Recent content by rinku

Hardly a "fiasco". Space junk collisions are going to happen now and then, and it does seem that China probably had contingency plans for the situation, for them to have prepped this within a month. Professionals doing things professionally.

Another thought is that while it's good game design to avoid a Mary Sue character type, there's no particular need to have total balance across character types in Traveller either. You probably would design critters with a points budget to keep a lid on the former, but it won't matter if you end...

"Over time" in this context really means "after 1981 or so". Although you can probably peg it to 1979 when Spinward Marches was published. It's a straw man argument, or at least an obsolete one, that the CT Books 1-3 were generic; GDW only ever offered one setting - all the adventures and most...

A goal of no combat doesn't mean no conflict. If a Pioneer situation might benefit from tactical combat, core Traveller is there to fill the gap. But the opposed resolution system listed under the Combat skill will suffice for the likely scenarios. The above certainly handles someone goes for...

Softer in that Mongoose players get to choose what stats lose a point (until it gets to one point from each). But also the CT rolls were harsher. Mongoose at Term 4 is a single 2D6-4 roll, with no ageing on a roll of 5+, one lost point on a 4, two on a 3 and three on a 2. Classic at Term 4 was...

Not Anvil, but this is a nice free one from Unit 9. Their core is cyberpunk stuff, but a lot of their minis are good for general near future.

They USED to be that back in the day. But the Mongoose aging system is a bit softer, and the consequences of losing a point or two of physical stats are probably less important, especially if you're coming in from a high total. A UPP of 9AB785 isn't going to be cripped by an ageing crisis early...

Potentially there could be an active game mechanic that gives younger players a game resource that degrades as they get older. Psionic testing already has that, but it's awkward and really just something you want to happen when young. Maybe a pool of Boons? Beginner's luck. Everyone gets three...

My space pirate JUST got her hands on battle dress as an end of arc reward. Am I going to wear it much? Nope. Her TL12 Cr25,000 mustering out benefit vacc suit is FAR more comfy and useful. If we're headed for deadly danger, is she going to switch to the battledress and gun up? Heck yeah. But we...

There's also the point that it really doesn't matter what personal combat gear the players have when they're outmatched in space and the other guys aren't interested in boarding. And it really does not take much to outmatch an adventure class ship in space.

A high maintenance passenger is a good bit. Especially if, as is likely, the players assume they are somehow important to the plot. Psych! No, they're just a Karen! Things that suddenly turn out to be not what the players were expecting are usually good for a laugh. Like when mine were gruffly...

The age thing is pretty important. I can remember as a teenager feeling ripped off that by the time the 21st century arrived I'd be too old to enjoy it... at 34. So unfair. You can play younger characters, but there's not much incentive to do so. Other skill based RPGs get players used to lots...

Obviously I'm talking in broad strokes here. Particular players will have their own groove. But I do think that in general terms, new players are going to look at a shelf or a site product listing and shy away from a product that is too expensive or too big. Sure, if they're in a group where...

Very much pumped for Cluster Truck!

Coming in a little late to the thread, but I actually don't think a generic rulebook would sell that well, or bring in new players. That was a thing that was tried in the late 80's and early 90's, and has never really resulted in stellar sales or increased customer base over and above rules plus...