this is for that

In reply to Nerull (msg # 1):


I want to play them all! ;)) OK, I don't like military/navy etc. I'd like to play a spy/diplomat but also ex-scout... Does that help you? :) How about I create the character and then tell you how he ended like? :)
I may have a try at a female character, if you allow cross-genre rpg. Somebody like Samantha Kilgore, but with less carousing! ;)

Thats a vote against the military campaign.

???

Is this a question for us about what kind of game we want to play or what kind of characters we want to run?

yes. It is

I don't have any strong preferences then. I have never played a game where finances weren't front and center. I feel like the system shines best giving the players a tramp freighter or pirate experience. The "wandering jack-of-all-trades" if you will.

I'm not opposed to a military campaign, I just have never actually played one in this kind of game.

  Mongoose released a naval campaign series (and accompanying sourcebook) a year ago. I've never seen it run, and I feel like it would be a change of pace from the typical 'tramp freighter' setup - it's not like there's a lack of those already running, either!

Put a gun against my head, I vote: Pirate > Tramp Freighter/Misc Adventures > Naval Campaign

However, pull that gun against my head and I vote: Let's play whatever GM wants to run.

I would rather a naval campaign the GM is excited about and passionate about than a pirate game lacking GM investment and energy.

;-) I don't mind input. The PC's will be the senior officers on a 50,000 ton cruiser. At least for the first part. After the military part, maybe everyone gets out and does other stuff. We'll see how long it lasts first ;-)

In that case I'd like to tip my hat in for the Captain's chair.

1) I'm active. I've been playing on rPoL for a decade and have never ghosted a game. I can't promise I will always be able to post daily due to IRL stuff but if I go dark I'll let everyone know why and appoint a successor while the captain is indisposed.

2) I push the story forward. I run a lot of games and in my experience an issue with players on this format is some people have a hard time putting plans together. It usually takes a lot of effort both in game or out of game to put an initial plan to paper. I am not afraid of that work, in fact I enjoy it. There will be no paralysis or indecision from my leadership.

3) I listen to other people. I have no problem putting forward an initial draft but I look at it as the first step, not the last. I would foster an environment where my subordinates would be able to be heard and their thoughts shape the plan. I think of it as me plopping the first blob of clay onto the table and then turning it over to everyone else to shape and perfect.

4) I'm easy going OOC. I don't know for sure what kind of character I'd create but even a hardass in-game wouldn't be reflected out of game. Some people have problems taking criticism or let character conflicts become player conflicts but that isn't me. I'm a laid back dude and I fully recognize first and foremost that this is a game. In other games I've played I have given other players full reign to beat the crap out of my characters, to one-up them in arguments etc. because the greater story is more important to me than being in the spotlight.

;-) Nice interview for the job.

You got my vote!

We got six, turn it off to 'new' now to limit the crew?

Up to you. I generally expect 1/3rd of players not to last a month so I often go over by 1 or 2 but be prepared if you get a good group and everyone stays.

  The naval campaign (if that's what we go with) uses its own method of chargen. You pick skills from a few lists based on your rank/role rather than rolling for everything, and your age/terms are set accordingly. There's still some customization from background/events/free picks, but the system is meant to produce naval officers (or petty officers) to fill the various positions on the ship.

Anyone got a link to these rules?

In reply to PraguePride (msg # 15):

I have them. but not sure about a link yet. Let me look around. I can get a copy for sure.

If we're not rolling, I'd prefer to play an Engineer or a medic but I'm still hoping for rolls to see what the dice decide.

In reply to Alcuin (msg # 17):

Roll for your scores, yes.

I'll get something up if nothing else about chargen.

This is a quick-and-dirty transcription of the first relevant table.


The format is Tier, Role, Minimum Rank, and any extra notes.

Positions are filled by going down the tiers. If only one person wants to be the Captain then they get it. If not, those wanting the job roll off for it.

Then you do the same for XO.

Everyone then rolls. Highest roll gets to pick whichever tier 2 job they want (there are three of them). Second highest picks from the remaining two, third highest gets the last.

With 6+ players, you then do the same for the tier 3 jobs.


Minimum rank: On a cruiser the captain would actually have the rank of Captain and the XO would therefore be a Commander. It's likely that at least some of the other officers will be a rank higher than the minimum (although they wouldn't be higher than Lieutenant-Commander).

The rank determines your terms, skills, and minimum age. That's the next set of steps after this part is done.



Tier 0
Commanding Officer (Captain)
Lieutenant-Commander
Some small ships could be commanded by a Lieutenant, while major warships will have a Captain.

Tier 1
Executive Officer
Lieutenant
Usually one rank below the Captain.

Tier 2
Gunnery Officer
Lieutenant

Chief Engineer
Lieutenant

Marine Commander
Lieutenant

Tier 3
Bridge Engineering Officer
Lieutenant
An engineering specialist assigned to the bridge crew as an advisor and damage control expert.

Astrogator
Sublieutenant

Chief Pilot
Sublieutenant
May be a Chief Petty Officer on smaller ships.

Medical Officer
Sublieutenant

Small Craft Operations Commander
Lieutenant

Master-At-Arms
Chief Petty Officer

Thanks Syrris! Doing a Vargr?

And this is the table for terms/age/skills based on rank. Most get some automatic skills/stats and then make a number of picks from two or three of the skill tables (which is another post).


Captain
Terms 7
Age 46

Melee (blade) 1
Leadership 1
Tactics (naval) 1
SOC+1 or SOC 10

4 Specialist
4 Command


Commander
Terms 6
Age 42

Melee (blade) 1
Leadership 1
Tactics (naval) 1

4 Specialist
3 Command

Lieutenant-Commander
Terms 5
Age 38

Melee (blade) 1
Leadership 1

3 Specialist
3 Command

Lieutenant
Terms 4
Age 34

Melee (blade) 1
Leadership 1

3 Specialist
2 Command

Sublieutenant
Terms 2
Age 26

Melee (blade) 1
Leadership 1

2 Specialist
1 Command

Ensign
Terms 1
Age 22

Melee (blade) 1

1 Specialist
1 Command

Master Chief Petty Officer
Terms 8
Age 50

3 Navy
3 Specialist
2 Command

Chief Petty Officer
Terms 7
Age 46

2 Navy
3 Specialist
2 Command

Petty Officer 1st Class
Terms 5
Age 38

END+1

2 Navy
3 Specialist
1 Command

This message was last updated by the GM at 21:37, Tue 14 July 2020.

BASIC TRAINING

All enlisted navy personnel receive the following skills at level 0: Athletics, Gun Combat, Mechanic, Medic, Steward, Vacc Suit

All naval officers receive the following skills at level 0: Admin, Astrogation, Gun Combat, Leader, Melee, Tactics, Vacc Suit

Skills are selected from the Naval Service Skills table rather than rolled randomly. Each time a skill is chosen, add +1 to its level, to a maximum of 4.

Navy
+1 to any Characteristic
Athletics
Gun Combat
Mechanic
Melee
Steward
Vacc Suit

Specialist
Astrogation
Electronics
Engineer
Gunner
Pilot
Flyer
Medic
Explosives

Command
Admin
Advocate
Diplomat
Investigate
Leadership


Events are rolled as normal, one per completed term, but the Traveller obviously cannot have suffered a Mishap that would result in being forced out of the service. Instead, a Survival roll is made each term as normal, and Mishaps are applied if necessary. If the result requires the Traveller to leave the service, he is instead aged D3+3 years, representing a stalled career whilst recovering from injury or a late promotion due to controversy.

Finally, all Travellers receive two discretionary skill levels which can be added to any skill already possessed or which the Traveller could reasonably have gained. The Traveller is now ready to begin play.




Note that while it doesn't say so explicitly, you also have background skills based on your EDU and homeworld.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:36, Tue 14 July 2020.

  One other thing to keep in mind is that, within the system, the person overseeing an activity may be the one needing to make a skill check, rather than the one actually fiddling with the controls. IE: a tricky piloting maneuver will come down to whoever is giving directions to the pilot...



  And now I'm AFK for several hours. Should be enough to get started (arguing) with though!

Thanks Syrris, that would have taken me HOURS to type, Not a typist.

I'm AFK until morning as well.

In reply to Alcuin (msg # 26):

I will be too in about 10 minutes.

What about Tier 27! Always playing favorites!

I want to play the ensign down on Deck 34 that doesn't have a clue what's going on! Ever!

Actually, my idea was to fill a position that probably isn't dealt with in their Tiers: the Intelligence Officer!

I meant a link to the book on DriveThru, not a pirate PDF

In reply to PraguePride (msg # 29):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/p...;manufacturers_id=45

Which book has these rules in them? That link just took me to all the Mongoose books.

edit: nevermind I figured it out.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Wed 15 July 2020.

Hmm, my character idea wasn't specifically Imperial military, I'd have to come up with something else if we got with the Cruiser campaign.

  The "Element Class Cruisers" package includes the Naval Campaign 'core' book. No adventure-specific spoilers there. The adventures themselves are separate items. #1 and #2 are already out; #3 is due out in a month or two.


  Intelligence Officer would work as a position. It'd be Tier 3. Gunner, Engineer, and Marines are Tier 2 because they're in charge of three of the four crew 'departments', the fourth being T0/T1 Flight(Bridge).

I'd be up for Gunnery Officer, Marine Detachment Commander, or Ship's Senior NCO.  Something with a little grit.  Rank ordered, I'd say my 1st choice is Gunnery, 2nd is Marine, 3rd is SNCO.  Not sure if we should roll and select based on that, or just everyone throw out a claim and wait a day to see if anyone else wants to roll off for that position?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Wed 15 July 2020.

