Crewmembers manning multiple positions

[Golan2072]

Could a ship crewmember have more than one crew position (e.g. the same person being both Engineer and Medic, or both Pilot and Gunner) in Mongoose Traveller?

In CT, it was possibly but with a higher salary and a -DM to all position-related actions, and in CT's High Guard a pilot could control one weapon system. It is even canonical. In CT's AM6: Solomani, there was a CT-Book2 design for an Escort ship in which each crew person had two positions.

So, how do you think this should be handled in Mongoose Traveller?

 

[Cleon the Mad]

I would do it like they did in CT. Figure the Scouts will be doing this a lot, plenty of scouts are sent out alone in a Type S, and if I recall right a X Boat is crewed by only one person. So said Scout is going to be his own Pilot and Astrogator and at times even an Engineer. I suppose gunner on a Type S too if they arm it..which I could see them doing.

Steward/Medic on a Free Trader is one I'd think might happen a lot too IMO. And I could see a Free Trader hiring a pilot/astrogator again to cut costs.

 

[SSWarlock]

Actually, the Core Book states explicitly how to handle crew manning multiple positions.

See page 51, left-hand column, section titled "Multiple Actions"

and

Page 150, right-hand column, section titled "Change Position".

 

[Golan2072]

Actually, the Core Book states explicitly how to handle crew manning multiple positions.

See page 51, left-hand column, section titled "Multiple Actions"

and

Page 150, right-hand column, section titled "Change Position".

Thanks!

 

[Golan2072]

Reading that Multiple Actions rule on p.51, I thing that it is a bit too harsh, both in comparison to CT (which had a mere -1 DM rather than -2) and to certain real-life occasions (fighter pilots both fly the plane and control its guns/missiles). So I might revert to the CT-HG rules on that point...

...Or, alternatively, make use of MGT's new automation options and let the Fire Control program share the workload with the pilot!

 

[Shiloh]

Reading that Multiple Actions rule on p.51, I thing that it is a bit too harsh, both in comparison to CT (which had a mere -1 DM rather than -2) and to certain real-life occasions (fighter pilots both fly the plane and control its guns/missiles).

Not really the same... most of firing (the aiming part) is actually flying the plane... achieving firing resolutions with turrets while flying tangentially is probably a bit more of a multitasking issue, but not one that's beyond automation by any means.

 

[SSWarlock]

Reading that Multiple Actions rule on p.51, I thing that it is a bit too harsh, both in comparison to CT (which had a mere -1 DM rather than -2)...

Keep in mind that MongTrav gives skill DMs based on characteristics while CT does not.

 

[simonh]

Not really the same... most of firing (the aiming part) is actually flying the plane... achieving firing resolutions with turrets while flying tangentially is probably a bit more of a multitasking issue, but not one that's beyond automation by any means.

In WW2 yes, nowadays and in Traveller I wouldn't have thought so. Traveller fighters can engage at ranges far beyond point-and-shoot flying, and if you look at the most heavily optimised fighter designs they include very advanced computers to get the best DMs so it's clear that much of the targeting is automated. There's still obviously gunnery work for the pilot to do though, such as threat evaluation, assigning weapons to targets and such.

Simon Hibbs