(role-playing_game

and here, in this wonderful podcast, which will tell you anything else you want to know about the game.


Resources: The Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society THE DOWNPORT The Traveller Map

I would love to play this, but I don't have any books!
D:
Worry not, the Traveller System Reference Document is here to help.

But there's only one career listed, and some of the other stuff is missing.

I will send the rest to you, if and only if you express interest in this campaign.

Sign up, give timezones/etc and we will be ready to go.

After telling a friend that I was refereeing Traveller, he gave me a copy of The Spinward Marches, by Mongoose, So, we are ready to go, I will take 6-8 players, I would prefer IRC but will do PbP if necessary.

He also has a copy of Mercenary "Somewhere", presumably in his godforsaken attic or crawlspace. D:

Let's just stick with the SRD for mercenary.

The DM:GMT-7(Denver) whatever time I can play.

1.Wildcat GMT+1(Summer time)
2.Premier Kakos GMT -7 Denver time.
3.GalagaGalaxian GMT-8? Pacific. Saturday=Out
4.
5.
6.

Rule one of Traveller is that you do not COMPLAIN about the lack of post-scarcity, FTL comms, autolaserguns that never miss, transhumanism and other stupid shit that only gets in the way of having an enjoyable game.

Rule two is that you don't call certain alien races a disparaging five letter name. Those people didn't exist when Traveller was made.

Skill Packages are spoilered below for convenience:
Traveller Skill Package: Pilot (any) 1, Sensors 1, Comms 1, Gunner (any) 1, Gun Combat (any) 1, Persuade 1, Stealth 1, Medic 1.

Mercenary Skill Package: Sensors 1, Comms 1, Medic 1, Leadership 1, Heavy Weapons (any) 1, Gun Combat (any) 1, Gun Combat (any) 1, Stealth 1.

Trader Skill Package: Pilot (any) 1, Sensors 1, Medic 1, Streetwise 1, Broker 1, Advocate 1, Diplomat 1, Astrogation 1.

Starship Skills Package: Pilot (any) 1, Gunner (any) 1, Engineer (any) 1, Mechanic 1, Sensors 1, Medic 1, Comms 1, Astrogation 1.

Explorer Skills Package: Pilot (any) 1, Astrogation 1, Sensors 1, Survival 1, Recon 1, Gun Combat (any) 1, Stealth 1, Medic 1

Diplomat Skill Package: Advocate 1, Diplomat 1, Persuade 1, Stealth 1, Streetwise 1, Deception 1, Computers 1, Comms 1.

Investigator Skill Package: Advocate 1, Admin 1, Investigate 1, Persuade 1, Stealth 1, Streetwise 1, Computers 1, Sensors 1, Gun Combat (any) 1

Criminal Skill Package: Pilot (any) 1, Sensors 1, Stealth 1, Deception 1, Persuade 1, Streetwise 1, Broker 1, Medic 1.

Player Specific Resources: MY LIFE FOR A GOOD PDF EDITOR.

Edith Upwards on

Posts

  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    I remember playing the computer game adaptation of this. The setting seemed nice. The game was not so much.

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Wildcat wrote: »
    I remember playing the computer game adaptation of this. The setting seemed nice. The game was not so much.

    The second one was better, the first was SPEAKERS ATTEMPT TO EMULATE HUMAN FOOTSTEPS, OH GOD MY EARS, COMBAT, NOT TURN-BASED, YOUR PARTY IS DEEEEAD.

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    The first one also had a huuuuuge difficulty spike for the very last encounter that was just D:

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Wildcat wrote: »
    The first one also had a huuuuuge difficulty spike for the very last encounter that was just D:

    You're probably suppposed to have Battle Dress and PGMP's by that time.

    Also, how the fuck did you get past the FIRST encounter?

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Luck. And a good game guide.

    I HAD Battle Dress, TL12s and PGMPs for the last mission, but it was still a total crapshoot.

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    So, who else loves those podcasts?

    EDIT:why is this thread not at page fifty?

    Edith Upwards on
  • delrolanddelroland Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Erich Zahn wrote: »
    EDIT:why is this thread not at page fifty?

    Because not everyone can do maths.

    delroland on
    EVE: Online - the most fun you will ever have not playing a game.
    "Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    One question: Battleships. Can I get one?

    Alecthar on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Alecthar wrote: »
    One question: Battleships. Can I get one?


