This is the place for everyone to come and discuss what we want from this game.  As yet, it is the only topic I've had time to put up.  (More tonight when I get home from W.O.R.K.)

Meanwhile, drop in, join the discussion, etc.

This post will be a timeline of how development is going.  I've added some resources in the Game Links that may help those without any books.  I've also begun cataloging how I want to do character creation for those who prefer rolling dice.

It is presently Friday, 06 Sep 2019, at 1924 local (Central) time, and I have some things to do that tear me away from the keyboard for a while.  I will be back tonight.

Meanwhile, you folks get started on some characters, please.  You can have two characters if you wish.

If you have questions, be sure to ask!

Saturday Morning, 07 Sep 2019:  Uploaded and linked to Traveller Plus Large Print Edition.  I created this document and its Errata back in 2015 for a friend of mine who is visually impaired.  It is a loving tribute to Ed Messina's original, and is distributed with his kind permission.  There is an accompanying Errata, also available from the Game Links.

Character sheets in Excel 2007 and LibreOffice formats are also available in the Game Links.  I do not recommend trying to edit these from Google Drive (where they are stored) -- please download and work locally from a copy.  Anyone who has trouble with these sheets should please let me know, as I am their author.  (The LibreOffice format sheet was created with, um, version 4.5 for Linux, IIRC?)

This post may get its own topic if it starts to get too long.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:11, Sat 07 Sept 2019.

Harry McStubbin

894B76 Bad endurance. Any ideas as to careers so we can make a well rounded party?

Where we starting in the Marches? Regina? I have everything CT pretty much in pdf. Sold all of my original hard copies years ago sadly.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Sat 07 Sept 2019.

I was kinda hoping players would discuss that together and come up with something they wanted to play.  If not, I have a couple of scenarios in mind, but don't want to say anything that might influence that discussion yet.  Maybe I should start a topic for "scenes we'd like to see"?  Yeah.

From what I see in the dice roller log, you're using Classic chargen.  Have you started a character sheet yet?

If your character hasn't aged past a fourth term of service, that B should probably be a C.  (Don't short yerself, mon!)

In answer to your other question:  So far, the game will start "somewhere in the Spinward Marches sector".  That's it for now, pending discussion.  IF discussion does not ensue in the next few days, I may, at that point, take a decision as to where everyone is starting from.

Just a note:  Harry's likely to need a filter mask if we start anywhere with a tainted atmosphere.

Not really, now I have a thread I'll make Harry in there. If we can have two, maybe I'll use Traveller Plus for it.

If you decide to run a second character, let me know so I can make another topic for you.

Folks, I have to run do some more stuff today - I'm trying to help my son get a sofa for his living room.

I'm not likely to be back until late this evening.  Regrets.

I hate to issue directives like this, but do not use a character generation program without first discussing it with me, please.

A request:  when you make dice rolls in the RPoL dice roller, please tag them with a reason for the roll.  I anticipate the dice roller is gonna get crowded with rolls for the various terms of service for those using the Classic character creation rules, and this will help me keep things straight.

79B968

Great End, good Int & Dex. Not too academically inclined, though: probably spent too much school-time training for and winning cross-country competitions.

I generally aim for a maximum of 3 terms (barring rolling 12 to reenlist).

1. Army would be the easy option. Likely to end up with some weapon skills but a lack of shipboard skills. Highest chance of being kicked out early.
   
2. With her Endurance, Scout is an option. Still risky with a 5+ survival roll; there's a 1 in 6 chance of her ending up with the automatic Pilot-1 only :) With her Edu, she'd not going to be raising her Pilot skill either.
   
3. Merchant, she'd be lucky to get past 4th Officer. Only service to offer Steward as a skill, though.
   
4. Navy or Marines, she'd probably not get a commission. And she really needs a Str of 8 to wield a cutlass properly :)
   
5. Other is a bit like an inferior version of Army for her.

I generally like Army, since I like lots of skills, but Scout is intriguing, as is Merchant. Not so keen on the others. A lot depends on whether we're likely to end up crewing our own ship.

In reply to Karia Starwind (msg # 9):

Looks like you are off and running... keep going.

Folks, I had previously posted something in 1114 - Promotions about enlisted promotions.  That was a dim memory of my ancient military past.  Sorry, the standard rules only make provision for promotions after one achieves a commission.  Didn't mean to house-rule things there.  The offending text has been edited to be more in line with Book 1.

I've been rippin' and runnin' this weekend trying to get the gear up on this thingy, so it's not surprising to me that I have made some mistakes.

Theodore Balakov. I'll use the second set of scores I made earlier.

8BB84C

One roll was wasted on Gen, I'll use it as an enlistment roll.

In reply to Karia Starwind (msg # 9):

I generally go 5 terms, older, but not ancient, but well rounded.

With the addition of a sixth player, I have turned off the accepting players flag.  This ought to be enough people that I'm challenged but not overwhelmed.  Y'all get after it!  Create some characters.

Please don't forget to include a reason for each roll - it makes things easier to sort out.

Thanks to all for playing!

I'm going to try for the Scouts.

Go for it.  Here's wishing you the best.

Private Language Groups:

I have private groups set up for the following languages:

Solomani
Aslani
Zhodani
Vargr
English
Chinese
Japanese
Russian
Spanish
Tagalog
French
Vilani

These languages are the ones most likely to occur in this game.  If anyone would like a particular language included, we still have plenty of private language groups (but I will be adding some for ship's communication channels later on...)

I don't want to set the cat amongst the pigeons, but in terms of what we want/expect from the game, I'd be more comfortable with a Mature rating.

That doesn't exclude anyone, and doesn't open the door to smut and gore, but it cuts us a bit of slack with the occasional faux pas.

For example, the Referee just pulled me up about abbreviating assault rifle... That's a bit eggshelly for me, I'll be a nervous wreck before we're finished. ;)

I can go with it, if that's where everyone wants to be, but I'd prefer not to need to go over my posts with a magnifier, in case I make a typo when my character shouts "Duck!"

How do the rest of you feel about the game rating?

Just to throw my 2d6 here:  If the group wants to take this to Mature, I'm okay with it so long as NO ONE leaves the game over it.  I know there are some here who are opposed to an Adult rating, but I'm willing to entertain discussion about going Mature.

No problem with Mature. Or lack of Mature.

Karia survived the Scouts; highest skill is Navigation-2.

Mature is fine with me, I screw up on the keyboard sometimes and get carried away. I don't like adult, just an excuse to get smutty.

Cool!  Glad she survived.

Thanks for weighing in on the Mature poll.

Thank you, Theodore.  Let's see how everyone else wants to go.

Mature is fine. Gives us options with few restrictions. I am descriptive with my posts, but don't do gore for gore's sake. And swearing is usually extremely limited or described as "<c haracter> swore loudly, causing the nearby nuns and children to go pale with shock..."

I post the way I talk, a 's' and an occasional 'f' word. Or 'p' word.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Mon 09 Sept 2019.

I am also fine with mature. I'm a horror fan, so a little gore isn't going to bother me as long as the story justifies it. Don't want adult though. I agree with Theodore on that one.

Looks like we are missing player 2...

894C76

4 term IN Lt. Resigned

Vacc Suit 1
Gunnery 3
Ship's Boat 1

Theodore, or Teddy, is next.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Tue 10 Sept 2019.

In reply to The Referee (msg # 28):

That's the way it is sometimes.

Tried to get a free trader, didn't work out that way. Harry was Navy so he has some skills at gunnery and ship's boat, but that's it. He was unsuccessful at gaining promotion so lost out on a lot of skills. Theodore is a JoaT 2 and a Medic 2 with some mechanical and electronic skills.

5 terms. Imperial Merchant Marine, retired 2nd officer

8BB84C

Medic 2
Jack of all Trades 2
Electronics 1
Mechanical 1
Steward 1
Streetwise 1

In reply to Harry McStubbin (msg # 30):

Player 2 seems to be looking in, generating, perhaps, just hasn't posted yet.

Looks that way. I hope they post and play. Looking forward to it.

I'm here. Levi Stensgaard, typical egg head good intelligence & education, not so good social scores. Physical (other than Dex) are distinctly average.

Looking at careers - want him to be an explorer or planetologist, so scouts perhaps but am strangely drawn to the navy... Ah well, will sleep on it and see what page I open the book on tomorrow morning...

Karia Starwind, former Scout   79CB78   Age 30   3 terms        Cr20,000
  Pilot-1, Navigation-2, Mechanic-1, ATV-1                      Dagger

Okay... I'm adding a seventh player, one who saw the GPIA thread but was away before he could answer and RTJ.  Welcome helvorn as player 7, everyone.

Welcome to EVERYONE! ;-) Nice to see you Helvorn, I think we're in a few games together.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

Glad to be here!  Sorry for coming in late.

