How to make Traveller more popular with TTRPG players
- Thread starter MarcusIII
- Start date
Sure, any game can.
I am find with using the Traveller style rules for other games. I do not want to see Traveller: The Dark Conspiracy and Traveller: Cowboys and Traveller: Space and Traveller: Cyberpunk and Traveller: Ancient Rome, etc
That's a completely different category of game and marketing.
I am find with using the Traveller style rules for other games. I do not want to see Traveller: The Dark Conspiracy and Traveller: Cowboys and Traveller: Space and Traveller: Cyberpunk and Traveller: Ancient Rome, etc
That's a completely different category of game and marketing.
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
I am no longer sure what it is you are suggesting, it is likely me being a bit thick.
You don't want Mongoose to use the Traveller rules for any of their other games, or to have any setting other than the Third Imperium, but with a bit more guidance on how to ignore the Third Imperium and make up your own setting? Or is it just the branding?
You don't want Mongoose to use the Traveller rules for any of their other games, or to have any setting other than the Third Imperium, but with a bit more guidance on how to ignore the Third Imperium and make up your own setting? Or is it just the branding?
MarcusIII
Cosmic Mongoose
Right. It isn't made by the company that owns/makes Traveller. that's what I meant because I'm talking about what Mongoose is producing. I'm not referring to 3rd parties making Trav compatible products. Although I do applaud anyone that does of course. More attention for our game
Mindjammer – Traveller
A version of Mindjammer for the Traveller game. It means you can use all the material from Mindjammer with the Traveller system. Mindjammer Traveller is a supplement for the Mongoose Traveller syst…mindjammerpress.com
I don't think he is trolling. Despite his extensive experience heading up Fortune 500 companies he is the Dunning Kruger syndrome made flesh. I am confident that he genuinely thinks that he is right and everyone else is stupid. Anyone who disagrees with him must not understand him.
MarcusIII
Cosmic Mongoose
Looks who babbling, the poster boy for psychotic herd mentality.
I am suggesting that there is a difference between a game purpose made for a genre and a game system that is designed with no genre in mind that people adapt.
For Traveller to be like GURPS, Savage Worlds, HERO, etc, the core rulebook would not have any of that sci fi stuff. That would be a separate Traveller: Space or Traveller: Third Imperium.
Traveller is a sci fi game. The core rules are packed full of sci fi stuff: space ships, lasers, psionics, aliens, etc. None of those things belong in a Cowboy game or an Ancient Rome game. I'd like the Traveller CRB to have even more sci fi stuff and for Charted Space to have a Charted Space Sourcebook that lays out what's specific to that setting.
Dark Conspiracy is using the same 2d6+x core mechanic, but it is not Traveller. It does not use the Traveller Core Rules. GURPS: Space uses the GURPS Core Rules with a localization book. Dark Conspiracy is its own game with its own rules that are more or less compatible with Traveller because they are both built on the same shell. I do not want anything of its Dark Conspiracy-ness to be limited by "Well, it's this way in Traveller, so...".
Maybe it was just the people I know who run GURPS and FATE, but those games always felt like playing GURPS or playing FATE and the particulars of the genre were just fluff. I want Dark Conspiracy to feel like Dark Conspiracy, not like reskinned Traveller.
Yeah, they both use 2d6+x and are skill based. But the other 95% of the two games' core rulebooks should be tailored to each genre.
So you specifically bring up that Mongoose needs 3rd party developers and conclude with some quote about same and now you are aren't talking about 3rd party products.
Here's the reality: Mongoose currently publishes 2 settings using Traveller (Charted Space and 2300) and are kickstarting a third.
There's another setting sold with the Traveller logo. Zozer games also publishes some Traveller logo material, in addition to their Hostile Setting, which is a licensed variant of Traveller under its own logo.
And they (Mongoose) are publishing several other games besides Traveller.
So they are doing all the things you asked for. Except entering the crowded market of fake star wars stuff. Which apparently not even you want to actually play.
Studio Cat
Banded Mongoose
Here is an odd thought, with the success of partnering with Seth Skorkowski for videos on Traveller - why not sponsor a few more with other YouTubers? Science and Futurism with Issac Arthur is watched by many and he is already an avid gamer. Kurzgesagt is equally popular and has done an episode on Cyberpunk themes sponsored by CD Projekt Red and R. Talsorian Games for Cyberpunk 2077/Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Cyberpunk Red. Maybe sponsor an episode of Extra History or Weird Place, two YouTube shows that are also TTRPG friendly.
Last edited:
Studio Cat
Banded Mongoose
Another thought is creating a game module specifically for use with the Explorer's Edition that can be used to teach STEM subjects. An educational tie-in could get a lot of attention and positive exposure for the game line.
To Tha Moon!
Cosmic Mongoose
I misunderstood.
MarcusIII
Cosmic Mongoose
I wasn't clear in my statement
Anstett
Emperor Mongoose
I did use this idea to teach roleplaying at the library.
Adding a STEM component along the lines of the memes about geometry and rpgs is easy to do.
Studio Cat
Banded Mongoose
If you would be so kind, message me the details of what you did because I'd love to know.
FreeTrav
Cosmic Mongoose
While I might have to go create a new section of Freelance Traveller for this kind of article, I'd still be interested if you should prove to be willing to write this up for sharing...
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
Off the top of my head all of the following could be easily taught using a Traveller framework...
Units, prefixes and suffixes, standard form
maths operations and writing formulae correctly
using SUVAT equations, basic algebra, pressure, density,
Kepler's rules for orbital motion
newtons laws of motion
energy transfer, energy stores
laws of thermodynamics
food chains, food webs, trophic levels, feedback loops
Units, prefixes and suffixes, standard form
maths operations and writing formulae correctly
using SUVAT equations, basic algebra, pressure, density,
Kepler's rules for orbital motion
newtons laws of motion
energy transfer, energy stores
laws of thermodynamics
food chains, food webs, trophic levels, feedback loops
The 'problem' we have here is that Chris is the only one willing to get in front of a camera. Matt will too, if coerced (a sausage roll will do it). Tiktok is a different beast for us, not least because we are a team of introverts.
As for youths being on the forums... this is the only forum I partake in, and it's because I work here. If I didn't, I wouldn't use forums. They're not a medium that I find particularly useful. I prefer things like Reddit and Discord to get information/opinions about things. Forums are... for more mature users, IMHO.
Licensing is also not always so straight forward. First, you have to propose the idea (and they can say no), then you discuss terms (which can be expensive, or too short etc), then you need to find someone to write the thing (which, Chris and I are the only full-time writers. Matt is often buried in running Mongoose, and our freelancers have other things to do as well). In an ideal world, we would have the money, the time and the resources to make a bunch of IPs, but... we live on earth. Then you have to work out how to market it, which we're not very good at (Matt does all of our social media bar Instagram, which I run).
None of this is because of lack of trying - We have spent a not insignificant amount of money on marketing this year. Did it work out? Eh. But we can only continue trying and try different things. We will be refocussing on it in the new year, and will continue pushing the starter set out. It would be lovely if you would all do the same, but that's up to all of you, really
We send out books to charities and schools worldwide, we have been sending things to influences/reviewers... and Traveller is growing. It currently supports the livelihoods of six people full-time, and a number of freelancers alongside that.
Do I think we can do more? I mean, yeah. More is good. But part of that is ensuring that we not only grow, but grow in a manageable way that will not simply reach a critical mass and explode.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
