The next career book?

[Techno-Guru]

Perhaps a little early but what are people's thoughts on the next career book? Granted, we don't even know if Scholar and Citizens will be treated seperately or not (at least I don't, but then I don't listen to the podcasts/read the blogs all that much.) But besides that, what do people think?

 

[Dave Chase]

Normals.

You know the everyday people that are not patrons, adventures, Travellers, or subplot NPC's.

Everyday people that might just be on traveling on the liner do to business, family vacation, going to school, honeymoon, etc.

Filler for all those blank faces that the PC's pass by but don't interact with directly.

Dave Chase

 

[TrippyHippy]

You could call it Citizens of the Imperium? (or maybe just Citizens?)

Within it, you could detail all the the education possibilties (school types) rather than just having a seperate Scholar career.

 

[Techno-Guru]

You could call it Citizens of the Imperium? (or maybe just Citizens?)

Within it, you could detail all the the education possibilties (school types) rather than just having a seperate Scholar career.

Citizens works, I feel Professionals is a strong contender. I wouldn't call it Citizens of the Imperium since the careers are supposed to be usable for homebrew settings as well as the Third Imperium.

Anyway, inside it you could have a section for expanded Scholar careers and another for a few expanded Citizen careers, "rough neck" blue collar types like the Belters (without them being Belters of course, since that subject has already been covered.) Ax Men in space, less cheesy then I described it of course.

 

[Fovean]

I really like the Spica Career books for 'Citizens' IMTU... a couple of the options are a little goofy but you can end up with a really capable character that doesn't have to be ex-military. And the art in Career Book 2 is SWEET.

The Spica books can also add to the write-up for whatever starport/planet you're playing around with... rolling up a Port Authority character and a Search&Rescue character on the same world almost creates the starport background for you.

But I suppose a Mongoose career book called 'Citizens & Scholars' or some such would include expanded rules on academies and universities, research bases, maybe even governments and life under different law levels...

 

[Stainless]

Matt, if you're reading, if Mongoose do a career book that includes rules on universities and researchers, you must include me in the playtest. I can send you my CV that will tell you why I'd be a good choice.

I'd agree that a book on general run of the mill citizens could be useful (but since their likely to be used only as NPCs maybe the upcoming campaign guide might be covering them?) A book on scholars and inventors would be more appropriate for PCs. Rules on universities, research institutes, corporate research, funding, inventions, intellectual property law, etc. could be a lot of fun.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

I'm surprised no-one has thought of the obvious...

'Book 9 - Patrolman'.

There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of novels/plays/films/videogames based upon this basic (and highly varied) Sci-Fi trope, from the 'Lensman' series to 'Outland'.

Cleansing the Universe of scum is a classic.

 

[Stainless]

I'm surprised no-one has thought of the obvious...

'Book 9 - Patrolman'.

A good idea, but didn't Agent kind of cover this? (I don't have the book with me at the moment.)

I should say that personally I feel it's time to draw a line under the career books. There are more than enough options available now and few more could be filtered in via S&P. More useful would be supplements that give details on foundation concepts such as starports, startowns, space stations, starship travel, tech levels (considering the confusion/interpretations this always causes, a book dedicated to it could be quite useful), etc.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Yes, but a book that also (besides dealing with the Star Patrol—or whatever it's called) expands on all sorts of legal issues, laws and restrictions....

Let's face it when didn't a PC group get involved with the Law?

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

A book on Thai politics?

 

[OddjobXL]

I'd think you could milk two separate books out of Scholars and Citizens.

Frankly, I'd go with Scholars next and focus on issues like exploration (but a bit more scientific and technical than we had with the Scouts career book), invention and content for fleshing out their role in mixed crews and "typical" Traveller adventures. Maybe something on Universities and lab work (perhaps along the lines of an Ars Magica approach to research as a campaign anchor over a very long term) but getting them out of the lab and into the field should be the focus.

