alex_greene
Guest
I'd be happy to have a minor species that happens to be a proud ballet dancer race, myself. The leader is La Prima Donna di Primedonne. 
Future Traveller - Testing the Waters
- Thread starter MongooseMatt
- Start date
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
First of all, thank you for posting some tentative plans for the future. Is wasn't that clear to me prior to this that were any plans for it!
Yes, a new handbook version of the game, a la Legend, would be cool. It gives a chance to get the formatting right - which honestly wasn't the case with the original attempt at doing a lbb core a few years ago. The Legend book is a neat package though, so it's a good formula to work from. I'd also hope to see a lot of attention given to good quality, well book marked online pdfs too.
If there is a new edition, there are a couple of areas in the rules I'd like looked at, if possible.
Firstly, the skills list needs pruning, editing down and tidying up. Some skills could be combined, others renamed and so on. It was most noticeable in the Judge Dredd game, where it was apparent that there was about 15-20 skills too many. I still find the Science skills a bit of an issue too - Space Science seemingly is a randomly eclectic range of 'sci-fi' skills that neglects to include Astronomy or Astro-Physics quite bizarrely. Some of the others are patently Humanities rather than Science disciplines.
Secondly, I'd like someone to have another look at the personal combat system - which is a bit bland as it stands. Other issues for me are basically formatting and writing issues - Character Generation is one of the big plusses of the game but it could be explained a lot more clearly for newbies especially I feel.
In terms of supplemental/book 2nd editions, sure. Again some of them could do with a second shot at tidying up/expanding, and at a steady rate this could be done well.
I'd like a miniature-based skirmish game possibly. I'd also like some sort of computer based generator for starships/characters/aliens/worlds, etc too. If anything, Traveller is crying out for this type of software as the core game is made up of this sort of thing.
I'm not sure that Traveller needs that many more settings, incidentally. Having the 2300AD release alongside The Third Imperium actually covers a lot of sci-fi bases straight away - as they are both pretty versatile settings. If it's a major new license, then fair enough, but the real thing is in the supplemental support for the core settings at this stage. Make them shine, and the fans will be happy. The only other 'core' setting that could be considered would be a contemporary world/dark conspiracy (X-File-ish) book, maybe. Also, is the Prime Directive book a one-shot? What is happening with the Judge Dredd line?
Yes, a new handbook version of the game, a la Legend, would be cool. It gives a chance to get the formatting right - which honestly wasn't the case with the original attempt at doing a lbb core a few years ago. The Legend book is a neat package though, so it's a good formula to work from. I'd also hope to see a lot of attention given to good quality, well book marked online pdfs too.
If there is a new edition, there are a couple of areas in the rules I'd like looked at, if possible.
Firstly, the skills list needs pruning, editing down and tidying up. Some skills could be combined, others renamed and so on. It was most noticeable in the Judge Dredd game, where it was apparent that there was about 15-20 skills too many. I still find the Science skills a bit of an issue too - Space Science seemingly is a randomly eclectic range of 'sci-fi' skills that neglects to include Astronomy or Astro-Physics quite bizarrely. Some of the others are patently Humanities rather than Science disciplines.
Secondly, I'd like someone to have another look at the personal combat system - which is a bit bland as it stands. Other issues for me are basically formatting and writing issues - Character Generation is one of the big plusses of the game but it could be explained a lot more clearly for newbies especially I feel.
In terms of supplemental/book 2nd editions, sure. Again some of them could do with a second shot at tidying up/expanding, and at a steady rate this could be done well.
I'd like a miniature-based skirmish game possibly. I'd also like some sort of computer based generator for starships/characters/aliens/worlds, etc too. If anything, Traveller is crying out for this type of software as the core game is made up of this sort of thing.
I'm not sure that Traveller needs that many more settings, incidentally. Having the 2300AD release alongside The Third Imperium actually covers a lot of sci-fi bases straight away - as they are both pretty versatile settings. If it's a major new license, then fair enough, but the real thing is in the supplemental support for the core settings at this stage. Make them shine, and the fans will be happy. The only other 'core' setting that could be considered would be a contemporary world/dark conspiracy (X-File-ish) book, maybe. Also, is the Prime Directive book a one-shot? What is happening with the Judge Dredd line?
As a long time miniatures gamer, I have no trouble getting hold of human figures, it's the Traveller specific aliens that are the problem, this also affects my RPG style as we tend to use miniatures for most encounters. I have a grand total of 4 Aslan (non-female) and 4 Vargr figures. But as my current focus is 2300AD I'd love to see some Kafer or Eber minis - at the moment I'm using Ground Zero Games Kra'vak figures and a paint job for Kafers.
