Some Quirks upon Rolling my First Character

[E.T.Smith]

My first Traveller is a fellow I marched through 3 terms of Nobility, 2 terms in the Scouts and one final disastrous term as a Drifter. A most enjoyable process, but it raised a couple questions.

First, what to do with a redundant Ship Share? His retirement from the Nobility garnered him a Share, but the Scouts gave him a whole Type-S ship on indefinite loan. It is mentioned that the Type-S benefit can be traded in for 1d6 more Ship Shares, but why would I want to do that? The Type-S is low maintenance, cheaper to fuel, has Jump-2 and best of all requires no mortgage. If he keep's the Type-S, what can he use the Ship Share for? If I were referee, I'd allow to trade it for an upgrade to the Type-S (a weapon for the turret likely).

Also, though it didn't come up in this case, there's no mention of what to do if a character ends up with the Type-S benefit multiple times; similar results for other careers offer appropriate Skill raises instead, but such is not specified here.

Second question, what are the options for a character if a mishap expels them from the Drifter career, yet such is their only following option? The text states that a character cannot return to a career they've been forced out of, yet it also implies that being a Drifter is always possible. What is the proper intention?

 

[Talon Brightmane]

There is one good reason to trade the scout in for 1d6 ship shares - a large group of players. While you can cram 8 people into a Type S, you have next to no cargo and no real passenger space. depending on the style of campaign your are playing, you may do better with a different ship.

While, not official, I would allow a reroll in the case of a second roll of a scout ship when mustering out. I might also stat out the 200dton Extended Duration Survey Vessel (EDSV) from T4, or the 300 dton Explorer class scout from White Dwarf 40 to MGT rules and upgrade the scout ship the player gets. Of course, this depends on what everybody rolled when mustering out.

 

[SSWarlock]

Second question, what are the options for a character if a mishap expels them from the Drifter career, yet such is their only following option? The text states that a character cannot return to a career they've been forced out of, yet it also implies that being a Drifter is always possible. What is the proper intention?

IMO, the text stating a character cannot return to any career they're forced out of does not apply to Drifter. Being a Drifter is living at the bottom of the social barrel..the only thing below that is the grave.

And a character can return to a career they've forcibly left if a Draft die roll puts them back into it. The character simply can't choose to return to the career.

 

[Myrm]

I view ship shares as a retainable commodity if for some reason there is no reason to use them on a ship to start. It represents tied up cash, favours, military loans etc that later on could be used for getting a new ship, or replacing a shattered one.

If the group decides to trade up from the Type S, then 'd let them introduce their shares to the game at that point.

 

[-Daniel-]

I view ship shares as a retainable commodity ......

I see Ship Shares as the same as Stocks. The only difference is they do not pay dividends.
I would let the player trade them later or use them later. It is an asset just like their other benefits.

Daniel