Generally where are we setting the game?  I'm thinking of maybe a Marine to give us some firepower if that makes sense.  I don't want to steal anyone's thunder though.

Well, we had another player who was in GPIA but missed the rather short RTJ Window... Everyone welcome Alyse as player 8.

As you may have noticed, I've started a backgrounder for Adventure The First.  It's in Group Z until I'm satisfied with its releasable form, and will have basic "present day/present time" sort of info suitable for all players.  (I'm spending a lot of time in the Traveller Wiki lately grifting for ideas, and I've got a few...)

Anyone else going to TravellerCon in Morgantown, PA in October? I'll be there on Saturday the 12th as a day trip.

Welcome Alyse!

Who else is going to try running two? I have two, Harry and Teddy, we have ten slots and 8 players so someone else is going for it too. ;-)

All is revealed in the Cast List.

Ahhh, you are correct and running Fatboy too. Sweet!

Welcome, Dame Belit, ma'am.

Currently the Dame With No Name. Went the random route because I hate math. Ended up with oodles of Mechanical; bits of Electronics, Jack Of All Trades, Pilot, and Vacc Suit; and completely insane attributes (which have little use in CT apart from absorbing damage). Rolled a second character, a Marine with Cutlass-3 and Shotgun-3. Thinking of calling her Hicks, should I decide to play her.

Busy day at work.  Will do chargen tomorrow.  I'm psyched to get this underway!

Glad to see things getting lively up in here!

In reply to The Referee (msg # 50):

Yet I remain nameless. Alas...

Belit and Duane, I have a cousin named Duane, Retired Airborne/SF I think.

That gives us at least 11 characters!

The backgrounder for Adventure The First is up.  Take a look and see what you think of the overall backdrop.

Nice!

A group with the right skills could make a fortune as a freelance salvage crew...

Sweet!!!

Anyone want to know Harry or Theodore? Harry was in the IN in the 4th Frontier War, Theodore was in the Merchant Marines and was on an armed merchant ship during the war. In the Regina area, both of them.

So, I went the scout route. Not sure if the get involved much in wars?

My character background is that I joined the scouts after my father was punished as a traitor. We were from a wealthy merchant family and some former allies think that my father was the victim of a frameup by a rival company (though they could not say so publicly).

It is possible that I know Karia from the scouts. May have crossed paths with Theodore as a scout or there may be family ties?

By the way, love the idea of being a salvage crew.

Having a dirtside career, I'm not sure how my character would have met spacers, but I'm up for any suggestions, if it's only meeting in a bar once upon a time.

However, maybe she's signed on as security for a working passage once or twice? Would have to be civilian ships, though.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:06, Sat 14 Sept 2019.

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 58):

What dirt side career?

Army sniper.

Ah yes, marines go on ships, Army doesn't. You are dirtside. Pick a planet yet? I don't want to pick one until I know where we're starting. Theodore was a Merchant, Harry Navy. They could have met any where. Dirtside creates a problem unless one is from the same planet.

Likewise holding back on an origin.

Army does travel on troop ships, and Dawn has moved around a little since leaving the service, taking working passage as security on civilian ships, so there are possibilities for prior acquaintance.

Perhaps this adventure will start for Dawn as just another working passage, in which she finds one or two people she knows?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Sat 14 Sept 2019.

UPDATE:  The Mature Poll

So far, I have players 1,3,4,5, and 6 in favor of taking this game Mature, and if players 2, 7 and 8 have already weighed in, I've missed it in my re-reading this morning.

While we're talking about changing the game rating, I feel I must ensure everyone understands what we're doing. From the site policies:



From the FAQs:



So, as I read it, foul language, etc. are permitted to some extent.  If, however, our crew were to suddenly become drug runners, we'd be in some trouble regarding Adult status.  I would like to discourage foul language when speaking out of character, please.

Here's what the Policy states about Restricted Content:


I would strongly encourage you all to read what the site policies and FAQs say must happen if this game strays into Adult territory, and what marks off the boundaries of that territory (given above).  We do not want to get in that trick-bag, folks.  The Referee's duties are spelled out, as are those of the players, and they don't leave much latitude.

I hate to be a downer, but this is serious business.  Understanding all the foregoing, please cast your votes if you haven't already, and if any of you who have already voted need to change your votes, I completely understand.  We're not doing this unless all be present and agree.

Regina or Lunion, on the border or near the border of the Zhodani Empire and the Sword Worlds.

Mature is fine.

When do we start the game Horus? Early next week?

Fair question.  The Mature Poll is currently still running, and there are players who are still not through chara-gen close enough to start (the bare bones of the character - UPP, career, and skills - are in place).

There are three players who are not finished with chara-gen yet, so let's shoot for startup on Wednesday of next week to give them some time.  We're not headed into combat right away, and I still have some disposition of Resources (what T+ calls "Assets") just yet.  One or more of you may come up with a small ship before I'm done.

The more I think about it, Subsector Regina, Planet Regina is probably the most familiar to the greatest number of folks, so let's start from there.  I will post gazetteer data sometime tonight or tomorrow.

Oh, and while we are talking:

My work schedule for the present is Monday through Thursday from 1300 to 2300, with about an hour's commute each way.  I generally stay up until about 0230 after I get home, most of which time I spend here or catching something on my media center in the living room.  Occasionally I may look in before leaving for work, but won't reply if I think it's gonna make me late.

I tend to keep to an afternoon/evening schedule during the weekends, too, so I'm not around much when the sun is shining (it tends to make my ears start to smoke...)

I'm more relaxed about Mature than I am about General, to be honest. You have to mind your Ps and Qs too much in General.

All my own games are Mature, and I've never had a problem with it. Even if we became drug runners (which I wouldn't be interested in, incidentally), I can't see the mods shutting us down. Sure, it's a crime, but so is piracy, and nobody's going to shut a game down for playing pirates, either.

What the Mods are concerned about is graphic depictions, going over the top. Describing drug-taking in sufficient detail that it's effectively a how-to manual will result in an application of the Big Stick, and rightly so, but let's face it, none of us want to go there.

Dropping the occasional F-bomb won't worry anyone. Putting four Fs into a three word sentence every time you post, IC and OOC alike, would get someone to raise a Big Stick, but most likely, the GM, and the other players, will have raised objectons long before that.

We're just here to have a pleasant game of Traveller where we don't have to use Fruits and Pastries, nor always have to take the bad guys to the policeman, that's all. The Mature rating does that nicely.

I personally like District 268 for a place to adventure but Regina and the environs are perfectly fine as well with the unaligned words just a jump away and the Joes just J6 or so over the border.

I'm fine with Mature, actually it's a good move to cover us if we get into semi-descriptive descriptions of combat and such.

Mature works for me. All my own games have at least been Mature.

We are waiting on Player 2... so if anyone wishes to register a change in vote, do it before Player 2 speaks on this issue, please.  I want to wrap this up and put it under the tree.

Harry is from Regina, Thedore from Lunion.

Thanks GM, updated sheets.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

So, we going to salvage and explore? Hire out as mercenaries perhaps?

How do you determine languages Horus?

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 72):

In Traveller Plus, there are skills that cover Languages.  For those who, like yourself, chose the Classic Traveller method, I haven't given it much thought. Give me some time to look it over tonight and I'll come up with something.  I gotta get ready for work very soon.

Thanks, and don't work too hard.

With the signing of the Armistice after the Battle of the Two Suns, Minorb and Yres had suffered greatly and were still Amber Zones due to dangerous waste from the war still being present there.  A lot of Imperial archaeologists, historians, and other scientists were the only ones making regular expeditions to that area, and only then with His Majesty's kind permission.


Pixie and Boughene would be great worlds to set up on as a staging world. One jump from Yres and Menorb.

I am also more comfortable with the mature. Least the occasional f bomb breaks containment

Yay!! Everyone is still here! Awesome!

One term in the Marines and out, that made for quick chargen :)

I just need to determine my single mustering out benefit and buy whatever I have with whatever money a '7' garners me and I'll be done.

When bored, https://devilghost.com/software/travellercharacter/ never fails to amuse.

In reply to Belit Ilani (msg # 79):

Amusing, indeed.  Thanks for the link.  Will save this for a rainy day.

It was always a funny trope having a Traveller character die on their 7th term of chargen...

With only two skills I decided to take Gambling as one of them to add a nice bit of color.  Blackie is a bit of a rogue who always has a poker game going in the barracks or bunk room :)

Hey!  I just renamed your primary character.  Did you post this before or after?  (might do a test...)

Testing 1... 2... 3...

Looks like you've got a new name.

Right with you. One term navy then oops and out. Frustrating but thats the game and I used to love generating characters just for the sake of doing it.

Harry made it to term 4, Teddy got in 5.

A 'crew' of eleven. What have we got covered?