2330ADUSA1
Mongoose
I am still upset with Mongoose for walking away from Conan line, they were some awesome resource books
Has anyone heard when the actual release date is for T5?
Has anyone heard when the actual release date is for T5?
Dave Chase
Mongoose
As a miniature player, I like the idea of the box sets with seperate blisters for additional figures.
This makes it easy for players to get started and have a good working 'army'. It also allows for custom armys as you can add what you want as you grow in playing and army size.
Dave Chase
This makes it easy for players to get started and have a good working 'army'. It also allows for custom armys as you can add what you want as you grow in playing and army size.
Dave Chase
2330ADUSA1
Mongoose
If we are talking about minis, make them out of Resin. Also have both land figures and Space based ones too.
2330ADUSA1 said:
Do you know is that actually what happened? I would have assumed the issue was more likely to be a problem with 'licensing' from Paradox Entertainment - a bunch of copyright trolls in my view, who claim Conan as a property even though most of it is actually now public domain.
I'm not too thrilled about the thought of a 2nd Ed Mgt Core rulebook, however, there is an opportunity for Mongoose to establish it as a red book introduction to Traveller against the (advanced) deeper systems in T5. Therefore, it must not only be backwards compatable with the existing MgT line, but cross-compatable with T5. Any discrepancies between the two should clearly be noted in the MgT 2nd Ed core rulebook sidebars with advice to resolving them.
One question though; which forum strand should be used to discuss what should be included in a MgT 2nd Ed Core book? This one or another. To kick off though, here are some personal observations;
Movement, both tactical (for characters and animals and incorporating encumbarance, injuries etc) and strategic is an area that needs significant work.
The exclusion of bow weapons from the weapons list (in homage to CT?).
Skills for animals; could behaviour like chasing, spitting etc be modelled with a small skill set for animals. For example, would a cobra have a skills such as spit (allows it to spit venom at range against a target) and pounce (melee skill to suddenly lunge at a target to bite), or a wolf would have a chase skill quantifying how long and fast it can maintain a chase for.
Where optional rules are used, the rule book should state what impact their use would have on the game. For example, FTL radio.
Please can the dimensions of the Modular Cutter be standardised. The GURPS Traveller floorplans feel about right - with a 7m appx diameter hull
One question though; which forum strand should be used to discuss what should be included in a MgT 2nd Ed Core book? This one or another. To kick off though, here are some personal observations;
Movement, both tactical (for characters and animals and incorporating encumbarance, injuries etc) and strategic is an area that needs significant work.
The exclusion of bow weapons from the weapons list (in homage to CT?).
Skills for animals; could behaviour like chasing, spitting etc be modelled with a small skill set for animals. For example, would a cobra have a skills such as spit (allows it to spit venom at range against a target) and pounce (melee skill to suddenly lunge at a target to bite), or a wolf would have a chase skill quantifying how long and fast it can maintain a chase for.
Where optional rules are used, the rule book should state what impact their use would have on the game. For example, FTL radio.
Please can the dimensions of the Modular Cutter be standardised. The GURPS Traveller floorplans feel about right - with a 7m appx diameter hull
Dave Chase
Mongoose
delrom5 said:
Flat, round or oval shaped Modular Cutter?
With or without the spine showing up and taking space from the module?
These and many more minor issues to be clarified if you are going to attempt to address the Module issue.
Dave Chase
Please correct me if i am wrong, but the impression i got was that T5 is a separate product from anything in mongoose publishing Traveller line, so making it the 'red box' would seem to be a little irrelevant, at the very heart of T5 the skill rolls systems is very different, so that would be a problem just to start with.
Old timer said:
Which to me gives more urgency towards ensuring that new players can transition between the two editions. Consider the following; role play sales are low - 2 000 people signed up for the T5 kickstarter and there's recently been the spat about the Deneb sector release. So my hunch is that book sales are in the region of 5 000 - 8 000 books. This is a hunch and is not based on access to any sales stats.
We now have two Traveller editions which are not fully compatable. So will the book buying community of about 8000 be split into two groups? How much cross over will there be?. The smaller the group, the less it can take advantage of economies of scale. Production costs remain the same but then have to be amortised across a smaller population, hence the end cost, whether print or PDF goes up.
So anything that Mongoose and FFE can do to ensure that a book is as widely accessable as possible is simply good business sense. Given that the MgT and T5 skill systems have different mechanics may mean that future adventures will need to provide perhaps a general outline of a situation then provide two sets of crunch to resolve the situation.
Actually, all the traveller version are more or less incompatible, as you can still get TNE in PDF form, and possible some MT stuff and the D20 version, so this is not a new issue. If adventures/scenarios were released for one, it would make little sense to make general notes for the other system to use, instead you might as well just release a generic scenario that can be used for any traveller system or for that matter, science fiction rpgs.
