SpaceQuest. Still go for launch?

[yojimbo]

With the announcement of MGP gaining the Traveller licence (congratulations to all involved), what does this mean for SpaceQuest? Certainly, the licensed properties are now going to be based on Traveller rather than SQ but what about the SQ core books? Are they still going ahead?

Personally, I'd be disappointed if SQ got nixed, as a sci-fi version of BRP is something I've been looking forward to. However, I do understand MGP's position should they choose to do so.

Jim.

 

[Tal]

I'd like to know too. I am looking forward to Spacequest as I was looking forward to mixing RQ with SQ. I am not interested at all in Traveller.

 

[zozotroll]

I have been a fan of the Traveller setting since shortly after it came out. I dont especialy like GURPS Traveller all that much. Or rather the Gurps basic system. Traveller that you can play with runequest sounds truly outstanding to me.

 

[Tal]

I have been a fan of the Traveller setting since shortly after it came out. I dont especialy like GURPS Traveller all that much. Or rather the Gurps basic system. Traveller that you can play with runequest sounds truly outstanding to me.

I don't think it Traveller using RQ or spacequest rules. It sounds like it is an update of the Traveller rules, that I'm not interested in. If it was Traveller using the RQ or Spacequest rules I'd be interested.

 

[MongooseMatt]

This does indeed replace our plans SpaceQuest. That said, there is one sci-fi licence that, if we managed to get our mitts on it, would snap back SQ like a shot. . .

However, not all bad news. We are currently in negotiations for something that will not seem like obvious RQ territory, but will demonstrate the flexibility of the system. It will be all good news, so please bear with us!

 

[stutwothousand]

Spelljammer? Riddick? Something Edgar Rice Burroughs-esque?

I love Traveller, and I'm excited about the news, but there's still plenty of sci-fi/fantasy stuff that would go better with RQ.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

I've always loved Traveller for its setting and tech, but its a shame it won't be ported to the MRQ rules.

Congratulations Matt!

 

[Tal]

This does indeed replace our plans SpaceQuest. That said, there is one sci-fi licence that, if we managed to get our mitts on it, would snap back SQ like a shot. . .

However, not all bad news. We are currently in negotiations for something that will not seem like obvious RQ territory, but will demonstrate the flexibility of the system. It will be all good news, so please bear with us!

Mr. Sprange,
I wish you luck with Traveller, however the system is not my cup of tea. I'm hoping you get that liscense as I was really looking forward to SQ and disappointed by the news of it's demise.
I'll second the burroughs/planetary romance idea for the RQ/SQ system and looking forward to what your hinting at for RQ.

 

[zozotroll]

Put me down as disapointed that SQ is on hold. I was really looking forward to it.

 

[lastbesthope]

Spelljammer? Riddick? Something Edgar Rice Burroughs-esque?

I'd buy a Riddick RPG.

LBH

 

[Tal]

I'd buy a RQ space fantasy(similar to Spelljammer) RPG.

 

[AKAramis]

According to Hunter Gordon, who is another Traveller licensee, it's going to be based in MWM's Traveller 5th (T5).

Which, given what MWM was pushing for playtest on Hunter's site, TravellerRPG.com, is essentially T4.2 ...

The playtest materials are quite, uhm, controversial amongst Traveller fans. Just about EVERYONE who has worked with them has had something to hate in it. Quite honestly, Marc Miller should probably take his hands OFF the rules, and stick to setting. He's generally out of touch with the fan base, and with current trends in both games theory and game design, not to mention the history of what has failed. He also flat out ignores playtesters; relying upon others to filter the playtest results for him, and ignoring even broadly held views.

By the by, everything Marc has released to this point shows a T4 basis, not a CT basis.

The worst element seen is the task system. THe use of a variable number of dice versus stat+skill was problematic in T4, and is likely to be equally unpopular in T5 and Mongoose Traveller. (It was almost unplayable in T4.0, the 4.1 revision did little to make it easier, doesn't handle well (or at all )a number of issues the MegaTraveller, TNE, and DGP-CT task systems handled quite easily and well. The T5 drafts seen so far are better worded versions of the T4.1 task system... but it's functionally the same system, with no significant changes. Of course, the last draft released for comment was over a year ago.

I hope Mongoose has the freedom to reject certain elements of T5. If they don't, a long and bumpy ride is ahead.

And it's a sad thing that SQ gets sidelined.

 

[weasel_fierce]

I love traveller, but I'd rather see a BRP scifi game.

 

[beeber]

i'm mixed, as well. sad that SQ is now off. now i'll have to wait until fall for the (hopefully) release of BRP for my other SF needs.

but i am super about traveller! congrats on that!

 

[gamesmeister]

I love traveller, but I'd rather see a BRP scifi game.

Yep, ditto. I would loved to have seen an MRQ Traveller

 

[weasel_fierce]

Indeed. I own each version of Traveller so far, except T20, but everything I've heard about T5 makes it sound like T4.. which is my least favourite version.

I've fiddled with the idea of using CT or MT, and just substitute skill levels for BRP skill levels.

Skill 1 becomes 40%
2 becomes 60
3 becomes 75
4 becomes 85 etc

 

[beeber]

wow, w_f, that's a pretty quick progression!

but then again, how easy is it to get skill 3 in CT or MT? not very! ymmv of course

at least T4 had good gear/weapon books (and other crunch) yes?

honestly, that's all i'm expecting out of the "new" version as well.

 

[AKAramis]

Guys, if you WANT RQ-SciFi, WRITE IT. That's part of what the OGL is all about. Write it, then playtest it, then redact it just enough to meet the OGL and RQSTL licenses. Then put it up on Hyperbooks, RPGNow, and/or DriveThroughRPG, maybe even Lulu.com...

Given the lack of need of paper-product these days, YOU CAN do it.

Or, wait for the Traveller SRD, and then hybridize the two SRD's...

Embrace the concept of Open Gaming.

 

[steffworthington]

I've been playing Traveller, space:1889, and 2300AD using the BRP system for over 20 years because while GDW's settings have got to be some of the most amazing in rpg history, their rule systems have ALWAYS sucked.

SAd about MSQ and if MongooseTraveller bears ANY relation whatsovever to T4 then I'll avoid it like the plague.

 

[simonh]

I'm very disappointed about this. I used to be a big Traveller fan, but lost interest after the New Era debacle. Gurps Traveller was great and even though I'm not a fan of the Gurps system the sourcebooks were very well done.

The problem is that the Traveller rules and setting are really showing their age. One of the cool things about Traveller was the references to classic SF from the Golden Age, mostly Asimov, but SF has moved on since then. I too have used BRP for Traveller for the last few games I ran some years ago, so a RQ based Traveller would have given me two valuable things: A great RQ-based SF system I could adapt for other purposes, and an easy route back into the classic Traveller universe for when I'm feeling nostalgic.

Yet another iteration of the classic Traveller game system though has little appeal to me. If I want to run Traveller I've got tons of Mega Traveller and Gurps Traveller material I love and am familiar with, that meets my needs on the odd trip down memory lane, a new revision of the old system just has so little to offer me.

Now I may be wrong, and I'm going to keep my eyes open to what MGP are doing, so we'll see. The loss of SpaceQuest though is a major disappointment. It was my one great hope to bring me back to Mongoose's take on RQ.

Oh well.