So, I spent 3 days writing an outline for a new campaign...

[MasterGwydion]

So, I spent 3 days roughing out a new campaign idea. My usual creative process where I have ideas and change things along the way. The idea was an ex-Army M.A.S.H. surgeon/philanthropist opening up a frontier clinic on a Balkanized, TL-5 world. It is her homeworld, but she used her mustering out benefits to buy a TL-12 Construction Robot with which to build her clinic. So, I tooled around fleshing out different bits and after 3 days gave it a bird's eye once over to see if I had anything decent....

Turns out that I apparently play RPGs to create things which I wish We had in real life. In this case, I realized that My campaign was to have a VA Hospital that actually took care of its patients.

Now I feel a bit depressed that, somehow that is My fantasy. Sometimes writing reveals Our inner truths.

It will be a good campaign, just not My intent when I set out.

Me - *yells at the empty passenger seat*

Passenger Seat - "It's not My turn to navigate!"

lolz

 

[Condottiere]

Optionally, install the clinic in a spacecraft, and wander about, distributing free medicare.

 

[NOLATrav]

We did a campaign once where we converted our Marava into a pseudo-medical ship and did exactly that in a war-torn region with lots of embargoes, factions and pirates. Based on the novel The Blade Runner by Alan Nourse, about a doctor smuggling medical tools and supplies into troubled areas.

MasterGwydion, embrace those feelings and let them run their course. Then give us action reports on the new campaign!

 

[MasterGwydion]

Optionally, install the clinic in a spacecraft, and wander about, distributing free medicare.

The Clinic does free medical care, mainly Fabricated biological replacement organs for wounded vets. After 6 and a half years, it is a 630-bed surgical facility with another 1,400-beds for long-term care; physical therapy, counseling, etc. They also have just built, in year 6, a 400-ton J-1x2 M.A.S.H. Ship with 60 Medivac Robots in place of 60 low berths.

 

[MasterGwydion]

We did a campaign once where we converted our Marava into a pseudo-medical ship and did exactly that in a war-torn region with lots of embargoes, factions and pirates. Based on the novel The Blade Runner by Alan Nourse, about a doctor smuggling medical tools and supplies into troubled areas.

MasterGwydion, embrace those feelings and let them run their course. Then give us action reports on the new campaign!

I just ran the campaign past My players. Their response was, "You want Us to get real jobs?" lolz!

 

[Limpin Legin]

Turns out that I apparently play RPGs to create things which I wish We had in real life. In this case, I realized that My campaign was to have a VA Hospital that actually took care of its patients.

Now I feel a bit depressed that, somehow that is My fantasy. Sometimes writing reveals Our inner truths.

That is true of players too. Sometimes they will pick creations "just to be different" or "just to add a bit of spice", other than that, what they roleplay seems to be a projection of their/our inner desires and fantasies for the future. Bringing it into the realm of gameplay is like confessing it

Me - *yells at the empty passenger seat*

Passenger Seat - "It's not My turn to navigate!"

lolz

I just ran the campaign past My players. Their response was, "You want Us to get real jobs?" lolz

So, on this occasion, the "passenger seat" was not empty, but pre-occupied by the real-life players? And you just gave them the route out of commitment.
Now, it's your turn ... and, you have alibi to give them an alternative universe where there is a distinct lack of medi care?

 

[Arkathan]

Turns out that I apparently play RPGs to create things which I wish We had in real life. In this case, I realized that My campaign was to have a VA Hospital that actually took care of its patients.

Now I feel a bit depressed that, somehow that is My fantasy. Sometimes writing reveals Our inner truths.

I know you don't want to hear it, but we HAD a leader that tried to get care to the veterans and kick out the abusive people who were there to collect a check at the expense of vets.
The next Admin rehired those bad actors AND opened the VA up to illegal aliens, making it even harder for vets to get care.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I know you don't want to hear it, but we HAD a leader that tried to get care to the veterans and kick out the abusive people who were there to collect a check at the expense of vets.
The next Admin rehired those bad actors AND opened the VA up to illegal aliens, making it even harder for vets to get care.

I haven't been to a VA in years. I left the US back in 2015. So, my last visit to the VA was likely sometime in 2014 or so. I see no reason to return.

 

[ottarrus]

VA is run on a regional basis. Where I'm at, they do a pretty good job. Sorry you had a bad experience. Other than that, I won't get into modern politics.

