Future Traveller - Suggestions Appreciated

[MCEvans]

I'm in the group of GM/Player support.
GM support - rules, tables, Character/NPC and System generation.
Campaign notes, environment and house rules

Player support access to what the PC needs to know, note passing between GM & Player and between Players would be great (less distractible at the table).

The two biggest problems access and development.
Access - needs to be cross platform non-internet based and low/no cost
Development - licensing. There are many great programers that would love to do this, and many have for themselves, take on this type of project for the good of the game & community but don't want to get sued.

Perhaps Mongoose with FFE, or each separate, could create an "Open Game Support Program License" that sets the rules but allows for licensed programs.

See a need, fill a need.
If you see a problem don't just complain, give a solution.

 

[Dracous]

OK, I have come in late, have not read the rest of the thread, but want to make some suggestions.

Overall suggestion. Start small and easy, keep in mind the end goal (and design in such a way as to allow that end goal to be easier to reach), but don't try to build everything straight away. The super-dooper bells and whistles app may be awesome, but give your developers a chance to cut their teeth on easier concepts before chucking them in the deep end. This will be a long term project, covering several years, get some easy stuff released before going on to complex stuff. Release the complex stuff in stages.

Also, if a developer team tells you they cannot do cross platform development, they are not the developers you want. Make sure the contractors you hire have cross platform development skills and strategies. Hell I could direct you to one guy i know who could easily build across all platforms, as well as ably manage your development team.

Anyway, in no particular order, here is a brain dump of my ideas.

1. They all need to be APP's aimed at android, iOS and windows. In other words the design needs to be cross platform. That is getting easier these days. For Laptop

2. reference material - an app that cold be used as a look up and cross reference for the latest set of rules. Main point being latest - errata and rule changes are automatically updated. Would be cool if errata, updates could be easily spotted, but not necessary. I would happily pay a monthly subscription (a small one) for a set of rules kept constantly up to date.

3. Character sheet - Possibly the first and most important app. Something that makes maintaining the character easy. As future upgrades would like to see ability to click on a skill and it will help roll a skill check, asking for various mods, time increments, etc. The idea is to guide the player as to what to ask the DM. Skill checks for weapons usage are especially important to consider due to the many factors that can affect.

3.a Initiative track - Please, this should be your first APP. Nothing complicated. I would buy this in a heartbeat. Even at 10 dollars for the APP. In my mind, it would be well with the cost.

4. Animal Creation APP

5. Star ship designer APP

6. Centralised database of some sort so that i can access my designs/creations I do from my android tablet with my laptop, vice versa. Perhaps integration into dropbox? I don't know, not a developer, just an Analyst.

7. Deck plans App - Just standard deck plans to start with. Add to it over time. Eventually build it to integrate with a star ship designer and allow building of deck plans (long term dream, may not be achieved).

8. Integrated player group - Do that after you have released components that work a stand alone apps. Keep this as a lomg term wish. We are talking about android, iOS and windows all playing nicely together. This will have to be multiple platform integrated capable, or it will be a failure for almost any traveller group. And keep in mind, it will also need to have a way to integrate that pen and paper player.

9. NPC generator.

10. Random encounter generator

12. Actually, I think I could go on forever. I am going to stop here.

 

[Dracous]

Actually good multiple platform development is rather complicated.

I am not saying "it is not complicated", just that it is wrong to say "it can't be done". Your response, like any good software developers, included some strategies that could be used to overcome the cross-platform issue.
Like any software development, complications can be overcome, but they add risk, cost and time to the project.

By the way, I'm also not saying that everything is possible, there are some things that simply cannot be done, but we need to be careful about identifying the "Can't be dones" as opposed to the "Difficult to do's". We also need to consider the break point in return from what will be a relatively small market.

Personally, I think that Mongoose should look at a subscription model for a website, keeping the price low, but making tools available, and tablet/ipad based tools that can stand alone but can also integrate with the website. Of course, that is my personal bias coming in to play. I love web apps.

 

[qstor]

Rather than a new edition. I'd strongly like to see the Droyne, Hiver and K'Kree books done with sectors or in the case of the Droyne maybe a new world approved by Marc Miller

Mike

Droyne at least is already being worked on, don't have a release date yet though.

I seriously doubt the Hiver and K'Kree books will ever get published.

Mike

 

[MongooseMatt]

I seriously doubt the Hiver and K'Kree books will ever get published.

Mike

I wouldn't put money on that...

 

[Prime_Evil]

I seriously doubt the Hiver and K'Kree books will ever get published.

Mike

I wouldn't put money on that...

Now I'm happy. The Hivers were always one of the most interesting major races of the OTU.

Back on topic, would you look at using a Kickstarter to finance the creation of software tools to support Traveller?

 

[Infojunky]

I seriously doubt the Hiver and K'Kree books will ever get published.

Mike

I wouldn't put money on that...

Now I'm happy. The Hivers were always one of the most interesting major races of the OTU.

And they are a great excuse for Hand Puppets.....