Harry: 894C76, Lt. Navy, resigned
Vacc Suit 1,
Gunnery 3,
Ship's Boat 1,
Gun Combat/Body Pistol-0,
Electronic 1, Gun Combat (Energy) -2,
Gun Combat (Lasers)Sceondary skill -2
Pilot (Starships)Secondary skill -1
Pilot (Capital Ships)Secondary skill -1
Armory is a secondary skill at -1
Gravitics is a secondary skill at -1
Mechanical is a secondary skill at -1
Robotics is a secondary skill at -1

Theodore: 8BB84C, Merchant 2nd off. ret.
Medic 2
Jack of all Trades 2
Electronics 1
Mechanical 1
Steward 1
Streetwise 1
Armory is a secondary skill at -1
Gravitics is a secondary skill at -1
Mechanical is a secondary skill at -1
Robotics is a secondary skill at -1
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

Hmmm...

Mine are easy...

Cutlass 1 ('cause Marines need space swords!)

Gun combat 1 ('cause Marines shoot things!)

Gambling 1 ('cause Marines like poker and sabbac)

I'm whooped this morning... gonna call it a night a bit earlier than usual.  See y'all tomorrow.

Night boss!

Night, boss!

Aw c'mon. 2nd character, scouts enlistment. Injured 1st term...

Two 20 year old characters, next to no skills between them. Wanted at least a slight difference between them... This dice roller hates my survival rolls. Doesn't bode well for combat!!

Still, JoaT 1 and Mechanical 1. Could have been worse.

In reply to Levi Stensgaard (msg # 92):

A bunch of young, unlucky pups!

Yup, aye yo that!! So do we have a trade ship - or is it a flying nursery??

UPP: 7DBB7B-7

Jack Of All Trades +1 [counters negative DMs at 1:1, to a maximum of 0 (no DM)]

Mechanical +3 (Armory +1, Electronics +1, Gravitics +1, Robotics +1)

Small Starships +1 (Large Starships -1 [0], Ship's Boat -1 [0])

Vacc Suit +1 (Battle Dress -1 [0])

UPP: 797A38-0

Slugthrowers +3 (Energy Weapons +1, Laser Wespons +1)

Long Blade +3 (Cudgel +1, Fencing +1, Polearm +1, Short Blade +1)

Think you've just scored for an apprentice, Belit... You're what Tanja aspires to!!

Just updated Belit's backstory. A shame she'll never acquire the skills she needs to actually practice that strict dueling code (even Fencing 0 would suffice. Perhaps she just has a henchwoman like Hicks do all the fighting).

About all Hicks is really good for is providing armed security, but it'd be too meta for her to serve as Belit's bodyguard. I could always pass her off to someone if they wanted that role (or just wanted to play a female Michael Biehn). I'm perfectly happy sticking with just the Knight Of Towers (I love love LOVE the major arcana symbolism there), but could also take one of those unseasoned youngsters in trade. Naturally with The Referee's permission, of course.

 ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tower_(Tarot_card)



Further symbolism 101: Tie it to the Plain Of Towers from the setting of Empire Of The Petal Throne, another classic RPG. The Referee just happens to be running a game set on Tékumel for Player 7 and I that's just shy of 1,500 posts.

If you've got the dough, and you're looking for a bodyguard, maam, you could do worse than an army gal.

These Marines are all mouth and trousers. The men, too.

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 100):

It's what's in the trousers that counts!

And yes, the Tekumel campaign is top notch.  I have equally high expectations here!

Alas, all too frequently it doesn't. ;)

OOC: Before we stray too far with this line of jest, we need to decide on the Mature issue...

I second that emotion.  Player 2, what say you?

In reply to The Referee (msg # 103):

Player 2 agreed in msg #76 above.

So he did... musta got stoned and missed it.  So sorry.

I have officially pulled the trigger on this:  we are now in a Mature Game.  Since there is no ad for this game (We got enough players without it), I think that's it.

So... Let's get this fraggin' party started!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:30, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

I've been reading one of the Rpol forum topics called Consent in Gaming, which, although it's a bit divisive, got me thinking.

When I said this in the 'scenes' thread:

it may have sounded more dismissive than I intended.

If anyone thinks they might be offended by me playing a comedic character with weight issues, PM me. If I get even one PM, I'll run a different character. You don't have to discuss anything with me, just a PM that says 'PM sent', or you can even PM the GM so I don't know who has concerns. Nobody will even know whether the GM has received a PM or just says he has. ;)

As it happens, I already have another character written up cos I was testing out T+, and I have nothing invested in this one yet, so it's no hardship to me to change character at this stage. Much better than somebody feeling uncomfortable later.

I got no problem and I'm fat. Play away, no offence taken.

Where we starting and how? We know each other? Answering an ad? What are we doing?

This thread is now in Group M (for Mature)

As for Fatboy Stout - your friendly neighborhood referee is also rather portly and takes no offense to Mr. Stout.  If we cannot laugh at ourselves, we really can't laugh at anybody.

Exactly!!! Have a sense of humor!

Thanks guys.

I've got a link between Dawn and Leon Drake, and perhaps between Dawn and Dame Belit, and Stout has a link with Dawn, but I've arranged nothing else yet.

Do we have any other arranged links?

Harry is former Navy, born on Regina. Served all through the Spinward Marches and in the fast and furious Fourth Frontier War. Destroyer duty.

Teddy is retire from the Merchant Marines, from Lunion, but spent his time in the Marches and the War as well. He served on an armed freighter,


The two MAY have crossed paths with anyone that served in the war.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

Tomorrow, after some thought this evening at work, I will be opening Topic 4100 - Adventure The First in Group M.  As cliche' as it might sound, I do think this is going to start with an advertisement from a Patron.  We have enough players to start a professional football team (at least the first string), so we need an accessible way for everyone to meet.

Sounds like a good idea.

OK, I think I'm finally done with character creation. I can pilot just about any spacecraft, handy with a gun and also with ships weapons.

Classic Traveller's limitations become more apparent as chargen continues. We seem to have a lot of people with low levels of Pilot and Mechanical.

In reply to Belit Ilani (msg # 116):

Yes, I didn't use LBB1 much after LBB4,5,6 came out. Characters from the original boxed set seemed rather under-powered.

Likewise, I didn't use LBB2 much for starships after LBB5 came out.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Fri 20 Sept 2019.

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 117):

I never played Classic Traveller without Books 4 through 7. My favorite edition remains MegaTraveller with its unified task system, but Mongoose is what I've generally played owing to being available in PDF. I've wanted to try out Traveller5, but it seems like the most impenetrable version of the game yet. Maybe with the revised-and-reorganized rulebooks it's not as difficult to comprehend.

I felt Megatraveller and the versions that came after were bloated. I think LBB4+ was necessary bloat, MT and its successors were just rules for the sake of rules.

Of course, I'm probably biased because, long before MT came out, I'd houseruled CT into a (for me) near perfect system. After that, I just borrowed ideas. Somehow I missed T+, so I didn't benefit from a point-buy system until Mongoose arrived.

I quickly borrowed that, and a few other updates from Mongoose, but I wasn't going to adopt a completely new system by then, I was far too entrenched.

You want Dawn as a bodyguard, or not? I'm easy either way. :)

Blackie could link with our navy guy as they were both born on Regina and I think we have at least one other marine enlisted that could also have crossed paths with him.

I thought books 4 and 5 made Traveller perfect.  Anything after that got too crunchy.  Megatraveller was too broken and complicated for me frankly.  I loved TNE although the system they used was painful.  T4+ sucked.  I like MongTrav alot as it combines what I liked best from books 1-5 in a more modern format.

And as for humor bring it on!

In reply to Belit Ilani (msg # 118):

MegaTraveller is available in PDF on CD.  That's how I have it.  FFE sells the CD sets for Classic, MegaTraveller, and much, much more.

https://www.farfuture.net/cdroms.html

In reply to The Referee (msg # 121):

But are those PDFs just crappy scans like so many other old Traveller products that FFE sells, or are they decent quality like the stuff SJG does for its GURPS Classic releases?

They're of mixed quality, and they've been around for a couple of decades, so quality is what it was back then.

Doesn't make much difference to me, though. I just want to extract the information, I don't really care how it's presented, so if it's legible, it does what I need. And I haven't found anything to be illegible.

I want it legible and copyable, myself. If I can't extract the information for online gaming purposes, it's not useful to me.

When in doubt, post.

I play Classic Traveller and Mongoose 1 and 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:43, Fri 20 Sept 2019.

In reply to Harry McStubbin (msg # 125):

I've sent a query to the Ref. I can't really post until I get a reply.


@ Belit: I think you might struggle with copyable, unless you have your own OCR. AFAIK it's just scans.

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 126):

No worries. Some folks need a cattle prod up the bum to get them to post though. ;-)

In reply to Harry McStubbin (msg # 127):

Heh, as a GM myself, I'm all too well aware...

Neat little resource for all us fans...

 ~ http://members.ozemail.com.au/...5_world_builder.html

And here's some sample output...

