which book to reconcile me with MGT?

[zanwot]

Ok, I've got the corerulebook (big and small), spinward marches, mercenary, 760 patrons, beltstrike, prison planet, various pdf stuff (from spica and such), the Traveller classic CD, various GURPS Traveller stuff (swordworlds, freetrader). Maybe more.

And I am basically getting bored with Traveller, much to my disapointment. I am an old time Traveller, but here is the list of things I am sick of since my coming back to Traveller with MGT (most of which is probably inherent to Traveller whatever the edition, it is just that I don't have the same standards as before):
* too 70's future, very little modern SF (cyberpunk, transhumanism, etc)
* poor level of illustrations and overall editing (compared to other RPGs I own)
* Too military, too stat orientated
* Too much letting the GM do all the job (UWP...).

Prison planet was a nice progress in my view, but too thematic.

Part of the reason I must admit is that I have little opprtunity to play RPGs, and Traveller probably needs to be played. The thing is when an opportunity comes up I have other games more inspiring.

Now, what with Eclipse Phase coming out, I am going to make an order for some RPG books, and I am in the kind of mood to give MGTraveller (specifically the 3rd Imperium setting, I will not bother with the other settings) one last chance and get one last book with the same order.

And I don't know which book would be the best one to get me reconciled with MGT, if I get only one: Tripwire, Agent, Aslan/TrojanReaches or maybe even central supply catalog ?
Advice welcome, including maybe from MGT people if they feel a book to be released later could get me into it. I am looking for a non pdf and non home made solution. I hope someone can help me light up the Traveller spirit again :wink:

 

[dreamingbadger]

depends ... feels like you need a change, try Judge Dredd?

 

[zanwot]

depends ... feels like you need a change, try Judge Dredd?

I specifically am attached to the 3rd imperium, and that is probably what keeps me attached to Traveller. For me Traveller = 3rd Imperium. If it is not 3rd Imperium I don't need Traveller, I have other great stuff.
I am definitly not interested in alternate settings (even B5, even though I've watched, and liked, the show - thanks to those who advised me about it on this board actually I think).

 

[EDG]

And I am basically getting bored with Traveller, much to my disapointment. I am an old time Traveller, but here is the list of things I am sick of since my coming back to Traveller with MGT (most of which is probably inherent to Traveller whatever the edition, it is just that I don't have the same standards as before):
* too 70's future, very little modern SF (cyberpunk, transhumanism, etc)
* poor level of illustrations and overall editing (compared to other RPGs I own)
* Too military, too stat orientated
* Too much letting the GM do all the job (UWP...).

So give up on it . Seriously, there's nothing worse than trying to force yourself to like something that you've got bored with or got tired of.

Go try something else that you'll actually enjoy, and come back if (and only if) you get the bug to get back into Traveller again. Trust me, it's much better than way.

But really, you have no obligation to stick to any RPG just because you've always stuck with it.

 

[Klaus Kipling]

The CSC dramatically adds a whole load of tech, including a comprehensive range of implants and augments. While still 'conservative', it is quite an update from 70's style stuff. It is just tech, however.

Agent and Scoundrel add an awful lot to the game, including expanded rules and guidelines for running investigative/espionagey things, which most games incorporate somewhere, and some tech and starships, along with the new careers. Both have OTU specific info too.

The art in these books is all of a high quality (the intriguingly named German Ponce has a very developed style that perhaps shows some inspiration from Mobius, and all the other artists are also quite competent).

Tripwire is a solid adventure, but it will require some work by the ref, as some elements are more in sketch form than others. The art is not as good; there is alot of stuff that seems to mainly use Photoshop filters (however, I've seen excellent stuff by who i think is the same artist in Conan, so it maybe be the artist is more comfortable with fantasy than sci-fi... Who knows really ).

CB2 from Spica is on its way, and that is fully illustrated.

I downloaded Eclipse Phase RPG from drivethru, as they gave me a massive discount (was less than £10). It is quite impressive. 400 pages, full colour. The art, though infrequent, is high quality painted, although the book itself is somewhat overdesigned, with too many flourished and colourful backgrounds, and the font is not the most legible I've seen in a book. I've only skimmed it. The background is very intriguing, but it does look rather complex to play.

Hope that's useful.

 

[MrUkpyr]

-- much snippage --
And I don't know which book would be the best one to get me reconciled with MGT, if I get only one: Tripwire, Agent, Aslan/TrojanReaches or maybe even central supply catalog ?

Advice welcome, including maybe from MGT people if they feel a book to be released later could get me into it. I am looking for a non pdf and non home made solution. I hope someone can help me light up the Traveller spirit again :wink:

I started back in the days of the 3 LBBs, and I have to say that Tripwire - quite simply - is one of the best Traveller adventure that I have ever seen.

It has Action. It has Intrigue. It can have Ship Combat. It has a really really cool puzzle to solve! And it has interesting Ancient stuff.

If you only buy one more thing - this is it!

 

[IanBruntlett]

And I am basically getting bored with Traveller, much to my disapointment.