    High Guard(the navy book)/the old mini games will facilitate your fetish for BEEEEG SHEEEPS.:winky:

    Edith Upwards on
  • EchoEcho ski-bap ba-dapModerator, Administrator admin
    edited May 2009
    I have GURPS Traveller lying around somewhere. It's the kind of system that makes me go "but if I make my ship captain addicted to cigarettes I can add two more points in book keeping!"

    Echo on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Echo wrote: »
    I have GURPS Traveller lying around somewhere. It's the kind of system that makes me go "but if I make my ship captain addicted to cigarettes I can add two more points in book keeping!"

    GURPS Traveller is...

    Uh.

    It's antithetical to the way I run/play games.

    With Mongoose Traveller I can generate characters in under a minute. GURPS,not so much.

    Edith Upwards on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    So, I've gotten started generating Forevan, going to post badly drawn PAINT.NET pics when I am done with current sector, because Cosmographer+CC3 is prohibitively expensive.

    Additionally, I shall construct Phalla GK in an attempt to get interest in Traveller up.

    Edith Upwards on
  • The EverymanThe Everyman Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Erich Zahn wrote: »
    So, I've gotten started generating Forevan, going to post badly drawn PAINT.NET pics when I am done with current sector, because Cosmographer+CC3 is prohibitively expensive.

    Additionally, I shall construct Phalla GK in an attempt to get interest in Traveller up.

    Ever try out GIMP?

    The Everyman on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Saw that there were brushes for Traveller and started DLing it now.

    EDIT:Nice.

    EDIT2:Systems 1 1-2 2 are generated, good amount of gas giants, now to go one to Planet Generation.

    After my first game of TF2 on a PA server, because Planet Gen takes forever.

    Edith Upwards on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    So, I generated my first world, anyone who finds a worldgen program that works with Mongoose's version recieves my gratitude.

    My first planet:
    Size 1(1,600 km)

    Atmosphere:None

    Temperature:Frozen/IT BURRRNS

    Hydrographics 0

    Population 7(Tens of Millions)

    Government 6 Captive Government, rulership accountable to an outside power.

    Rival Factions:1

    Support: 8(notable, significant support)

    Law Level 6 (Ban on non shotgun/stun guns, CARRYING WEAPONS DISCOURAGED) Travel level 5 with undertones of 6.) Export
    of TL 11+ items banned.

    Unusual Custom: Trade, Tithes resources to Scouts in exchange for maintenance, service in the IISS is a great honor.

    Starport: D, Poor SCOUT BASE

    Tech Level:3(plus 2 from size plus 1 from temperature plus 1 from hydro)

    One TL below minimum for the atmosphere type, GM Fiat says that the Scout base is TL 11, problem solved.

    The reason I don't have at least five more is that GIMP is being a bitch and fucking up the text layer because it doesn't come with any standard fonts.

    Edith Upwards on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Alright, instead of making 4x4 I will make 2x2 subsectors

    Anyway, I will sell my soul for a worldgenerator that

    1.Is up to date.
    2.can take pre existing full sectors/planets and generates shit from there
    3.does a full sector map/2x2 well.
    4.allows me to annotate shit/does UWP's for me because I CANNOT READ IN HEXIDECIMAL CODE.

    Yet.

    So, what sort of characters do you play as in Traveller?
    Citizens of the Imperium: Citizens.png

    Proud Veterans of Imperial Service: Service.png

    Merchantile Wanderers, plying their cargoes: MerchantsNobles.png

    Daring Swashbucklers: Scum.png

    Staunch Upholders of the Law: Agent.png

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Vets!

    Edit: why does the second vet down look like he's about to shave his legs?

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    That's a pneumatic syringe.

    Like the army has, they inject you with about forty vaccinations in one shot, makes a sound like the doors on Star Trek, and doesn't hurt compared to stupid normal syringes.

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Cool, but I like my idea better.

    By the way, I would certainly like to be considered for inclusion in your campaign if you do decide to run one, please.

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Alright, I sent Wildcat the package of chargen stuff not in the SRD+the lovely deckplans for an S Class Scout Ship, which is THE Traveller ship.

    Post if interested. PM me your email, put in vote for the starting package of skills to be distributed to the PCs in the campaign, etc.

    PM me if you only have the SRD, even the "sample" career isn't fully detailed.

    Edith Upwards on
  • WasabiBeanWasabiBean Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Wow. How could I pass up the opportunity to role-play a welder in a muscle shirt? I love GURPS, but in lacking in documentation. e-mail PMed.

