Basic Chargen vs. Advanced Chargen
It is a mistake to think that Advanced Character Generation delivers a character that has more skills. What is really the case is that Basic Chargen delivers characters with broader skills, where as Advanced Chargen produces characters with more specific skills.
The two system really are compatible with no changes needed to either system.
To clearly express my point, lets look at Book 7 Merchant Prince and compare it to the skills available to a Basic generated character from Book 1. The new skills provided in Book 7 are:
These four included skills.
Handgun
Laser Weapons
Pilot
Zero-G Weapons
And these individual skills.
Admin
Broker
Carousing
Communications
Gravitics
Legal
Liasion
Ships Tactics
Steward
Streetwise
Trader
Zero-G Combat
The Included Skills
Let's look at these first. Handgun and Laser Weapons allow the character to use similar skills at the same level. Although Book 1 expressly stats that each weapon is considered a separate skill, I suggest that, if using Book 7 along with Book 1, then allow the Book 7 thinking to supercede any rule in Book 1 that would prevent a character with similar skill from using it at the same level. So, if your Book 1 PC has the Pistol skill, then just allow him to use the AutoPistol and BodyPistol skills at the same level. Don't change anything on the character's sheet, not even the name of the handgun that he's skilled with. Let that show which weapon the character prefers.
So, if the character has BodyPistol, then he can use the AutoPistol and the Revolver at the same skill level. If he's got AutoPistol, then allow him to use the BodyPistol and the Revolver at the same skill level.
The same goes for Laser Rifle and Laser Carbine.
There's already a convention in Traveller that states, if a weapon is listed as a Skill-0 weapon skill, then that indicates which weapon the character prefers (and fits with modifiers). Book 1 character gain all normal weapons as default skills, so if you see a character with Shotgun-0, that just means that, out of all the default weapons, the character prefers the shotgun and probably has the best modifiers with that weapon.
The same type of idea is in play above. If a character has AutoPistol-2, then that means the character is just as skilled with the Revolver and the SnubPistol, using those skills at level-2, but the character prefers the AutoPistol (and probably has the best mods with that weapon).
Treat Zero-G weapons the same way with the requirement that the character must also possess the Vacc Suit skill.
Pilot is already listed in Book 1 as doing what it does in Book 7, which is any Pilot skill can be used as Ship Boat skill at 1 level lower.
As for the other individual skills, just consider what a Basic charagen character would throw upon.
Admin is already a Book 1 skill. Allow the skill to be used as described in Book 7 by Merchant characters.
Broker - pick the Book 1 skill that is most appropriate for the situation. Admin my fit most situations.
Carousing - same as above. Streetwise might be used normally.
Communications - Use Mechanical.
Gravitics - Use Engineering.
Legal - Use Admin.
Liasion - Use Streetwise or Admin.
Ships Tactics - Use Tactics
Steward = Use Steward, already in Book 1.
Streetwise - Use Streetwise, already in Book 1.
Trader - Use Admin or other appropriate skill.
Zero-G Combat - Use Vaac Suit
Looking at characters this way, a character that comes from Advanced Chargen is just as effective as a character that comes from Basic chargen. You really can mix-and-match characters from both systems.
It is a mistake to think that Advanced Character Generation delivers a character that has more skills. What is really the case is that Basic Chargen delivers characters with broader skills, where as Advanced Chargen produces characters with more specific skills.
The two system really are compatible with no changes needed to either system.
To clearly express my point, lets look at Book 7 Merchant Prince and compare it to the skills available to a Basic generated character from Book 1. The new skills provided in Book 7 are:
These four included skills.
Handgun
Laser Weapons
Pilot
Zero-G Weapons
And these individual skills.
Admin
Broker
Carousing
Communications
Gravitics
Legal
Liasion
Ships Tactics
Steward
Streetwise
Trader
Zero-G Combat
The Included Skills
Let's look at these first. Handgun and Laser Weapons allow the character to use similar skills at the same level. Although Book 1 expressly stats that each weapon is considered a separate skill, I suggest that, if using Book 7 along with Book 1, then allow the Book 7 thinking to supercede any rule in Book 1 that would prevent a character with similar skill from using it at the same level. So, if your Book 1 PC has the Pistol skill, then just allow him to use the AutoPistol and BodyPistol skills at the same level. Don't change anything on the character's sheet, not even the name of the handgun that he's skilled with. Let that show which weapon the character prefers.
So, if the character has BodyPistol, then he can use the AutoPistol and the Revolver at the same skill level. If he's got AutoPistol, then allow him to use the BodyPistol and the Revolver at the same skill level.
The same goes for Laser Rifle and Laser Carbine.
There's already a convention in Traveller that states, if a weapon is listed as a Skill-0 weapon skill, then that indicates which weapon the character prefers (and fits with modifiers). Book 1 character gain all normal weapons as default skills, so if you see a character with Shotgun-0, that just means that, out of all the default weapons, the character prefers the shotgun and probably has the best modifiers with that weapon.
The same type of idea is in play above. If a character has AutoPistol-2, then that means the character is just as skilled with the Revolver and the SnubPistol, using those skills at level-2, but the character prefers the AutoPistol (and probably has the best mods with that weapon).
Treat Zero-G weapons the same way with the requirement that the character must also possess the Vacc Suit skill.
Pilot is already listed in Book 1 as doing what it does in Book 7, which is any Pilot skill can be used as Ship Boat skill at 1 level lower.
As for the other individual skills, just consider what a Basic charagen character would throw upon.
Admin is already a Book 1 skill. Allow the skill to be used as described in Book 7 by Merchant characters.
Broker - pick the Book 1 skill that is most appropriate for the situation. Admin my fit most situations.
Carousing - same as above. Streetwise might be used normally.
Communications - Use Mechanical.
Gravitics - Use Engineering.
Legal - Use Admin.
Liasion - Use Streetwise or Admin.
Ships Tactics - Use Tactics
Steward = Use Steward, already in Book 1.
Streetwise - Use Streetwise, already in Book 1.
Trader - Use Admin or other appropriate skill.
Zero-G Combat - Use Vaac Suit
Looking at characters this way, a character that comes from Advanced Chargen is just as effective as a character that comes from Basic chargen. You really can mix-and-match characters from both systems.