Have you considered buying a non-gaming book for a bit of variety? I've got a copy of "The Writer's Idea Book" by Jack Heffron (published by Writer's Digest Books) that I'm struggling to find time to read.

 

[dreamingbadger]

depends ... feels like you need a change, try Judge Dredd?

I specifically am attached to the 3rd imperium, and that is probably what keeps me attached to Traveller. For me Traveller = 3rd Imperium. If it is not 3rd Imperium I don't need Traveller, I have other great stuff.
I am definitly not interested in alternate settings (even B5, even though I've watched, and liked, the show - thanks to those who advised me about it on this board actually I think).

So the question remains, what is unsatisfying about Traveller, that is not meant to be a negative question, purely a route cause thing.

 

[djd]

Both Scoundrel and agent are fun if you want to get away from the military side of things CSC has some good tech if you want to go a bit more cyberpunk or transhuman?

 

[rust]

And I am basically getting bored with Traveller, much to my disapointment.

The same happened to me a couple of weeks ago. And not only Traveller,
all science fiction roleplaying.

After a short pause to consider my options I have now started "something
else", a swashbuckling setting in the 17th century of an alternate earth,
with BRP as the system.

In my view EDG gave a very good advice: If something gets boring, stop
it - and there is a good chance that you will return to it one day, and love
it again.

However, if you continue with something although you do not really enjoy
it, there is a probability that you will get fed up enough to give it up for good.

 

[apoc527]

This happens to us all the time. That's why we instituted The Rotation. The idea was born of necessity during my time in law school. We simply played a new game every semester, with finals period being the natural break point. Now, the thing about The Rotation is that it is NOT a bunch of 4 month long games. No no, instead we played about 2-3 separate campaigns, each of which was run for MANY such rotations.

For example, the longest running game I have ever done was my Alternity: Star*Drive campaign that started in June 2004 and lasted until earlier this year. Of course, we didn't play it continuously for 5 years, but I calculated that we probably did play for the equivalent of 2.5 years straight, broken up into 4-5 month rotations.

If you switch GMs and play different genres (I did the sci-fi, my friend did D&D), it works wonders for burn out, both for the GM/Referee and for the group as a whole.

I should mention that my group has been gaming together since middle school, with a break for college (when everyone went to different schools), but now we're all late 20's, some with wives and kids, and we still manage weekly Monday night game night. Even though I've been out of law school for 2 years now, The Rotation persists.

 

[zanwot]

Actually "bored" was probably not the best word, sorry, as I don't play it (so taking a break seems difficult). It's like I bought the books and am disapointed by the possibilities. It is probably due to my attachment to the 3rd imperium. So I lack the motivation to really get a game going, unlike my other RPGs, so I am realising I don't want to continue collecting the books for nothing.

In any case Tripwire may indeed be what I need, an adventure I can relate to to get me inspired. After that, if that does not inspore me, I suppose I should leave it at it. Thanks for your answers.

 

[Paladin]

I have a totally non-standard response. Rather than reading/consuming material. Why not take a stab at writing material? Try your hand at a few adventures. Maybe a blog on the game. Maybe a "choose your own adventure" style adventure book for solo-players. Think of the blessing that would be to players/readers in your exact same situation.

 

[FreeTrav]

I have a totally non-standard response. Rather than reading/consuming material. Why not take a stab at writing material? Try your hand at a few adventures. Maybe a blog on the game. Maybe a "choose your own adventure" style adventure book for solo-players. Think of the blessing that would be to players/readers in your exact same situation.

[mode=self-plug]
And there's even places that will happily make it available to share - like Freelance Traveller!
[/mode]

 

[Dave Chase]

I find that if I stop reading the game material and go
watch old movies or new movies
read books, going to the library and see whats new and maybe pick up an old favorite

Go to a forum of interest ( a hobby interest, a work related interest, or even something else of interest) and do some reading and posting there about that interest

These things will help refresh and give you a 'break' from the material that you find boring or non-exciting.

Sometimes the flame of imagination needs a bit of new fuel or a new breeze to keep it going.

Or even better yet, go do something that you have always wanted to but havent done yet. Put some endorines back into your system :lol:

Dave Chase

 

[MongooseMatt]

I would recommend either Tripwire or Aslan.

As for future books, Secrets of the Ancients next year will be the 'biggie' campaign. And, of course, we will be announcing Living Traveller soon (oops, just announced it!).

 

[IanBruntlett]

As for future books, Secrets of the Ancients next year will be the 'biggie' campaign.

Wow! Am so looking forward to that!

 

[EDG]

I would recommend either Tripwire or Aslan.

As for future books, Secrets of the Ancients next year will be the 'biggie' campaign.

I really hope you toss out everything that's already been done on the subject and start with something original...

 

[Paladin]

I would recommend either Tripwire or Aslan.

As for future books, Secrets of the Ancients next year will be the 'biggie' campaign. And, of course, we will be announcing Living Traveller soon (oops, just announced it!).

As in a LARPs Traveller? :?

 

[dreamingbadger]

i think more the D&D style of living greyhawk ...?