TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
AndrewW said:
Ah, yes, but that is a setting. I’m talking about a core book, or supplement, that allows me to bring these concepts into any setting.
Traveller Wishlists for 2015
- Thread starter TrippyHippy
- Start date
Ah, yes, but that is a setting. I’m talking about a core book, or supplement, that allows me to bring these concepts into any setting.
FreeTrav
Cosmic Mongoose
Most of what's been mentioned in this thread, I'd be at worst neutral to (i.e., I'm not opposed to them). However, what I'd REALLY like to see is PRINTED VERSIONS OF THE MISSING YEAR-AND-A-HALF.
Can someone point me to a complete list of Mongoose numbers for Traveller, and which ones were print vs e-only?
Can someone point me to a complete list of Mongoose numbers for Traveller, and which ones were print vs e-only?
Prime_Evil
Emperor Mongoose
FreeTrav said:
Matt has indicated that sales for PDF versions are now much stronger than sales for the printed version. We're in an interesting time where the PDFs are now the primary versions and the dead tree editions are spin-offs.
Personally, I think its almost time for a revised and expanded version of the core rulebook.
Tom Kalbfus
Mongoose
Prime_Evil said:
The thing is, you can get the PDF immediately as soon as you make payment, while you have to wait for the printed version to arrive in the mail. Also the distributor can run out of printed books, but PDFs are as plentiful as the orders, as all they are is information. PDFs also don't take up room on your book shelf.
As for an expanded version of the core rulebook, the question is what should be expanded?
Well one thing they could do is add more starships, add more equipment, such as a grav bike for instance. How about rules for tech level 8 reaction engines (rockets) the fuel requirements for reaction engines work out to be about the same as jump fuel requirements for jump drives, the same hydrogen is used and gathered from gas giants, only in this case its reaction mass rather than jump bubble fillers. I think Maneuver drives should come late in tech level 8 to have room for societies at low tech level 8, that haven't figured out how to build reactionless drives yet!
I think for System generation, rules for non-mainworlds could be added including placement of planets, asteroid belts, gas giants, comet belts, empty orbits and so forth.
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
Prime_Evil said:
Well, I think Mongoose has clearly had a few distribution issues in the last year or so, but the release of D&D5 may give the industry as a whole a bit of a boost (reports seem to be positive at least) and we have seen a shift in the business models of a number of RPG companies in recent years too. The impact of Kickstarter is clear, as well as the pdf/pod availability.
I entirely agree that a new expanded, revised edition would make a lot of sense as it stands - and in doing this gives the game the opportunity to build on it’s successes from the last 6-7 years or so. The distractions with T5 are largely over, it has to be said. It would also allow a real review on the rules of the game, and format.
I would be interested in producing a series of high quality, well laid out Little Black Books, for example - maybe in hardback this time? So they look a bit like the current FATE books, by comparison. The rules expansions would be based upon the developments found in the Book series (d66 tables, Education tables, starship design, etc) and maybe a quick tidy up in areas like character generation (just to explain the step-by-step process a bit better), pruning the skill lists and the combat system (it was a bit rushed in the original play testing). The interior layout and art direction could be fully reviewed to ensure the look and feel of the game is what all fans, including grognards, want.
The use of a Kickstarter campaign, if carefully marketed, could allow fans to get a really nice high quality core book (full colour interior, anyone?) - while the efforts in redesigning could then be mass-marketed through drivethrurpg’s POD facility, Amazon’s epub books, as well as normal distribution to specialist gameshops as hardcopy. Add-ons/stretch goals could include pdf copies of books, supplements, adventures, campaigns and settings as well as things like miniatures and apps, new settings, etc. It would take some doing to get it right, but it could be a real opportunity in my eyes towards pushing the Traveller experience forward for the next decade or so.
lastbesthope
Mongoose
Any printed release of new material, been more than a year!!!
LBH
LBH
Annatar Giftbringer
Emperor Mongoose
I've got one more wish: apocalypse war campaign/source book for Dredd 
alex_greene
Guest
How about a "design your own Mega-Epic" sourcebook for Dredd? Possibly also a Cursed Earth /Dreddworld sourcebook.Annatar Giftbringer said:I've got one more wish: apocalypse war campaign/source book for Dredd
With a freakish big map.
