Active Duty Scout standard issue

[Tforbes]

I’ve been trying to collect information for an active duty Scouts adventure and wanted to consult with the brain trust here since I’m still quite new to Traveller (started with Mongoose 2E) and I’ve found that there is a lot of gold hidden in previous editions you guys reference which I know nothing about.

I suppose it’s too much to hope for an IISS sourcebook to the same depth and breadth as the Imperial Navy book but a guy can dream. (unless there’s something in a previous edition I’ve missed)

For ships, I have found a number of ships identified as “Scout” but am unsure if that designation is meant to reflect that they are part of the Scout Service or simply can be used for the act of scouting. (Scout / Courier, Stealth Scout, Serpent Scout, Extended Scout, Far Scout etc.) I also found a Trans-Rift courier in the new JTAS #17.

Is there a list of actual IISS ships (including small crafts) and what they would be used for?


Then, for personal equipment, there are a handful of items in JTAS #5 which are supposed to be standard IISS issue. Namely Working Dress & Field Dress but those are significantly worse than the Navy Duty suits present in the Imperial navy book.

For weapons, the only equipment I’ve found which indicates it is issued to Scouts is the ZT Survival armaments in JTAS #9 but those kinda seem like something to be found in a survival kit in the event of an emergency rather than standard issued sidearms or equipment.

Ultimately, would there be a problem with taking the equipment from the Imperial Navy book, and using that as the basis of what would be issued to a newly recruited Scout but recognize that, throughout their career there is a high possibility that Scouts have lost or replaced their standard gear and instead use whatever they want while fudging the paperwork whenever they check in?

I realize that the lack of rules, oversight, and standardization is a big part of why people join the Scouts over the Navy but I feel like there should be at least some standards in place. Even if only enforced during their basic training and first term or 2.

 

[WHULorigan]

I suppose it’s too much to hope for an IISS sourcebook to the same depth and breadth as the Imperial Navy book but a guy can dream. (unless there’s something in a previous edition I’ve missed)

GURPS Traveller: First In

The sourcebook is all about the IISS.
(You can ignore the parts with the GURPS Game Mechanics).

Also, Classic Traveller - Book 6: Scouts

 

[ross]

I designed a TOE for the Scout Service in 1983 or so. I believe it’s scanned somewhere in my archives but I’ll try to reconstruct from memory.

Scout Service uniforms were Vacc suits of excellent quality. It was not uncommon for a Scout to essentially live in their suit much like a Belter. When you are on a solo journey or with a tiny crew the and something happens there probably won’t be anyone there to help. Scout suits carried internal air for two hours, included an automatic helm, and ingenious “fast gloves”. They also included a power holster ripped from Deathwirld by Harry Harrison. The internal air supply was designed to allow the Scout time to get to a better source or equipment while being very flexible and small.

Scout weapons included a tanto style knife. The blade is about 25cm long guard to tip with a 20cm handle, and a total length of 45cm.
Scouts were usually issued and carried slugthrowers in three configurations all chambered for 10mm caseless ammunition. All Scouts are issued the SMG variant, comparable with the L22A1 Enfield variant. Command staffs, on ships that have them carry an autopistol chambered the same. Security forces carry an assault rifle variant similar to the LG85 that can add a grenade launcher. A wide variety of special ammunition is available,but the most commonly used is a polyethylene variant that is deadly and designed not to puncture bulkheads.

The standard Type S accounts for almost 35% of all service craft with XBoats another 25% of the total. Additional craft are less standardized and range from lab ships and survey craft to sleepers, variant merchant vessels, and decommissioned Naval ships.

Vehicles include 5 and 10 dton grav vehicles in open and closed configurations. With standard wheeled, and tracked vehicles of similar sizes. There are other specialized vehicles but most are of similar sizes to simplify deployment.

That’s off the top of my head and In My Traveller Universe. I bring this up because when I started playing we didn’t have canon. I think it made our games that much more interesting and in many ways better.

Anyway, one man’s opinion.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Is there a list of actual IISS ships (including small crafts) and what they would be used for?

You will never find a complete list of IISS ships, because that would exclude everything else, and everything people design for themselves.

Besides, the list would be outdated when the next splatbook is published...


If a ship has "Scout" in the name, it is presumably designed with the Scout service in mind, whether the IISS actually use them or not.
IISS can canonically use whatever they need, from 100 Dt Scout to surplus Navy 60 000 Dt cruisers (Azhanti High Lightning).

 

[Sigtrygg]

GDW JTAS issue 6 has a four page in depth look at the IISS.

LBB:6 Scouts contains similar information, expanded character generation, but the bulk of the material is extended system generation.

GURPS Traveller First In is the most comprehensive look at the IISS to date.

All are available in pdf.

 

[ResslynHalvik]

IMTU it is common for single-sophont Scout/Couriers in the Marches to have a robot engineer. If the same scout and robot engineer serve together for several terms, it is possible for the scout to be granted the robot as a mustering out benefit. They are expected to keep it in good condition for reserve duty.

Edit: they all look curiously like @Terry Mixon

 

[ross]

oh, one other thing: the Scout Service maintains ships of almost every type. Although there are only a handful over 10k dtons.

 

[MasterGwydion]

oh, one other thing: the Scout Service maintains ships of almost every type. Although there are only a handful over 10k dtons.

Those are their Scout Cruisers, right?

 

[Terry Mixon]

The Singularity Kickstarter has some good information on the Express Boat network, though not the scouts as a whole. Not helpful until it comes out, but there you are.