The Referee Screen is available... comments?

[swest]

newbie, first thread. I know there's another thread about the Referee's Screen, but now that it's out, I thought we might want a differently titled thread...

Anyway, I received mine yesterday (from Mongoose). Its physical qualities live up to their promise. Very durable, and nice artwork.

I am unqualified to judge the content however, so I hope we get some comments here about that, and also perhaps some guidance about how it could or should be supplemented during game play. I'm about to run my first-ever Traveller campaign and I'm still getting myself prepared...

I do have a problem with the copy of the screen I received, however. There is 'stuff' on the inside: some sticky, and some just stuck on that can't be picked off. Also there are numerous physical flaws, some in the outer artwork, and some on the inner surfaces. I tried using some alcohol to remove the stickiness with limited success; and I don't want to damage the paper by rubbing too hard.

I thought this should be disclosed, in case it is a general problem with the item, and not just limited to my copy.

- s.west

p.s. I haven't contacted Mongoose directly yet, but I imagine that they will make it right.

 

[alex_greene]

Better contact Mongoose immediately.

 

[swest]

Better contact Mongoose immediately.

I just sent an e-mail to Kelly George.

 

[swest]

Also, a minor point that I've been wondering about on the 'Time Frames' table. Line 6, the 'Four Hours' increment, should start out with '4-24 Hours', no? Not '6-24 Hours'...

The print copy of the Core rulebook has, '6-24', the PDF of the Core rulebook has '6-24', and now the Referee's Screen has '6-24'.

Again, I know it's minor, but I just thought I'd point it out.

 

[IanBruntlett]

I am unqualified to judge the content however, so I hope we get some comments here about that, and also perhaps some guidance about how it could or should be supplemented during game play.

Possibility for supplementing the screen...

I've photocopied the Traveller tables and pasted them onto the inside front cover and inside back cover pages.

One thing I did for the tables was to include a reference to the Core Rule book's page number. This means if something happens when I'm GMing a game and my mind goes blank, I can quickly jump to the right page in the Core Rule book.

So I have a question... does the GM screen have page numbers on its tables?

 

[MongooseMatt]

p.s. I haven't contacted Mongoose directly yet, but I imagine that they will make it right.

It is the first we have seen of this - drop us a line, and we'll sort a new copy out for you.

 

[swest]

Possibility for supplementing the screen...

I've photocopied the Traveller tables and pasted them onto the inside front cover and inside back cover pages.

One thing I did for the tables was to include a reference to the Core Rule book's page number. This means if something happens when I'm GMing a game and my mind goes blank, I can quickly jump to the right page in the Core Rule book.

Good suggestions. Thanks.

So I have a question... does the GM screen have page numbers on its tables?

No.

- s.west

 

[swest]

p.s. I haven't contacted Mongoose directly yet, but I imagine that they will make it right.

It is the first we have seen of this - drop us a line, and we'll sort a new copy out for you.

Thanks. See above (e-mail to Kelly George).

- s.west

 

[EDG]

So I have a question... does the GM screen have page numbers on its tables?

There was a character sheet folder that WotC were giving away a few months ago that had all the common D&D 4e tables in it, and it had the page numbers on them (and what book they're from) too - I thought that it was a great idea to include them.

 

[BP]

Page numbers on reference materials can be extremely usefull (I tend to do this with technical material - often going to the effort of making up my own just for this reason).

Only caveat is accommodating changes - i.e. reprintings/editions may have different page numbers.

Unfortunately, my MGT books (U.S. printings) don't have a traditional copyright page that lists printing editions... I hope this gets changed in the future. (Would make identifying the rare mis-prints, like with earlier High Guard editions, a lot easier as well.)

 

[mechascorpio]

Got mine yesterday, extremely nice quality and layout. Beautiful painting for the players' side!

Oh, and no sticky stuff.

 

[EDG]

Got mine yesterday, extremely nice quality and layout. Beautiful painting for the players' side!

Are there any images of the full painting anywhere?

 

[swest]

Got mine yesterday, extremely nice quality and layout. Beautiful painting for the players' side!

Oh, and no sticky stuff.

That's good.

Mongoose is already sending me out a new one.

- s.west

 

[BP]

Mongoose is already sending me out a new one.
- s.west

In case you're so inclined, EDG shared this just a while back:

This is just to let everyone know that we've just created a Traveller Publisher Feedback forum on the SFRPG boards. It is located at:

http://www.sfrpg.org.uk/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=52

swest Hope your campaign planning/running is a good time... thanks for sharing your feedback!

 

[lastbesthope]

Neither of my FLGS had it in this week, but they should have it for me next week.

Also ordered Civ vehicles.

LBH

 

[alex_greene]

p.s. I haven't contacted Mongoose directly yet, but I imagine that they will make it right.

It is the first we have seen of this - drop us a line, and we'll sort a new copy out for you.

Gotta love Mongoose.

 

[swest]

Got the new one yesterday, and it's flawless. Thanks, a lot!

- s.west

 

[GamerDude]

I got mine in time to use at a conventions a week ago.

I looks great, the charts are great (1/2 character focused, 1/2 ship focused).

There are only 2 downfalls in my book: My games don't need the ship focused stuff as much as the character focused items on my personally made screen, and that it was done portrait (tall narrow panels) instead of landscape (short wide) like the more recent WotC screens for D&D 3rd ed, d20 Modern (deluxe DM screen pack) and 4th ed (heavy cardboard 4 panel nice).

Again still a great job one of the best on the market for GM screens.

 

[lastbesthope]

My FLGS can't get it in as Esdevium say it is out of stock, though they are going to keep it on back order for me.

LBH

 

[kafka]

Mine arrived too. It suffers from the sticky problem but it is not affecting the quality of the screen. I was surprised to see that there was not a handout with combat values of armour and damage for weapons. I also liked the Combat Flowchart. All in all, a very solid piece and happy with screen. As Mongoose is quite prolific when it comes to Traveller, I am just wondering how long before the screen is rendered Out of Date.