I would say 1 Chief Engineer, 2 Medical Officer, 3 Chief Pilot

Hello everybody, and thanks for adding me. I'm French so English is not my first language and I apologize in advance for my mistakes and bizarre language twists. So my character is human (am not too familiar with aliens) and coming from a backwater place with it's own language.

I'll go along the Navy campaign
I'm voting for PraguePride as cap'tin :)
I'll take any position not wanted by anyone else - as I have no preference. I'll happily let the GM fill the tiers and assign a position to my PC, and then I'll create it - thanks Syrris for the rules!

Syrris is looking out for people by helping post rules and in my mind, that's exactly what you want in a 2IC.  So Syrris gets my vote for XO (presuming he/she wants it)!

Given my rolls, I'd like to be

1) Master at Arms
2) Chief Pilot
3) Bridge Engineering Officer

Oooh. I rolled well enough I could be a Baron if I so desired...I kind of like the sound of that.

Nobility fits well with being a high ranking officer in the Imperial Navy.  Good choice.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Wed 15 July 2020.

  Captain (the rank, not the role) gives a Soc bonus. Don't have to be noble for it - being a high-ranked officer is prestigious in its own right!

Muster out and increase SOC as well if you have a +1 to the right benefit rolls.  The implication being - becoming unemployed from the Navy might make you a member of aristocracy.  ;)

You don't get mustering out benefits with the Navy rules because you're still in the navy.

I know, I've got the rules.  ;)

  It isn't stated, but it's probably fair to claim a Benefit roll that's granted by one of your events if it's something you can actually have and use while still in the service. (Cash, TAS, ally/contact, +stat, implant, personal gear, etc.)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Wed 15 July 2020.

I like the way you think Syrris!

I added a few more tables to the game thread.

  PraguePride wants the Captain's chair.

  Anyone else for it?

  If not, who wants to go for XO?

  (I can if no one else does, but that's going to be a REALLY odd fit to what I've just rolled...)

How about this for a portrait?

In reply to PraguePride (msg # 49):

Sweet, everyone needs a portrait and a short description. Thanks.

Forget character descriptions when you can have a sweet formal portrait instead :D

Hey! Watch that! ;-) height weight hair color UPP

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 51):

Aye, Captain, very sweet.  Doesn't look like you are about to take my order.  Nope, not at all.

Also, I take my steak medium rare, with either a nice Malbec or a Cab Sauvignon.

  Description would depend somewhat on your rank/role. And species!


  So far we have...
 
  Captain  (Thenroy?)
  XO       (Syrris/Anyone?)
  Gunnery  (Sidare)
  Engineer (Anyone?)
  Marines  (Anyone?)
 

That is BARON Thenroy...<ahem>

CAPTAIN Thenroy. ;-)
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 17:23, Wed 15 July 2020.

  Not while he's navy! Captain Reziilka will have to do!

  Here's another helpful little sidebar from the book. The DEI stuff can be worried about later, but it gives an idea of what the major 'sections' usually are and what an officer in that section would be doing (or overseeing).


Subdividing the Ship’s Company

If the referee wishes to determine the DEI for different parts of a ship’s company, it is recommended that the subdivision be along standard departmental lines unless there are Travellers in charge of parts of the same department. In this case, it is recommended that the DEI for the detachment under each Traveller’s control be separately determined and tracked.

The following subdivisions are recommended:

Flight: All operations involving directing the ship and getting it from A to B, including sensor operations connected with these functions. The Flight department could be further subdivided into ‘ship’ and ‘boat’ operations, since the small-craft crews and maintenance personnel might have a different level of competence to the bridge crew, which may be especially important to determine if the ship carries fighter squadrons.

Gunnery: All functions involving weapons and defensive systems, including sensor operations connected with these tasks. The Gunnery department might be subdivided into spinal and secondary weapons teams, or offensive and defensive systems.

Engineering: All functions involving the ship’s powerplant, drives and technical systems. The engineering crew could be subdivided into power and drive teams, and the technical support personnel assigned to computer and electronic systems might also be considered a sub-department or even a separate department.

Crew: Medical, administrative, security and damagecontrol functions can be subsumed into a general Crew department or treated as separate subdepartments; a ship mighht have an amazing chef and excellent medical staff, but the overall standard of crew competence is low.

Others: If a ship carries marines or specialist boarding parties, these might be created as a separate department. If not, then boardings (hostile and otherwise) can be considered to be part of the Crew function.

  While I'm thinking about it... is Captain Reziilka an actual get-things-done type of noble, or is he one of those infamous(ly incapable) 'political' officers?

Well I only tip if the service is good!  ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Wed 15 July 2020.

He is definitely a political appointment but it isn't so easy to bucket him that way. He is demanding, he is pretentious. He is very ignorant to the actual operations of the ship. On paper he is everything that is wrong with nobility in that he has this position that he has not earned.

And yet... he is not incapable. He has grown up and found success among the cutthroat nobility, he demonstrates intelligence in that he defers to advisors that he trusts to know their jobs. He runs a tight ship and has a strong tactical and leadership background.

So in conclusion, he did nothing to deserve his posting and would never have been able to work his way to that position but is quite capable in that position.

I like it.

  ... now I really hope that no one else wants the XO job.


  Because I ended up rolling a vargr like Nerull wanted. But not *just* a vargr. It ended up being an Urzaeng vargr.

  That could either be a wholly combustible or a bizarrely efficient combination, but it'd be interesting either way.

Engineer Mammady Kaouthrak unless someone objects to a Suerrat Engineer?

You didn't have to make a Vargr, you could have been human or pussy. (Aslan)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Wed 15 July 2020.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 62):

You mean the one with -2 INT?

https://imgflip.com/i/48d4qi

In reply to Sidare Dinsha (msg # 65):

ROFLMAO!!!!

  -2 Int, +1 Str and +1 Dex.

Urzaeng: The Urzaeng are one of the few subspecies known to the Imperium and the only subspecies that were not outcast by Vargr society due to their superior physical prowess. Urzaeng average 1.85 metres in height and weigh 70 kilograms. They are more powerfully built than the average human and are physically a match against an adult Aslan. The Urzaeng were originally bred by the Ancients for heavy labour and combat so their increased physical prowess comes at a cost to their mental characteristics. This has resulted in the Urzaeng being a naturally violent people with contempt for weakness.

That from the Vargr book from MGT1? I like everything but -2, that bites! Oh well, sounds like the CO and XO are going to be an interesting pair!

Too bad Vince ain't here with his OCD he would have been a blast!

Hooo boy. Now I get to decide just how racist (speciest?) he is going to be...

  Probably shouldn't be unless he wants to land himself in loads of trouble!

In reply to Syrris (msg # 71):

As the ship's EEO counselor, I concur with the mutt.

Hey all, as the last one to the show here, whats left? lol

  So far we only seem to have three roles claimed.

  Full descriptions are in one of the info threads.


T0  Captain  (Thenroy)
T1  XO       (Syrris?)

T2  Gunnery  (Sidare)
T2  Engineer (RegisP?)
T2  Marines  (?)

T3  Bridge Engineer  (Mammady)
T3  Astrogator       (?)
T3  Chief Pilot      (?)
T3  Medical          (?)
T3  Smallcraft Ops   (?)
T3  Master-at-Arms   (?)


Someone was talking about being Intelligence officer; that would be another T3 job.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Wed 15 July 2020.

I would like to claim the Bridge Engineer's role please
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Wed 15 July 2020.

In reply to Mammady Kaouthrak (msg # 75):

Dibs on the T2 Chief Engineer, then ;) We're both Lieutenants, but I'm your boss! ;)

  The ranks listed are the minimum. It'd be fairly common for the chief engineer of a cruiser to be Lt-Commander. (Full Commander is unlikely though - at that point you'd be either XO or captaining a smaller ship.)

Course you're my boss Regis.  The same way as the Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani always look down on the Suerrat because we chose a different method when we began to explore other systems.  (Can you see the chip on Mammady's shoulder?

  Here's a better (and longer) description of the departments/branches that a ship is typically divided into on an organizational level:


CREW BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS

A warship has a clear chain of command, with rules for who can give orders to whom and who takes over when no-one more senior is available. This can happen due to loss of internal communications, disablement of personnel or far more routine reasons – such as crewmembers being given a task and then expected to carry it out without endless oversight.

The commanding officer of a warship is known as its captain, whatever rank he may actually hold. Smaller vessels such as destroyers might be commanded by a lieutenant-commander, cruisers by a commander and capital ships are – in theory – always commanded by a full captain. In wartime or other unusual circumstances these rules are subject to expediency but the senior command structure is ironed out as soon as possible. Thus, normally, a cruiser will have a commander as its senior officer or possibly a full captain. These more experienced officers lead task forces and squadrons, eventually moving up to a capital ship command or straight to commodore.

The captain of a warship makes big-picture policy decisions, implemented by his crew. He may take a look at the details when there is time but for a ship to function properly the officers must give the commander only as much information as he needs. The captain of a cruiser in action does not need to know everything about the situation; he does not have time for a lengthy lecture about the possibility of power failure on two of the ship’s hundred-odd laser turrets and the exact number of reloads available for the missile bays. What he needs to know is that the ship is combat-capable but missiles are getting low.

The captain is assisted by his executive officer, or XO, who manages the day-to-day running of the ship. The XO is more concerned with details than the captain and is expected to have up-to-date information available on all manner of subjects. Large ships typically have a backup command facility far enough from the main bridge that a direct hit will not take both out of action. This is usually the XO’s combat station, from where he directs operations, such as damage control, and takes over the ship if the bridge is inoperable.