Nathan Brazil
Banded Mongoose
New Alien Modules
Droyne
Hivers
K'kree (I want My Little Ponies of Death)
New Sectors!
Spica Sector (please oh please oh please)
New Settings
Fantasy (using Traveller Rule System)
Steampunk Setting (Ditto), but most importantly...
Perry Rhodan 8) (What? An American who knows of Perry Rhodan?!? What madness is this?)
Droyne
Hivers
K'kree (I want My Little Ponies of Death)
New Sectors!
Spica Sector (please oh please oh please)
New Settings
Fantasy (using Traveller Rule System)
Steampunk Setting (Ditto), but most importantly...
Perry Rhodan 8) (What? An American who knows of Perry Rhodan?!? What madness is this?)
1) Alien Book Droyne
2) Book about the Third Imperium, not just a sector (The first chapters of Spinward marches were awesome, expand that to a 192 page book or something with maps and pictures of various places
3) Book about Fift Frontier War
These are enough, more will not be able to be written in 2015
Thanks again for giving us Traveller.
2) Book about the Third Imperium, not just a sector (The first chapters of Spinward marches were awesome, expand that to a 192 page book or something with maps and pictures of various places
3) Book about Fift Frontier War
These are enough, more will not be able to be written in 2015
Thanks again for giving us Traveller.
My wishlist:
1) Higher production values for all future releases - some of the previous releases were awful in terms of layout, typo's, missed tables, etc. Some of the re-released supplements (like Sector Fleet) had entire sections talking about lanthanum grids and classic Traveller technology that had been changed with MGT. The recent Space Stations makes mention of a defense 'net' that simply does not fit into the tech available in Traveller. Football-sized drones equipped with laser AND a gravitic drive and (for a 'net', they are kind of useless) can only engage targets coming in on a 45 degree angle. This makes no sense taken as a whole. It's a great idea, but poorly implemented. This happens all too often with releases.
2) Standardized (and higher quality) deck plans - These are all over the board in terms of quality of the graphics. Some would have been better served had they been submitted via pencil and graph paper. When you buy a commercial work you expect higher quality than what you can do at home. There are some wonderful Traveller artists out there (some of whom are on the board) who do friggin great work (interior and exterior). For a measly few dollars extra I am happy to pay for better work - if that is what it takes to get better art. Artwork is a HUGE aspect of most RPG's, and I do understand there is a cost for it. I'd also like to toss out the idea that let's make deckplans actually somewhat logical. Across most of the books there are some completely unimaginative layouts for the ships. Got a big space and don't want to deal with corridors, rec rooms, i.e. the things you expect to see? Just throw some crap at the wall and run with it! Building a space station? Yeah, lets make it look totally goofy and unrealistic and print it on a few pages.
3) A completed starship building book - Actually this is probably better off as a pdf. Why? Because as much as I enjoy collecting dead trees, this constantly changes. A pdf would allow for errata to be correct directly into the document. It would allow for updates to the tech as new items are introduced. Right now some starship tech is spread over a dozen or more books, making it a pain to have multiple files open to put together what you are wanting to build. Sure I can copy stuff out and into my own file or make crib notes, but if I have to do all that why am I bothering to buy someone else's book? People who register their pdf could get say quarterly or bi-annual updates as the new tech gets added to the game system. This way it becomes a living document with little to no extra costs to the publisher but keeps the gamer with their foot in the door for the system.
4) More books that flesh out the Traveller universe - Source books are good, adventures are good, too. But so are supplements like what DGP put out, things like Starship Operators Manual. There are plenty of areas where reference materials are totally lacking and could really benefit from having attention paid to them.
5) More original materials - Let's stop republishing the same material that was done 20-30 years ago. I don't need a 3rd of 4th copy of the same thing. I'd rather see some actual NEW material be put out there. Space Stations, even buggy, was a nice NEW addition. GURPS introduced some new ideas (a new size of missile between standard and torpedo). The starship area is just one place that is wide open as far as re-working the canon material and expand upon the system while not breaking it. There are some great smaller publishers out there who are producing really excellent source materials with high-levels of quality, thought process and just plain ol fun gaming. If MGT can do this in-house then maybe they can reach a deal with the smaller guys so the players, the smaller guys and MGT all win.
