Spaceresearcher
Mongoose
Hello Mongoose,
I thought I'd start this post to see if I can provide a place where fellow Travellers including myself could post suggestions about this new Traveller line and what we'd really like to see. It is my hope this may facilitate a method to get an idea for future products and enhance the system tremendously.
Fellow fans, this topic is strictly for putting your ideas for the future product pipeline out there.(No negative comments please, everyone is entitled to there own ideas and opinions.) I'm sure Mongoose would love to know what we all want so let's give it to them.
So here's my thoughts on Traveller as a game overall and my hopes for this new edition along with how I came about now owning everything currently released so far.
Firstly I received an email from Marc Miller highlighting an exciting new campaign: 'The Great Rift and Deep Space Exploration'. As I found that T5 although a certainly monumental effort was interesting the end conclusion was that the system was more of a toolkit for designing a game and not a game itself. Personally I always felt T4 was more on par with heading towards a great version of Traveller but sadly that folded before it was complete. So to has so many editions of Traveller including Mongooses version but I decided to back the Kickstarter and obtain everything in order to go for one last hurrah so to speak.
Well I received the books and while I am really liking the terrific structure, well laid out setting, here's what I'm hoping for to make this version of Traveller the best ever.
1. The Aliens simply have to have a new completely updated set of rule books. The first edition of Mongooses Traveller was commendable but sadly didn't finish doing all the races. The GURPS Traveller seems to have been the closest to giving what classic Traveller put forward a long time ago. That was my biggest dissapointment with the new rule book. There's really only 4 races listed. At least do the entire 8 original races (Aslan, K'Kree, Vargr, Zhodani, Droyne, Solomani, Hivers and Darrians). A new updated book for each would be greatly appreciated, especially the Hivers and there implications on Traveller society.
2. I'm not phased with how the galactic maps are done anymore but PLEASE at least keep them the same as what you established for the 1st Mongoose edition. Lack of any real standard for the planetary stats between versions is a pest. Why must everyone have 'MY VERSION OF TRAVELLER,' can't some areas be standard for EVERYONE who plays the game? The Mongoose 'Atlas Of The Imperium' perhaps?
3. It's high and dry time for some new Miniatures capable starship deck plans again. The FASA efforts remain some of the best and who doesn't love the famous Azhanti High Lightning set? I'd love to see that done with more details and better artwork to bring them up to standard for the new edition. I've still got some Traveller mini's and in the classic 15mm style as well. It would be nice to have some great deck plans to use them with. (I've actually owned and sold a lot over the years but if there good enough, I'm hoping these will finally be the ones I keep for good.)
4. An emphasis on an error free rules system and add ons. (A pet peave with T5 was how there could be an error full stop after all this time. Sad to see really).
5. A guidebook to the Travellers Aid Society, it's benefits and how it can benefit the Traveller players.
6. Adventures that highlight all the other amazing aspects of the Traveller universe and encourage games that are not all military let's blow everything up style adventures. Eg. Pleasure planets of the far future battle a deadly plague, The end of my world was yesterday or so said the Hiver, Zodani games for people without telepathic abilities. In short interesting additions that will enhance the world of Traveller. I was also dissapointed at the seemingly military focus of the new rule books.
7. Traveller Science. Now this one could surely provide some very interesting science fiction tales. Adventures to discover the limits of jump space, worlds within the system that are hidden Dyson Sphere's and of course 'studies of the ancients,'
8. Starship Guidebook for the budget Traveller. I'd love to see starships that starting adventurers could afford and the modifications and add ons that can help them. Perhaps a Starship Equipment Guide or Galactic Starship parts catalogue.
9. A book for Traveller like the classic Cyberpunk 2020 book 'Listen Up You Primitive Screw Heads.' This book highlighted some great tips and incite into not only running a better Cyberpunk game but also playing more satisfying Role Playing Games in general. A Traveller version would be superb and I bring this example to the table as I like the Mongoose 1st edition for bringing a Cybernetic rules book into the game. Here's to the new 2nd edition updated version bringing in a fabulous full colour Cyberware and augmentation catalogue.
10. Living in a Multi variable Tech Level Universe. Are you more likely to get robbed on a TL 2 world if your from a TL 8 level for example due to the people wanting what they have lost again? Is it better to dress appropriately for these varied worlds. Cultural issues and divisions amongst the galactic community caused by pinnacle of collaboration, working together and achieving amazing technological feats versus collapse into a new dark age and societies with medievil ideas and thoughts on society. A Tech Level guide book up to a point. Obviously for the highest tech level, that's an amazing avenue for gamers to explore ideas that we may never have even dreamed of before. As to what level you stop at would be a fascinating read in itself and the reasons why.
Anyway, that's enough for a single post and remember fellow gamers that's just my thoughts, desires and hopes for this new edition. I'm sure you have your own ideas and suggestions and I'd love to read them just as much as I'm certain Mongoose would as well.