I personally have little to not interest in T5, (let alone the ridiculous price which is a big turn off) and if FFE does provide more support when released, i doubt that they will be worried about cross compatibility with mongoose version, it would seem that both version are going to have to stand or fall on their own merits and fan base, so a second edition from mongoose make make sense in that context, as would just making the current system, with some tweaks if that is what people want, a more generic set of rules to support mongoose own sci fi setting or settings (blue shift has massive potential for this, and traveller rules are already being used for the PD setting).
On a more personal note, i like the current system, as do my players, so i am in no hurry to change, and as stated earlier in the thread, the mentioned ideas by Matthew i like the sound of and would happily support with my wallet.
I personally have little to not interest in T5, (let alone the ridiculous price which is a big turn off) and if FFE does provide more support when released, i doubt that they will be worried about cross compatibility with mongoose version, it would seem that both version are going to have to stand or fall on their own merits and fan base, so a second edition from mongoose make make sense in that context, as would just making the current system, with some tweaks if that is what people want, a more generic set of rules to support mongoose own sci fi setting or settings (blue shift has massive potential for this, and traveller rules are already being used for the PD setting).
On a more personal note, i like the current system, as do my players, so i am in no hurry to change, and as stated earlier in the thread, the mentioned ideas by Matthew i like the sound of and would happily support with my wallet
.
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
My understanding is that T5 is more of a toolbox than a game itself. It is a complete toolbox, however, so playing T5 will be possible. On the other hand, I think T5 as planned has about as much setting information as the Mongoose CRB does, and may not get setting books of its own.
T5 is some different, but not absurdly so, from mong, that said, T5 does have useful parts like personals: sophont, gun & armor and other makers. It can be made to fit with minimal effort, imo mong does chargen and combat better; and that what is made can be used for the other in many ways.
2nd edition of Merc and HG: It wouldn't be a priority for me - for my purposes, the current editions are good, although I can accept that some tidying up wouldn't be bad.
2nd edition core rulebook: I'd be happy with some tidying up. As others have mentioned, the skill list could do with tightening up a little. I wouldn't be in favour of a wholesale rewrite of the rules. Traveller isn't short of rules systems, and to be honest, MongT is one of the more elegant rulesets of the lot as it stands.
Miniatures / "War in a Box": I'd be massively keen on OTU Traveller miniatures that you could use in roleplaying as well as in a skirmish system. In my last campaign, my wife played a female Aslan and had to actually sculpt her own 25mm scale figure out of polymer clay! (I had a couple of male Aslan minis, but clearly that's no good for female Aslan characters... There are already lots of space marine miniatures out there being manufactured by quite a famous company for use with their own skirmish level miniatures game, so you should try to avoid anything with that sort of look. 2300 and OTU soldiers / marines look more realistic and each would work in the other universe.
Instead of / as well as a 2300 "War in a Box", how about an Imperial / Zhodani set? You could tie this in with other 5th Frontier War products. Zhodani marines with their weird helmets, Zhodani warbots etc. Or a star merc set to tie in with an updated and expanded Broadsword adventure? And how about resin vehicles? I'd love to see 25/28mm scale air rafts and grav tanks in resin. That should be the sort of thing that 3D printing should be starting to make economically viable.
2nd edition core rulebook: I'd be happy with some tidying up. As others have mentioned, the skill list could do with tightening up a little. I wouldn't be in favour of a wholesale rewrite of the rules. Traveller isn't short of rules systems, and to be honest, MongT is one of the more elegant rulesets of the lot as it stands.
Miniatures / "War in a Box": I'd be massively keen on OTU Traveller miniatures that you could use in roleplaying as well as in a skirmish system. In my last campaign, my wife played a female Aslan and had to actually sculpt her own 25mm scale figure out of polymer clay! (I had a couple of male Aslan minis, but clearly that's no good for female Aslan characters... There are already lots of space marine miniatures out there being manufactured by quite a famous company for use with their own skirmish level miniatures game, so you should try to avoid anything with that sort of look. 2300 and OTU soldiers / marines look more realistic and each would work in the other universe.
Instead of / as well as a 2300 "War in a Box", how about an Imperial / Zhodani set? You could tie this in with other 5th Frontier War products. Zhodani marines with their weird helmets, Zhodani warbots etc. Or a star merc set to tie in with an updated and expanded Broadsword adventure? And how about resin vehicles? I'd love to see 25/28mm scale air rafts and grav tanks in resin. That should be the sort of thing that 3D printing should be starting to make economically viable.