The crew is divided into departments, each with its own officers, mostly specialists who must know at least a little about the work of other departments in order to co-operate with them. The Imperial Navy divides its personnel into branches, with most officers and crew spending their entire career in one branch.

Flight branch deals with bridge operations such as sensors, astrogation and piloting the ship. Subordinate craft also need a pilot (and often a co-pilot). Personnel who fulfil other functions such as engineering aboard a small craft come from the appropriate department; only those who operate bridge controls belong to the flight branch.

Gunnery branch includes gunners, missile technicians, electronic warfare specialists, sensor operators and so forth. When the vessel is not in combat, gunnery personnel perform maintenance on equipment and provide additional support to other departments. Typically, this means basic maintenance and technical tasks – warship crews are set up such that some of the routine work is done by specialists who have no pressing tasks in their own department, rather than having gunners lounging about whilst non-specialists clean the decks and service galley ovens.

Engineering branch operates drives, power systems and any heavy machinery that may be aboard. Where there is crossover, such as torpedo hoists, the system is the responsibility of its specialist branch. Engineering crew and officers tend to be the busiest of all departments – a ship can coast through space without the flight crew needing to do much but drives and power plants must be constantly monitored.

Technical branch is responsible for computers and light machinery, which is not the property of another department, and supports all departments when specialist assistance is required. Technical personnel might be called upon to assist a gunnery team with a stuck turret traverse, whilst others are working on an upgrade to the ship’s cyber-security package. Technical branch has a very varied workload and is rarely short of things to do.

Medical branch is small and provides medical support as necessary. Doctors and surgeons are commissioned officers but are not in the ship’s chain of command. In the past, medical officers have taken over a vessel in the case of catastrophic damage but only as an emergency expedient rather than something that has rules in place. Normally a medical officer, however senior, will defer to any ‘fighting’ officer if one is available.

Crew branch is a non-specialist arm, although there are specialisms within the branch. Crew personnel keep the ship running day-to-day and undertake damage control operations in combat. Some crew personnel have a specific role that consumes all of their on-duty hours, such as administrators and chefs, but others are multiskilled at a fairly low level and undertake basic maintenance, security and similar tasks when they are not called upon to provide labour. A crewmember’s day can be quite varied, involving heavy work bringing supplies aboard for a mission, general cleaning and routine maintenance, then a couple of hours running errands for the officer of the watch.

Line branch is for officers only and is a non-specialist department. Command officers (the captain and XO) transfer to the Line when they assume their first position of command and other officers may also belong. Some are on their way to command, undertaking a period of general orientation or cross-training to enable better understanding of departments they have not served in. Others fulfil necessary tasks but whilst they might climb the ranks to a high level, they will never go to command college and take over a starship. These officers usually transfer to Staff when they reach lieutenant-commander and include administrators, lawyers, chaplains and officers who specialise in areas such as damage control, liaison with planetside governments and shipboard security. Some specialist vessels carry officers who have a very narrow role such as experts in biochemical warfare or a scientific field. Whilst assigned to a ship’s company, such officers are in Line branch and wear its insignia although they are not in the chain of command for the ship.

Staff branch is open to both enlisted and commissioned personnel. The Staff branch contains most non-fighting personnel of the navy, including administrative personnel who handle recruitment, training, pensions and general support tasks for the navy. The Staff also contains some extremely specialised officers, such as theoretical gravitics experts, training officers and accountants. When permanently assigned to a ship’s company, specialists and their supporting enlisted personnel are part of the Line or Crew departments but those who are aboard for a specific mission are not in the ship’s chain of command and remain part of the Staff branch. There are several sub-branches within Staff including procurement, intelligence, research & development, training, astrophysics, diplomacy & liaison and some departments with bland sounding names and obscure remits whose personnel are strangely vague about what they do.

Yep. Talk about dead-end jobs! Nothing like the Navy in an PbP game. Was on another site years ago and while it was fairly easy to get promoted... up to a point... you then had to start thinking like a Klingon or a Romulan... kill the next ranking officer ahead of you... or else there was nowhere else to get promoted to!

Colonel Blackjack Sun here. Catch 22 here we come. He's Lieutenant Colonel Blackjack Sun. (See his Character Description for all the gory details.)

Of course, it's all pending the GM's approval.

I wanted him to be the Intelligent Intelligence Officer, Morale Officer and Political Officer (but, no, he's not the cook). And, yes, the beatings will continue until morale improves!


Not sure if the rules-writers had this in mind, but those last two freebie skills you get might have been meant as the Contacts skills you'd normally get. Presumably, of course, we all know each other because we're all in the Imperial Navy and have been serving on the same ship for at least the last 4 years. Right?

Anyone decide to create a background where you spent previous terms on another ship? Maybe the Imperial Destroyer Kickass? Or the Imperial Frigate Kwitchurbelliachin?

If the captain hasn't been the CO for the past 12 years, that could offer some interesting role-playing opportunities.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:56, Wed 15 July 2020.

I may go XO, or Marine Commander. But that also depends on the bossman. Gotta toss some questions at him.

  The first adventure actually assumes that we *don't* have a history of working together, although some characters may have met. It sets us up as the newly-drafted (and possibly newly-promoted) crew of a cruiser that has just undergone reconstruction and is set to start its shakedown cruise.

  So there's all THAT fun to deal with too.

  Promotions in-story aren't usually a big thing in a naval campaign. One or two might happen over the course of it but it usually doesn't run for so many years that everyone would be moving up - and if you did, there's a decent chance you get transferred somewhere else (and effectively out of the story)!

  Medals and other honors, however...

  **

  Agh! No! Don't ask for the XO job! The current combination is just too hilarious to pass up!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Wed 15 July 2020.

Just throwing it out there but given Syrris' stats would it make more sense for him to switch to being the Marine commander?

  The character would be such a stereotype as the marine commander though. Having them as XO, combined with that captain? Much more potential there!

  (Also, Syrris is the placeholder name, not the character's one. I'm going to have to break out the vargr sound effects for that.)


T0  Captain  (Thenroy)
T1  XO       (Syrris?)

T2  Gunnery  (Sidare)
T2  Engineer (RegisP?)
T2  Marines  (?)

T3  Bridge Engineer  (Mammady)
T3  Astrogator       (?)
T3  Chief Pilot      (?)
T3  Medical          (?)
T3  Smallcraft Ops   (?)
T3  Master-at-Arms   (?)
T3  Intelligence     (Colonel)

This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Wed 15 July 2020.

Heh, trust me nothing I make is a stereotype. lol

Like I said depending on what the GM says in our discussion I'll put my hat in for either XO or Marine Commander. I have a lot of questions for him, but many are reliant on answers to other questions on if I even ask them. lol

  We might be able to answer some of them if you post them here. Unless they're Big Secrets (tm)?

  Edit: I meant that making the urzaeng into a marine commander would be a stereotype!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Wed 15 July 2020.

They are SSssseeeecats. :)

Don't get me wrong I'll be happy with whoever lands in whatever position but it seems to me that both your stats and species would work against you for getting an XO position. What kind of struggles would he/she/it face trying to break out of the "vaugr smash" stereotype everyone would see them as. Given how much more successful they would be as a marine it again asks the question why did they push against it.

These are questions I feel need to be addressed to make the situation more believable and the character more interesting. Stereotypes become a short of shortcut for details. If they were a successful marine their very nature fills in a lot of gaps. Why were they selected? Why were they successful? How did they overcome obstacles and challenges? Because they're a big freaking war machine.

Take that same character though, throw in inherent human-centric Imperium leadership and those same questions: how did they get to be an officer? How did they succeed? How did they overcome obstacles etc. aren't easy to answer anymore. When you're character is good at shooting guns and smashing faces how does that lend itself to leadership to such a degree that you're an XO on a cruiser? How does kicking butt and taking names edge you out over political appointees or well-connected officers with "proper" backgrounds and education?

Why would Captain Reziilka pick them over all the other XOs available?

edit: Let me say 100% I am not trying to push you out. These are just the questions I would have the same as you would want to know my character's background, how they got this role etc. Apologies if I come off too critical, I suppose I am used to being a GM and being much more involved in other people's character creations. Please don't take this as a lecture or an argument but just honest questions of curiosity hoping to get a better understanding of my closest subordinate.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Wed 15 July 2020.

  Well for one thing, Rez doesn't get to pick who the navy assigns to the job. ;)


  The Imperium isn't that human-centric, particularly in the region that we're operating in; a few worlds may have other ideas, but the general attitude of the 'Behind the Claw' regions is that you're a citizen of a world first and a (species) second if at all - unless that species is something REALLY weird.

  As for the how - that depends on a couple of things from the GM and whether or not it happens. I have ideas but I don't want to spend a bunch of time writing it up if it won't be used.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Wed 15 July 2020.

  ...if you want something of the 'wild rumor and innuendo' variety, I could draw on certain points from Commander/XO chargen!


  I heard that, years ago, when they were still a new officer, they stopped someone from stealing a fighter right out from under the navy's nose!
  No, it was the funds to build a new shuttle design. I heard about it from one of the technicians.
  Actually, it was a whole destroyer they saved - one of the ships that Darokyn tried to make off with when he defected?
  No, they stopped an embezzlement scheme around an entire construction program!
  Well anyway, that's why the navy brass likes them so much and keeps giving them cushy jobs!


  The preceding may even be vaguely based on something resembling an actual term event involving the character...