Travel well,
Sean A. Curtin
(Spaceresearcher)
I thought I'd start this post to see if I can provide a place where fellow Travellers including myself could post suggestions about this new Traveller line and what we'd really like to see. It is my hope this may facilitate a method to get an idea for future products and enhance the system tremendously.
Fellow fans, this topic is strictly for putting your ideas for the future product pipeline out there.(No negative comments please, everyone is entitled to there own ideas and opinions.) I'm sure Mongoose would love to know what we all want so let's give it to them.
So here's my thoughts on Traveller as a game overall and my hopes for this new edition along with how I came about now owning everything currently released so far.
Firstly I received an email from Marc Miller highlighting an exciting new campaign: 'The Great Rift and Deep Space Exploration'. As I found that T5 although a certainly monumental effort was interesting the end conclusion was that the system was more of a toolkit for designing a game and not a game itself. Personally I always felt T4 was more on par with heading towards a great version of Traveller but sadly that folded before it was complete. So to has so many editions of Traveller including Mongooses version but I decided to back the Kickstarter and obtain everything in order to go for one last hurrah so to speak.
Well I received the books and while I am really liking the terrific structure, well laid out setting, here's what I'm hoping for to make this version of Traveller the best ever.
1. The Aliens simply have to have a new completely updated set of rule books. The first edition of Mongooses Traveller was commendable but sadly didn't finish doing all the races. The GURPS Traveller seems to have been the closest to giving what classic Traveller put forward a long time ago. That was my biggest dissapointment with the new rule book. There's really only 4 races listed. At least do the entire 8 original races (Aslan, K'Kree, Vargr, Zhodani, Droyne, Solomani, Hivers and Darrians). A new updated book for each would be greatly appreciated, especially the Hivers and there implications on Traveller society.
2. I'm not phased with how the galactic maps are done anymore but PLEASE at least keep them the same as what you established for the 1st Mongoose edition. Lack of any real standard for the planetary stats between versions is a pest. Why must everyone have 'MY VERSION OF TRAVELLER,' can't some areas be standard for EVERYONE who plays the game? The Mongoose 'Atlas Of The Imperium' perhaps?
3. It's high and dry time for some new Miniatures capable starship deck plans again. The FASA efforts remain some of the best and who doesn't love the famous Azhanti High Lightning set? I'd love to see that done with more details and better artwork to bring them up to standard for the new edition. I've still got some Traveller mini's and in the classic 15mm style as well. It would be nice to have some great deck plans to use them with. (I've actually owned and sold a lot over the years but if there good enough, I'm hoping these will finally be the ones I keep for good.)
4. An emphasis on an error free rules system and add ons. (A pet peave with T5 was how there could be an error full stop after all this time. Sad to see really).
5. A guidebook to the Travellers Aid Society, it's benefits and how it can benefit the Traveller players.
6. Adventures that highlight all the other amazing aspects of the Traveller universe and encourage games that are not all military let's blow everything up style adventures. Eg. Pleasure planets of the far future battle a deadly plague, The end of my world was yesterday or so said the Hiver, Zodani games for people without telepathic abilities. In short interesting additions that will enhance the world of Traveller. I was also dissapointed at the seemingly military focus of the new rule books.
7. Traveller Science. Now this one could surely provide some very interesting science fiction tales. Adventures to discover the limits of jump space, worlds within the system that are hidden Dyson Sphere's and of course 'studies of the ancients,'
8. Starship Guidebook for the budget Traveller. I'd love to see starships that starting adventurers could afford and the modifications and add ons that can help them. Perhaps a Starship Equipment Guide or Galactic Starship parts catalogue.
9. A book for Traveller like the classic Cyberpunk 2020 book 'Listen Up You Primitive Screw Heads.' This book highlighted some great tips and incite into not only running a better Cyberpunk game but also playing more satisfying Role Playing Games in general. A Traveller version would be superb and I bring this example to the table as I like the Mongoose 1st edition for bringing a Cybernetic rules book into the game. Here's to the new 2nd edition updated version bringing in a fabulous full colour Cyberware and augmentation catalogue.
10. Living in a Multi variable Tech Level Universe. Are you more likely to get robbed on a TL 2 world if your from a TL 8 level for example due to the people wanting what they have lost again? Is it better to dress appropriately for these varied worlds. Cultural issues and divisions amongst the galactic community caused by pinnacle of collaboration, working together and achieving amazing technological feats versus collapse into a new dark age and societies with medievil ideas and thoughts on society. A Tech Level guide book up to a point. Obviously for the highest tech level, that's an amazing avenue for gamers to explore ideas that we may never have even dreamed of before. As to what level you stop at would be a fascinating read in itself and the reasons why.
Anyway, that's enough for a single post and remember fellow gamers that's just my thoughts, desires and hopes for this new edition. I'm sure you have your own ideas and suggestions and I'd love to read them just as much as I'm certain Mongoose would as well.
Travel well,
Sean A. Curtin
(Spaceresearcher)