1) Higher production values for all future releases - some of the previous releases were awful in terms of layout, typo's, missed tables, etc. Some of the re-released supplements (like Sector Fleet) had entire sections talking about lanthanum grids and classic Traveller technology that had been changed with MGT. The recent Space Stations makes mention of a defense 'net' that simply does not fit into the tech available in Traveller. Football-sized drones equipped with laser AND a gravitic drive and (for a 'net', they are kind of useless) can only engage targets coming in on a 45 degree angle. This makes no sense taken as a whole. It's a great idea, but poorly implemented. This happens all too often with releases.
2) Standardized (and higher quality) deck plans - These are all over the board in terms of quality of the graphics. Some would have been better served had they been submitted via pencil and graph paper. When you buy a commercial work you expect higher quality than what you can do at home. There are some wonderful Traveller artists out there (some of whom are on the board) who do friggin great work (interior and exterior). For a measly few dollars extra I am happy to pay for better work - if that is what it takes to get better art. Artwork is a HUGE aspect of most RPG's, and I do understand there is a cost for it. I'd also like to toss out the idea that let's make deckplans actually somewhat logical. Across most of the books there are some completely unimaginative layouts for the ships. Got a big space and don't want to deal with corridors, rec rooms, i.e. the things you expect to see? Just throw some crap at the wall and run with it! Building a space station? Yeah, lets make it look totally goofy and unrealistic and print it on a few pages.
3) A completed starship building book - Actually this is probably better off as a pdf. Why? Because as much as I enjoy collecting dead trees, this constantly changes. A pdf would allow for errata to be correct directly into the document. It would allow for updates to the tech as new items are introduced. Right now some starship tech is spread over a dozen or more books, making it a pain to have multiple files open to put together what you are wanting to build. Sure I can copy stuff out and into my own file or make crib notes, but if I have to do all that why am I bothering to buy someone else's book? People who register their pdf could get say quarterly or bi-annual updates as the new tech gets added to the game system. This way it becomes a living document with little to no extra costs to the publisher but keeps the gamer with their foot in the door for the system.
4) More books that flesh out the Traveller universe - Source books are good, adventures are good, too. But so are supplements like what DGP put out, things like Starship Operators Manual. There are plenty of areas where reference materials are totally lacking and could really benefit from having attention paid to them.
5) More original materials - Let's stop republishing the same material that was done 20-30 years ago. I don't need a 3rd of 4th copy of the same thing. I'd rather see some actual NEW material be put out there. Space Stations, even buggy, was a nice NEW addition. GURPS introduced some new ideas (a new size of missile between standard and torpedo). The starship area is just one place that is wide open as far as re-working the canon material and expand upon the system while not breaking it. There are some great smaller publishers out there who are producing really excellent source materials with high-levels of quality, thought process and just plain ol fun gaming. If MGT can do this in-house then maybe they can reach a deal with the smaller guys so the players, the smaller guys and MGT all win.
Annatar Giftbringer
Emperor Mongoose
alex_greene said:How about a "design your own Mega-Epic" sourcebook for Dredd? Possibly also a Cursed Earth /Dreddworld sourcebook.Annatar Giftbringer said:I've got one more wish: apocalypse war campaign/source book for Dredd
With a freakish big map.
I'd buy that for a dollar!!
Seriously, sounds like a great idea! Although the cursed earth book already exists
alex_greene
Guest
That last part is cool. I'm always interested in Dredd's world.Annatar Giftbringer said:I'd buy that for a dollar!!
Seriously, sounds like a great idea! Although the cursed earth book already exists
And for what it's worth ... I am currently busy trying to make one dream come true. Actually, it's a dream that I'm not sure has actually been expressed yet on this board, come to think of it.
But I am working on something.
alex_greene
Guest
JRoss ... do you remember those Verim of yours? I do ...JRoss said:
Captain Nebula
Mongoose
Traveller: Detached Duty
- for those with a surplus scout ship.
