Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
Yeah. House rule.
I know, but the current aging is dumb when you look at the availability of various remedies. So do what works... or sort of works.
Why is Aging worse in Traveller than in 2300 AD?
- Thread starter Terry Mixon
- Start date
Geir
Emperor Mongoose
I'm sure I've already more than once mentioned my hack for againg, giving DMs based on the standard numerical DM ranges for SOC and TL. TL15 Duke, DM+6, TL0 slave, DM-6. Still has an effective DM-1 for every term (really potentially starting with Term 0, except you can't flub that without negative DMs).
The main problem with my hack is that if the ageing rate actually slows, you shouldn't be doing it every four years, regardless of DMs or start age, you either have to move to less frequent checks, or mess with the term DM as well (unless the effect of high tech health care keeps you healthy to a certain point, but doesn't actually increase lifespan, so when first roll starts at a later date (Sigtrygg's suggestion) then you start to fall off a cliff.
In a society where people have lifespans well over 100, then the rate of checks is going to have to slow down (or get even more +DMs), but that makes the whole thing more complex and eventually decouples it from terms.
The main problem with my hack is that if the ageing rate actually slows, you shouldn't be doing it every four years, regardless of DMs or start age, you either have to move to less frequent checks, or mess with the term DM as well (unless the effect of high tech health care keeps you healthy to a certain point, but doesn't actually increase lifespan, so when first roll starts at a later date (Sigtrygg's suggestion) then you start to fall off a cliff.
In a society where people have lifespans well over 100, then the rate of checks is going to have to slow down (or get even more +DMs), but that makes the whole thing more complex and eventually decouples it from terms.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
The problem with altering current default human aging process, is that it disrupts Traveller character generation paradigms.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Only if you have players that build characters for power instead of story, or use random character creation rules. If you don't have power-gamers, then it isn't an issue, plus, you can always set a Term Limit at your table. I know a lot of Referees who set a Term Limit of 4 Terms just because that is the power level they are most comfortable running.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
That wouldn't make sense, in universe.
I would guess that Vilani bureaucrats would be quite comfortably ensconced in their career, for decades.
I would guess that Vilani bureaucrats would be quite comfortably ensconced in their career, for decades.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
NPCs have always been able to have any skills the Referee wants anyhow, so go ahead and let them have 10+ Terms. They are NPCs. The PCs will overcome them with teamwork. (or they won't.) lol
At its heart it's just because they are different science fiction universes with different technological assumptions.
Anything developed after RIGHT NOW diverges. Base humans probably don't change, but how medicine advances does. 2300AD has delayed aging rolls but does not have anargathics or rejuvenating nanobots (at least it didn't use to).
And maybe it's something in the settings?
Maybe life in space in Traveller is rougher than it is in 2300AD?
Maybe Jump Space is harder on people than Stutterwarping is? Or gravitics cause cancer?
Maybe 2300AD characters take better care of their bodies than most Traveller ones do? (It really, really would not surprise me...)
Maybe Quantum.
Anything developed after RIGHT NOW diverges. Base humans probably don't change, but how medicine advances does. 2300AD has delayed aging rolls but does not have anargathics or rejuvenating nanobots (at least it didn't use to).
And maybe it's something in the settings?
Maybe life in space in Traveller is rougher than it is in 2300AD?
Maybe Jump Space is harder on people than Stutterwarping is? Or gravitics cause cancer?
Maybe 2300AD characters take better care of their bodies than most Traveller ones do? (It really, really would not surprise me...)
Maybe Quantum.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
You have to make environmental and health care assumptions, assuming genes aren't tweaked for longevity.
At one end you will have the rich in optimal environmental conditions, and the best health care money can buy.
Maybe stem cell regeneration, and blood transfusions from younger humans, possibly grand kids.
Going downhill from there, pollution, alien environments, health insurance caveats.
Finally, the proletariat and slums.
At one end you will have the rich in optimal environmental conditions, and the best health care money can buy.
Maybe stem cell regeneration, and blood transfusions from younger humans, possibly grand kids.
Going downhill from there, pollution, alien environments, health insurance caveats.
Finally, the proletariat and slums.
Terry Mixon
Emperor Mongoose
It was suggested that SOC be used as a modifier and I can buy into that logic.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
In theory, more expensive health insurance can buy into a higher level of care.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
I think Geir said to treat TL as an attribute to get the appropriate modifier, then add that modifier + the modifier for SOC, then add it all to your Aging rolls.
Terry Mixon
Emperor Mongoose
It's a good idea.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
It is. I feel kind of stupid for not thinking of it myself. It is a very simple and elegant way to do it.
Yeah, I don't mind that idea at all.
Regardless of my previous post, which was only saying the two games really are apples and oranges as far as any advances are concerned, I don't mind varying Traveller aging rolls based on TL and SOC.
Might make SOC less of a dump stat, eh?
Regardless of my previous post, which was only saying the two games really are apples and oranges as far as any advances are concerned, I don't mind varying Traveller aging rolls based on TL and SOC.
Might make SOC less of a dump stat, eh?
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
You have to pay to maintain that.
MonsterX
Emperor Mongoose
I think STR is even more of dump stat. Try getting a table at a fancy restaurant using STR. You might find a way to make it work, but the police will likely arrive before your food does.Might make SOC less of a dump stat, eh?
It's more relevant to Melee combat than SOC though.
And you can use your STR DM instead of your DEX on the to hit roll. From a bang for buck point of view, STR still does okay when hitting things, though it's not as dramatic as in Classic. A strong dude can match a fast one and does a bit more damage, so that's nice.
There's also Bulky weapons. STR 5 guys probably don't want to use shotguns. But STR 9 ones do love their broadswords.
And you can use your STR DM instead of your DEX on the to hit roll. From a bang for buck point of view, STR still does okay when hitting things, though it's not as dramatic as in Classic. A strong dude can match a fast one and does a bit more damage, so that's nice.
There's also Bulky weapons. STR 5 guys probably don't want to use shotguns. But STR 9 ones do love their broadswords.
Bryn the 2300AD guy
Cosmic Mongoose
This is inconsitent with primary canon.
Life expectancy in 2300 is typically around 90, and only a small portion of the population actually works, with retirement normal at 50. With extreme automation etc., there simply isn't a need to work that much, and so the norm is a very prolonged period of free education (typically to ca. 28), and then 22 years working until retirement at 50. GDW 2k3 had a far more Keynesian Democratic Socialist bent vs Colin's much more Cyberpunk inspired Chicago-school free-market Capitalist societies.