    WasabiBean on
  • Premier kakosPremier kakos Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2009
    I am so up for this. I'm in Boulder, CO, GMT -7.

    Premier kakos on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Alright, start working on characters, normal rules. The second people see that this game will actually go somewhere is when it will go somewhere.

    D:

    Also, people who I sent the packages, tell me if that's enough to do shit with.

    Remember, the SRD is in the OP.

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Eeep, I will get working on it this week and weekend.

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Wildcat wrote: »
    Eeep, I will get working on it this week and weekend.

    ?

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    All right, this week. :( Sorry.

    Wildcat on
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Wildcat wrote: »
    All right, this week. :( Sorry.

    reeesulllts.

    I demand them.

    Edith Upwards on
  • GalagaGalaxianGalagaGalaxian Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Due to a chance run-in at the TF2 thread in G&T, Erich Zahn forcibly pointed me over here. And since he hasn't responded to the last PM I guess I should post.

    I'm potentially interested, depending on time. I've got the Mongoose Traveller book as well as High Guard and Mercenary. I'm Pacific(US) timezone (Soo.. GMT-8?), however I play in a Dark Heresy game on Saturdays, so that day is not good for me.

    I come bearing gifts

    Mongoose Traveller World Generator
    (its basic though, lacking gov't subfactions and certain stuff like world average temperature, I always liked rolling up world by hand personally)

    GalagaGalaxian on
    Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Nice, that guy posts on ENWorld right?

    Edith Upwards on
  • GalagaGalaxianGalagaGalaxian Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    No clue, its just something I stumbled across a ways back digging up Traveller info.

    So what kind of game are you looking to run, tone and style wise? "Traveller" "Explorer" etc etc. I have several 4-6 term characters I rolled up at various poitns out of boredom I could use or I could roll up something new (amongst those is a retired Army/SpecOps soldier/agent I've taken a liking to, though he lacks a lot of spacer style skills).

    GalagaGalaxian on
    Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Basic Traveller, zip from planet to planet trading shit and inadvertantly getting involved in other shit.

    Edith Upwards on
  • GalagaGalaxianGalagaGalaxian Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Well, here is that guy I mentioned. He's pretty damn capable on his feet, if rather useless in a spaceship. Skill packages could alleviate that a bit. Too bad they don't include steward in the Traveller skill package (or any of them) it'd be funny to have an ex-special forces dude be the resident flight attendant. As is I'm not sure what kind of role he could play on a ship, besides "muscle"/cargo-hand, but, again, skill packages should sort that a bit.. Between Traveller and Mercenary he has some nice toys left over from his Intelligence days, but its all within the "any item under 2,000 Cr." rules (unless you count upgrades as part of the item cost, rather than their own item purchase, in which case his guns and suit may lose some of their bells & whistles).
    Name:Tharis Valtion
    Age: 43
    Homeworld: [name here] (High Population, Garden)

    Str 07 (+0)
    Dex 09 (+1)
    End 09 (+1)
    Int 10 (+1)
    Edu 09 (+1)
    Soc 05 (-1)

    Skills:

    Advocate 1
    Animals 0
    Athletics (Co-ordination) 2
    Comms 1
    Computers 1
    Deception 1
    Drive 0
    Gun Combat (Slug Pistol) 1
    Gun Combat (Slug Rifle) 2
    Heavy Weapons 0
    Investigate 1
    Leadership 1
    Mechanic 0
    Medic 0
    Melee 0
    Persuade 1
    Recon 2
    Stealth 3
    Streetwise 1
    Survival 1
    Tactics (Military) 1
    Vacc Suit 1

    Money: 25,865 Credits

    Weapons:
    Autopistol - Laser Sight, Silencer, Secure Weapon (20 Magazines)
    Gauss Carbine - Laser Sight, Gyrostabilizer, Secure Weapon, Magnification Scope (10 Magazines)
    Dagger

    Gear:
    Medikit (TL8)
    Stimm Drugs, 10 doses
    Combat Drugs, 2 doses
    Binoculars (TL8)
    IR/Light-Intensifying Goggles (TL9)
    Motion Sensor (TL9)
    Breather Mask

    Armor:
    Protect Suit (magnetic Grapples, smart fabric, eye protection, Computer/1 weave (TL-11, Programs: Translator 0, Intrusion 1)) (Protection 4, can be worn under other armor)
    Ballistic Vest (Protection 5)

