2300AD - A suggestion

[Sigtrygg]

Str - important for hit capacity, carrying capacity, melee

Soc - represents social rank - the future culture that Traveller defaults to in its core tropes assumes those future cultures place an emphasis on social rank, you are not in the US or EU anymore (both of which have social rank, the USA just bases it on family money)

There have been cultures throughout human history were social rank was really important for interactions.

Traveller lacks interpersonal characteristics (which is why in my house game I have added presence as a characteristic) but, there are skills that cover interpersoanl interaction.

As to Soc not being useful "do you know who I am" works in the Third Imperium and any setting that uses original CT tropes.

T2300 doesn't do it at blatantly, but hierarchies are still there.

Social positions in hierarchies change their titles, the deference those of a lower rank must pay to those of higher rank is baked into the system. Doesn't matter if it the civilian, military, religious or corporate authority, if there is a hierarchy you have a social rank.

Don't like it? Don't play in a setting with a hierarchical culture - the Culture is beyond such things for example. Or have your characters join the Ine Givar or provolutionists... but I bet there is still a hierarchy.

 

[mavikfelna]

Str - important for hit capacity, carrying capacity, melee

Soc - represents social rank - the future culture that Traveller defaults to in its core tropes assumes those future cultures place an emphasis on social rank, you are not in the US or EU anymore (both of which have social rank, the USA just bases it on family money)

There have been cultures throughout human history were social rank was really important for interactions.

Traveller lacks interpersonal characteristics (which is why in my house game I have added presence as a characteristic) but, there are skills that cover interpersoanl interaction.

As to Soc not being useful "do you know who I am" works in the Third Imperium and any setting that uses original CT tropes.

T2300 doesn't do it at blatantly, but hierarchies are still there.

Social positions in hierarchies change their titles, the deference those of a lower rank must pay to those of higher rank is baked into the system. Doesn't matter if it the civilian, military, religious or corporate authority, if there is a hierarchy you have a social rank.

Don't like it? Don't play in a setting with a hierarchical culture - the Culture is beyond such things for example. Or have your characters join the Ine Givar or provolutionists... but I bet there is still a hierarchy.

Yep, but DEX skills for Melee is what you use to hit not STR. The bonus for damage from STR is mostly irrelevant. And there are all too many ways to ignore carry weight, a robot porter is cheap. Hit capacity is nice, but armor and high DEX both help adsorb those hits too

SOC is important if you're a face, but I have rarely ever used it in 45 years of playing. If you interact with Nobility alot, you need it, but it's a hindrance in most other situations.

Now, the Vargr CHR trait is hella useful if you're in the extents or working with mercs. I wouldn't mind that replacing SOC.

 

[Vormaerin]

No danger of that. Despite the various controversies about it, I'm a big SOC fan. I call for it all the time in my games, to the chagrin of those players who made it their dump stat.

I liked SOC back in CT when it's application as a modifier was situational. Being Lord Snoot was a bonus in some situations and a penalty in others. But now that it is supposed to be used regularly with social skills like it was Charisma/Presence, I find it quite annoying as written. The uncouth street rogue and the charming aristo are fine tropes, but they shouldn't be the only way the rules work.

 

[Vormaerin]

Traveller lacks interpersonal characteristics (which is why in my house game I have added presence as a characteristic) but, there are skills that cover interpersoanl interaction.

That's basically what I was suggesting, though there's not very much support for SOC mattering if you aren't 9+ in the rules as written.

Also, Mongoose's current rules put SOC in every place you'd put PRE. You think that only lords are good at gathering rumors at parties? Finding brokers? Calming upset people?

We aren't exactly lacking in examples of Lords who are *bad* leaders. Do we think that declaring Sticky a baron suddenly made him +2 at most social activities?

So I'd definitely include a stat intended to be for inpersonal skills and I'd worry about whether SOC is important and what it represents to setting specific material.