D&D 3E to MG Traveller Conversions

[Tom Kalbfus]

It simulates a support person in a party that focuses on keeping everyone alive and healthy which is what a D&D cleric pretty much does but with a magic coating. I figure that's what we're doing here, describe classes, races and 'monsters' in Traveller term keeping the science edge.

The closest thing Traveller has is the psionic power of regeneration, the problem is, this psionic power only allows one to regenerate themselves. Now if we were to invent a power called "regenerate other", this would go a long way towards simulating a cleric's power. Otherwise you'd need an entire party of psions with the regenerate power as they can only heal themselves. Only a psion can heal during combat, otherwise you need bed rest and a visit to a hospital or sickbay. It is a cleric that allows a party to get through a dungeon. Otherwise a dungeon setting in Traveller has to be mostly empty. Remember the adventure ANNIC NOVA for example? Not a single combat encounter in it, the worst encounter is a disease, and the main purpose of the disease is to explain why this starship is free for the taking. One time I altered it a bit, I converted it to T20 and threw a bunch of D&D monsters in it just for fun, would have been a killer dungeon if I didn't make up an ability to heal on the spot, simulating a cleric.

 

[Rick]

I think the only time you'd want something like that is if you were trying to recreate D&D exactly with Traveller mechanics; in which case, why not just play D&D?

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

I think the only time you'd want something like that is if you were trying to recreate D&D exactly with Traveller mechanics; in which case, why not just play D&D?

The two game systems are not entirely dissimilar, they both represent feudal societies, they both have 6 attribute scores, although Traveller calls the characteristics. Traveller characteristics also double as hit points.

No levels though, even if you did have instant healing, you still don't have levels, that is no additional hit points for higher levels. A Traveller character is approximately a 6 Hit Dice creature as each characteristic score is generated by a 2d6.

Anyway, do you call an empty spaceship, an "Adventure"? I guess the main difficulty in ANNIC NOVA is not to catch the disease, otherwise its a free starship for the taking.

 

[Jacqual]

It simulates a support person in a party that focuses on keeping everyone alive and healthy which is what a D&D cleric pretty much does but with a magic coating. I figure that's what we're doing here, describe classes, races and 'monsters' in Traveller term keeping the science edge.

The closest thing Traveller has is the psionic power of regeneration, the problem is, this psionic power only allows one to regenerate themselves. Now if we were to invent a power called "regenerate other", this would go a long way towards simulating a cleric's power. Otherwise you'd need an entire party of psions with the regenerate power as they can only heal themselves. Only a psion can heal during combat, otherwise you need bed rest and a visit to a hospital or sickbay. It is a cleric that allows a party to get through a dungeon. Otherwise a dungeon setting in Traveller has to be mostly empty. Remember the adventure ANNIC NOVA for example? Not a single combat encounter in it, the worst encounter is a disease, and the main purpose of the disease is to explain why this starship is free for the taking. One time I altered it a bit, I converted it to T20 and threw a bunch of D&D monsters in it just for fun, would have been a killer dungeon if I didn't make up an ability to heal on the spot, simulating a cleric.

Do the usable on others as a special psi skill, that applies to the regen maybe even make the usable on others be a lower psi cost. Maybe by indicationg that it uses some of the targets latent psi to lower the cost of the psionic talent. Due to the rarity of psi powers in traveller it could work that way. Make the regen full cost for self healing, just use some clever wording in the description.

 

[Rick]

It is doable without having to create any new powers or abilities; Psionic character uses 'Mind Switch', then 'Regenerate' and then reverses the mind switch and ends up back where he was but has healed the other person.
Still not sure why you would want to play D&D with Mongoose Traveller mechanics; perhaps the D20 system would have been a better fit for you?

 

[Reynard]

A Traveller game with elements of D&D should follow the old Clarke Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Rather than invent magic for Traveller, have the science of Traveller be the magic.

 

[Rick]

A Traveller game with elements of D&D should follow the old Clarke Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Rather than invent magic for Traveller, have the science of Traveller be the magic.

I have to admit there is a certain amount of perverse fun to be had in watching the Hobbit films and realising that all of Gandalf's 'spells' are, in fact, just types of grenades! :twisted:

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

A Traveller game with elements of D&D should follow the old Clarke Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Rather than invent magic for Traveller, have the science of Traveller be the magic.

Well psionics exists in Traveller, so any spell effect can be attributed to a psionic power. Now there is a psionic power of regeneration, so a similar psionic power could allow someone to heal someone else. This seems not so far fetched.

 

[Rick]

A Traveller game with elements of D&D should follow the old Clarke Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Rather than invent magic for Traveller, have the science of Traveller be the magic.

Well psionics exists in Traveller, so any spell effect can be attributed to a psionic power. Now there is a psionic power of regeneration, so a similar psionic power could allow someone to heal someone else. This seems not so far fetched.

Indeed - and I showed you how to do it using the Psion RAW. A Laser Gauntlet, a few grenades and you can pass for an Istari! :twisted:

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I got a career Psionic Healer published in Signs & Portents and also published in the first Compendium book.

It includes a psionic power to heal others.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

I got a career Psionic Healer published in Signs & Portents and also published in the first Compendium book.

It includes a psionic power to heal others.