And there's always the Officer Exchange Program.

Maybe the Vargr is XO for political expedience... a way to defuse a political situation.

Remember, too, this is Nerull's Traveller universe.

For that matter, aren't you playing into the very stereotypes you are leery of? He's a Vargr--he must be a problem.

I'd tend to think that if he's wearing a Imperial Navy Commander's uniform and rank, THAT is what is important. The rank-and-file don't question that. There may be some individual prejudices, but that's for role-playing NPCs mostly.

I tend to take things at face value. It's only when someone does something out of the ordinary that it becomes (maybe) an issue. I mean, if the Vargr goes around peeing on  fire hydrants, then you might have a problem.

I think the better way to do it here is for the Captain to decide how he feels about Vargr and getting one shoved onto his ship as XO and then roleplay it.

You could just as easily have gone the other way--the Captain requested this particular Vargr for some reason. Or even just A Vargr--and this what he got.

Something else Rez, I was successful in my job in the Army, which was Infantry, Airborne Infantry to boot, for 17 years (had to switch my last 3 do to injuries to get my full 20) not because of being big and brawny. I'm 5'10 and 180. There is nothing big and brawny about me. However what they did see about me was I was very reactive. I could react to a situation quickly, think fast on my feat and reacted well under pressure. I broke away from the mold of a typical airborne grunt, and managed to climb up the ranked very quickly.

However, that also does not mean that your character may not have a large dislike for an alien XO. These are our characters as much as this is Nerull's game. Play them as you will, that's part of the fun of roleplaying games!

I'm being a bit secretive right now about my character because I need more information on what he is doing on some aspects of his version of the Travellor Unniverse. Looking through the Alien books, and with my RTJ plans, I need a bit more information from him specifically. :) That's all. lol

Like I said, I don’t think it is impossible or maybe even unlikely. And yes Rez is probably going to look down his nose at a vargr but being a human from non-nobility is just as unpleasant. It’s not speciesism, its elitism

New here!

Is the marine commander still open?

  Kyper was looking at that if they don't get XO.

  Master-at-Arms might be an alternative to Marine Commander.

When does the campaign take place, timeline-wise?

I say Mr GM... are the character sheets available yet so we can begin working?

In reply to Mammady Kaouthrak (msg # 97):

Sorry I missed you. Anyone else I missed?

Takes place around 1105 I believe.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:39, Thu 16 July 2020.

Interesting.  Archduke Ferdinand of Ilelish died without issue in 1104.  It's about 600 years since the Ilelish revolt, not that Mammady's interested, it was mostly Solomani who revolted, not the Graytsch or the Suerrat.

1105 I believe.

Just so everyone knows, I'm on 0700 +/- until 1530 to 1630 Eastern time in the afternoon with occasional exceptions. After about 4:00 in the afternoon, I'll answer you in the morning.

Kyper, did you get your questions answered, and if so, are you still after the XO job?

Varca is now here Syrris!

In reply to Nerull (msg # 103):

Nice Rob! Colonel BS! Lololol

Ayyee, the gang's all together again.

I see I've been added to the cast, so I will jump in here and call, "Medical Officer".

I'll throw my ring in the hat for marine commander if Kyper doesn't end up with it or Chief Pilot.

In reply to Blackie (msg # 107):

     Hey y'all! I'm gonna...what the Hell?  What's that name doing over there?

     Oh.  Heh, yeah, I guess I did send my RTJ from that account...

     Anyway, pay no attention to that Name behind the curtain ^_^

     It's my intention to play Ishakhi Kiikag Kimpasherki, a Vilani, serving until recently as a Fighter Pilot, but now (I hope) recently promoted to the position of Smallcraft Operations Commander.

     The character is also a three-time Gold Medalist in Zero-G Food Fighting...

I can't find a decent picture for Mammady but the one on the cat list is slightly less remote.

That explains why we're only getting about one reply back and forth between us bossman! :)

I got the first answered, which caused a couple more. What I might do since our time differance between when he is on and I am is just toss them all at him and see where it goes. lol

But yes, I am still looking at XO. So far.

In reply to Kyper (msg # 110):

Yup. I'm a sleeper!

Anybody that is ready to change their name label, let me know what you want up there. Pick a portrait and write a short description too. Or I will!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:35, Fri 17 July 2020.

This message was deleted by the player at 14:02, Fri 17 July 2020.

I am too as I just woke up. Lol

Got my answers though, so I will be going XO. As a Darryan, or darrien. Depending on which paragraph you read. Lol

You can use the Darrien alien book from MGT1 if you want for background and such. Star Trigger!

  When you have too many people going for jobs within the same tier (CO and XO are each their own tier), everyone involved is supposed to roll off for them. We've gor two or three possible overlaps so we should probably deal with them before things get more tangled.

  RAW tiers are supposed to be settled one at a time so you don't have potential chain reactions, but with PBPost being the way it is, we're kind of doing them all at once.

Yup, we have 2 folks trying to be XO correct? You need to roll off to see who gets it. Kyper and Syrris. 2d6, no +/-, who gets the highest number?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:19, Fri 17 July 2020.

Okay, I *think* this is what everyone has said they're after to date. Names with ? are non-character names.

Ingrid hasn't called out for anything as far as I can tell.


T0  Captain  (Thenroy)
T1  XO       (Kyper?/Syrris?)

T2  Gunnery  (Sidare)
T2  Engineer (RegisP?)
T2  Marines  (Blackie?/Kyper?)

T3  Bridge Engineer  (Mammady)
T3  Astrogator       (?)
T3  Chief Pilot      (Blackie?)
T3  Medical          (Sauli)
T3  Smallcraft Ops   (Ishakhi)
T3  Master-at-Arms   (?)
T3  Intelligence     (Colonel)

??  Ingrid

Oh dear. Leaving position to chance. I'm hosed, the dice goes hate me. LOL

  Separate issue, but please check on the character generation rules for the naval campaign. It does NOT use the standard Traveller chargen.

  The only things you roll are initial SDEIES and (once you know your rank and therefore terms completed) events for each term. Plus a d3 for how many years you are into your current term.

  No skill rolls, muster-out, survival, etc.

Thanks Syrris.

I think I may have a completed sheet.

Space Elves for the win? Or, if you would since they come from earth too, in the long long past. Just human's with pointed ears.

Swerve its a Spelljammer game now!

Elves in space.  TL-16 is basically magic... :)

Add in Darrien's have pointed ears, and win! LOL

I just wish they explained more how human's ear went from round in all other cultures to pointed in their's. Sure they have a bit sharper hearing, but you can get that without points.

In reply to Kyper (msg # 126):

Hey Everybody!  My name is Ishakhi, and that's Vilani for "Guy who throws a Monkey-wrench into things"!  ^_^

So...I got's me a "monkey-wrench" kinda question about this Naval Campaign character creation method-thingy.

Does it still allow for "Pre-Career" options?  I'm thinking I'd like to have had Ishakhi go to a Military Academy, before he joins the Navy.

Not a deal breaker if he can't, I'm just thinking I'd like to put it in his background.



Daryans are descended from transplanted Homo Sapiens Sapiens Terrestrialis?  Really?

Is that a Mongoose thing?  I swear I remember reading that they were the result of parallel evolution, or somesuch.  But, Hell, I think the last time I read anything about the Daryans was in a supplement for MegaTraveller--when that game was new!



Okay, so, the Career selection is different, but the SDEIES "rolling" process is straight outta Compton the Core Rulebook, right?  Roll 2D6 six times, put the numbers up my nose wherever, in any order, that I want,  Correct?

  There's no pre-career or anything else. It could have happened backstory-wise, but it doesn't affect what you end up with. The core book chargen steps simply don't apply.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:38, Sat 18 July 2020.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 128):

Okay, not a problem.  Thanks.

Yup, according to Classic Traveller Alien Module 8 Page 2, they are a human minor race placed on Darrien about 300,000 years ago. Then same is said in Mongoose Traveller Alien Module 3 page 49.

So yup. Transplant like the Zhodani and Vilani.

Are your sure we can't take some of our muster-outs benefits? After 19 years in the Navy? :)
Iita Tsetsegmaa could go with +2 INT, +1 EDU and +2 SOC to establish her authority over the technical department... Too bad those progresses should happen to her only the very day after she leaves the job! ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:52, Sun 19 July 2020.

And Suerrat.

Having fun yet?

You are the crew of the INS Sharshana, a 50,000 ton Cruiser.

INS Sharshana is a Ghalalk class heavy cruiser, one of
the earliest of that class to enter service. Several years
ago she suffered serious damage, including the nearcomplete
destruction of her central pod mountings and
significant structural weakening throughout her frame.
Budgetary concerns resulted in her being placed in
reserve, then patched up and deployed as a defence
monitor at Depot/Deneb. Deemed too expensive to
repair, she was cannibalised for spares, losing her jump
drive in the process.

Eventually, the Admiralty found sufficient money to
repair the old cruiser. This was initially to have been
little more than a cosmetic refit and reinstallation
of a minimal jump drive, allowing her to become a
heavily armed troop transport for the Imperial Marines.
However, as is the way of things the Admiralty decided
that for just a little more money they could get another
cruiser out patrolling the spaceways, and authorised a
major rebuild.

Costs spiralled as the work continued, and for a time
INS Sharshana lay incomplete on the ways waiting
for spares that would likely never come. She was then
transferred to a private yard at Zeng for finishing at
the expense of the Duke of Zeng. This was a political
gesture intended to increase the duke’s standing in
the local region, and came with the condition that INS
Sharshana would be deployed to the Zeng and Gulf
subsectors for not less than ten years. Thus the area
gained additional security, the Imperial Navy got a
cruiser back at no cost and the Duke of Zeng gained a
reputation as the protector of the region.

