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Thread: Traveller
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2019-08-19, 07:33 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2019
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- Maryland
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Traveller
Does anyone play Traveller? I'm a fan of the new Mongoose version but I also have copies of most of the other rule systems and collect the supplements for the other versions. I particularly like the GURPS Traveller version I think that those books have a lot of useful material in them even if you don't play GURPS.
"There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom" G'Kar - Babylon 5
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2019-08-19, 02:02 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2015
Re: Traveller
Lots of people do, although it really seems like the diehards stick to the official site for forum activities.
I have no active campaigns, but I've played LBB (w/ and w/o the added supplements), Megatraveller, GURPS Traveller, T20, Mongoose v1, and tried T5.0.
GURPS Traveller is a pretty good fit--GURPS Sci Fi and Space conventions were already established as Traveller-esque (the various weapons and armor match up with Traveller equivalents, etc.). Which makes sense, since there was a lot of fan and writer overlap in the early/mid-80s. The big thing I dislike about the GURPS version is that it misses out on the character creation career rolling, which, although it violates some peoples' opinion on inter-PC balance, is a heck of a lot of fun.
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2019-08-19, 05:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
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2019-08-19, 10:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
- 61.2° N, 149.9° W
- Gender
Re: Traveller
I ran about a 9 month game of modified original Traveller. Went pretty well until the players decided to attack an Imperial customs agent and troops during a contraband inspection in orbit. They were in a 300 tonne trader, one laser. There were two 600 tonne Imp.Couriers, bigger lasers and missiles.
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2019-08-20, 01:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
- Location
- Slovakia
- Gender
Re: Traveller
I love the idea of Traveller - scouting unknown planets, trading, making a living in space, dealing with irritating passengers while fighting off pirates and repairing leaking systems in 0g.
I love the idea of having a ship that I need to know the layout of, an old piece of junk that floats because a dedicated mechanic does miracles with it, with few secrets to discover while doing a jump. Being a big fan of Cowboy Bebop, I would love that.
But I can't run it. I dunno why. I get stuck.
I got myself Mongoose Traveller, but also Mark Miller's original rules and the huge 800 pages long monstrosity
I would love to play in Traveller game. I sometimes get frustrated with the rules, but other than that... I love the idea. But can't get a game running.Call me Laco or Ladislav (if you need to be formal). Avatar comes from the talented linklele.
Formerly GMing: Riddle of Steel: Soldiers of Fortune
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2019-08-20, 07:18 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2015
Re: Traveller
Do you think it is just the crunch? I mean, like most early TTPRGs with a resource management game, I can run into situations of 'we didn't track encumbrance to the last half pound because you didn't make it interesting in the first place!' situations. If that's the issue, perhaps running the thing Savage Worlds, Fate, Serenity, Firefly (I think there's one of each), Stars Without Number, GURPS, or something else would be a better fit.
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2019-08-20, 08:18 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
- Location
- Slovakia
- Gender
Re: Traveller
I don't think so. Normally I run Riddle of Steel, so I'm quite crunch-positive. It's more about the expectations from players vs. GM. And my expectations are... well, strange at least.
Spoiler: TLDR: Level of detail = hard to manageIf you are familiar with Objects in Space, that's the level of detail I'd like to go for - but even more sandbox/slice of life. I'm all for adventure & excitement, but I want to enjoy also the "normal day" in PC life. Because if it's all adventure all the time, then my flow gets broken.
Let's assume a game tailored to my specific tastes with group and GM that play along. First session? We stroll around starport, searching for last crewmembers that we miss (e.g. mechanic). We look up few resumes, check and select one. We also buy supplies, manage refueling, passengers and paperwork. Bribe some guys to get us into front of launch list. I want my first takeoff to be... not just a roll.
First jump? Check. Passengers that cause trouble? Sic' the steward on them. New mechanic tries to kidnap ship? Oooh, shootout! Pirate fight near unknown planet? Perfect. Exploration & troubleshooting? Great.
But I also want to close down part of ship to avoid pressure loss, replace components, risk running out of food/air/fuel and having to find other options. Solving ancient puzzles is fun, but so is solving best track to nearest refueling depot for me.
And while I find that fun, not everybody does. Yeah, I'm the guy who wants to play a starship pilot/mechanic that not only fixes the laser turret, but also finds a second-hand part that makes it 10% more efficient
And I know this can be managed - all of it - under almost any named system. It's more about the player expectations and GM creativity - not everybody finds my kind of fun... well, fun.Call me Laco or Ladislav (if you need to be formal). Avatar comes from the talented linklele.
Formerly GMing: Riddle of Steel: Soldiers of Fortune
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2019-08-21, 08:07 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2019
- Location
- Maryland
- Gender
Re: Traveller
Yeah it's easy to convert an system to GURPS and there's conversion rules for CT in the GT main book.
Yeah I have copies of most of the other editions of Traveller but stayed away from T5. I looked at some of the charts and wondered WHAT is this for?
Some one on the CotI boards said that Marc Miller doesn't really use ALL the rules to run T5. So why doesn't he just publish a parred down version? I mentioned there that the main books for T5 shouldn't be bigger than the Pathfinder Core book or the D&D 5e handbook. NOT 800 pages...
I liked T4 back in the day when it was the only published edition around and it looks similar to T4."There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom" G'Kar - Babylon 5
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2019-08-21, 09:08 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2015
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2019-08-23, 11:57 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2019
- Location
- Maryland
- Gender
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2019-08-23, 02:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- Virginia Beach VA
- Gender
Re: Traveller
I played Black Book edition back in the early 80s. Still have the book, plus some stuff like Striker, and a squadron-level starship combat supplement, and Trillion Credit Squadron. Haven't actually played it since the 80s, but then again I have shelves of games that I'm probably never going to get to play.
My understanding is that Marc Miller is kickstarting a new edition now or in the near future.Junior, half orc paladin of the Order of St Dale the Intimidator: "Ah cain't abide no murderin' scoundrel."
Tactical Precepts: 1) Cause chaos, then exploit it; 2) No plan survives contact with...(sigh)...my subordinates.