Other Settings - Wild West & Victorian/Steampunk

[klingsor]

Spinning off from the discussion of a new edition of Space 1889 as a potential Mongoose product, now dead and buried alas with Pinnacle getting it, emerged the thought of using Traveller for a wild west or Victorian/steampunk setting. I think it should work quite well though I find the idea oddly difficult to accept – some part of me must still be pigeonholing Traveller.

The rules would need little alteration – more detail on riding for example. Fanning is one thing that springs to mind immediately, I am not sure how common it was in reality but it seems popular with players. A weapon list is easily cobbled together using a few fixed points and some real world data. The big thing is character creation. It needs new skill lists – I see no reason at all to deviate from the existing four year term structure and could be common to the wild west and Victorian setting – the former after all is only a subset of the latter.

Steampunk would be harder to do because of the weird technology. I suppose the higher the TL of the potential device the more expensive and difficult it would be to create.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Even the skill lists might not be too bad. You could expand the Athletics skill or the Trade skill and not allow the Level 0 crossover to other sub-specialities.

Engineer becomes more generic and encompasses the Steam Engines etc.

You would have to redo the skill tables, but most of the skills themselves should work pretty well (if you squint a bit and close one eye...).

Fantasy Traveller is one I would like to see done. Magic is just about the only area that would need new rules. You could make up new skill tables, redefine a couple of skills and off you go. The basics are all there to be used.

 

[klingsor]

I had a look at the army character generation section, there were surprisingly few skills that would need replacing though the specialities might need alteration. Off the top of my head it would be infantry, cavalry (with real horses), artillery and support (engineers, medical...). Steampunk might see some addition to this of course.

There would be more changes to the Navy career I would think.

At the scale of the Traveller system I am doubtful if we would need much more detail than 'revolver, heavy' for things like the Colt M1873 or Webley service revolver or 'rifle, breechloading' for the Martini-Henry or the Springfield M1873.

 

[Stainless]

Spinning off from the discussion of a new edition of Space 1889 as a potential Mongoose product, now dead and buried alas with Pinnacle getting it...

Personally I'm sooooo much happier that Pinnacle has got the license and will be doing this. Completely aside from the pros and cons of the different systems (Savage Worlds vs Mongoose Traveller), just look at the production values of the Pinnacle products; artwork, layout, design, proof-reading, etc. Pinnacle wins hands down.

As to MongTrav and Wild West/Steampunk, it should technically already be within the rules as they cover a whole range of tech levels. A supplement or two (ala GURPS low tech) should suffice.

 

[saundby]

I'd love to see a steampunk supplement, especially if it did something fresh with the concept.

 

[klingsor]

Steampunk is a very broad church. I must admit I am not keen on magic and anthropomorphic animals but that is just me.

 

[Yogah of Yag]

I would imagine that Wild West/Victorian era can best be served by Aces & Eights.

 

[captainjack23]

I'm not sure I'd know how to play 1889 without the stodgy system. Seemed so....well, pukka . :wink:

 

[qstor]

If the equipment book has a bunch of low tech weapons a wild west game should be pretty easy. MJD Avenger equipment book was pretty extensive. We just need prices for horses

 

[AndrewW]

If the equipment book has a bunch of low tech weapons a wild west game should be pretty easy. MJD Avenger equipment book was pretty extensive. We just need prices for horses

Central Supply Catalogue has an abundance. Weapons range from TL 0 - TL 19.

 

[GypsyComet]

If the equipment book has a bunch of low tech weapons a wild west game should be pretty easy. MJD Avenger equipment book was pretty extensive. We just need prices for horses

Central Supply Catalogue has an abundance. Weapons range from TL 0 - TL 19.

If it doesn't cover TL19 Horses, it's incomplete.

 

[AndrewW]

If the equipment book has a bunch of low tech weapons a wild west game should be pretty easy. MJD Avenger equipment book was pretty extensive. We just need prices for horses

Central Supply Catalogue has an abundance. Weapons range from TL 0 - TL 19.

If it doesn't cover TL19 Horses, it's incomplete.

Horses aren't equipment. Though you could actually make a synthetic one from what is in there and have your high TL horse.

 

[DCAnsell]

Horses aren't equipment. Though you could actually make a synthetic one from what is in there and have your high TL horse.

Of course horses and other mounts are equipment. Unless they are going to be covered in the vehicle book. "And here we have a one horsepower personal mobility device."

That aside though, when are we going to see this wonderful book?

 

[AndrewW]

Of course horses and other mounts are equipment. Unless they are going to be covered in the vehicle book. "And here we have a one horsepower personal mobility device."

Maybe there will be an animal book...

That aside though, when are we going to see this wonderful book?

It is due for release June 2009.

 

[GypsyComet]

Horses aren't equipment. Though you could actually make a synthetic one from what is in there and have your high TL horse.

Of course horses and other mounts are equipment. Unless they are going to be covered in the vehicle book. "And here we have a one horsepower personal mobility device."

"Runs on hay and apples, self-repairing, and rigged for a variety of trailers to increase carrying capacity at the expense of speed and endurance. Capable of amazing Von Neuman feats of self-replacement if left idle in properly arranged groups."

 

[dmccoy1693]

"And here we have a one horsepower personal mobility device."

The average horse is not capable of putting out 1 horsepower. They're closer to 0.5 hp.

 

[AndrewW]

"And here we have a one horsepower personal mobility device."

The average horse is not capable of putting out 1 horsepower. They're closer to 0.5 hp.

That's ok, we'll just hitch up two horses.