The outcome of all this is that INS Sharshana became
a politically charged project. There are those who would
like to see the Duke of Zeng embarrassed by having ‘his’
cruiser fail in some spectacular manner. Others merely
watch with interest as the old cruiser leaves her berth
and begins a shakedown cruise in Gulf subsector.

Political interference and the intense scrutiny the
mission will be subject to meant that good officers
looked elsewhere for advancement when the chance
to crew INS Sharshana emerged. A shakedown cruise
in the backwaters rarely has much chance for careermaking
exploits, and any mistakes will be thrown into
sharp relief by the duke’s political opponents.

Thus INS Sharshana is to be taken over by a relatively
junior band of officers. These promising but unproven
candidates are ordered to report aboard their new
ship at Zeng and commence a patrol operation in the
Gulf subsector. This is to be a ‘shakedown’ cruise, in
which any defects with the vessel will be identified and
recommendations submitted upon return to port.

The Travellers may or may not have worked together
before. They have all held important posts, but
probably not aboard such a large vessel, and should
view the chance to command and crew a heavy cruiser
as a real career opportunity – providing all goes well.
The previous experience of the Travellers will take one
of two forms:

• The Traveller has held a similar post but aboard a
smaller ship. For example, the Chief Engineer may
have been Chief Engineer of a destroyer in the past.

• The Traveller has served aboard a heavy cruiser, but
in the next post down. For example, the commanding
officer may have served as Executive Officer of a
Ghalalk class cruiser in his last deployment.

Thus all of the Travellers are stepping up onto a wider
stage, and have some learning to do. If they can grow
into their new roles, they may find themselves ahead of
the curve for future promotions and assignments. Or INS
Sharshana might be the graveyard of their careers….

INS Sharshana has picked up some traits and quirks in
her long and hard service life. These are drawn from the
Naval Campaign Guide, but as always the referee can
replace them with others, perhaps of his own devising.
Most ships will have at most one or two traits and
quirks, but Sharshana is carrying old wounds and as had
a patchy repair history.

Cool, we're on board HMS Renown!!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Renown_(1916)

In reply to Mammady Kaouthrak (msg # 135):

Yup

  No muster-out benefits.

;-) Thanks.

I would say that given the events rolled Baron Reziilka was captain of a light cruiser that was hit hard in some conflict or another and is now in drydocks for several years. In the meantime he gets to fail upwards so despite losing a ship he's being given an even bigger ship to destroy command.

Heheheheheheh

Alright Syrris, ready for our roll-off?

  10.

  I now fully expect you to roll 12.

  ...unless your RL name is actually Bryant, in which case I know who you are, and fully expect you to roll 2.

My luck is bad.

16:16, Today: Kyper rolled 3 using 2d6.

Now to the drawing board and rethink some of this.

  Are you still interested in Marine Commander? Both you and Blackie had spoken for it, so you'd need to have another roll-off unless you've switched plans.

Not sure.

Not sure Marine commander will fit the over arching idea of the character, and there is no TIC per sae.

Marine Commander's tend more towards ground force or assualt commanders, not naval ship or fleet leaders. The T2 Gunnary Officer or Chief Engineer keep me on path for what I was thinking though IMHO.

  The ship has a force of ~70 marines IIRC, which are both for security and boarding actions, and to provide a rapid-response capability if needed planetside.

  That said, the marine commander is a senior officer on the ship responsible for this force and is unlikely to be going anywhere with them - they'd be managing operations from a tactical station on one of the bridges.

  *Maybe* if it's a full-on deployment of the whole force and easier to oversee on-site, but even then they'd be in whatever was used for an HQ, not dashing to the front line to lay down fire!

  Updated per Ingrid's request:


T0  Captain  (Thenroy)
T1  XO       (Syrris?)

T2  Gunnery  (Sidare)
T2  Engineer (Iita)
T2  Marines  (Blackie?/Kyper?)

T3  Bridge Engineer  (Mammady)
T3  Astrogator       (Ingrid?)
T3  Chief Pilot      (Blackie?)
T3  Medical          (Sauli)
T3  Smallcraft Ops   (Ishakhi)
T3  Master-at-Arms   (?)
T3  Intelligence     (Colonel)

This message was last edited by the player at 07:17, Sun 19 July 2020.

True. And if Nerull allows and since Mongoose did say that 1st Ed stuff is transferable to 2nd Ed, Marine in the Darien book is actually a Specialist of Navy. Technically she would have received her training their not in Imperial Space. Following that premise and logic, if he allows, could make the Marine Commander work. Would mean I'd have more navy skills then the normal Imperial Marine's, but allow for me to keep my idea going too.

So yea, if Nerull allows for my logic here, lets stick with me rolling for Marine Commander next. I just hope my lucks a bit better here, otherwise I have no idea.

  As an aside, the above bit about the marine commander applies to all of these jobs just as much: unlike in Star Trek, the ship's senior officers don't go jaunting off to deal with everything in person. That's what the crew under their command is for!

Hey Blackie, with this in mind since I been tossed here, does that mean you'll take Chief Pilot?

In reply to Syrris (msg # 147):

I guess pencil me in for the astrogator role between those two

In reply to Kyper (msg # 150):

70 Marines?  Ummm....a "Reinforced Platoon"?

So, Smallcraft Ops for this cruiser is, uh, 12 20-ton Ships Boats, and division personnel are 12 Officer Pilots and 12 Enlisted.  If I'm reading this right--which I'm not 100% sure about (typical crappy Mongoose editing)

And, given the background for the ship you've given us, would I be too off target to guess that we'll likely be equipped with either Missile Pods, Fuel Pods, or a combination of the two? (Dare I hope for a Hangar Pod?  Or--be still my beating heart!--a Fighter Pod? ^_^)

  Sharshana has four missile pods. Can't change that out at this point.

  (It's what the navy installed - nothing any of us got to choose!)


  Small craft operations probably includes the repair drones. Not a big thing, but it's something.

  Getting fighters (or equivalent) might be doable but probably not at the start of the first mission (unless someone is amazing at pulling strings with the admiralty, anyway).
This message was last edited by the player at 08:04, Sun 19 July 2020.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 153):

     Eh, figured as much about the Missile Pods.  As stated, this sounds like a Patrol Mission, as well as almost being seconded to a Colonial Fleet role, so just the basic Missile Pods makes sense.

Oooo!  Drone Operations falls under Smallcraft Ops?  I never dared hope.  I figgered the Repair Drones would fall under Engineering's supervision.  Sangat menarik!

I didn't really have any expectation we'd have fightercraft--not even defensive fighters.  But how cool would it be if we did, huh?

Lolololololololol! Don't forget Stardrift Voyages Vince!
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:04, Sun 19 July 2020.

Pilot have to steal some obviously.

In reply to Mammady Kaouthrak (msg # 156):

What is a Suerrat?

Okay, it's a monkey.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:07, Sun 19 July 2020.

https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Suerrat

There are three minor races that are claimants to major race status albeit only in their own minds.  The Darrians (who have never really claimed to be a major race because they obtained the jump drive from the Solomani but) have a technological aptitude that goes beyond most other races.
The Geonee who reverse engineered their first starship from a crashed Ancient starship.

And the Suerrat, who began interstellar travel at the same time as the Vilani (and in fact it was the Suerrat who contacted the Vilani, not the other way round) but they used massive intergenerational starships rather than jump drive.

The Suerrat have many genetic factors which are not expressed in other humans, which is why the Solomani consider them 'apelike'.  They have huge dark eyes and thick red fur all over their bodies except for soles, palms and from the neck upward.  They cannot grow facial hair.  They tend to be much shorter than other human species, averaging around 1.5 metres but they are heavily built and well muscled, with an average of 60-65Kg.

So how is everyone doing? Are we looking to get this show on the road anytime soon?

 The only one that I can say for sure looks correct is Thenroy. The others are either hard to gauge without knowing what they had as events... and at least one is obviously not done according to the chargen rules for the naval campaign.

  Everyone summarize your choices:



  Rank:
  Role:
  Background Skills):
  Basic Training Skills:
  Navy Skills:
  Specialist Skills:
  Command Skills:
  Two Extra Skills:

  Term Events/Outcomes:

  I don't get immunity even though I'm the grumpy auditor that's responsible for all of this. I'll even go ahead and post mine openly so that you can all laugh if you like...



Rank: Commander
Role: XO
Background Skills: Athletics 0, Flyer 0, Mechanic 0, Science 0
Basic Training Skills: Admin 0, Astrogation 0, Gun Combat 0, Leadership 0, Melee 0, Tactics 0, Vacc Suit 0
Rank Skills: Leadership 1, Melee (Blade) 1, Tactics (Naval) 1
Navy Skills: -
Specialist Skills: Electronics +1, Engineering +1, Gunnery +1, Pilot +1
Command Skills: Admin +2, Leadership +1
Two Extra Skills: Language +1, Tactics +1

Term Events/Outcomes:

 6  Notable military engagement
    - Electronics 1

10  Abuse position for profit?
    - Refused. +2 Advancement

 8  Diplomatic mission
    - Diplomat 1

 8  Diplomatic mission
    - Steward 1

 7  Life Event (5): Improved Relationship
    - Gain an Ally

 8  Diplomatic mission
    - Recon 1

This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Sun 19 July 2020.

Do you need me to do this as well?