Traveller: Regina subsector campaign
- a long wanted book
Galactic Traveller
- Jump-36
- for those with a surplus scout ship.
Traveller: Regina subsector campaign
- a long wanted book
Galactic Traveller
- Jump-36
I'd love to have some input on that, if possible. I've been expanding the skills summaries list from The Traveller Book (pg.115). atpollard on the CotI board has expanded the Teleportation talent (a work in progress).alex_greene said:
Jeff Hopper
Mongoose
I'd just like to vote a resounding no to any Transhumanist sourcebook for the Traveller game.
A
Anonymous
Guest
OK, I'm gonna post large tho I don't think what I'm asking for is on Mongoose's mind:
An amalgamation of the starship, small craft and vehicle designs procedure to incorporate a unified scale of armour and weapons from the ground up so it's not just a band aid on the old. This would replace parts of High Guard and Supplements 5/6 with something along the lines of Fire Fusion and Steel. Supplement 5/6 would become a simple listing of vehicles and High Guard would be all about Space Navies, careers, organisation, patrons, procedures, civilian interactions with etc.
Rewrite the Central Supply Catalogue in keeping with the above and iron out the inconsistencies. Present the work in a contemporary style and incorporate more advanced PDF features. If the PDF versions are the lion's share of your sales it's time to put more effort into them. If people want dead tree versions make them available thru print on demand. Really, there's no excuse for any of the books not being presented well with good artwork. Yes I know it costs more money but I'll pay more for your products if they give me a greater sense of immersion and if I can use them well.
A NON 3rd Imperium Sci-Fi setting. We have 2300 which is good but I would stop short of a Culture like setting as the tech would appear to be too high, there's just too much hand waving in the Culture books for my liking. I'm thinking TL13-15 being the max. To be honest I think this may be best served by 3rd party settings in Foreven so maybe this is moot and I should look into those.
An amalgamation of the starship, small craft and vehicle designs procedure to incorporate a unified scale of armour and weapons from the ground up so it's not just a band aid on the old. This would replace parts of High Guard and Supplements 5/6 with something along the lines of Fire Fusion and Steel. Supplement 5/6 would become a simple listing of vehicles and High Guard would be all about Space Navies, careers, organisation, patrons, procedures, civilian interactions with etc.
Rewrite the Central Supply Catalogue in keeping with the above and iron out the inconsistencies. Present the work in a contemporary style and incorporate more advanced PDF features. If the PDF versions are the lion's share of your sales it's time to put more effort into them. If people want dead tree versions make them available thru print on demand. Really, there's no excuse for any of the books not being presented well with good artwork. Yes I know it costs more money but I'll pay more for your products if they give me a greater sense of immersion and if I can use them well.
A NON 3rd Imperium Sci-Fi setting. We have 2300 which is good but I would stop short of a Culture like setting as the tech would appear to be too high, there's just too much hand waving in the Culture books for my liking. I'm thinking TL13-15 being the max. To be honest I think this may be best served by 3rd party settings in Foreven so maybe this is moot and I should look into those.
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
hiro said:
Foreven *is* the 3rd Imperium setting, though.
There are two (commercial) license modes available: In the 3rd Imperium setting but limited to Foreven (the "Foreven License"), or a completely non-3rd Imperium setting (an "ATU"). The latter means, like 2300AD or Judge Dredd, not at all related.
There are several examples available for both Foreven and ATUs.
Jeff Hopper said:
To the extent that Traveller's principals prefer to avoid religious issues and some transhumanists certainly fall into that end of the pool, I might agree. From a mechanical POV, in a non-Imperium (ie. black cover) book, I completely disagree. That said, properly comprehensive and/or vague robot building rules, a few tweaks to the many computer rules attempts, and a couple paragraphs on brain copies/backups/etc is all Traveller needs mechanically. 90% of the requirements are already in place. It's the setting advice that gets sticky.
*Post-Humanist* is another can of worms entirely. Aside from being a trend in quirky and "edgy" RPGs the last year or three, the term means too much and too little. The same applies to people who fling around the term "Singularity" like they know what it means. These terms *also* frequently swim in the religion pool, but most of the takes I've seen on them are either unplayable, do not live up to the label they claim, or both. :roll:
