I like this Map

[Supplement Four]

Um...if by OP you mean "opening post," then that isn't a Traveler map, it's a Conan map, of Hyperborea. Did you not mean Traveler, as in the RPG, or was it that you were using "Traveler" to mean something realated to Conan?

I'm confused... :?

I didn't realize it was th Traveller map you wanted.

Try out this amazing piece of work: http://www.travellermap.com/

You start with the big zoomed out map of known space. Use your left mouse button to grab the map and move the view. With each twist of your mouse roller, you zoom into greater and greater detail about the systems and sectors and worlds.

I think there are something like 8 levels of detail. (You can zoom out, too, and see where Known Space is located in the galaxy).



It would be amazing to find a map of Hyboria like this, where one could zoom in (even just 3 or 4 levels) and see terrain type, cities/villiages/hamlets, ruins, forts, oasis, etc...stuff like that.

 

[flatscan]

Try out this amazing piece of work: http://www.travellermap.com/

Wow, that's pretty detailed. :shock: You can tell Traveller's got a couple decades of material behind it and a dedicated fan base. I've never played Traveller myself and have used Fading Suns or Serenity to scratch my navigating the dark between the stars itch. But neither of those games has that kind of depth of map detail.

It would be a massive undertaking to do the same for a Hyborian Age map. But who knows, if Mongoose can keep the game running for a decade or two we might see something like it. :wink:

 

[Supplement Four]

You can tell Traveller's got a couple decades of material behind it and a dedicated fan base.

Yep, Traveller is the best rpg I've ever played, bar none. I'm not talking ruleset, because there are umpteen zillion of them (and Mongoose Traveller ain't that great, but a lot of people seem to like it). What I'm talking about is the universe. It's a grand, amazing, exceptional universe to go play around in.

If I was stuck on a desert island with a bunch of friends, and all we had was one rpg, yadda, yadda, yadda....I'd go with Traveller (preferably Classic Traveller), and I could be happy playing it and no other rpg until I die.

It's a great game.



As for Mongoose keeping Conan running...

I dunno. Interest seems to be dying off. I just got here, but I can recognize that it's not a lot of new faces posting here.

The avg. lifespan of an rpg title is what, 7 years I think?

Mongoose Conan has a few more.

Now...I'd think the new interest in Conan would boost sales. What with Age of Conan online being a hit and a $100 million movie in the works, you'd think there'd be renewed interest--especially since the 2nd edition isn't that old.

 

[flatscan]

Now...I'd think the new interest in Conan would boost sales. What with Age of Conan online being a hit and a $100 million movie in the works, you'd think there'd be renewed interest--especially since the 2nd edition isn't that old.

Also the Dark Horse comics. But as far as AoC bringing new players over that don't already play tabletop RPGs I'd think they'd lean more towards D&D 4e because of its similarities to MMORPGs. But who knows, hopefully it did bring some new blood to the gaming table. Most of my players were already familiar with at least the first Ahnuld movie, though a couple had thankfully read REH's stories. I have my fingers crossed for the new movie. Hopefully it delivers the goods.

 

[Supplement Four]

[Also the Dark Horse comics.

Oh, yeah. Those, too.

For the first time in my life since jr. high, I'm reading comics, too...Conan comics (Savage Tales).

But as far as AoC bringing new players over that don't already play tabletop RPGs I'd think they'd lean more towards D&D 4e because of its similarities to MMORPGs. But who knows, hopefully it did bring some new blood to the gaming table.

I'm a seasoned RPGer, but it was AoC that brought me to play d20 Mongoose Conan. All three of my players play AoC too.



What we need is some new novels. I'm not talking about the AoC tie-ins. I'm talking some good Conan novels (and maybe even follow other characters of the Hyborian Age, but better than the AoC novels have done).

That brings interest, too, I would think.

 

[flatscan]

For the first time in my life since jr. high, I'm reading comics, too...Conan comics (Savage Tales).

I've got the first volume of the Savage Sword TPB, but Marvel took way too much license with the Hyborian Age, IMO. I much preferred the monthly series (the first one by Dark Horse, the new one leaves much to be desired). You should check it out in the Trades, it's great stuff!

I'm a seasoned RPGer, but it was AoC that brought me to play d20 Mongoose Conan. All three of my players play AoC too.

Heh, so it brought some new old blood. :wink: I was planning on getting AoC but they didn't release it for the Xbox 360 like they said they would.
Then I read about Funcom's interpretation of the world and was thankful it didn't come out for the 360. Seems like they got the combat right, but added a lot of elements that don't much belong in Conan's world. Lightning bolt throwing sorcerers indeed. :x

What we need is some new novels. I'm not talking about the AoC tie-ins. I'm talking some good Conan novels (and maybe even follow other characters of the Hyborian Age, but better than the AoC novels have done).

Sure, hitting more markets successfully would be great. The problem is nobody can write the character as well as REH and it all comes off as cheap imitations. I tried to give the AoC novels a chance, but gods they were awful. :evil:

 

[Vortigern]

Google asks if I meant to type "help, I", so obviously sdomething is wonky straight away. I see a coupld of blog entries that use the word the way you have, but that is far from being able to derive that your use of the word "whelp" is correct.

I see that Dictionary.com has these seven definitions, the most common usage being either "the young of the dog, or of the wolf, bear, lion, tiger, seal, etc." or "a youth, esp. an impudent or despised one."

Hmm.

:wink:

I hope this was intended to be humorous?

If not it seems like rather tasteless and rude instigating.

 

[Supplement Four]

I hope this was intended to be humorous?

If not it seems like rather tasteless and rude instigating.

Thank you.

 

[Supplement Four]

Then I read about Funcom's interpretation of the world and was thankful it didn't come out for the 360. Seems like they got the combat right, but added a lot of elements that don't much belong in Conan's world. Lightning bolt throwing sorcerers indeed. :x

You've got it right. It depends on your tolerance. AoC gets A LOT of Conan-things "right". The game really does. Some parts of the game feels like living inside some of the novels.

OTOH, they really got the Stygians wrong. Khemi, for example, the only town in Stygia that allows foreigners (and then, there's a curfew at night) is just like all the other towns in AoC. You go there. You wander around. You talk with people. You do quests.

It's no different than going to Tarantia or to some of the villiages in Cimmeria. And, we both know that it should be.

Plus, yes, there's much too much magic in the world of AoC. But, I guess, they had to make some marketing decisions. Many, many of the poeple playing AoC haven't read a word of any Conan works, pastiche or Howard. They just want to play a MMO and a lot of them want to play spell casters.

They're not as, I would say, "serious", about the Hyborian Age as we are.

So, yeah, one has to put up with that if one is going to play AoC.

Do the pros outweigh the cons with AoC? I think so. I think it's a good game and enough like my version of the Hyborian Age that I have fun when I play.

But, yeah, the Stygian spell casters have gotten on my nerves from Day One. Luckily, they're not as prevalent once you get out of the "beginner area" after reaching level 20 and get out into the wide world.

Each player has to weight the pros and cons by themselves.

I will say that there is a server (Bane Server) where the three factions do not get along. The Cimmerians fight the Aquilonians fight the Stygians.

I've thought about trying that server, but, there again, I don't like that the Cimmerians and Aquilonians are forced to fight. The game is set when Conan is King of Aquilonia, just after Hour of the Dragon. And, there are even Aquilonian troops in Cimmeria helping to stemp the Vanir invasions back! So, why would Cimmerians and Aquilonians fight?

Anyway, AoC is good. Damn good. But, not perfect.

 

[Supplement Four]

I've got the first volume of the Savage Tales TPB, but Marvel took way too much license with the Hyborian Age, IMO. I much preferred the monthly series (the first one by Dark Horse, the new one leaves much to be desired). You should check it out in the Trades, it's great stuff!

How many pages? Are these as good a value as the Savage Sword? (Because I'm enjoying the heck out of Savage Sword).

 

[flatscan]

How many pages? Are these as good a value as the Savage Sword? (Because I'm enjoying the heck out of Savage Sword).

It doesn't have as large a page count as Savage Sword does, the first TPB is 192 pages. But the artwork and coloring are fantastic (although Cary Nord did have some sloppy pencils from time to time, Dave Stewart's painterly colors are phenomenal).

Check out the first volume at your local comic shop or the previews on the Dark Horse site.

 

[Supplement Four]

How many pages? Are these as good a value as the Savage Sword? (Because I'm enjoying the heck out of Savage Sword).

It doesn't have as large a page count as Savage Sword does, the first TPB is 192 pages. But the artwork and coloring are fantastic (although Cary Nord did have some sloppy pencils from time to time, Dave Stewart's painterly colors are phenomenal).

Check out the first volume at your local comic shop or the previews on the Dark Horse site.

Will do. I put it in my Amazon wish list. I may get to it after I finish Savage Sword (still many vol. of SS coming, though).

 

[cbrunish]

Personally I still use a map from an old Savage Sword magazine (#90 to be exact). Although Vincent's maps are great! Truthfully anything other than the "official" map would be an improvement.

 

[Supplement Four]

Personally I still use a map from an old Savage Sword magazine (#90 to be exact). Although Vincent's maps are great! Truthfully anything other than the "official" map would be an improvement.

I was looking at the maps, and I don't think that the Mongoose maps are as bad as everyone says.

Mainly, this is due to the lack of detail on them. I mean, we're basically talking about a few city placements.

I'd love to have Vincent's maps done up real nice-like (southern drawl), with Vincent's detail and Mongoose's beauty.

I think I'm going to use the map in the OP until I find a better compromise.

As for the details being wrong, this can *add* to the game, if you let it (they don't have man-made satellites taking pictures of the earth in the Hyborian Age--it's only a cartographer's estimation).

Plus, I don't really find myself using a map in-game that often at all. It's really more for me, the GM, and not the players.

I don't think they can afford a map, anyway.

 

[Sutek]

I hope this was intended to be humorous?

If not it seems like rather tasteless and rude instigating.

Thank you.

Not intended to be either humorous or tasteless and rude, but it is the correct meaning of the word. An "urban dictionary" usage hardly counts as "official" english useage.

Whelp means "offspring of a dog" or "annoying child." It's not really a valid alternative for "Well" or "Welp", the latter also meaning a youg canine.

Anyway, back on topic.

Thanks for the link to that Traveler map, Sup4. That does rock, and it really makes me want to play Traveler again. I haven't played in something like 15-20 years, back in the little brown books. I tink I'll go check out the MGP version. Is it still all d6 like the old days, or is it d20? I can see how a d20 version wouldn't be quite the same.

 

[Supplement Four]

Thanks for the link to that Traveler map, Sup4. That does rock, and it really makes me want to play Traveler again. I haven't played in something like 15-20 years, back in the little brown books. I tink I'll go check out the MGP version. Is it still all d6 like the old days, or is it d20? I can see how a d20 version wouldn't be quite the same.

Traveller is my favorite rpg I've ever played. I love it, and Classic Traveller is my choice version.

Traveller has been ported to many rule sets: Classic Traveller (2D6), MegaTraveller (2D6), Traveller: The New Era (d20, but not usual "d20), Marc Miller's Traveller (mix of 2D6 and the TNE version), T20 (d20 Traveller), Traveller Hero (Hero System), GURPS Traveller (GURPS version)...

And now Mongoose Traveller, which is actually using a version of a rule set based on a task system I designed for Classic Traveller a year and a a half before Mongoose Traveller came out. Did they base it on my work? Unknown. Some people say "yes", and some say "no". And, you can't copyright a dice mechanic anyway--so, who cares.

As it stands, Mongoose Traveller is Mongoose's fastest selling rpg ever. Many people like it. It's a 2D6 game, not unlike Classic Traveller or MegaTraveller.

Personally, I think Mongoose Traveller suffers from some bad wrting and bad game design (they took out the best bits of my task system and left the basics), and I don't like it very much at all.

I'm not alone in that feeling either. Many Classic Traveller players don't seem to like the game much. OTOH, Mongoose Traveller is selling like hotcakes, and the game defintiely has its fans.

On the horizon, Marc Miller, the original designer of Traveller is getting back into the action designing the newest version of the game called Traveller 5. It's supposed to be out by the end of the year.

My favorite version, as I said, is Classic Traveller. So, that's what I'd suggest you play. For $35, you can buy a CD-ROM with everything Traveller ever published by GDW. (For the price of one book, you get the entire original game system with all supplements and side-system board games and such).

My eyebrow is perked up a bit to see what Marc Miller is going to do with Traveller 5. It may be interesting, too.

We'll see.

 

[cbrunish]

Sorry SF I have to disagree on your assessment on Mongoose Traveller. I loved classic Traveller but I felt that there some problems with character generation. It was a great system but when new products came out it sort of outdated the original careers. But I think that Mongoose has really done a great job. Yeah there are some poor editing but that seems to be the norm now a days. The rush to get a product out sometimes can hurt a game.

Now back to Conan!!!!! Same problem with editing but they did an excellent job with this game. I really think that they stuck to what REH wrote.

Just my opinion. And like a--holes everyone has one. :lol:

 

[Supplement Four]

I loved classic Traveller but I felt that there some problems with character generation. It was a great system but when new products came out it sort of outdated the original careers.

If you think this, it is probably that you are not following the rules correctly. I find it to be a common mistake.

First, you have to enforce the hard survival rule (meaning: If a Survival Throw fails, then the character dies. Period.). This will install a "chicken factor" into the game where player will decide not to go another term for fear of killing their characters.

Second, Advanced Characters tend to be younger than Basic Characters, and they tend to have the same number of skills because of the hard survival rule. In Advanced Chargen, a character gets more skills early, but he's also up against as many as four times the number of Survival rolls. If you enforce the hard survival rule, you'll usually get a 1-2 term advanced character or a 2-3 term basic character.

They net out about equal, so there really is no imbalance. GDW knew what they were doing. It's people who don't follow the rules that create holes in the game and blame it on the game system.

I'm not saying this is you, but your comment makes me think you might be one who doesn't enforce the hard survival rule.

But I think that Mongoose has really done a great job. Yeah there are some poor editing but that seems to be the norm now a days. The rush to get a product out sometimes can hurt a game.

Hmm. Well, Mongoose Traveller definitley has its fans, as I said. I've got a lot of issues with the game, and the first two supplements to come out look dubious to me at best. 760 Patrons seems a waste of money, and Mercenary doesn't deliever the type of product it should and could have been.

Now back to Conan!!!!! Same problem with editing but they did an excellent job with this game. I really think that they stuck to what REH wrote.

We can agree here. I think, all-in-all, that Mongoose did a superb job on Conan. I think it's above and beyond...excellent.

I'm really impressed with it.

Just my opinion. And like a--holes everyone has one. :lol:

Well...I wouldn't go so far as to call you an arsehole just because you like Mongoose Traveller! :shock:

 

[Sutek]

Yeah, this discussion shold probably relocate to the Traveler forum, at the very least, or get back to discussing potentiall Conan related maps.

And can we please refrain from swearing. Blank out letters if you really feel the nee dto express yourself, but let's do keep it clean. I'm not a mod, but I will try to look out for our 'younger viewers'. :wink:

 

[FailedSpotCheck]

Yep, Traveller is the best rpg I've ever played, bar none. I'm not talking ruleset, because there are umpteen zillion of them (and Mongoose Traveller ain't that great, but a lot of people seem to like it). What I'm talking about is the universe. It's a grand, amazing, exceptional universe to go play around in.

If I was stuck on a desert island with a bunch of friends, and all we had was one rpg, yadda, yadda, yadda....I'd go with Traveller (preferably Classic Traveller), and I could be happy playing it and no other rpg until I die.

It's a great game.

I couldn't say it any better. Big CT fan, too. 8)

As for Mongoose keeping Conan running...

I dunno. Interest seems to be dying off. I just got here, but I can recognize that it's not a lot of new faces posting here.

The avg. lifespan of an rpg title is what, 7 years I think?

Mongoose Conan has a few more.

Now...I'd think the new interest in Conan would boost sales. What with Age of Conan online being a hit and a $100 million movie in the works, you'd think there'd be renewed interest--especially since the 2nd edition isn't that old.

I wish they'd put out a good Conan flick. Now, THAT will cause a serious spike in interest for the RPG, and perhaps RPG's in general. However, in this (sad) day and age, most of the attention will be hogged by that flashy tramp Video Games. :x