Recent content by PaulB

The dictionary definition of ambush requires the ambusher to have concealment. It is less the ambushed being off guard, more a matter of total ignorance of potential attack. I guess in that case the clearing scenario would apply if the ambushee was walking through the jungle and the ambusher...

Generally, you should: - Run it exactly as written, without any change, tweak or otherwise - Take notes of your preparation time and effort, especially where you feel you have struggled or if something really works well - Write-up notes about your experience of running it as written, and...

To play Devil's advocate, on this basis, shouldn't we collapse a skill like Art, because how many games require a sculptor?

I know I can't go suggesting sweeping changes without consideration - in good grace I take your valid point, sir! A CharMod (CM) creation system would need a whole mechanical upgrade! In a house rule-y world, a weapon would knock a mod off a character per D. A Blade does 2CM damage, while a...

Good point. List updated.

Absolutely. Combine with the suggestion of points-buy and simplify. All six characteristics start with a 0 CharMod. Adjust up or down, -2/+2 max thresholds, all stats keeping the total equal to zero. Characteristic creation complete. If the Referee wants to allow a little more competence, make...

I don't really see it that way. If two combatants walk into a clearing, they see each other and roll Initiative to see who shoots first. If one combatant walks into a clearing and finds the other combatant stood there waiting, how is that different than the first scenario? Or, does initiative...

Just tweak that to 'proficiency' and that reads fine.

Ditto. You can't write a core rulebook and reference Rule Zero like everyone holding the book has years of experience in tabletop gaming to cover for lack of simple alternatives. The Companion won't sell if the newcomer Referee lost interest in running Traveller because the Core book generated...

I'm not an expert - I just have friends in law who seemed highly amused that Advocate could cover interstellar law so cleanly and simply! I might suggest the following, but believe that any Skill check should have increased Difficulty wherever a Traveller practices outside his home system! An...

I have to agree with Stainless, an ambush can go awry. The Boon doesn't by any means guarantee success, but it does provide some small measure of advantage. If the ambusher doesn't capitalise on this, I can't see why the ambushed shouldn't have the chance to react with a full Significant and...

Having read through the Skills section and discussed it with friends, I can't see how Advocate isn't a root with Specialities. To take a real world sense check, you can't practice law in Scotland with only a knowledge of English law. Equally, an individual trained in corporate law would not...

Citizen, have faith. Or, at least have another Ultra-Caffeinated Bouncy Bubble Beverage.

I got my pre-order at the end of last week, but I live in the UK. I dare say, the extra distance to Canada will mean an extra (mandatory) period of (guaranteed 30% extra fun) waiting. Report to your daycycle duties as normal, citizen, and stop fretting (you are not cleared for fretting...

You might want to track down a copy of 'The DOA Sector Travelogue', written by, amongst others, Steve Gilbert (Me and My Shadow Mark IV, PARANOIA: The Mandatory Card Game) and Allen Varney (too many PARANOIA books to mention), which includes a large poster map of DOA Sector. Copies of 'The DOA...