The big finale should be Citizens and it should basically throw in the kitchen sink for additional careers. Anything and everything that didn't fit into the other books, along with the more conventional and established career paths, could get packed into this. Also there could be a "mini-game" all around establishing and running a new settlement on the ragged edge of the frontier to focus on the more rugged life of a colonist. Blue collar and white collar types, well, we urbanized modern folk pretty much get what they're about. But settling a plot of land on a hostile world and turning it into a home could be a great adventure setting.

Just my offhand idears.

 

[Fovean]

I'm surprised no-one has thought of the obvious...

'Book 9 - Patrolman'.

The Spica books have Space Patrol, Port Authority and Secret Police careers, each of which has three specialties - very cool options for a far future Patrolman.

 

[Dark Lord Skippy]

I believe a book covering careers in the medical field would be rather useful. It could detail several types of medics (nurses, doctors, search and rescue people, EMTs, combat medics, surgeons, ship's doctors) and then delve into the world of science fiction medicine.

 

[DeadMike]

I'm surprised no-one has thought of the obvious...

'Book 9 - Patrolman'.

The Spica books have Space Patrol, Port Authority and Secret Police careers, each of which has three specialties - very cool options for a far future Patrolman.

Psion book has Law Enforcement.
Agent book has Law Enforcement: Patroller, Special Operations (IE. S.W.A.T.), Customs. Investigator: Private Detective, Inspector and Undercover Agent. Along with others.
Mercenary Has Security: Bodyguard, Ship Security and Site Defence.
If you want your police to have a more California Peace Officer touch to it, Scoudrel has Organised Crime: Enforcer.
Police careers, at least IMO have been covered pretty well.



This would go well in a Citizen type book. I for one, Like Dave Chase, Techno-Guru and Dark Lord Skippy and others, I would like to see some of the different people fleshed out from the Skill: Trade, IE everyday people. You never know what life brings. One day you are working as a Gunsmith, Paramedic or an Electrical Engineer. Next thing you know you are snatched up and stuck on a ship destined for a planet that is low on your employment type when pirates hit the ship and free you. Now you are at a spaceport god knows how many sectors from your home with no credits and no job openings around. What to do, Go adventuring? Why not?

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Actually, I would look forward to such a book. What I would groan at is 'Space Marines—Volume 17'. There is enough military/gun-porn to bore an army/navy.

 

[Dave Chase]

Yes, but a book that also (besides dealing with the Star Patrol—or whatever it's called) expands on all sorts of legal issues, laws and restrictions....

Let's face it when didn't a PC group get involved with the Law?

The Law? Mongoose already did a Judge Dredd supplement.

Dave Chase

 

[Techno-Guru]

I should say that personally I feel it's time to draw a line under the career books.

Well, if there's one thing for certain it's that the line will be drawn soon enough. We have already covered all the major careers detailed in the core book... except for Citizen and Scholar. One way or another we'll come to the end of these books sooner then later.

Actually, I would look forward to such a book. What I would groan at is 'Space Marines—Volume 17'. There is enough military/gun-porn to bore an army/navy.

I admit to being somewhat biased myself. Part of it is the "unlikely hero" aspect but part of it has to be for the opprotunity to be a normal guy caught in a very abnormal situation.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I believe a book covering careers in the medical field would be rather useful. It could detail several types of medics (nurses, doctors, search and rescue people, EMTs, combat medics, surgeons, ship's doctors) and then delve into the world of science fiction medicine.

While I would like to see this as well, since MGT collects all of the medical skills into one generic skill, it makes it hard to differentiate the careers when everyone gets Medical.

S&P had a nice article a while back about expanding the medical part of the game, it was quite informative.

 

[Galadrion]

Citizens (rural, urban, and service sector workers), Scholars (researchers, educators, and high-education specialists such as medical professionals), and Robots (the one classic "career type" the core book left out, in my opinion) would cover most of the gaps in the current career book line.

 

[domingojs23]

Diplomacy anyone ?

It's in the Core Book. But I'm just wondering if the diplomatic profession has been covered already in one of the recent books (Dilettante ?).