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind, when I get to World Building. I'm thinking of a D&Dish TL2 world in a Traveller campaign Basically with converted D&D monsters Traveller equivalents to low level characters and monsters. A dragon it is, safe to say, would require more than a party of four TL2 characters to defeat, either a small army of the same or some higher tech level characters instead of higher level characters, as higher levels don't exist. Kings and Queens would not be the superheroic characters that they are in D&D, instead they will rely heavily on their underlings and armies to do their bidding.

 

[Jame Rowe]

It is doable without having to create any new powers or abilities; Psionic character uses 'Mind Switch', then 'Regenerate' and then reverses the mind switch and ends up back where he was but has healed the other person.

Never thought of that. Not sure I'd allow it but don't let that stop you if you want to.

Still not sure why you would want to play D&D with Mongoose Traveller mechanics; perhaps the D20 system would have been a better fit for you?

I would be interested in making a low-tech supplement for Traveller. If that includes orcs, elves and so forth I wouldn't be fully opposed, though it'd have to be closer to Harn than to D&D.

Partly it's a response to the Barbarian career they have being solely "uncivilized primitive Scythian or Amerind tribesmen" style instead of Roman or Medieval civilized.

 

[Rick]

Ah, now. I am not opposed to having fantasy in Traveller - a low tech supplement with some form of fantasy races or society might be rather good. However, I don't think that copying across any fantasy RPG into Traveller is the answer; perhaps go back to the source material for Sidhe, Alfar, Nibelungen, Trolls, etc.

 

[Jame Rowe]

Ah, now. I am not opposed to having fantasy in Traveller - a low tech supplement with some form of fantasy races or society might be rather good. However, I don't think that copying across any fantasy RPG into Traveller is the answer; perhaps go back to the source material for Sidhe, Alfar, Nibelungen, Trolls, etc.

What I plan to try (when I get time) is to figure out the stat modifications for certain races, e.g. elves get +2 dex, -1 str and con and are a bit more likely to have "arcane," i.e. psionic or magic, abilities, while orcs get +2 str and con, 2d4+1 Int and 2d4 Soc.

More as a way of having "standard fantasy" races that a GM could include or leave out as desired. A troll would be difficult as it's more physically powerful and therefore should be allowed with a bunch of restrictions.

 

[AndrewW]

More as a way of having "standard fantasy" races that a GM could include or leave out as desired. A troll would be difficult as it's more physically powerful and therefore should be allowed with a bunch of restrictions.

Could give a troll an inate psionic ability to cover the regeneration.

 

[Rick]

More as a way of having "standard fantasy" races that a GM could include or leave out as desired. A troll would be difficult as it's more physically powerful and therefore should be allowed with a bunch of restrictions.

Could give a troll an inate psionic ability to cover the regeneration.

Hmm, wasn't necessarily thinking of Trolls as PC's, but still. Again, the regeneration ability is more a D&D thing, in Tolkein and mythology, Trolls are tough and turn to stone in daylight. It's all a matter of what you think of as "standard fantasy" - I tend to think of myths and legends as a baseline standard and things like D&D or Lord of the Rings as being non-standard variations of that.

 

[AndrewW]

Hmm, wasn't necessarily thinking of Trolls as PC's, but still. Again, the regeneration ability is more a D&D thing, in Tolkein and mythology, Trolls are tough and turn to stone in daylight. It's all a matter of what you think of as "standard fantasy" - I tend to think of myths and legends as a baseline standard and things like D&D or Lord of the Rings as being non-standard variations of that.

Just listing a possibility, doesn't have to be a PC to have regeneration. But agreed doesn't have to be based on D&D or anything, just what a lot are familiar with.

Just put the trolls under the bridge so they can collect a toll.

Some sort of photosensative skin maybe.

 

[Reynard]

A troll race in Traveller with starships in their system that is the only place to cover a long distance between important systems. They patrol their system to demand tools to fuel up and pass through.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

Ah, now. I am not opposed to having fantasy in Traveller - a low tech supplement with some form of fantasy races or society might be rather good. However, I don't think that copying across any fantasy RPG into Traveller is the answer; perhaps go back to the source material for Sidhe, Alfar, Nibelungen, Trolls, etc.

What I plan to try (when I get time) is to figure out the stat modifications for certain races, e.g. elves get +2 dex, -1 str and con and are a bit more likely to have "arcane," i.e. psionic or magic, abilities, while orcs get +2 str and con, 2d4+1 Int and 2d4 Soc.

More as a way of having "standard fantasy" races that a GM could include or leave out as desired. A troll would be difficult as it's more physically powerful and therefore should be allowed with a bunch of restrictions.

What about ogres? What about Pixies? What about illithids (mind flayers)? What about the Drow? Could they fit in? I think the Drow could live on a planet orbiting closely to a red dwarf. The planet is tidally locked of course, but the day side is too hot, so the Drow live on the night side where it is cooler. Alternatively Drow could live on a planet that orbits a brown dwarf that radiates primarily in the infrared.

 

[Rick]

There has got to be a little something for everyone, I think. There should be space for at least 2 species of Troll (a regenerating river troll and a photo-sensitive mountain troll, for example), you could combine the Svartalfr with the Drow fairly readily, same with the Sidhe and Elves - what you actually call something is merely a matter of semantics. I would leave out many of the D&D-specific species such as Illithids, Beholders, etc. as copyright infringement without a license for a game could be a bit messy. It would be far better to stick to the names/descriptions of species that are in the public domain, as it were, since we're discussing a book that we might want to see published.