  For the sake of being even-handed it would be helpful if you threw yours into the ring too. Doesn't have to be public if you want to keep events and such hidden.

It's not about being public and more just its a lot of work to go back through it all... I'll get something up...eventually...

 Rank:  Lieutenant
  Role: Bridge Engineer
  Background Skills): Science 0 (Archaeology, History, Sophontology 0). Seafaring 0 (Personal),
                      Streetwise 0, Language (Suerrat 0)
  Basic Training Skills:  Admin 0, Gun Combat 0, Melee 0, Tactics 0, Vacc Suit 0
  Rank Skills:  Melee (Blade) 1, Leadership 1
  Navy Skills:
  Specialist Skills: Engineer 2 (Life Support 1, Power 1) Electronics 1 (Comms 1)
  Skills from cross-training (see events): Astrogation 1, Gunner 1 (Turret Gunner)
  Command Skills: Investigate 2
  Two Extra Skills: Electronics 1 (Computer 1), Language (Anglic) 1)

  Term Events/Outcomes:
1st Term Summary:
Joined as Midshipman.
Cross training: Astrogation 1
promoted to Ensign

2nd Term Summary:
Developed rivalry
Promoted to Sub Lieutenant

3rd Term Summary:
Cross training as Gunner 1 (Turret Gunner)
Promoted to Lieutenant

4th Term Summary:
Gained contact

Oops I had an extra 0 ranks background skill (Profession Polymers) also Language (Anglic) was 0 instead of 1

g'day people ;
I need a homeworld for my character, from you geography buffs...
for retcon reasons... :
- it should be in Imperial space, in the Claw or not far from it...
- it should be home to some Solomanis who still speak Anglic among themselves
- it should be in the void (asteroids?) but populous... :)

Any suggestion would be appreciated :)
Thank you

What kind of equipment are we going to have. I figure that weapons and armor probably won't be playing much of an impact into things but could I have a kick ass family sword given his rank and social standing? Probably a static blade? Otherwise the Baron probably has an ornate sword but it just isn't practical from combat standpoint.

Alright, I'll post mine soon as I am done building her.

Will be making her as the Marine Commander.

How about
Sherad (Atsah/Deneb) A000447-E
Long Shot (The Narrows/Corridor) C00069C-B

I would have suggested Shargishu in the Naadi subsector but it's forbidden.

I've been looking at the naval campaign book and it doesn't go into equipment at all. In fact it specifically mentions how we shouldn't be purchasing anything beyond personal items but I can't find anywhere that it talks about what standard equipment for a naval ship is.

Looks like I'll be chief pilot then.  I'll get cracking on the chargen.

So, the 'one' that was 'obviously not done according to the chargen rules for the naval campaign' is me. That should have been obvious from the UPP character sheet that he copied.

Here's what happened: when GM Nerull started the game and opened it for RTJs, I sent him my idea for a character. At that time, the only info was that it was a 'military' campaign... not even yet specified that meant Navy. Charagen rules hadn't been posted.

I not only don't have the Naval Campaign Book, I'd never even heard of it at that time.

And GM Nerull didn't say there was anything wrong with my character CONCEPT. So I started generating the character.

I started with Background Skills; I think he only got 2 at rank 0--Carouse and Streetwise.

The idea here is that the skills he would get as a Rogue weren't going to be skills that the Navy taught. So he's got 1st term Rogue Skills--Athletics, Deception, Sensors, Recon, Stealth and Streetwise, all at 0.

Term development, advancement, and mustering out (I know, not kosher) increased Deception, Recon and Stealth to Rank 1. Event: Involved in planning a heist; Electronics (Sensors) to 1.

As I wrote up his back story, the authorities were after him, he ducked into an office and found himself getting recruited into... THE NAVY! As an officer/Ensign. While he thought at the time that he must have checked the wrong box, or it was a computer glitch, or a bureaucratic screw-up, he's now wondering if they thought that his name (Colonel) was his rank, which already meant he was an officer.

So, now I went through the Naval Campaign character generation.

I rolled for Advancement, though, and succeeded during all three terms, so he wound up as Lieutenant... which is exactly where he is supposed to be.

At the end of his 1st Naval term, he was about to get discharged when he saw the Authorities waiting for him... or so he thought. He'd learned that there was a statute of limitations on the heist, which hadn't yet expired, so he did an about face and rejoined the Navy!

I'd originally wanted to give him Gambling, but passed on it for something else. So what do I roll for an Event? Join a gambling ring. Actually, I'm thinking he started it.

After two terms in the Navy, the plan was to become an Agent. Since this was strictly a Naval campaign, that translated into Naval Intelligence. So, here he was, at the end of his 2nd naval term, statute of limitations (7 years) on the heist had run out, and he was a Free Man again! Only, now he heard the Authorities were after him again!

He thought it might be for the gambling, or maybe the bureaucracy finally caught up with him since he'd joined under false pretenses/credentials. He ducked into another office to hide. That's when ONI 'recruited' him. He hadn't planned on joining ONI (or the Navy again), but he thinks he must have checked the wrong box again! All he got from it was 3 skills--Hovercraft, Persuade and Stealth.

And that's how he became an Intelligence Officer! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!


Term Events/Outcomes:

TERM 1 EVENT: Involved in planning a heist. Gain Sensors +1.
TERM 2 EVENT: Your vessel participates in a diplomatic mission. Gained Recon +1.
TERM 3 EVENT: You join a gambling circle on board. Gain Gambling 1.
TERM 4 EVENT: You go undercover to investigate an enemy. Gain Broker +1.
              You are given advanced training in a specialist field. Roll EDU 10+ to
              gain any one skill of your choice at level 1 (nope).

Of course, now that he's an Intelligence Officer, he's begun to wonder if maybe he's
   had some secret Patron pulling his strings behind the scenes... (hint to the GM!).

Just went hunting for a homeworld in the subsector or adjacent ones. They should have called the sectors the Absurd or Irrational subsectors! Most of the worlds aren't inhabitable and have very few people living on them. The only thing we're going to have to fight is BOREDOM!

Okay, let's rebuild according to the navy campaign chargen:


Basic Training includes Leadership.

A Lieutenant gains Melee (Blade) 1 and Leadership 1.

You don't have career terms/skills from elsewhere (no Agent skills).

The 'Navy' skill picks are only given to NCOs. (They're 'crew-level' ones.)

The events need to be rolled on the Navy table.


Yes, your backstory can include other things, but these need to be abstracted within the chargen or covered with your skill picks (this is partly why you have 'any two'). IE, you're working as an intelligence agent (small-a) within the Navy (capital-N) career.


Rank: Lieutenant
Role: Intelligence Officer.
Background Skills: Carouse, Streetwise.
Basic Training Skills: Admin, Astrogation, Gun Combat, Leadership, Melee, Tactics, VaccSuit
Officer Skills: Melee (Blade) 1, Leadership 1.
Navy Skills: -
Specialist Skills: Electronics (Computers) +1, Explosives +1, Pilot (Small Craft) +1
Command Skills: Diplomat +1, Investigate +1.
Two Extra Skills: Jack-of-All-Trades +1, Recon +1.

Term Events/Outcomes:

TERM 1 EVENT: This needs to be a Navy event.
TERM 2 EVENT: Your vessel participates in a diplomatic mission. Gained Recon 1.
TERM 3 EVENT: You join a gambling circle on board. Gain Gambling 1.
TERM 4 EVENT: This needs to be a Navy event.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Sun 19 July 2020.

  As for the first mission: it's a routine patrol through backwater systems as part of the ship's shakedown cruise.

  Shakedown cruises bring their own brand of fun for a newly-assigned senior staff, and 'routine' patrols can still throw all kinds of situations at a perfectly-functioning ship...



  Edit: Your character doesn't have to be from the area. This is their new assignment - whether or not it was where they expected the admiralty to send them!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Sun 19 July 2020.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 175):

     "Mmmff mmm gphtppt mm'tptp!"

     Pulls gun barrel out of my mouth...

     Sorry, I said "I got a Character Gen problem!"

     Okay, look, I'm wanting to play a Vilani, but the fuck-ups folks at Mongoose never got around to publishing any supplements for the Vilani--in either Edition!

     I'm trying to find out if there are any Attribute Mods, Special Skills, etc. -- or are "Vilani" "Solomani" and "Humaniti" just other names for "Undifferentiated Generic Human"?

     I found that to be the case in T4--and I put the gun in my mouth after reading T5--and MegaTraveller's Vilani & Vargr only talked about Age Mods and a higher tolerance for bright lights...

     I swear I am gonna pull this trigger, and put myself out of my misery!

     Is there is, or is there ain't any Attribute Mods for being Vilani?

"Physically they are identical to Solomani, Zhodani, and many other branches of humaniti. The typical Vilani is about 1.7 meters in height and weighs about 70 kilograms (slightly smaller than the Solomani average). Purebred Vilani (of which few remain) generally have a medium complexion, with light brown to black hair. Gold eyes are also a common trait. Vilani blood types are C, D, M, N, and O, with types C and N dominant. Vland itself has a hospitable environment, but an alien biology; humans cannot use local plant and animal life for food unless it is processed."

If you searched through all those sources and couldn't find any attribute adjustments mentioned, then I would think it follows that there aren't any.

'Dogs and Cogs' or better known as 'Vilani and Vargr' have no real differences for Vilani

GURPS Interstellar Wars has a Vilani template.  They have Extended Lifespan [1] which gives you live to anywhere to 130 years to 200 years.  They apparently have Less Sleep and a better lifting strength.  It's fairly vague.  The main takeaway I have always used for Vilani is the longer lifespan.