In reply to Duane Hicks (msg # 129):

Nice map!!!

Re:  MegaTraveller CD Quality

Here's an excerpt taken from my copy (raw cut/paste) of the MT Player's Manual, copied and pasted using Master PDF Editor for Linux:

---

The time is the distant future. Humanity has made the leap
to the stars; interstellar travel is not only possible, but
com mon place,
The ruling interstellar power is the Imperium, a large, human-
dominated empire more than a thousand years old, encom-
passing 11 ,OOO worlds in a region over 2,000 light-years across.
But while the Imperium’s thousand-year reign has created
an illusion of strength and lasting power, continued expansion
and internal pressure have combined to strain the Imperium’s
ability to govern to the limit. The cohesive thread that has held
the vast Imperium together has always been the person of the
emperor, the one individual to whom all Imperial citizens
ultimately owe their loyalty.
Now the emperor is dead at the hand of an assassin, leav-
ing no immediate heirs and no clear successors. The
Emperor’s nephew claims the throne; so does his cousin. Even
his assassin, citing an obsolete and obscure precedent, claims
the throne. No one knows whom to follow; someone is follow-
ing each of the claimants. Several border regions have lost
their faith in the Imperium’s ability to protect them and have
declared their independence. A few neighboring interstellar
powers, learning of the Imperium’s internal chaos, have begun
to advance into unprotected frontier provinces.
The Imperium has been shattered ...

---

The scan I have is quite readable, but I can see that it was done at slightly less than the 300 dpi minimum I might have preferred.

That premise lead to the Black War which led to Hard Times and then Virus... :(

Ahhh... how the mighty fell!

What happened to Marc's OTU? Virus is the last thing I heard about. Presumably the guy's still playing; is he still playing in a Virus-ridden remnant of a universe, or has he moved on to some rising phoenix?

I don't know, I only know Marc in passing, Facebook friends. We chat only once in a blue moon.

Marc's focus seems to be on Milieu 1116, the 'Golden Age' of Classic Traveller, and the Galaxiad introduced in Traveller5.

I wonder if Marc will make it to TravellerCon 2019?

Hey, I really need to know:  is anyone still in the midst of chara-gen?  Does anyone who desires to play a second character need a private topic and/or character sheet for them?

If so, help me help you, and we'll get you to where you need to be.

NEXT REFEREE'S POST TO ADVENTURE THE FIRST:  Late Sunday or Early Monday, 22/23 Sep 2019.  I will try to keep to a Sunday & Thursday schedule after that as a desired optimum, only posting IC during the week as truly necessary.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:18, Sun 22 Sept 2019.

I'm good to go.  One character will keep my hands full!

I too am fine with just one character.

Folks, if you're good, there's no need to tell me.  I need to know who's not done with chara-gen, and/or who need me to open any chara-dev topics and/or character sheets for second (or first!) characters.

The meeting is on a day to come.  What day are we on now?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Mon 23 Sept 2019.

Senday, 1085.211 (or, in civilian format 211-1085).

(The first line of the Backgrounder...)

Those of you who have replied, feel free to post concerning any significant events of the rest of Senday and Wonday leading up to the meeting on Tuday.  My next post in-game will be late Thursday of this coming week.

As an aside:  Imperial Days of the week are:  Wonday, Tuday, Thirday, Fourday, Fiday, Sixday, and Senday.  I believe I misspelled "Tuday" in my last post as Twoday. Better nip out and take care of that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:28, Mon 23 Sept 2019.

Anybody else going to TravellerCon 2019 in October?

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 143):

Wrong country, alas. :(

Where are you at Dawn? I'm in Shippensburg, PA, TravellerCon 2019 is in Morgantown, PA, it won't be well attended I'm thinking, sadly.

Traveller is well past its prime. Attendance figures are likely to be on a steep and slippery slope.

Wow, be careful! I'm sure it is beautiful though.

Just a reminder:

NEXT REFEREE'S POST TO ADVENTURE THE FIRST:  Late Thursday or Early Friday, 26/27 Sep 2019.  I will try to keep to a Sunday & Thursday schedule after that as a desired optimum, only posting IC during the week as truly necessary.

OOC and administrivia nightly as I have time.

:-( So sad to be stuck to two days a week, oh well! :-)

Oy!  You knew the job was dangerous when you took it... ;-)

My God it could be deadly! ROFLMAO Thanks for picking me, this looks interesting!

Wooooooot!! It's SUNDAY!!!

Yeah, it's Monday now, and I'm sorry I'm late again.  I've been dealing with a security issue on our network:  someone from outside our network space was accessing us through an open port and using our network for some prodigious downloads - over 250 GIGS in four days time.  When I finally convinced our cable provider to let me in through the "walled garden" to look at our router, I killed all our forwarded ports (especially those from IPs I knew did not exist on our network), changed wifi SSID and passphrase, and took other precautions.  Chewed up most of the fraggin' day!

The large increase in bandwidth drove our cable bill almost $60 over its usual rate for the month.  Moral:  even someone who knows what they are doing can be hacked if they get complacent.  If this happens again, look for me to take even more radical steps, but, for now, things seem to have calmed down a bit.

Posting now!

Blackie's going to ask for a date as well :)

I use a hard wire, I get Xfinity Triple Play $159 a month for Cable, internet and phone, unlimited internet. Call practically anywhere so I'm happy. Was paying a little more with Comcast Business, DirecTV and Vonage so I'm saving and went to one bill. Too bad it's cable though.

Does Belit wear her DSM?

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 156):

Belit wears a lapel button like the image below.

I have died and gone to heaven.  We were down at the air show today and got to see the Thunderbirds do a joint flyover with the Red Arrows.  The Red Arrows were running red, white and blue smoke trails!

Now, if only they had been flying Avro Arrows...

The Red Arrows were in Hawks...

We also got to see the Canadian Snow Birds team as well.  And an F-35!!!  It was quite the show!

Sadly one of the last flying B-17 Flying Fortresses just crashed and burned a week or so ago. Not sure where that was, but at least no one was killed. 5 were hurt.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:54, Tue 08 Oct 2019.

Shame when we lose our heritage like that. Good there was no loss of life, though.

Any of you into older planes - 1914-34 era?

Love the old wood and canvas planes of WWI and between the wars.

You do realize Belit didn't speak, yes? That was inner monologue.

Oops, no, I thought you spoke, I'll fix that. Didn't have my glasses on.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Tue 08 Oct 2019.

There are some fun planes interwar.  I'm in a CoC game where the character (WWI pilot) owns a Bristol F2 dual-control trainer (registration G-ECMR) and a Vickers Vimy Commercial transport (G-EBCC).  He's making a go at mail and African cargo and passenger business.

I love going to airshows here in the UK; I've had a couple of flights in a 1930s Dragon Rapide. Sad to hear about the B-17 crash.

I asked because I'm trying to research some specific information about a few specific planes. I've pretty much exhausted Google, but maybe an enthusiast of this era may be able to recommend some websites that don't show up easily on Google.

Which planes?

Shopping anyone?

The Curtiss H-16,  the Consolidated Commodore, and the Douglas Dolphin.
But honestly, anything that shows up on the first couple of dozen Google pages, I've been there, done that, followed the links, and the links from links...
I need enthusiast material now.

Shopping sounds good. Not sure how much exciting stuff we can buy on a Hi Law world, but we can definitely go looking. :)

Sorry I can't help with those planes. My stuff is mainly WWI up through 1919-20.

Shopping is always fun.

"Mr. Stout, how good are you with that computer? You what they call a hacker?" wrong thread, moving.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Thu 10 Oct 2019.

Yeah, only the Curtiss falls into that bracket. No matter, it was a wild clutching at straws at best. Thanks. :)

I have a Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft for 1919. AWESOME book.

Medic 3 a doctor?

Medic 3 is a doctor and dex 9+ is a surgeon IIRC

I believe that is the case in early CT (and IMTU), ISTR 'doctorship' might have been dropped to Skill 2 in a later edition, but I think our GM is playing to the original rules. Only he can say for sure...

As a matter of curiosity, is the Curtiss H-16 (or the Felixstowe-F5, which was the same animal) in Jane 1919? Even if it is, I doubt if it will list the maximum operational Beaufort number, which is one of the esoteric parameters I'm looking for.

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 178):

Medic +3 = doctor
DEX 9+   = surgery capable  (character does not have to become a surgeon, but can)

I'm whooped tonight, folks.  Been writing code all evening at work, and my brain feels like an abused juice orange.  I will do more tomorrow after some sleep.

No more squeezing the orange boss!  To sleep!

Regarding VR technologies and computing in general:

Traveller came out originally in 1977, back when the hot-stuff personal computer was powered by an eight-bit CPU running at 2 MegaHertz, and could address a maximum of 64 kilobytes of RAM.  MS-DOS was unknown, let alone Windows (and, in some ways, the world was a better place for it, but I digress).

