Traveller Char-Gen Question

M

Megamanic

Mongoose
When a Scholar (Physician) gets to rank 5 they get Scientist 2, which is the only "2" handed out like this in the book.

Does this 2 have to be in the same specialisation as the Scientist 1 they got at rank 1 or can you pick different specialisations (for example) Scientist (Genetics) 1 and Scientist (Biology) 2?
 
It's not spelled out directly anywhere, is it? And it's a non-standard format that doesn't appear anywhere else, and which is a change from earlier editions.

I would rule that it needs to increase a science skill from 1 to 2, but doesn't have to be the same skill you took at rank 1. That's in the spirit, or on the same scale, as the rest of char-gen skill increases.

You could instead read
You also get any bonuses listed for your new rank
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as setting any science specialization from 0 to 2. Normally I find singling out individual sections of Mongoose Publishing text without seeing what's elsewhere to steer you wrong more often than not, but this one's such an oddball it might fall on the other side of the equation.
 
Both Scientist and Physician Assignments gain Science 2 at Rank 5

According to the Core Rulebook (Skills and Training, page 18) , skills can be listed with or without an associated level. If the level is listed (as per your example of Science 2), then you gain that skill at that level so long as it is higher than your current level in the skill. Ie, any one targeted skill specialisation is allowed one increase (with immediate effect), at level 2.

This is different to skill specialisations gained through Events. Eg Agent Events Table (page 23) says "You are given advanced training in a specialist field. Roll EDU 8+ to increase any one skill you already have by one level."

Generally Skill n means set that Skill to level n. Since specialisations are essentially a different skill, then could target a different specialisation to increase upon the Rank promotion.

While there is nothing to say you could split the increase across two specialisations, you could easily allow it as a house rule, if you'd prefer. Otherwise, I'd interpret that the Rulebook means you gain one skill at that level. Skill increases are typically Skill 0, Skill 1 and sometimes Skill 2.

Also compare with other Careers where only specific specialisations are nominated for increase. Eg. Marine Ranks and Bonuses (page 33) indicates Gun Combat (any) 1 or Melee (blade) 1 as the only allowable increases for Rank 0.
 
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Some of the life events say you can do advanced training and gain a skill of your choice at level 1. Does that include Jack of all Trades?
 
Just out of curiosity... Why are some skill increases "Increase said skill by one" and others are "Increase said skill to a specific level"? A +1 to a skill is always valuable. An "increase to a set level" is worthless if you already have that skill at that level. In My games, all skills gained at character creation are a simple +1 to the relevant skill. It just makes more sense and never gives you a worthless skill bonus.
 
MasterGwydion said:
In My games, all skills gained at character creation are a simple +1 to the relevant skill. It just makes more sense and never gives you a worthless skill bonus.
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That is one way of looking at it - but don't you get Travellers turning out with very high skill levels in niche skills and zero training in other skill areas?
MasterGwydion said:
Why are some skill increases "Increase said skill by one" and others are "Increase said skill to a specific level"? A +1 to a skill is always valuable. An "increase to a set level" is worthless if you already have that skill at that level.
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Well, it makes you choose your Career, Assignment and Skill Training Tables wisely, to avoid just duping yourself with skill you already obtained. Not foolproof, but that how it work in my game.
 
Limpin Legin said:
That is one way of looking at it - but don't you get Travellers turning out with very high skill levels in niche skills and zero training in other skill areas?
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It does give some slightly higher rankings in some skills, but it also gives you something for every roll on the skill charts and for every advancement skill. Why even bother to roll if you get nothing?
Limpin Legin said:
Well, it makes you choose your Career, Assignment and Skill Training Tables wisely, to avoid just duping yourself with skill you already obtained. Not foolproof, but that how it work in my game.
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No matter how carefully you choose, there is always a chance at gaining nothing during a 4-year term. So, you have a character who is 4 years older with nothing to show for it except, possibly, aging penalties.

Edit - In fact, I don't think that I have ever rolled up a character, in the last 30 years, who didn't lose skills this way.
 
MasterGwydion said:
No matter how carefully you choose, there is always a chance at gaining nothing during a 4-year term.
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Yes - isn't that reasonable that in some years a character flatlines on learning new skills? Yes, ideally, Travellers would become a fortress of skills but in reality, is that at all realistic and fair?

Otherwise wouldn't 'success on ever die roll' be analogous to assigning all six characteristics to 12 because you didn't like the "gap" where failure is hiding on the Characteristic Checks?
 
Limpin Legin said:
Yes - isn't that reasonable that in some years a character flatlines on learning new skills? Yes, ideally, Travellers would become a fortress of skills but in reality, is that at all realistic and fair?

Otherwise wouldn't 'success on ever die roll' be analogous to assigning all six characteristics to 12 because you didn't like the "gap" where failure is hiding on the Characteristic Checks?
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Failures can still happen on survival rolls, advancement rolls, etc.. My problem is that if a character spends 4 years learning a skill, there should be some improvement no matter what. They do not flatine on learning new skills. They flatline on improving skills that they already have and have been actively using for 4 years. This is what I have a problem with.
 
Well, Traveller is a Skills and Lifepath game. You could get promoted, learn new skills and survive another four years, but none of these are a 100% given.
MasterGwydion said:
My problem is that if a character spends 4 years learning a skill
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Only if you select the pre-career options do your Traveller do training. After that they are spending 4 year 'Terms' working for a living, not training.
 
Limpin Legin said:
Well, Traveller is a Skills and Lifepath game. You could get promoted, learn new skills and survive another four years, but none of these are a 100% given.

Only if you select the pre-career options do your Traveller do training. After that they are spending 4 year 'Terms' working for a living, not training.
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Yeah, and if I spend 4 years as a welder, I am going to get better at welding. Practice is what improves skills. Training is practice. Doing it for a job is also practice.
 
MasterGwydion said:
Doing it for a job is also practice.
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Indeed, "practice makes perfect". The difference lies in that "Training" produces skill as a deliverable, within a specific timescale, whereas "Learning by Doing" doesn't make such skill-improvement guarantees.
So you might improve doing your job, but there again, there might be odd years when nothing notably improves. Plus, as you improve, it gets harder to get even better.
That is something Traveller and other skill-based games, such as Call of Cthulhu do quite well, but your house rule is bypassing - there again, while there is nothing stopping you, do be aware what the core game rules are.
 
Limpin Legin said:
Indeed, "practice makes perfect". The difference lies in that "Training" produces skill as a deliverable, within a specific timescale, whereas "Learning by Doing" doesn't make such skill-improvement guarantees.
So you might improve doing your job, but there again, there might be odd years when nothing notably improves. Plus, as you improve, it gets harder to get even better.
That is something Traveller and other skill-based games, such as Call of Cthulhu do quite well, but your house rule is bypassing - there again, while there is nothing stopping you, do be aware what the core game rules are.
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If teachers do not improve, they lose their license to teach. If employees do not improve, they do not advance. Over 4 terms, 16 years, you get 4 rolls on the Skill/Personal Development charts. Those have over 10 skill or ability point possibilities. You might get the same skill twice if you are trying for it, but 3 is highly unlikely even if you are trying for it. A single skill at level 3 is not game-breaking or even unbalancing. Everything else comes from Promotions or Events.

It does get harder to get better over time, but this is only reflected in the "training skills in play" method, not in character creation. In character creation it is the same roll with the same timeframe to go from Skill/0 to Skill/1 as from Skill/2 to Skill/3. After character creation you get to choose. During character creation, you do not.
 
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