As for veteran care in the OTU, much of that mechanic is already in character generation insofar as medical expenses and medical debt during muster out. As the referee you can always house-rule that anyone in the services who is mustered out due to injury gets retirement pay. That's certainly not a 'break the game' house rule.

As for your campaign idea, a TL 5 balkanized world might be a problem for your protagonist. I could see some of tin pot dictator raiding her clinic to steal the robot! But my characters have had... bad luck due to poor choices ... on balkanized worlds, so I may be just a little jaded about them. However, if you doctor hired a TL-12 firm to construct her clinic, she wouldn't have a robot to steal and your campaign seed is still intact. She'd still need PC help in keeping the clinic running [security, technical, diplomatic/legal roles] so the campaign is still viable.

Another thought that comes to mind is looking into the non-profit hospital ships that travel to some of the poorest countries on Earth providing health care ranging from vaccines to major surgeries. Take a look at mercyships.org for one organization that does this. You could easily scale that up to an interstellar relief organization.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Now I feel a bit depressed that, somehow that is My fantasy. Sometimes writing reveals Our inner truths.

In all seriousness, there is absolutely room for this in Traveller and classic science fiction has always been rooted in the real world.

In your place, I would go ahead with this campaign (actually, in your place, I would probably publish it but not everyone has a games company ).

 

[Condottiere]

There are currently the Mercy class hospital ships.

You probably need specialists, including dentists.

Possibly, a veterinarian.

There's the Sector General series, by James White.

 

[Anstett]

The old saying of "if you are stuck on an alien world don't look for a doctor look for a veterinarian because they are used to dealing with other species"

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

The old saying of "if you are stuck on an alien world don't look for a doctor look for a veterinarian because they are used to dealing with other species"

I seem to recall a Superman movie (or maybe TV episode) where Superman takes a non human to a vet using that logic. If my memory is accurate and I'm not absolutely sure it was a black and white one.

 

[Condottiere]

That could be anywhere from the Seventies downwards, where they still had cringe inducing storylines.

 

[lategamer]

Turns out that I apparently play RPGs to create things which I wish We had in real life. In this case, I realized that My campaign was to have a VA Hospital that actually took care of its patients.
Now I feel a bit depressed that, somehow that is My fantasy. Sometimes writing reveals Our inner truths.

I've been reading more sci-fi that is about saving lives than taking them. I was pushed onto Sector General novels and I hacked a little RPG for a one-page rpg day about being alien first responders in a warzone earth setting.

Being a semi-mobile MASH unit would be a cool idea. Stun weapons only, lots of shields, extractions of soldiers who activate their rescue beacon, having to deal with having soldiers from both sides as well as the usual stuff.

 

[Sageryne]

I wrote an article on the Type SA Solomani Free Trader and published it on Drive Thru RPG under the TAS program. One of the variants of the Free Trader is a hospital ship modelled on the MASH tv show. It comes with full deck plans, an emergency triage, three surgeries, room for 48 patients (in 24 double staterooms) and 48 low berths.

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

Just sayin'

 

[Condottiere]

Presumably, lack of transportation infrastructure means the clinic goes to the patients.

Acceleration factor two or three, streamlined hull.

Holographic hull, to attract attention, and advertize Today's Specials.

 

[lategamer]

Holographic hull, to attract attention, and advertize Today's Specials.

Unless you’re sponsored by someone, something has to pay the bills.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Being a semi-mobile MASH unit would be a cool idea. Stun weapons only, lots of shields, extractions of soldiers who activate their rescue beacon, having to deal with having soldiers from both sides as well as the usual stuff.

I recently came across the old Trapper John M.D. TV show on Youtube and it got me thinking about using old TV shows to "inspire" characters the PC's might might encounter. So the hospital becomes a 5000 ton hospital ship, Trapper needs a name change but the other characters can be left alone as few people would recognize them. The ship does disaster response and charity missions to low TL worlds only charging the well to do and of course taking donations. I'm considering some of the older MASH characters, Radar would become Scanner the ships sensor operator who does admin work as well. Haven't gone into real detail yet and might never.

Another would be the Maverick family starting with Brett and Bart Maverick, some with their own small ships (scout variants), others travelling on whatever ship they could persuade/con a ride or even sometime a paying passenger. Have to come up with a new family name obviously. Lots of opportunities to use them in cons/swindles/gambles and occasional heroics.

Lots of opportunities from old shows for inspiration especially since you wouldn't in most cases want them to be obviously recognized.