21st Century Earth still does not have the means to exceed Einstein's Limit, but we are now working with high-powered computing equipment the likes of which no one in the late 20th Century could have anticipated.  Who would have believed we would have advanced Quantum Computing to this level so quickly?  Even the conventional computers of this day and age are parsecs ahead of what we had back then.

As a consequence, In My Traveller Universe (IMTU), general-purpose computers are much more advanced than those in the standard Traveller rules.  Oddly enough, because of the environments in which they must operate, and the reliability required of them, navigational computers are more narrowly focused, devoting all their computing power to the calculations needed to jump a ship safely from one system to another.  Think of something like the NavCom AI from Wing Commander.  It's a black box that does one critical task, and does it well.

Most ships will have either desktop or fixed laptop computing devices in each stateroom, the common area, and other places where they might be expected on board.  There can even be racks with servers mounted in appropriate spaces (like the ship's Computer Room) which can do sophisticated data acquisition and control of shipboard systems.  Networking, distributed computing for Command, Control, and Communications (C³), and for entertainment, personal use, etc. are not at all uncommon on modern ships.

The convergence doesn't end there.  Tablets, comm-links, and other personal appliances are able to link up to the Imperial Network at need, or to local private networks using the same protocols.  Devices responding to facial expressions, voice, touch, (and even thoughts, or so the rumors go) are available on worlds sufficiently advanced.

The VR shooting range?  That could be cobbled together from off-the-shelf components by someone with the requisite skills and with enough funding.  A lot would really depend on implementation:  are we talking "holodeck" or something less ambitious like a set of VR goggles tied to a souped-up gaming console?

Bear with me folks.  I will post again before the weekend is over, just to move this scene along.   In fact, now would be a good time to ask if everyone is in favor of a "hard cut" to the departure from the Downport, so how 'bout it, folks?

We can take care of any shopping in Chara-Dev between now and the proposed hard cut.  Get everything you wanna bring wit'cha, because you can't go back for that bottle of must-have barbecue sauce after you hit the black.

In reply to The Referee (msg # 182):

I'm fine for a hard cut.  I just need to think about any further equipment I might need.  Perhaps armor...

That tech makes sense. Similar to MTU. :)

I imagine that the typical gym facility of the Far Future will have items such as an omnidirectional tread mill or two as standard, and there will probably be some form of basic (for the era) VR setup included. Stout has an enhancement that allows Dawn to substitute weapons with a better 'feel', thereby allowing her a finer tuning of her skills than would normally be available. He's happy to open this customized enhanced setup to the rest of the crew.

The implementation is therefore an alternative for and an upgrade to whatever is standard in YTU.

I'm happy to FF to departure.
What can we buy on this world? Or, perhaps easier, what can't we buy on this world?

Absolutely hard cut. then we will actually start.

Am happy to fast forward - can give a list of items I'd need and see whether we can acquire them in the time before we leave.

I'll look tomorrow, if I remember. If you don't hear anything by Wednesday, nudge me. I'm old.

Sounds good so far...

Y'all hit me in your Chara-Dev threads with any items you want.  Prices should reflect Regina local tech level (12), and availability given local law level (9 per my copy of Supplement 3)

Let me see if I can find a price list for general use.  Hmm... Starter Traveller Book 2 (Charts & Tables) seems to cover the basic stuff.  Treat a TL12 Gauss Rifle as a Laser Rifle in terms of purchase price.  Gauss Rifle magazines are a bit less expensive than power cells for the Laser Rifle, though:  only Cr 1,500 for a loaded 20-round magazine with integrated power cell.  These may be recharged and reloaded up to ten times by those with Armorer skills and the proper equipment, so save 'em when emptied.

Those of you interested in purchasing weapons may be better advised to grab them at the Downport rather than anywhere else in the Regina System by reason of the high Law Level.  Starports are considered Imperial property, and, as such, enjoy a measure of extraterritoriality.  The Crown, with concurrence of the Moot, recognizes the need for explorers, traders, and others who travel in space to travel armed.  Here are the basic rules regarding weapons which are enforced in Imperial Starports:

• Imperial Admiralty Law holds sway in any Imperial Port.
• All employees of the Port Authority above Civil Grade 9 are duly empowered to enforce Admiralty Law.
• All officers of the Harbor Patrol hold the rank of Deputy Imperial Marshall with full power to detain, question, and arrest, and to use force as necessary to enforce Admiralty Law and good order.
• Weapons transported within the confines of an Imperial Port shall be peace bonded in such a way that they cannot readily be used without removal of the bond.  For edged weapons of a blade length over 5 cm, a scabbard latch is sufficient.  For firearms of any sort, including both energy and kinetic weapons, a latching holster, trigger lock, or locked case is sufficient.
• Discharging weapons while within the confines of a Downport which causes damage only to non-maritime property (i.e., not a ship) shall be treated as a misdemeanor, providing only if the sophont in possession will promptly surrender to proper authority.
• Discharging of weapons while within the confines of a Downport which causes bodily injury to any sophont or damage to any vessel in port, or any discharging of weapons while in a Highport for any reason, regardless of injury, damage or lack thereof, shall be treated as a felony offense and prosecuted to the fullest extent as provided by Admiralty Law.
• By reason of the foregoing, it is considered before the law to be a good faith practice to transport firearms unloaded and peace bonded.  Such good faith will mitigate in defendant's favor in any proceeedings required for a violation of the foregoing.
• Explosive ordnance such as grenades, bombs, demolition charges, etc., shall be transported only in locked containers after proper permits are issued for their transport, and then only directly from their point of entry to the destination stated on their permits.
• Large ordnance, as for shipboard weapons, shall only be transported by authorized munitions handlers after proper permits are obtained.

Well, that ran away with me for a bit, but needed to be covered somewhere

Could we buy say a gauss rifle in the high port and have it delivered via bonded warehouse to a ship?  That might work around the law level.  That said... downport is probably the best bet!

The standard Traveller Gauss Rifle is listed with a 40-rd magazine, not 20, (though for a weapon that can discharge 10 rounds per trigger pull, even that is a bit austere - a factor that I remedied IMTU).

Just pointing out Traveller canon FYI, this is YTU and you can vary the magazine capacity downward, just as I varied it upward. :)

The law level in the Downport is much lower than anywhere else on Regina because of the Port's extraterritoriality.  You are presently at the Downport, so not much sense in buying a weapon when you get to the Highport.  You'd pay a higher price at the Highport:  shipping to high orbit (Geosynchronous Planetary Orbit or GPO) would eat you alive.

Shipping it with the munitions carrier already chartered to provision the Empress Katerina would be a better way to go.  Buy at the Downport and consult the flimsy Sir Toral gave all of you.  Atlas Munitions, Ltd. will see that your new weapon gets aboard.  You could even buy, have it delivered, and receive it after you arrive aboard.

You'll find, if you speak to any reputable weapons merchant in the port, they can make the arrangements for you in strict confidence.

Atlas will be moving their munitions carrier to the Highport three days from now, on Fiday, 1085.216 (one day before Empress Katerina's departure.  You may also include the case with all your other weapons to save you trouble and weight allowance on your shuttle flight.  Just tell your dealer the destination for the weapons and they will do the rest.

Your cost to ship your weapons?  Zero, so long as you get them delivered to Atlas before their carrier lifts off from the Downport.

Given you are firing 4mm darts I would think a 100 or 200 round magazine would be easy.

Yoiks!  Thank you.  This is my first time actually messing with Gauss Rifles.  Let me rule on this quickly.  Please disregard my earlier statements about treating this thing like a Laser Rifle in terms of cost!  Wow, was that off-base.

I see, doing some reading, the Gauss Rifle in Traveller is not really how I envisioned it, but, rather, a powder-less very high-powered varmint rifle.  Here's a link:

http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Gauss_Rifle

So 40-round magazines at Cr 30 ea., including power cell, and Cr 1,500 for the weapon itself.  No Gauss Rifle grenades will be permitted in this go-round for reasons (getting permits, mainly, would take too long to make the ship date.).  Select fire capable for one, four, or ten rounds (I'm guessing in rapid sequence?).

The stated muzzle velocity of 1,500 meters per second is roughly Mach 4.4, so nearly hypersonic.  Yeah, you'd better be tied off really well if firing this during an EVA... especially for a burst of ten shots.

I'm going to be playing fast-n-loose with combat over play-by-post to try and keep things moving.  Perhaps I should explain about that in the Rules thread before too long?

I don't think that the gauss rifle was particular high recoil given that it was firing such a light flechette.

The momentum of an object is its mass multiplied by its velocity, so a projectile of 4g travelling at Mach 4.4 will have the same momentum (and recoil) as a projectile of 16g travelling at Mach 1.1 (just supersonic).

So a Gauss rifle will not have significantly more recoil than a normal rifle, certainly less than a shotgun.

