Non military commissions

[phild]

I'm a bit disappointed that only the military careers have commissions, as I think this demonstrates a bit of a lack of imagination. In reality, most occupations have two tiers (at least) and commissions can easily reflect these.

So, a commissioned Physician is a medical Doctor. A non-commissioned Physician is a paramedic (some games reflect this with a 2 tier medical skill structure - I don't think this is necessary as it's fairly hard as it is for a basic physician to get a medical skill much above 2). A commissioned Corporate Worker is a graduate trainee, strategic manager or director; a non-commissioned Corporate Worker is someone working in the coalface of operations or production. It would immediately add more subtlety to the non-military professions and create a much stronger career narrative to these occupations.

And linked to this, I would potentially allow for +2 Non-Military Commission DM for anyone who has spent 1 term in the Scholar profession (as well as waiving the -1DM for previous career and potentially giving additional DMs for certain careers).

 

[zanwot]

I believe you have a very good point there concerning non military comissions. Unfortunately, Traveller was born with a dominant military approach, and obviously Mongoose did not think of it / or could/would not change it to that extent.

However from what Mat says the Mongoose Merchant Princes should be very meaty, so maybe we will eventually get improved civilian careers in there. Hey maybe hopefully Mat is listening in, ready to steal cool ideas? ;-)

Concerning your use of the Scholar skill, it is a tricky point.
You do have a point: Theoretical training gives you access to "comissioned" style work.
The thing is I believe in Traveller training is abstracted within the first term of career (which explains the 0 level skills you get etc). But of course this does not entirely fit with a comissioned / non comissioned difference.
In any this advanced education career should be a specific career I think, as scholar is too specific and not appropriate. Sort of like doing an MBA is not the same as doing a PhD.

 

[phild]

Concerning your use of the Scholar skill, it is a tricky point.
You do have a point: Theoretical training gives you access to "comissioned" style work.
The thing is I believe in Traveller training is abstracted within the first term of career (which explains the 0 level skills you get etc). But of course this does not entirely fit with a comissioned / non comissioned difference.
In any this advanced education career should be a specific career I think, as scholar is too specific and not appropriate. Sort of like doing an MBA is not the same as doing a PhD.

I just felt that there was a strong parallel between the first term (age 18-22) in the Scholar occupation and university education (in the UK, typically 18-21 but in a significant minority of cases 18-22). And the reality is that, based on one particular interpretation of non-military commissioned ranks, frequently a university education will give you a free commission on the basis of the potential demonstrated by your academic attainment.

A PhD would be considered a continuation in academic career and an MBA more likely to be something covered within Broker or Trade as an academic confirmation of occupational competencies.

And while I'm on this meandering path, another thought I had was around the transference of ranks between occupations. Someone who has achieved rank 6 in the Army would not, should they choose to become a Corporate Worker, do so at Rank 1. I'd need to give it further consideration but there's a good argument to suggested that commissioned ranks transfer at something like Rank minus 1 and non-comissioned ranks transfer at Rank divided by 3. Or perhaps this might be partly dependent on possessing the Leadership skill. Or something. If anyone would like to provide the details, I'd be grateful

 

[zanwot]

Concerning Transfering ranks, even though it is reasonable, it seems a little complicated. I would just say GM should decide.

Concerning advanced education: its a little tricky, hard to make out the cultural influence from general truths.

 

[PoppySeed45]

And while I'm on this meandering path, another thought I had was around the transference of ranks between occupations. Someone who has achieved rank 6 in the Army would not, should they choose to become a Corporate Worker, do so at Rank 1. I'd need to give it further consideration but there's a good argument to suggested that commissioned ranks transfer at something like Rank minus 1 and non-comissioned ranks transfer at Rank divided by 3. Or perhaps this might be partly dependent on possessing the Leadership skill. Or something. If anyone would like to provide the details, I'd be grateful

There's a good point here and I am considering it myself. Only problem I see is how to deal with mustering out benefits, pensions, and the like. Go with the total ranks achieved like with Enlisted people who go officer? In that case, we'd be giving the player "free" ranks with regard to this.

Or add them together and divide by 2? Might shaft someone who did poorly in one career, and really well in the other.

I haven't come up with a solution, therefore.

 

[Woas]

The situation of player's switching their character's careers during char gen and having to 'starting over' in the ranks has come up recently for me too.

So far all I've done to prevent unwanted headaches is as normal, start the character as Rank 1 in the new career but make up my own titles that reflect their previous experience to give it color. That way it keeps char gen easy without any changes to the system and gives the player a custom 'title' to brag about.

For example a character who has gotten up to say Lieutenant in the Navy retires and moves to the Agent field. Instead of being a Rookie, we'll call him.. Specialist First Class or something. It work's for us so I thought I'd share.