The main rulebook is your standard human, which includes Vilani. The Solomani have differant stat's only if they come from the Solomani Confederation. Least that's how the Imperium human's are.

In reply to Kyper (msg # 179):

     Yeah, all that stuff is pretty much all I found, too.  T4 has a system to modify the Age Mods to Attributes, which is how they deal with the Longevity thing.  Several sources mention that Vland--where the Vilani "developed"--has a gravity 1.15 G's, but, as mentioned, I think only GURPS actually gave any game mechanic benefit for that.  And (I think) it was in Vilani & Vargr that it was mentioned (in passing) that since Vland orbits an F1 star, that while Vilani eyesight is about equal to Terrans--sorry, Solomani--the Vilani can tolerate a "brighter" range of luminosity than Terr--Solomani.  "Flash Defense", possibly, but just not enough to be significant.

     Oh, well, that's okay.  I just wanted to be sure, before I go and set my Attributes.  Didn't want to go through everything, and then have somebody (Syrris) jump in and tell me (Syrris) that I'd forgotten (Syrris) to take some Modifier (Syrris) into account (like Syrris).

     I'll go get to putting my character together, now.  ^_^



Just kidding Syrris!!  Y'know I Love Ya, Bubba! ^_^

Actually I saw it explained in one of the older books, but it was because of breeding. However, that being the case it does not explain how the Solomani in the Solomani Confederation were able to maintain their identity. Frankly, I don't try to figure out why game designer's do things.

So, in my Event, I got "Gain DM+1 to any one Benefit roll"....

Big F'ing Deal!!!  Since we ain't Mustering Out, I don't get no "Benefit" rolls!

mumble-mumble-grumble-mumble....

In reply to Ishakhi Kiikag Kimpasherki (msg # 182):

     Okay, I admit it--I'm just enough of a "Munchkin" that it annoys me that I'm rolling up that I should receive "Benefit bonuses", but I'm not getting them, because we aren't, actually, Mustering out!

     Wah!  I rolled it, I want it!!  Wah!  Wah!!

     Okay, I got a suggestion.  How about instead of getting these Never-gonna-happen "Benefits", if the Events table says we're supposed to receive said "Benefit bonuses", we instead get another of those discretionary 1 Skill Levels that we can add to an existing skill....or, maybe even use it to gain some skill we don't have...?



     Now....about this Advancement Bonus a friendly Superior Officer wants to give me, but I'm supposedly stuck at the rank of Lieutenant...?  Waaaaah!

Surely if you get an advancement bonus as an event, then you get to Lieutenant at 30 instead of 34 and so you start the game younger?

Boy I'm glad you worked that out Vince!

Ishakhi, not every roll is useful or balanced. There are definitely items that you can roll that don't really mean anything. Just because you get a +2 to an advancement roll doesn't mean you will pass it.

In exchange for getting to fine tune your character to a degree not normally seen in Travellers, you risk a couple of marginal benefits being non-applicable.

Or the GM can apply them in another way too. Rules are supposed to only be a guideline, and in one of the Traveler main books it does state that the rules are designed for the GM to change or omit as needed to fit his campaign. So, the bonus can be applied differently but still beneficially if Nerull wants.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Mon 20 July 2020.

Let us know when you are done or if you need help.

Hey, sorry all, work has been a bit crazy.  I'm going to work on this tomorrow when I get a chance (I'm GMT +3).

In reply to Sidare Dinsha (msg # 189):

That's fine, only about half of the crew is done, the other half is yet to start. It will be a week or two before we are actually rolling it looks like. I'm still reading at the adventure too.

  Events with Advancement/Benefit effects:

  RAW those don't apply because you haven't actually mustered out (benefits) or they already affected your advancement!

  But if you do get a 'gain an extra Benefit roll', we're handwaving to allow that roll to take place

  The ship shares/vehicle/ship's boat wouldn't be applicable during the game. The cash, stat boosts, TAS membership, or weapon (as long as it's something an officer would be allowed to keep on board - a ceremonial one that can be kept in a nice display is a good choice; a personal PGMP would not) would work.

  If it's just +x to a benefit/advancement roll, those don't really matter. (They might get drawn on for narrative purposes at some point, but they don't give you any math right now...)

  **

  As for the Vilani... as others have said, you're looking at them in the core book!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:52, Mon 20 July 2020.

(we're still in the OOC Chatter thread, so...) ;)

I suggest replacing the rules for skills given by the much more realistic ranks of this list, found on Quora and provided by Boris Sanochkin, about the rules in the Soviet Navy :

How do you get promotions in the Navy?
-------------------------------------
According to the Soviet vice-admiral Radzevsky famous for politically incorrect speech the promotion in the Navy depends mainly on the below talents required for every exact rank.

Lieutenant - must know everything and to want to serve;

Senior lieutenant - the same as above and capable to perform without someone else telling him what to do;

Captain-lieutenant - must be able to organize the lieutenant and senior lieutenant in a way that they would still want to perform regardless the circumstances;

Captain 3rd rank - must know where and what is going on;

Captain 2nd rank - must be able to report to the higher command where and what is going on;

Captain 1st rank - must know how to find the place in the papers where he needs to sign;

Admiral - must know how to sign the papers in a place they show him;

Secretary of Navy - must be able to clearly and enthusiastically express his agreement with the whatever absurd idea of the Minister of Defense;

The Minister of Defense - must be able to say in a sufficiently understandable form whatever the national leader wants to hear from him;

The national leader - the Commander in Chief - must periodically, at least before every elections, to check out which Navy is in control of the nation's shores. If it still ours he needs to raise pay for the Navy once in a while or at least to promise it.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 191):


     Oh, I'm pretty much all done...

     Rolled and Assigned Attributes...Check
     Chose a Homeworld and Gained Homeworld Skill...Check
     Chose Background Skills...Check
     Chose Shipboard Position (Smallcraft Ops)...Check  [Munchkin Asks: does this Job gimme any skills? ^_^]
     Rank Assigned as Lieutenant...Check
     Listed all Skills for a Navy Lieutenant...Check  [Hey, the 1/3/2 number of Skill Picks for a Lieutenant is Total, right?  Not for each Term?]
     Assigned 2 Discretionary Skill Levels...Check
     Rolled 4 Career Events (1 for each Term)...Check
     Everything abouve at least Noted, if not extensively Detailed, on Character Sheet...Check



     Okay, I wanna be sure I'm understanding this right ('cuz right now, my Inner Munchkin is running around in circles, screaming with joy)...

     Is what you're saying, here, that while we are not technically 'Mustering Out' of the Navy, we still get to roll for these Benefits--just with limitations and reductions on some results?  The logic for this being that many of the things thus gained could actually have been gained at any time, during the course of a given 4 year Term--and not that we only get all of them, all at once, at the very end of the Career.

     So, I generate the number of Benefit Rolls as normal...make the rolls as normal...scribble down the results as normal...then throw away any results of "ship shares/vehicle/ship's boat" or anything else that "wouldn't be applicable during the game".  I can keep any results of cash, stat boosts, pornography, TAS membership, or personal weapons (as long as it's something an officer might be allowed to carry)...?

  RAW you don't get any of the benefits, full stop.

  We're being nice and letting you roll if it's one that came from an Event. You still don't get the muster-out ones (you self-admitted munchkin! ;) ).

  Lieutenant gets 0/3/2, but also gains Leadership 1 and Melee (Blade) 1 for 'free'.

I'll try to make mine today, things have been very busy

In reply to Ingrid (msg # 195):

That's okay. We have time.

Hoping my questions (ooc) shall kick the ball forward... :)

- how much time is planned for the shakedown "cruise"? specifically, how many weeks?

if there is only 4 weeks for the round trip from Zeng, the cruise (at Jump 4) would not go further than Brufort. If we have more weeks, the trip could include Beaxon, Noghon, Endup (to mention only worlds with more than 1 billion inhabitants)

- I read on https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Gulf_(De_M)_Subsector : "There is no Duke in Gulf. The Duchies of Vincennes, Zeng and Trin’s Veil together manage Gulf subsector’s various affairs.". What would it mean regarding zones and worlds where the INS Sharshana wouldn't be welcome?

- is the ship still under the control of the Duke of Zeng, or has the ten-year lease ended? :)

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 197):

It's a full deal cruise, multiple worlds.

  The Duke financed the reconstruction but it remained a Navy asset, so the Duke doesn't have any direct say over what's done with it beyond the agreement that was made to keep it in the area. (And as always, those terms could be 'flexibly interpreted' if the Navy deemed it necessary.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:00, Tue 21 July 2020.

     Oh, oh!  Okay, I get it--not Benefits 'as normal', but only a Benefit, or Benefits, that come up as a result of an Event.  Got it.  Cool.
(Wah!  I'm not a Munchkin Wah! I'm just trying to understand the Rules Wah!  And get everything that I can weasel out of those rules.... ^_~)


     Oops...there was such a big gap between the line with "Melee (blade) 1" and the line with "Leader 1" that it was mistakenly thought that the "Leader 1" was a typo for "Navy 1".
     The person in my office responsible for this blunder has been taken out back and shot.  I will now go and correct the mistake.

Chargen questions...

I got the option of a contact from an event.  Can we get contacts?

I was injured.  Medical care is an option on page 47.  Can I roll on the table on page 50 of the rules to get the loss of a stat point healed?

  Yes, and yes.

     Gosh, I hope so!  'Cuz I already went and done it ^_^

     Okay, got that Skill Pick-thingy corrected.