Additionally, however, the perceived kick from a powder weapon comes from the explosive acceleration of the powder charge, whereas the Gauss Rifle accelerates the round gradually along the full length of the barrel.

It won't be near-recoilless like an Accelerator Rifle, but it won't have a kick like a mule, either.

Talking of Accelerator Rifles - are they available?

Can we assume that Vacc Suits are part of the safety equipment aboard ship, or do we have to buy our own?

Are you telling me that a Gauss Rifle only has "muzzle" velocity, bullet diameter and mass (and thus muzzle energy) comparable to a .17 Remington?  If so, what's the point?

Hmm... if gradually is from zero to 1,500 meters per second over the space of less than a meter?  Let's do some arithmetic:

First, let's be generous and presume a "barrel" length of one meter.  (Maybe Gauss Rifles are bullpups?)  This presumption has the added virtue of making the arithmetic easier.

Given a constant acceleration over the distance of one meter traveled, the average velocity is 750 meters per second ((1,500 + 0)/2).  This means the time of acceleration is 1 meter divided by 750 meters per second or roughly 0.0013 second.  Just over a millisecond from standing stop to barrel exit.  That would be regardless of the means of propulsion.

I attempted to calculate the acceleration using classical methods (delta-V/delta-T), but the figures I got were insanely high - high enough that I know I'm missing something (it's been too many years, apparently).  Give me time to run this through my copy of 3G (Guns! Guns! Guns!) and we'll continue this.  I really hope I was wrong about the acceleration (greater than 117,000 G!)

I gotta get to sleep and be ready for work tomorrow.  Y'all have fun, dag-nab-it!

There will be some Vacc Suits available from the Ship's Locker, probably six or so.

I'm not going as far as Accelerator Rifles, and I'm beginning to question the wisdom of allowing Gauss Rifles.  Given their specs per Traveller, Book 4, I'm not sure I see the point.  (But let me crunch the numbers a bit more first...)

A Vacc Suit is something that requires close inspection prior to and service after each use.

Go to bed, read this when you wake.

Save yourself the number-crunching, I agree that the linear acceleration will make very little difference, so there's nothing to prove on that score. I'd guess it's muzzle energy will be somewhat in excess of a .762.

The 'point' of the gauss rifle (apart from its obvious sci-fi coolness) is that it is silent in operation, has a higher rate of fire, a higher penetration, thanks to the smaller diameter and harder core of the projectile, has greater accuracy, thanks to the shorter flight time, has more gizmos attached to it, and its stockpiled ammunition is lightweight and not an inherent explosion hazard. I see it as a professional tool of the trade for a sniper.



My OCD is playing up again...

Yes, it's been a long time, but I believe the equation we need is:

v^2 = u^2 + 2as
Where v is the muzzle velocity, u is standstill or zero, a is the acceleration, and s is the barrel length.

For the Gauss (4g projectile @ 1500m/s muzzle, 750 average):

750^2 = 0^2 +2a x1metre
562,500 = 2a
a=281250
=28,125 Gs
F=ma = 0.004 x  = 1125N (1125 newtons is about 112kg force)

For the .762 (10g projectile @ 850m/s muzzle, 425 average):

425^2 = 0^2 +2a x1metre
180,625 = 2a
a=90,312
=9031 Gs
F=ma = 0.01 x 90,312 = 903N (903 newtons is about 90kg force)

Mind-boggling G-factors, eh?

So, the recoil force exerted on the gauss gun (and shoulder) is about 25% greater than the force exerted on a .762 rifle (and shoulder). Not trivial, but not a mule.

...And that's if the anti-recoil gyro-stabilizer isn't working.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:32, Mon 14 Oct 2019.

Ah the maths involved with Traveller. Have missed this.

Gotta love the gearheading!

The gauss rifle was always portrayed as the ultimate slug thrower in the game.  Then when you add a bayonet what more can you want? :)

Folks, I know I'm late posting for Thursday - Im'a take care of that here shortly.

I've been rather busy with some family stuff over the last several days that was finally brought to a successful and favorable conclusion today (Friday).  Earlier this week, one of my team mates went out for surgery and will be out of pocket in our 24/7 Operations Center's watch rotation for the next several weeks.  I will be working day watch on Sunday and coming back to evening watch Monday evening.  My work schedule after that is likely to be intense for a while.  I'll do my best to keep up.

In reply to The Referee (msg # 202):

Don't worry about the game boss.  Just stay rested and healthy with the added work stress.

Don't worry too much about us, we can talk among ourselves a bit too.

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 204):

You want us to socialise in the game and actual do things other than rolling dice and killing things?? C'mon, I started playing RPGs to avoid having to socialise with people!!

Hang on while I roll these dice. Ah that's OK, just passed my personal social roll and I should be OK. Bring on the smalltalk!!

*grin*

I'm in seven Traveller games on rpol, been so for about a year, not quite. Never have I fought in battle in all that time, it's ALL been role playing.

Moved from 9900 - Personnel Roster WRT the departure of Dame Belit Ilani:



This was my mistake.  I meant to make 9900 a Notice and Closed Thread.  Sorry, Theodore.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:28, Sat 19 Oct 2019.

;-) No problem, you're the boss! Ship's jobs.

Teddy - Medic, Steward
Harry - Turret Gunner, Ship's Boat pilot, ?
Tanja - Engineering?
Dawn - Marine
Stout - Comms/sensors? ;-)
Marc - Marine
Levi -
Karia -
Anton -
Leon - Pilot,?


Several will be 'marines'/security as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:22, Mon 21 Oct 2019.

From Karia's mention of Astrogation in her Cast List description, I imagine she will be the Navigator. Dawn and Stout look OK there.

Blackie (Marc) will definitely serve as a marine (ship's troops...).  I must say that it would be worth your life (in game...) to refer to Dawn as a 'marine'...  :)  Blackie will get a chuckle out of that.

Leon Pilot and Gunnery (spinal)

In reply to Leon Drake (msg # 212):

So we're at...



Just Anton to go now...

She's a marine now! ;-)

GO ARMY!

Shipboard Armed Support?
Nice acronym...

SAS, I'd say so! :-D

From Adventure the First Msg#1:
Amundson, in his numerous advertisements all over the capital, claimed he had a way of knowing where the Allamu might lay in space, and a plan to recover it.  He had at his disposal an old Empress Marava class Far Trader, the Empress Katerina.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Wed 23 Oct 2019.

Go Navy, beat Army!  :)

Thanks, I thought I read that, but couldn't find it when looking back. Guess I didn't look in the first post!

I think they call it the 'puking dog' based on the way it looks...

Looking at those stats - Crew of 3 plus 2 gunners...

How many of us are there??

10 at the moment, but likely fewer as a few will probably leave. We have to crew the Allamu too though.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Thu 24 Oct 2019.

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 223):

It’s going to be cosy till we get thee then...

We'll be doubled up if need be.

The specs I'm reading say 10 staterooms, 3 crew, 7 passengers. Since presumably we're not carrying passengers on this mission, there should be no problems with accommodation.

Too bad! ;-) One for one, Amundson and his guy are 11 and 12, he got anyone else?

Just reading the specs on the sidebar.

4-5 crew, 4 low berths.

In the description it seems to give more. Says 10 (3 for crew 7 for passengers), but then later says 1 large for captain, 2 for crew, 1 stateroom and 6 for passengers.

Plus 4 low berths.

No doubt the Ref will give us a definitive answer on the accommodation. I have a feeling it will all work out. These things usually do... ;)

A few can double up until we find the Allamu.

We can certainly hang a few hammocks in the engine rooms! :)

Empress Katerina started life as an Empress Marava-Class Far Trader, but she's evolved somewhat beyond that.  Never fear - there is room enough for all aboard.  Someone asked the question IC as to how many crew besides all of you?  Lemme answer that before I go to bed.

Sounds like some of the cargo space has been converted. We'll see soon enough.

Bingo.

The Empress Marava design puts the passenger staterooms, fuel tankage and power plant on the upper level, with the bridge, drives, and a single-occupancy stateroom (next to the computer room) on the lower level.  The simplest way to expand the crew capacity was to install a modular 12-person crew module in the forward end of the hold. There's another modular unit, with about three meters open space between them, fitted to the aft bulkhead of the hold.  More about that unit later, though.

I'm getting ready for work tonight.  Will post again on Sunday evening.

In reply to The Referee (msg # 234):

Go modular!

In reply to Marc (Blackie) DuQuesne (msg # 235):

Apologies. I'm away on holiday this week and won't be able to post much. Assume Leon is getting settled in and doing whatever makes sense for him to be doing. I'll try to post if I get the chance.

No worries.  We should be at the burn line shortly, and space travel, as you know, is one week of boredom punctuated at each end by a few hours of utter chaos.