 

[qstor]

I seriously doubt the Hiver and K'Kree books will ever get published.

Mike

I wouldn't put money on that...

Sorry to come off as so negative but it seems like the Third Imperium stuff has slowed to a crawl. I'm *hoping* the Hiver and K'Kree stuff come out

Mike

 

[Deckus]

I'd pay good money for database versions of 1001 Characters and 760 Patrons.
With filters, editable fields (for PC relationships, extra notes and such) and the ability to add new entries.

Deckus.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Well, personally, the 3rd Imperium is the "least" interesting of the published backgrounds... I'm not into "retro-1970's" settings.

The various generic books certainly are a boon, and there indeed has been plenty of interesting material presented in them. That said, (and although I do utilise some of the material in 2300AD, which somewhat modernises the view-point of 'Traveller') I would like to see aspects of conceptual development focussed upon that address more recent memes in Sci-Fi.

My 2p worth.

 

[locarno24]

Well, Mongoose has stated that they see Traveller as a generic near future/scifi rules 'engine' - having used it for Dredd, Babylon 5, Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper.

Prime Directive will add another nice wodge of stuff, and it's certainly useable for other things; we have a Stargate campaign running at the moment.

If the Imperium stuff is being pushed forwards, then one way I do like is the campaigns - either as section-by-section releases or as a big, paid-for campaign book.

Pirates of Drinax, for example, is not only an awesome campaign in and of itself, but it fleshes out the neutral worlds of the trojan reach to an immense degree of detail - and in a way that sticks in the mind, not just lists of stat tables (traveller's one big weakness sometimes is 'table overload').

One I would love to see is a naval campaign - either the Fifth Frontier War or another previous one - with the players as IN crewmen of a warship or seperate ship commanders (a scout or escort squadron?) moving between some of the iconic bits of the action. Not necessarily the big fights themselves - a light ship at the Battle of Rylanor or whatever is basically target practice - but the recon missions and piquet actions that allow those battles to be won or lost.

 

[dna]

What would I want in a traveller app? Lets try a top 10 list..ill add more as I think of them.

1) data base: skills, Ships, characters, weapons, commodities, sector maps.
2) Character generator and editor. (random and edit / type in from table top rolls)
3) Starship Generator and editor.
4) Sector map display and editor. Instant jump x map (systems x parsecs from current system selected) UWP explanations (click on a world and it says “industrial or rich” law level...)
5) be able to print 2,3, and 4 as gm game aids for regular table top play.
6) Extendable rule sets. (be able to create rule sets, import rule sets and edit rule sets for the above. Example import classic or T20 rules for ship design, and skills, and edit rules or make new equipment for the “MTU” example Ion cannon : looks like a particle accelerator but all damage is applied to “electronic devices” - Jump Maneuver Power computer life support etc. )
7) character sheet editor (extendable character sheet or custom sheet, example ability to add new stat your game group wants)
8 ) ship ledger. (accountant option. Example cargo x purchased for $ at port y sold port z for $)
9) sharable (ship files, characters files, etc need to be down loadable and shareable. xml perhaps)
10) platform independent. It needs to run on laptops or tablets Linux or mac or windows etc.
11) Above all completely optional. And not a mandatory replacement for pencil and paper.

 

[Jacqual]

What I would like to see is if you get it on the PC laptop, that you don't have to buy it again for the iPad or iPhone. I would also like to see it usable as just a ref or player aid, my players don't have alot of money so I am the only one with a laptop and an iPad and my iPhone. If I can use this to run the games without them needing it as well that would be greatly appreciated.

I would also like to see it be able to import stuff like the imperial atlas from travellermap would be wonderful since you would have access even in an offline mode which is very important. I do have concerns as most of my gaming books are PDF's some from Drivethru, others from Bits and Morter I would like to have the rules from the books I own to be included without having to purchase them again if you know what I mean. If the software or app or whatever you wanna call it works in an offline mode and has the flexability to use custom rules I would be hooked. Even if it a big electronic ref screen that can calculate travel times based on G ACC and all the other stuff is a big order but worth it.

I have the AD&D Core Rules and Expansion on CDROM and it has increased my productivity and ability to DM so much it is hard to explain, it has also helped me get folks to play that didn't want to buy the books to be able to make a character and play. They just made one on my Computer and printed it out then they had fun playing. If it can bring new players to the game it makes the game stronger, RPG's need players to promote the hobby.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

If it's not tied to the 3rd Imperium setting that would be fine.

I want generic.

 

[Infojunky]

If it's not tied to the 3rd Imperium setting that would be fine.

I want generic.

This is case where a +1 button would be useful....

 

[mr31337]

If it's not tied to the 3rd Imperium setting that would be fine.

I want generic.

+1

This is case where a +1 button would be useful....

