The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
- Thread starter MongooseMatt
- Start date
As a very new player (just this summer, still learning, haven't even started a game yet) I can honestly say the lack of the traveller companion has been driving me ABSOLUTELY NUTS. Every time I have a question, I see a line in one of the books that says "see the Traveller Companion!". It's infuriating beyond belief. This thing shoulda been priority number one given how crazy ya'all went on referencing it in the other core rulebooks.
Also... where are the MGT2 race books? Veteran players say "Oh, there's no urgent need, they're covered pretty well in MGT1" -- guess what? NEW players don't have MGT1 books and don't want to buy MGT1 books because they are firmly grounded in MGT2 books. Race books and the Companion are big ticket items that feel almost mandatory if you want to really both a) play the game properly and b) use the aliens in 3I as more than prop pieces. Aslan seem to be a particular draw for a couple of my players but they've no desire to buy an out of date book.
Now, I'm not meaning this to sound as cranky as it does... I love everything I've seen so far about MGT2. I'm just upset that there're these gaping holes in it that are basically newbie-killers, cuz I'm a newbie. I know you want to cater to the established crowd... but try to remember the *new* customers that you might draw in, too? Yeah?
All that said... I'm very glad that the Traveller Companion is finally coming. Maybe in a year then I can actually convince my group to play the game and buy some books of their own instead of just leafing through mine and putting off play because they have questions that so often say are answered in the Traveller Companion, LOL.
Wow, yeah, that sounds way more cranky than I intended -- but it's a cranky born of frustrated desire, so don't take it too hard.
Now hurry up and publish the PDF at least -- you can edit it and update it constantly via your own website and then just publish the hard copy later when you're sure it's print worthy
Also... where are the MGT2 race books? Veteran players say "Oh, there's no urgent need, they're covered pretty well in MGT1" -- guess what? NEW players don't have MGT1 books and don't want to buy MGT1 books because they are firmly grounded in MGT2 books. Race books and the Companion are big ticket items that feel almost mandatory if you want to really both a) play the game properly and b) use the aliens in 3I as more than prop pieces. Aslan seem to be a particular draw for a couple of my players but they've no desire to buy an out of date book.
Now, I'm not meaning this to sound as cranky as it does... I love everything I've seen so far about MGT2. I'm just upset that there're these gaping holes in it that are basically newbie-killers, cuz I'm a newbie. I know you want to cater to the established crowd... but try to remember the *new* customers that you might draw in, too? Yeah?
All that said... I'm very glad that the Traveller Companion is finally coming. Maybe in a year then I can actually convince my group to play the game and buy some books of their own instead of just leafing through mine and putting off play because they have questions that so often say are answered in the Traveller Companion, LOL.
Wow, yeah, that sounds way more cranky than I intended -- but it's a cranky born of frustrated desire, so don't take it too hard.
Now hurry up and publish the PDF at least -- you can edit it and update it constantly via your own website and then just publish the hard copy later when you're sure it's print worthy
AndrewW
Emperor Mongoose
Itharus said:
Aslan are covered in The Trojan Reach book, which is part of the Pirates of Drinax set.
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/traveller-1/the-pirates-of-drinax.html
legozhodani
Banded Mongoose
Itharus. You have some good/stong points there regarding the companion should have been out at least 6 months ago, if not longer. And as for the alien issue, I agree the need for an all in book with Aslan, Vargr, K'Kree, Hivers and a few of the humany variants would be a good pull for new and old alike.
However I do believe the core rule book is plenty to run what ever you need for a sci fi game. No need for spoon feeding like some games. I've been playing for over 35 years, but some of my new players have only been playing Traveller for 2 years and two of them have never seen Traveller, with one never even played an RPG.
Can't think of anything that's in the companion that stopped them playing due to it's ommision. Just lots of extra stuff we want, not need.
Rope those players now with a low key adventure as a dry run/ learning curve. They can cut their teeth on the basics before getting excited by lots more new rules.
YUMV
All the best with getting a group together though. Hope you can convince them.
However I do believe the core rule book is plenty to run what ever you need for a sci fi game. No need for spoon feeding like some games. I've been playing for over 35 years, but some of my new players have only been playing Traveller for 2 years and two of them have never seen Traveller, with one never even played an RPG.
Can't think of anything that's in the companion that stopped them playing due to it's ommision. Just lots of extra stuff we want, not need.
Rope those players now with a low key adventure as a dry run/ learning curve. They can cut their teeth on the basics before getting excited by lots more new rules.
YUMV
All the best with getting a group together though. Hope you can convince them.
Indeed - and I have good news...
The main manuscript is completely, done, edited, dusted! I am just working on some additional chapters that were requested, which should be complete later this week (or likely next), and then I will be fielding all questions!
The main manuscript is completely, done, edited, dusted! I am just working on some additional chapters that were requested, which should be complete later this week (or likely next), and then I will be fielding all questions!
Old School
Mongoose
Need any volunteer proofreaders? Another set of eyes never hurt anyone! 
We have a fair battery of eyes to go over Traveller books these days, but we may be in touch!
steve98052
Mongoose
An official proofreading program might be a good idea. The way it worked at Steve Jackson Games was that subscribers to Pyramid and JTAS had access to a private bulletin board section that included access to some draft books.
I have a credit in GURPS Modern Firepower because I had a lot of free time when it was under outside review; my role was as the guy who didn't know much about the subject matter; I had a good eye for stuff that was obvious for gun enthusiasts (including the authors and most of the other reviewers) that wouldn't necessarily make sense to ordinary gamers.
Another way that it could be done (besides a paid on-line magazine) would be to grant the first hundred (or whatever number works) PDF customers get drafts and access to the draft bulletin board; stand-out contributors get credits in the book and maybe a bonus print copy.
I have a credit in GURPS Modern Firepower because I had a lot of free time when it was under outside review; my role was as the guy who didn't know much about the subject matter; I had a good eye for stuff that was obvious for gun enthusiasts (including the authors and most of the other reviewers) that wouldn't necessarily make sense to ordinary gamers.
Another way that it could be done (besides a paid on-line magazine) would be to grant the first hundred (or whatever number works) PDF customers get drafts and access to the draft bulletin board; stand-out contributors get credits in the book and maybe a bonus print copy.
Jump Dave said:
Not in the Companion - this is a subject likely to be rolled into a more global Alien Builder.