By the way, I did find the deck plans in Supplement Seven.  Why is it that publishers think they have to use "blank space" in a deck plan to overlay some decorative inset that could have been placed elsewhere just as well?  I see an Inkscape session in my future...
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:00, Mon 28 Oct 2019.

In reply to The Referee (msg # 237):

Heh, I know what you mean. I use MSPaint for the same purpose.

I have removed topics 8800 and 8810 (Chara-dev for Belit Ilani and Duane Hicks) from this game.  The player who played these has long since withdrawn from this game, and shows no sign of reconsideration.  I wish that player well.

I've scanned my layout, and realized that the plan squares on the deck are 1.5 meters instead of one meter.  Rooms just got larger!  4.5 meters on a side is almost 15 feet!  That's a bit more livable.

4.5m is a luxury!

I recall the junior officer bunk room on my cruiser back in the day and a 15' square would be nice!

Loving the naval and marine jargon!

A nice shot of a vacc suit.  This was done by a classic artist and a good friend long gone.

That looks a lot like Steve Gallaci's style!  Very nice!

(For more of Mr, Gallaci's work, check out the comics Albedo and Beatrix.  Albedo even has its own RPG.)

In reply to The Referee (msg # 243):

This was done by Bryan Gibson.  He did a lot of work on the classic traveller era and into MegaTraveller.

Gallaci's stuff is all great.

Stout's stateroom is right behind the bridge.

In reply to Theodore Balakov (msg # 245):

Thanks, I knew where my stateroom was, I just wasn't sure if it qualified as a safe area, according to the Bosun's description:



Maybe we should hang out together? If you want to watch the computer displays, I'm sure Stout can patch in a link to one of the bow cameras to see where we're going. Not that there'll be much to see once we lift - just black and more black, I suppose. Star Trek's 'drifting stars' don't happen in real life. :)

Maybe a link to a stern camera to watch the planet recede? I'm sure Teddy's enough of a sea-dog not to get the jitters over that? Stout's more likely to balk at that, not being a spacer.

It was in reply to Blackie, he missed the post telling where Stout was to be. Sorry for the confusion.

No worries.

The offer still stands, though. Since Teddy and Stout are the only ones without a current assignment, they might as well be together - unless you have things to do, of course. :)

True, Teddy will hang with Stout and learn computers!

Sorry for the confusion!

Stout and Teddy could hang in the common room with the rest of us.

Hmm, I thought the common room wasn't a 'safe zone', hence the need for its occupants to suit up? I'm just guessing, though. No doubt the GM will put us right when he gets more quantities of 'copious free time'. :)

So sorry to see this discussion so late. Bad last few days at work.  Stupidity is starting to outstrip hydrogen as the most common element in the universe.

Any compartment with an Iris Door or a hatch leading into it may be considered as a pressure-tight compartment.

Stout's stateroom certainly qualifies, as do all the modular crew quarters rooms.  Even though it does not have an Iris Door, Stout's Room, the Computer Room, and the Bridge form a pressure-tight area along with the upper level Reception/Common Area.

The common area on the upper deck is part of the Passenger Deck, which is pressure tight with the ship at Condition One, since it is bounded by a floor hatch, an Iris Door leading to the Air/Raft Bay, and the elevator (whose outer doors and car are pressure tight).

One of the reasons the crew modules were located in the Hold is that it is behind double isolations:  Port and starboard cargo locks and personnel locks and pressure-tight passageways.  It's actually one of the safer places on this ship while in combat.

In which case, I can't see any part of the ship that is not a pressure-tight compartment - except perhaps the fuel scoop bays, and nobody in their right mind would sit in there without a suit.

So yeah, I think we can all stick together in the cargo bay common area. :)

Yeah, you're right.  Some areas are behind double locks (like the hold), but Empress Marava was actually a well thought out design.

I've had a day's rest today and I'm still tired.  Will pick things back up tomorrow.  Hope everyone will continue in patience until then.

Yep, I've seen a lot that are NOT well thought out - lack of hatches, hatches in the wrong places, passenger areas adjacent to the bridge/computer/turrets, and other such security issues...

However, even the best of them usually suffer from 'rocket mentality' with the drives crammed in the tail. Plays havoc with fuel-dipping operations, I imagine...

There are only so many configurations for a ship of a given size.  Having Jump engines in the stern might not be too bad.  Maneuver (or RCS) drives in the stern are needed for forward thrust and attitude control.  I can just imagine a fuel skimming run would make a tangential pass with the engines cut, firing thrusters at the end of the pass once clear of the gas giant's atmosphere, then continuing orbit and lining up for another pass.

I have seen a lot of deck plan layouts that just don't make the grade, though.

Off to bed.  I'll see you folks again tomorrow.

Looking good, everyone is checking in. As long as we keep posting we'll do good I think!

I will be putting together a watch bill for the rest of the journey, basically a list of things like:

Port Gun Turret
Starboard Gun Turret
Missile & Fire Control

Helmsman
Lee Helmsman
Navigator

Medic

Engineering Roving Watch
Power Plant Operator
Electrical Plant Operator
Damage Control Specialist

Security Specialist

Actually, I think that might cover it.  If you want your character(s) to stand a watch, line up, sign up, and re-enlist today! (Well, not actually...)

Most of these will be training positions.  If you haven't noticed by now, it's my intent to train you folks and intensify your skill sets on these first missions.  By the time we reach Menorb, most of you will have seen a rise in one or more skills or characteristics, depending on your training path.

I realize this is an unconventional approach.  Does anyone have any objections, questions, or suggestions?  (If we get into rules and game mechanics, there is a topic for that:  9400 - Rules Discussion.)

Suits me. :)

No question for Dawn - Gunnery and close quarters combat are where her head's at.

Stout I'm not so sure about. Book2 has a comprehensive section about computers, but it never states  which of the crew positions operates the computer. They all seem to use it to some extent, and then perhaps whoever has the highest skill reprograms it - but there is no Computer Officer position to train for in Traveller, at least, not on the smaller ships.

The guy isn't interested in weapons and combat, or starships, for that matter. He's a researcher and computer geek. Electrical Systems is perhaps the best option. If he could learn Streetwise, that might help his research, but I'm not sure that Streetwise lends itself to tutorials.

Security Specialist might be useful for both of them, in different ways. She could learn better ways to kick ass, he could learn how to make a ship more (or less) secure.

Works for me as well.  Blackie can stand watch as a security specialist.

I think he'll train on gun combat and close combat during the trip.

Levi would be happy with the following:



Tanja would like the following, now she's experiencing navigation.

Well, I just got called in to work - a colleague took ill (102 deg. F fever) and cannot stand the watch tonight.  Gonna be a long one.  See you all on Sunday late.

:-( Sorry to hear it. Nice pay check though! :-)

Hang tough boss!

Just done some obsessive gearheading again.
I assume the rail gun is largely intended for atmospheric work - ground-attack mode.

If it has the same Mach 4.4 muzzle velocity as the Gauss Rifle, and a target, such as the Taipan, is 10,000km away, the round will have a flight time of around 2 minutes. And if the target Auto-Evades by more than about 10 metres (three decks) in that two minutes, the round will miss.

Missiles have the advantage of homing warheads and lasers have the advantage of effectively zero flight time, but a rail gun, presumably having neither, is going to be a poor weapon in deep space.

Unless, of course, the rounds do have homing devices and variable ballistics. That should be do-able in Traveller. Probably nothing to see here, after all. Move along. :)

In reply to Dawn Hunter (msg # 265):

You might be surprised by these here railguns... (all I will say for now).

Then I look forward to improving my education about them. :)

It would be all about firing a spread of projectiles into the likely path of the dodge.

And I like the manual back-ups for the critical systems; when Virus comes we will be less likely to be vented to vacuum or squashed by grav pong. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:50, Wed 20 Nov 2019.

Pah! Virus! <hawk, spit> This is Classic Traveller. We don't want any of that New Age, New Era shenanigans here, thank you very much!
;)

Who doesn't love a pack of homicidal AI systems bringing death and destruction across the galaxy?  :)

Keep the Flame!

Am such a TNE fan. Some of my best games were (some using GURPs) in the TNE setting without us knowing, way back before GURPs Traveller was a thing.

Love the idea of technology turning against the users. But then I'm a massive post-apoc fan anyway.

Hi, Folks,

I do intend to post some more before Monday, but I feel like I've swallowed a boiler.  Don't know what's up - maybe I've caught what made my colleague sick and it is having its way with me.  Don't wanna play TMI, but I feel like utter drek.

Our next scene is, of course, the jump to Hefry.  I will likely cut straight to the exit from jump with a narrative.

Take care of yourself!

I greatly enjoyed the Hard Times setting and then the hard scrabble but heroic RC setting in TNE.  Virus added a nasty bad guy but was always more part of the flavor than a defining part of the setting.  Of course how cool is a setting sourcebook called 'Vampire Fleets'? :)

TNE was very post-apoc but at least in the RC setting and certainly in the Regency setting, it wasn't totally bombed out.  You at least had some islands of civilization.

