Character Generation

[Shokker]

On p11 of the Judge Dredd (Traveller) Rulebook under the heading SURVIVAL AT THE ACADEMY OF LAW it suggests two ways of dealing with failed survival rolls - what method works best?

And then later on p12 EVENTS AND UNTRAINED SKILLS there are two options for dealing with untrained skills - what system do you use?

Curious to know how others deal with the Character Generation process!

 

[cfirpi]

Well this question was posted quite some time ago but I guess I'll still give my understanding.

The two methods for dealing with survival rolls are actually explained under the result. So unlike regular Traveller where you fail and need to chose a new career, you may fail and still continue, though usually with a negative consequence..(since there is no other careers.)

As for the skill rolls. It is up to the player to decide. If they wish to attempt the roll with the -3 if they succeed they get the skill at 0. Or if they choose to not take take the modifier they count as having called up Sector House and requested instructions etc.

 

[ned-kogar]

I've been meaning to answer this for ages - sorry it's taken me so long - I had to dig out my notes.

SURVIVAL AT THE ACADEMY OF LAW:
With failed survival rolls - cos we did thorough rationalising write-ups of the Academy career phase in order to break off and role-play the Hotdog Run AND because the players rolled the characters up in pairs - we allowed the other player to make a roll to save the career of a cadet who got in trouble (and get themselves a bonus for the effort).

For example in Term 2 Cadet Campbell failed his Survival Roll, then rolled Mishap 4.3, and then failed his Influence roll. Cadet O'Dowd had just Gained Advocacy 1, and elected to try to use it to save Campbell from expulsion. He succeeded and Campbell got to stay (but lost 1 Influence) and O'Dowd got an additional point of Advocacy.

This gave a nice sense of entwined history to the characters, rationalised as: Cadet Campbell's second term started poorly when, in a simulated siege, he shot Cadet Eustace Wendt in the face as Wendt rounded a corner into Campbell's line of fire. His trigger finger had been quicker than his brain. O'Dowd, partnering Wendt during the sim, came to Campbell's defence, arguing that Wendt had ignored the parameters of the exercise and progressed into the 'Hot' zone. O'Dowd's intervention prevented Campbell's expulsion. Nevertheless, Campbell became distrusted by most other cadets in their year.

EVENTS AND UNTRAINED SKILLS:

We planned to use the first method on p.12, for ease, but I don't think it came up.

Hope that helps!

Ned