    Augments:
    Subdermal Armor (TL-11) (Protection 3)
    Neural Comm (Audio Only)
    Wafer Jack


    History:
    Background Skills:
    Animals 0
    Streetwise 0
    Mechanic 0
    Medic 0

    Term 1 - Army (Infantry) (Age 18-21)
    Basic Training - All basic service skills to 0
    Skill Roll - Specialist Infantry: Stealth +1
    Survival Roll: Passed
    Event: Brutal Ground War - Gun Combat +1
    Promotion: Lance Corporal - Recon +1
    Skill Roll - Service Skills: Recon +1

    Term 2 - Army (Infantry) (Age 22-25)
    Skill Roll - Specialist Infantry: Athletics +1
    Survival Roll: Passed (barely)
    Event Roll: Advanced Training - Stealth +1
    Promotion: Corporal
    Skill Roll - Service Skills: Athletics +1

    Term 3 - Army (Infantry) (Age 26-29)
    Skill Roll - Advanced Education: Survival +1
    Survival Roll: Passed
    Event Roll: Commanding Officer takes interest in Career - Tactics (Military) +1
    Promotion: Lance Sergeant - Leadership +1
    Skill Roll - Specialist Infantry: Gun Combat +1

    Mustering Out: 5 Benefit Rolls
    Benefit 1: +1 Int
    Benefit 2: 20,000 Credits
    Benefit 3: 10,000 Credits
    Benefit 4: Combat Implant Subdermal Armor
    Benefit 5: End +1

    Term 4 - Agent (Intelligence) (Age 30-33)
    Basic Training - Investigate
    Skill Roll - Intelligence: Stealth +1
    Survival Roll: Passed (Barely)
    Event: Complete a Mission (+1 to a Benefit roll DM)
    Promotion: Agent - Deception 1
    Skill Roll - Service Skills: Computers +1
    Aging: Passed (None)

    Term 5 - Agent (Intelligence) (Age 34-37)
    Skill Roll - Advanced Education: Advocate 1
    Survival Roll: Passed
    Event Roll: Life Event - Good Fortune (+2 to a Benefit Roll)
    Promotion: Field Agent - Investigate 1
    Skill Roll - Intelligence Specialist: Comms +1
    Aging: Passed (None)

    Term 6 - Agent (Intelligence) (Age 38-41)
    Skill Roll - Intelligence Specialist: Persuade +1
    Survival: Passed
    Event Roll: Go Undercover (Rogue: Pirate) - Streetwise +1, Vacc Suit+1
    Promotion: Rank 3 (Still "Field Agent")
    Skill Roll - Service Skills: Gun Combat +1
    Aging: Passed (Barely) (None)

    Mustering Out: 5 Benefit Rolls
    Benefit 1: Weapon
    Benefit 2: Int +1
    Benefit 3: Combat Implant - Wafer Jack
    Benefit 4: Combat Implant - Subdermal Armor
    Benefit 5: 7,500 Credits

    He turned out quite different from what I originally had in mind. I planned to make an Army Vet who would leave the military to become a frontier colonist, but when he rolled up all those athletics, recon, and stealth advances followed by a "Superior Officer Takes interest in career" I decided it'd be a great excuse to switch him over to an Agent and make him a Spec-Ops kinda guy. I love how Traveller tends to do that sort of thing.

    GalagaGalaxian on
    Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    THAT is how you format a character sheet for forum poasting. EXCELLENT.

    Edith Upwards on
  • GalagaGalaxianGalagaGalaxian Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Thanks I guess, if you mean the term rolls part, I recorded that stuff because it all helps suggest a history for a character. I'll probably get around to writing up one or two prose-ish paragraphs of history eventually. Anyways, does the character himself look ok? And is the equipment ok? (I'm not sure but I think a few of the upgrades would push the protect suit and/or Gauss Carbine over 2,000 Cr. each if you consider item+upgrades a single purchase). I'm a tiny bit worried he might be a bit overpowered as he has a large spread of skills and a bunch of +1s in his stats.

    GalagaGalaxian on
    Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Don't worry, I plan to roll aging, I count upgrades only if there's some rediculous amount / someone tries to make something deliberately OP.

    Edith Upwards on
  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Woooo gogo free weekend

    Character coming all up ins soon!

    Wildcat on
  • GalagaGalaxianGalagaGalaxian Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    :?

    ?

    GalagaGalaxian on
    Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Edith UpwardsEdith Upwards Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I've given up at this point.

    Edith Upwards on
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