Agreed - but that's what I liked. The RC needed to expand and gather relics and technology, but that brought them into conflict in the wilds. Head out into danger with a safe haven to return to. But even then that safe haven was always under threat

Virus was always a massive threat that was used sparingly. Always in the shadows, lurking, but rarely encountered. Meant anytime a vampire ship entered the system it caused concern amongst the players - and the times we visited boneworlds or virus controlled worlds added flavour and depth. Never knew what to expect or how it would go.

Vampire Fleets was an interesting book. Enjoyed the campaign there too tho not sure how much was our GM and how much was pre-written.

Never read any TNE source books. Sounds interesting though.

Also Theodore, same player - If anyone is interested, I'll be here all day tomorrow too. I'm at my computer 10-12 hours a day 365 days a year if you feel like posting and getting a reply ;-)

In reply to Levi Stensgaard (msg # 275):

Visiting the Wilds always felt like a trip to a haunted house as you never knew what you would find or what surprises were lurking.

Virus definitely was the lurking boogeyman.  The small scale of the RC meant that even a 500 dton ship was a priceless asset or a dangerous foe.

I loved the shoestring nature of the RC ships, equipment and operations which really gave a huge scope for the players.  Then of course there was the internal politics of the RC with the split between Oriflamme and Aubaine.  And the later developing conflicts with some of the nearby TED polities.

Did you guys ever play post-Sandman with the friendly AI Virus entities?  That would have been fun... :)

And who can forget the Rhylanor Institute of Technology better know as the Robot Institute of Terror when their work on Virus came to light... :)

Wow... what a long strange trip it's been.  Folks, I'm sorry I've been away for the last few days sick, but it couldn't be helped.  I'm so thankful that it seems to be over for now.

Speaking of thankfulness, I want to wish you all a happy day of Thanksgiving today, whatever it might be that you personally are thankful for.  I will, of course, be at work during this holiday, but will pick back up with IC posts late this evening after what promises to be a truly narcolepsy-inducing dinner.

Thank you all for being so patient, and for carrying on in my absence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:39, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

Thanks Horus, we're here.

In reply to Marc (Blackie) DuQuesne (msg # 278):

Yeah - we did 2 post Sandman, one as RC and one as a crew from the wilds that escaped in a virus infected ship. Loved it - a ship with a toddler's view on life, very quick to get upset and throw a huff made worse by none of the crew having any skill to navigate or pilot without the AI's help...

A post-Sandman game would have been fun.  I don't recall if there were any 'official' adventures set with a friendly Virus other than Vampire Fleets itself.

Hello, Everyone.

One of the pages I put together for this thingy is 0200 - Jump Table.  If your character's chara-dev is missing from this table of links, please drop me a PM and I will add you.

I've just realized I hadn't yet added a link for Tanja Skorskald's chara-dev.  That has been corrected. Sorry I'm so late!

One of the reasons I built this table, especially with using the new responsive site, is that my games tend to get into two pages of topics rather quickly, and everything gets jumbled up order-wise.  The jump table makes stuff easier to find faster.
This message was last updated by the GM at 07:12, Tue 03 Dec 2019.

Can we have some weapons training on the list also?  I think there was some discussion of such.

Hi folks, Sorry, last week has been pretty hectic, and this week is looking similar.

After that, I'm away on Xmas hols for three weeks, so I doubt if you'll see much of me before January. First week back is usually a grind, too.

I'll drop in when I can, but it'll be sporadic. Puppet my characters as required while I'm away.

Be safe over the Christmas season everyone! I'll be here everyday as long as someone posts.

Yup.  Plenty of time between now and your destination.

Thanks!

No worries.  The run up to the holidays has been crazy for me, too.

I see some have opted for private lines in 4100 - Adventure the First instead of private messages.  I suppose I can work either way.  I had hoped not to clutter the adventure topic with all these learning attempts.

I should probably let everyone in on what's going on.  Yeah, it's House-Rule Time with Uncle Horus.

TRAINING WHILE ENROUTE

As you train, you will make attempts to progress in the form of task throws.  If you fail your first attempt, your difficulty for the next is reduced by one.  Example:  someone who failed PT at a difficulty of 7+ on the first go-round will face a difficulty of 6+ on their next attempt.  The lowest difficulty allowed is a 3+.

Once you have achieved a success (and advanced a level), the difficulties will reset.  For instance, someone who succeeds against a difficulty of 6+ will face a 7+ on the next attempt (for the next level of skill).  (Reset is always to the base value I've established for the skill in question.)

In this way, if you keep trying to learn something, it gets easier when you fail.

Throwing an unmodified two (snake eyes - a fumble) will get you a counseling session with your instructor the first time it happens.  In the case of PT and other physically oriented skills, you may suffer a small injury that will keep you out of training for a week.  (A change of training path might prove useful while recovering.)

Throwing an unmodified twelve (boxcars) will net a bonus:  either the skill being taught will advance by two, or the skill advances by one and a related characteristic (STR, DEX, END, INT, or EDU) will advance by one.  (I'll post a firm list of which characteristics relate to which skills for this purpose sometime this week.  So far, no one has scored a set of boxcars or a fumble.)

It is the player's choice as to which of these happens (whether the skill goes up by two, or skill and characteristic advance by one).

It is my choice as to which related characteristic advances.

I'll cross-post this to 9400 - Rules Discussion, so talk it up there.
This message was last updated by the GM at 00:08, Mon 13 Jan 2020.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Folks, I will still be around through the week after I get home from work to look in and take care of light housekeeping and such.  Please stay safe through the holidays, and have fun!

We will be coming out of jump space in the Hefry system this Tuesday, after which a day or two game-time to refuel, and off we go again.  Line up, sign up, and get you some more training.

We'll refuel at the high port?

In reply to Marc (Blackie) DuQuesne (msg # 293):

At this point, that would be telling...

Unless Grandfather has returned and wiped out the entire system in a burst of anti-matter... :)

hmmmmm. got slow here, too bad.

Xmas slowdown?? Should start picking up soon I hope

I hope. Looks like we may have lost 3 or 4 players!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Sun 05 Jan 2020.

Players or characters??

both.

Ouch, that would be bad!

Okay... yeah it looks like the Christmas & New Year holidays took a chunk out of all of us (it didn't help that I had to work through all of it).

Everybody sound off in this topic if you're still here and wanna play.  I've been holding off hoping the rest of the gang would come back up to speed and voltage, but maybe it's time to take stock and make future plans.

A quick look at the cast list shows most of you have still been posting right up to mid-December, and many of you are back from holiday and ready to go.

Anyone with questions, concerns, or feedback for me should feel free to post here or in PM, as suits your purposes best.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Mon 06 Jan 2020.

Levi and Tanja sounding off as requested.

Dawn and Fatboy's player appears to be gone, Anton is gone, Leon and Karia might just be slow, but it has been awhile.

Didn't the GM agree to NPC Dawn due to temporary RL unavailability?? As for the others, who knows??

Ahhhhhh, I didn't catch that, hope he/she is back soon.

So far we have responses from Teddy and Harry, Levi and Tanja, and I don't expect Dawn and Fatboy to be back in the saddle just yet.  Let's let the rest answer up as they will, please.  After another few days, rmails will go out.

Part of this slowdown is my fault - I've been just slammed this holiday season with overtime and other responsibilities.  It hasn't left me time to think and plan much.

I'm here.  Not much to post on ATM as we make our space travel but that's fine.

Is there a reason we have stopped?

Well, we're stopped in Hefry to take on fuel, water, and other provisions,and to refresh the jump drive before the next jump.

In OOC terms:  we have one who is still out after the holidays who I was hoping would be back.  Rmail time, I suppose.

Hmmmm we're dying, recruit new players and cut loose the chaff?

We're not done yet (I hope)... We have enough to continue if we've lost one or two characters to RL.

Agreed!

Will admit that I haven't been posting as often as I could, but part of that is because it didn't look like anyone else was posting much either... So I was waiting for someone else to go first.

Really hope that nobody else was waiting for the same thing!!

In reply to Levi Stensgaard (msg # 314):

Of course we were! ;-)

We have enough players to keep things rolling.

Only if we post!

I think we need to resolve the training and move forward.

Have finalised last of my training - need GM approval / confirmation then good to go.

And I'm here.  Let me take a look-see, and I'll get back up to speed.  I'll take care of GM stuff tonight, and we'll take off for our next destination shortly thereafter.

good

Ad Astra per Astra!

Not sure if there will be much to do planetside.  We may just want to skip ahead to the next port of call.

I would expect we'll want some guards to oversee the loading of provisions?

Are we just taking on provisions, or will we be refuelling as well?? Am sure the answer is yes to refuel - only if we don't we'll have to fuel scoop adding extra time to our stay