newtraveller
Mongoose
What are the main differences?
Thanks
Thanks
How compatible is the 2008 Traveller with 'classic' T?
- Thread starter newtraveller
- Start date
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
Between Mongoose Traveller and CT? Lots of little stuff, really. The two should be able to share subsystems in some cases.
Also keep in mind that Mongoose Traveller (MGT) is at three books at the moment, and those three are the topic equivalents of CT Books 1-3 and Supplements 3 and 6.
*The fairly casual task resolution system of CT is pinned down and defined a bit in MGT, but the two are quite compatible.
*Weapon and armor handling is a hit-or-"miss" system in CT, and a damage reduction system in MGT. Gotta pick one, as they don't mesh particularly.
*All character generation is at a single level of detail in MGT, while CT has the Basic Careers of Book 1 and Supplement 4 and the quite different Advanced Careers of Books 4-7. The results are mechanically compatible across the three options, but give differing skill densities.
*MGT ship building currently stops at 2000 tons (but will extend past that soon) and includes options that were not in CT Book 2, but is otherwise at a Book 2 level of complexity (ie. not very).
*Ship combat is currently "Roleplaying" scale only in MGT. Fleet scale is coming.
There are nuances and other differences, but that's the stuff people tend to notice first...
Also keep in mind that Mongoose Traveller (MGT) is at three books at the moment, and those three are the topic equivalents of CT Books 1-3 and Supplements 3 and 6.
*The fairly casual task resolution system of CT is pinned down and defined a bit in MGT, but the two are quite compatible.
*Weapon and armor handling is a hit-or-"miss" system in CT, and a damage reduction system in MGT. Gotta pick one, as they don't mesh particularly.
*All character generation is at a single level of detail in MGT, while CT has the Basic Careers of Book 1 and Supplement 4 and the quite different Advanced Careers of Books 4-7. The results are mechanically compatible across the three options, but give differing skill densities.
*MGT ship building currently stops at 2000 tons (but will extend past that soon) and includes options that were not in CT Book 2, but is otherwise at a Book 2 level of complexity (ie. not very).
*Ship combat is currently "Roleplaying" scale only in MGT. Fleet scale is coming.
There are nuances and other differences, but that's the stuff people tend to notice first...
One thing that I noticed is that the adventures and most of the supplements can be used with MGT. If you are unable to afford or get Spinward Marches then supplement 3 is compatable (although the Spinward Marches supplement for MGT is excellent).
Most ships would convert over easily. And characters (either npc's or players) from book 1 and supplement 4 should be able to convert over easily also. Some of the adventures with ships might need tweaked (Adventures 1, 6, 10 and the SDB with Jump ship in Supplement 7). Hopefully alot of these will be developed in the near future.
Most ships would convert over easily. And characters (either npc's or players) from book 1 and supplement 4 should be able to convert over easily also. Some of the adventures with ships might need tweaked (Adventures 1, 6, 10 and the SDB with Jump ship in Supplement 7). Hopefully alot of these will be developed in the near future.
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
As long as you stay away from the high-skill characters of Books 4-7, you should be OK as well.
GamerDude
Cosmic Mongoose
In addition to everything mentioned, I do have a small problem with the weapons... In the CT adventures I'm using the SMG is the most popular ranged weapon/skill... I've been converting it to "Gun Combat (autopistol)" and using the autopistol in the main book (for now).
Hopefully soon we'll be seeing a larger list of weapons (without going crazy listing tons of weapons that, in game terms, are pretty much the same weapon).
Hopefully soon we'll be seeing a larger list of weapons (without going crazy listing tons of weapons that, in game terms, are pretty much the same weapon).
Compatible enough that I've used a lot of CT material practically unchanged. At first I was obsessing about finding differences before play. Now I change what I notice and don't worry about the rest. If I miss something in game prep it's easy enough to change on the fly.
The biggest change for me was a decision to move into the OTU from my own universe. The characters translated easily, though. About 40 minutes of pre-game time for a party of 6, much of that spent reassuring two players that their beakers would indeed be coming into the new universe with them. (In the old universe, a dying minion fell on the bad guy's Big Red Button and changed everything. I think in the new one the bad guy is going to be an assistant manager at an Astroburgers, if that supplement appears.)
-Mark
The biggest change for me was a decision to move into the OTU from my own universe. The characters translated easily, though. About 40 minutes of pre-game time for a party of 6, much of that spent reassuring two players that their beakers would indeed be coming into the new universe with them. (In the old universe, a dying minion fell on the bad guy's Big Red Button and changed everything. I think in the new one the bad guy is going to be an assistant manager at an Astroburgers, if that supplement appears.)
-Mark
Imperator58
Mongoose
In most cases, you'll want to deal with Mongoose Traveller. But there a couple exceptions, and this is good as with the scope of the Traveller universe they are like a lifetime quest unto themselves:
1. Subsectors/planets. They're pretty much the same. EBay something made by Judge's Guild in 1985 and it's still good.
2. Deckplans. Not exact? Who cares? GDW realized that "close" was good enough and so put a lot of leeway into ship/deckplan creation. You can buy 15mm or 25mm deckplans from a variety of sources and it's close enough to rock 'n' roll.
1. Subsectors/planets. They're pretty much the same. EBay something made by Judge's Guild in 1985 and it's still good.
2. Deckplans. Not exact? Who cares? GDW realized that "close" was good enough and so put a lot of leeway into ship/deckplan creation. You can buy 15mm or 25mm deckplans from a variety of sources and it's close enough to rock 'n' roll.
