Traveller Beta Playtest Rulebook

[phavoc]

For streamlined ships to land on low tech worlds that don't have guidance tech?

That would be present for additional safety of the port and such. But all ships have basic sensors and all should be capable of self-landing, especially those who travel outside the prettier high-tech corridors in the Imperium.

 

[-Daniel-]

I know I will get bombed for this, but when I play games like Traveller I just don't put too much thought into the "reality". I find that trying to force my game to conform too much with reality tends to make the game less fun. If someone want to have the pilot land the ship using eyeballs then so be it.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

If orbiting class A starports all look different and act different, I would think anything on the planet would be even more varied in its protocols. Then add various tech/social cultures/tribes/governments to such places.

 

[Condottiere]

I'd assume radar would be invented by then; unless it's getting jammed, in which case I'd reassess wanting to land there.

 

[wbnc]

I know I will get bombed for this, but when I play games like Traveller I just don't put too much thought into the "reality". I find that trying to force my game to conform too much with reality tends to make the game less fun. If someone want to have the pilot land the ship using eyeballs then so be it.

with grav drive you can just about park in orbit and slowly reduce power letting "gods gee" as pilots say, do the work.advanced calculations are only needed if you try to make a high speed or ballistic entry...then you might want to break out the slide rule.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

If it can be narrated, it just needs a die roll is all to make it happen.

 

[rotgrub]

First Impression from the download is;

"The new rulebook is going to be beautiful!"

Second is;

"Gotta be selective, and un-layer whatever I print!"

 

[nats]

My initial view after looking at the preview on Drivethru is I dont like the look of it much. As a fan of the Classic book art and not the 'computerised' looking Mongoose artwork I cant see anything much in there that jumped out at me as being very good. Admittedly there is only the cover which is a bit meh and one perspective visual in the book at the moment but that one perspective visual is really terrible - very evocative of the art in the past Mongoose books that I really never liked.

I am all for revising the CT rules to make them more streamlined and up to date but only if it is done with the same quality as the original books. This has always been my beef about Mongoose that the illustration hasn't been very good. Really puts you off the game actually.

I need to be emotionally moved when I read a RPG rules book - through the flavour text, the little anecdotes, some quality action orientated illustrations and interesting background text that inspires my imagination and ideas for adventures.

Anyway I will take another look next year - I hope when its finished the illustrations are better than I think they will be.

 

[Jeff Hopper]

There is a new review up for the playtest. I warn you though, it is unflattering.

http://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/2015/09/traveller-tuesday-numong.html

 

[-Daniel-]

There is a new review up for the playtest. I warn you though, it is unflattering.

http://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/2015/09/traveller-tuesday-numong.html

There were a few points worth thinking about. But yes, unflattering is one word you could use.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

People from the "My glass is half empty" tribe are posting reviews of the playtest rules without spending the time to learn and play the game first. Desperate Lives of the First Complainers Club.

 

[Jeff Hopper]

People from the "My glass is half empty" tribe are posting reviews of the playtest rules without spending the time to learn and play the game first. Desperate Lives of the First Complainers Club.

I would not be so dismissive. Several of the points brought up in the review are the same as ones brought up by the playtesters.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

I'll dismiss them because reviews of playtests, instead of finished game rules, mean nothing anyway.

 

[alex_greene]

Is he using "mong" in a derogatory / bigoted / anti-disablist manner? I've a Downs Syndrome relative, and that is a deeply offensive review to me.

I can happily dismiss that whole review, and the reviewer, as irrelevant. Sour grapes.

 

[alex_greene]

What are the reviewers expecting - a Kickstarter?

 

[-Daniel-]

People from the "My glass is half empty" tribe are posting reviews of the playtest rules without spending the time to learn and play the game first. Desperate Lives of the First Complainers Club.

I would not be so dismissive. Several of the points brought up in the review are the same as ones brought up by the playtesters.

This is something I have tried very hard to improve in my life. Words matter. The reviewer invites his reader to dismiss him by the words he selects and the way he has written his review. He could make the same points, some good ones too, in a less pissy or dismissive way and would have been given us a much better review with the same points still intact.

I agree with you, he raises many of the same points that have been raised here, in the playtest. His points should not be ignored.

 

[Gypsy Knights Games]

I'll dismiss them because reviews of playtests, instead of finished game rules, mean nothing anyway.

Not much point to having a playtest if you are going to ignore or berate anyone who sees problems with it. I suspect (or rather would hope) that Mongoose would appreciate constructive criticism. I see nothing but opportunity in most of that review.

Dismissing negative reactions as "sour grapes" torpedoes the very point of having a playtest.

 

[Gypsy Knights Games]

Is he using "mong" in a derogatory / bigoted / anti-disablist manner? I've a Downs Syndrome relative, and that is a deeply offensive review to me.

I can happily dismiss that whole review, and the reviewer, as irrelevant. Sour grapes.

I know Erin well enough to know that she certainly meant nothing of the sort. I understand your reaction but I feel confident that she had no intention of "mong" being anything but short for Mongoose.

 

[TrippyHippy]

The tone of the review is very snide, and I also happen to think that the use of 'NuMong' is pejorative and potentially very offensive, but a couple of the points raised are salient. The example adventure really ought to be set in the same Sector outlined in the Core Rules and the notion of providing a power plant graph in lieu of the full Ship design material might be useful.

The rest of the comments I've read from other commentators already for the main. I agree with some, and find others not a big deal.

With regards to the look of the book not mirroring Classic editions, I do think it is worth noting that both Classic Traveller and T5 are available in print in a way that they weren't when Mongoose started with Traveller back in 2008. If nothing else, they need to find a design that stands apart from these other titles. Moreover, they are attempting to create a new market with this edition and not just another eulogy to the past.

 

[ErinPalette]

Is he using "mong" in a derogatory / bigoted / anti-disablist manner?

No.

I can happily dismiss that whole review, and the reviewer, as irrelevant. Sour grapes.

From http://blog.mongoosepublishing.co.uk/?p=798:

For the final group, we trawled the Traveller forums (both our own and other sites) for the most passionate, dedicated, opinionated and yes, pugnacious Traveller players – those we believed could be relied upon to tell us exactly what was wrong with any proposed rule and not to be soft about it! As I told them from the start, we were not looking for Yes-Men, we wanted players who genuinely wanted Traveller to be the best game it could possibly be.

Hi. I'm passionate, dedicated, opinionated, and yes, pugnacious.