+1

 

[hubcommish]

I'd be in the market for an app of some sort that would provide a more immersive gaming experience for the players. Imagine a tablet (ios, Android, whichever) with an app loaded that you could hand to the party with the following available via a GUI:

Traveller News Service - Displays the appropriate TNS stories, based on PC party location and date in the campaign. Includes a TNS random generator for unimportant flavor events. Before a game, the Referee can set the current date and location of the PC party. An algorithm of some sort can use the OTU TNS events, plus any inserted into the game by the ref, extrapolate the travel time it would take for the TNS press release to reach the PCs' current location, and display the relevant stories. All data would be editable in case someone doesn't want to use the OTU.

Library Data - Searchable OTU Library Data. Editable for referee's campaigns, or for folks who don't use the OTU. Allows images to be embedded in the entries.

Map Display - Allows data from .sec files or whatever and/or Travellermap.com info to be accessed by the party and displayed. Allows players to drill down to system, planetary, continental, hex level and beyond based on whatever information is available. Editable by the ref based on how detailed he wants to get, with images and/or data.

Document Viewer - Any pdfs the ref deems appropriate can be accessible and displayed by the party.

Cargo Manifest - Create or appropriate a format for ship cargo data. Additionally code the Traveller trade system into the app to facilitate ease of trading in ports.

I've seen some of the above in the form of individual programs. If we could have all of them together as one app, I think it would be a valuable resource for referees and players alike.

-Scott

 

[klingsor]

This is an exciting and interesting idea.

Firstly the rules themselves. A good model is TooFat Lardies who do tablet versions of their wargaming rules. They are basically just a PDF but properly linked and indexed so you can hop around them easily, if it mentions, for example, medics you can follow a link to the section on medics. This to me sounds like the best use for any gadget at the table though a PDF may not be the best way to do such things it is relatively simple and pretty much OS neutral. The downside of a PDF at least is that it does not work well with smaller screens, these rule versions really need a 10 inch tablet to be really useable.

Secondly things to make life easier when at the table, particularly for the referee. Trade is one example as is keeping track of things in a gunfight.
Library Data is another useful example. I remember the effect playing at someone’s home where he had a set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica had on Call of Cthulhu, it made Library Use much more interesting.

Thirdly, things to make life easier when away from the table. Character creation is the big one for players with creation of ships, planets and systems for the DM.

As ever they should be updated, so Library Data grows as new things are added to the setting. The application(s) should not hoverer be dependant on an internet connection to work.

Having bought the Fantasy Flight Star Wars and X-Wing die rolling programme for Android a few days ago I do not want anything that makes noises or plays music. The few times I have seen a DM bring a laptop to the table to play ‘cool atmospheric sounds and/or music’ it was a disaster, he spent so much time dicking around with the laptop it seriously harmed the game. At best such things are only a pointless distraction.

 

[klingsor]

It is nice to hear from someone in the know.

A tablet version of the rulebook should be easy enough to do, if TFL can do it then so can Mongoose and almost anything can read a PDF.

For serious work though you are quite right, a tablet is no substitute for a real computer with a keyboard and the best tools for the DM are probably still a word processor and spreadsheet.

While I do want a more tablet friendly version of the rule books that is all I really want for it, anything more is a luxury. I cannot imagine moving from a paper character sheet and while software to interactively generate characters would be wonderful it is still not 'real' until it is on paper in front of me.

 

[Solomani666]

Programming Language:
Java hands down
Built from the ground up for multi-platform compatibility.
Anything else will be a potential cross-platform nightmare with you spending more time with compatibility issues the actually designing the application.


My Suggestions:

Have a Referee App and a Player App, or a single app that can do both host and client modes.

Make it a gaming 'system' that can except adventure 'modules'.

Except for maybe some video, of a 3D rendering of a world based on a World Map, I would stay away from fancy game graphics that could create compatibility problems, at lease at first.

Keep it simple. Concentrate on game play and not overly fancy graphics. That stuff can be added during a future release.

Start from the ground up.
Use storyboards for both the referee and player screens including all buttons and controls.
Make notes of what each control does and possibly what screen each button goes to.
Play test it handing out paper copies of their screens to each play tester.
Revise.
Play.
Repeat...

Now that you know the interface behaves and looks like...

Figure out what data you need for the basic game mechanics
This should be built into the application database.

Figure out what data you need for add on adventure modules.
I would avoid binary data for this except for sounds and images instead opting for a file/folder structure with data files in plain text and/or unicode.

Some features I would like to see:
* Subsector mapping from UWP data. (maybe access to TravellerMap?)
* Available cargo and passengers per world.
* Available weapons and equipment based on TL and Law Level. (editable by ref)
* Chat with ref or between players (ref approval)
* Random encounters. (ref approval)
* Combat assistant that keeps track of initiative, ammo, minor/significant actions, damage etc.
* As above also for ship combat.
* Option to apply characteristic modifiers to wounded characters.
* Optional character facing indicator for refs that use it.
* Voice chat for remote characters.
* Die roller (just incase)
* Adventure creator/editor.
* Starship assistant to keep track of costs, mortgages, cargo, supplies, etc.
* Upload and update maps to players and their positions.
* Task assistant.
* Solo adventure modules
* Ability to randomly generate solo adventures. (IE Campaign Guide)



[I'll probably add more to this later]