     Now I gotta go do something with the body out back...anybody got a bucket of lye they can give me?

  Since there seems to have been an awful lot of confusion about how to generate characters under the naval campaign rules, here's a summary, with some additions from questions asked thus far.

  The game rules thread tables are the same as those in the naval campaign book, if you have it. They are not the same as the ones in the core book; don't use those.


  **


  1) Gain background skills (rank 0) based on Edu.

  2) Gain basic training (rank 0) as an enlisted or as an officer (not both):

  Enlisted: Athletics, Gun Combat, Mechanic, Medic, Steward, Vacc Suit

  Officer: Admin, Astrogation, Gun Combat, Leadership, Melee, Tactics, Vacc Suit

  3) Once you know your character's current rank, give them the automatic skills listed for it (if any) in the game rules thread.

  4) Roll for starting age according to the table in the game rules thread.

  5) Roll for survival and events based on the number of terms completed for the rank according to the game rules thread. The mishap and event tables from the core book are used for this, with the following changes:

  Advancement-related effects don't have any immediate impact; benefit-modifying ones don't either. If you'd get kicked out of the service for some reason (failed survival roll, or event outcome) then you add d3+3 years to starting age instead.

  If an event gives you a benefit roll, you CAN roll for that, although ship shares, ship's boat, and personal vehicle can't be claimed. Stat bonuses, TAS membership, and cash can be. A weapon can be as long as it's something an officer would be permitted to keep aboard ship. (Ceremonial/commemorative/display weapons are good. High-powered weapons are not.)

  6) Choose skills from the three lists in the game rules thread (these are not the same as the core book lists!) according to what you get for your rank in the game rules thread, and gain a level in each one chosen. You can choose the same skill more than once.

 7) Choose any two skills and gain a level in each. You can choose the same skill twice. Jack-of-All-Trades is a valid option.


  **


  You do not make advancement rolls, commission rolls, or other term-related rolls aside from survival and events.

  Likewise, there are no pre-career terms or terms in other careers applied to the character, although non-naval experience could be thematically used to explain your skill choices.

  You do not gain muster-out benefits of any sort.

  The usual limit of level 4 in a skill still applies.

  Contacts/Allies/Rivals/Enemies can still be gained.

  You have naval medical coverage for any damage resulting from an event/mishap.

  The "Navy Skills" table in the game rules thread is only used by non-commissioned officers. This is not an error; that table represents crew-level skills, not officer-level ones.


  **


  A generic Lieutenant character with Edu 7 would have...

  1) Three background skills at rank 0.

  2) Basic training skills for an officer at rank 0: Admin, Astrogation, Gun Combat, Leadership, Melee, Tactics, Vacc Suit.

  3) Automatic skills for a Lieutenant-rank character: Melee (Blade) 1, Leadership 1.

  4) Starting age of 34 + d3.

  5) Four survival rolls and four event rolls from the Navy career (a Lieutenant has completed four terms). Failed survival rolls and some events are handled differently, as noted above.

  6) Three skill-ups chosen from the specialist table: Astrogation, Electronics, Engineer, Gunner, Pilot, Flyer, Medic, Explosives

     Two skill-ups chosen from the command table: Admin, Advocate, Diplomat, Investigate, Leadership.

  7) Two skill-ups chosen from any skill in the game.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Wed 22 July 2020.

In reply to Syrris (msg # 204):

     This actually does make it a little clearer.  You should put it up in the Character Gen thread, so we don't lose it.


     Y'know, I did think it odd when I read "skills for Background and Homeworld", but being a Munchkin Gamer who doesn't argue with the GM, I just figgered using that 1st Edition Rule was just a "house rule", or something like that.
     Dammit.  That loses me the Animal Skill!  And I really wanted the ability to ride a Giant Chicken....

     Oops!  I missed the (Listed Age) + 1D3.  Gotta add a couple years, here.

     Oops, again!!  I completely brain-farted on the Survival Roll needed for every Term.  When I read that if the result of an Event would cause us to leave the Service, we would instead stay in the Service, but add a few extra years to that Term.  I brain-farted and made the assumption that Survival Rolls were thus "automatic"--so I didn't make any!!
     Gotta make 4 Survival Rolls, now.  And maybe some Age Rolls.  Hey!  What about a Mishap that specifically says I will not have to leave the Service?  Still gotta add some years?
     Oh, well....I'm Vilani--I'll look like I'm 25 until I'm 50!  ^_^

  If you wouldn't have to leave the service then you don't get aged - the extra years represent getting back on track from something that would have actually forced you out.

You need a couple of 50 pound bags for the body. My wife thought about it once! ;-) hehehehehehehehehehehe. Just kidding!

I've just realised I failed to do any survival rolls so I did them and failed one, rolled the adjustment and now I'm 43

Keep in mind you only have to roll up if the event rolled specifically says you get booted out.

So for a Navy career only Mishap rolls of 3, 4 (if you choose to be at fault) or 5 results in explicit ejection.

Yes but I have an Int of 6 so when I roll a six it's a five surely?

lmao I don't think it works like that :P

It would only work that way if it specifically said d6 DM INT... meaning the d6 gets modified for your Intelligence. Since it's only a single d6, though, they (almost) never modify it.

Ahh....

Thanks for that rundown Syrris!

I should have a character to you guys in a day or two. I have been having to take care of my stepmother, she's 65, post op for the last few days so thats been holding me up. I'm back at my place now and on my PC's so all is right again!

Though now I have to figure out why the rPol images are not showing up to the left here now. *grumble*

Okay... I don't think I understand survival rolls then.  I don't have the books and now I can't use Mark Munson's character generator I'm lost.

For each term, you make a Navy Survival roll. If the result is you survive, then you simply roll for your event during that term.

If you don't 'Survive', you roll on the Mishap table. If the Mishap results in being forced out of the Navy, you ignore that rule (but not the roll), and then roll d3 + 3 for how many years extra your career was stalled for that term. You have been injured and spent a long time recovering, you may have gotten demoted and it took longer to climb back up the promotion ladder, you might have been incarcerated for crimes  you didn't commit and it took that long to study law to get  yourself out, or you may have even been granted an extended leave to deal with a family emergency or three. You might even have been 'accidentally' left behind at a space station and it took a long time for the ship you were assigned to return for you (yes, it was Enterprise on its 5-year mission).

If you don't have the MgT2 CRB for the Navy career, just give us the rolls and we'll fill in the blanks.

13:00, Today: Mammady Kaouthrak rolled 9 using 2d6.  survival T4.

13:00, Today: Mammady Kaouthrak rolled 10 using 2d6.  survival T3.

13:00, Today: Mammady Kaouthrak rolled 6 using 2d6.  survival T2.

13:00, Today: Mammady Kaouthrak rolled 7 using 2d6.  survival T1

  6-8 is a +0 for any stat, so even if you are making a roll modified by Int, it won't be affected at Int 6.

  Quick reference for anyone who doesn't have the MgT core book:


  0    -3
 1-2   -2
 3-5   -1
 6-8   +0
 9-11  +1
12-14  +2
 15+   +3


  You can't get higher than 15 in a stat under normal circumstances; it's rare for anyone to have a stat that high in any case.

Thank you.

Okay, Mammady, you survived all terms. The only borderline one would have been Line/Crew, but survival for that was INT 5+.

Flight is a 7+ to survive!  Damn tough, a high injury rate.  They need some safety stand downs in the Imperial Naval Flight Branch... :)

I think my character is done.  I sent it over to the GM.  I do need to modify my age a bit and add a contact.

  'Flight' implies that you were assigned to fighters/shuttles/etc when working your way up the ranks. No surprise that there's a higher rate of attrition there!

Confirmed, Imperium uses TIE fighters :D

8-| What!!?? Tie fighters!! ;-)

CAPTAIN Baron Thenroy Reziilka

The is Mister Captain Baron Thenroy Reziilka to you, knave!

Not me, I wave a hand and you die. I'm Nerull, god of death!

Well then that is Sir Mister Captain Baron Thenroy Reziilka to you. I fear no god for I am rich!

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 228):

Herr Kapitän Baron Thenroy Reziika von Iderati.  Titles always sounds more impressive in German.

Finally somebody who understands me.

May I submit the following suggestions :) ?

- shall we start the fun, i.e. the IC thread ? :)
- maybe the captain could welcome and maybe "privately" interview the ready-characters ? He doesn't know them, after all... ;)
- when all characters are ready, he could then hold an "opening" ceremony! :D

- should we determine with the GM who the contacts and enemies are - those gained through the career events -, or decide on them ourselves ?

what Iita Tsetsegmaa plans to do, roleplayingwise :)

After meeting the captain and noting down his guidelines, my engineer in chief would like to meet the technical crew (including the weird  Bridge Engineering Officer half-ape ;)) and the ship. Specifically, Iita would like to compare the current characteristics of the INS Sharshana with the "standard" Ghalalk of here : https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/..._Cruiser#cite_note-5

  There'll be an opening ceremony once we get started IC. The captain will not have to make a speech... but one will be expected nonetheless. ;)


  We're still waiting on a couple of character sheets. If they aren't in then we could start off regardless and have them be picked up during the space trials.

Ritter is knight in German, what is Baron? Baron.

I would gladly...<ahem> privately interrogate introduce myself to the crew. Also now is a good time to suggest we bump things up to Adults Only ;)

Keep it mature.

Does my sheet look ok?

     Hey, look out!  He got loose again!

     Oh, no!  He's heading for that keyboard!  Somebody stop him!!

     Crap!  Get him, before he...


     Hey, there, everybody!  My name is Ishakhi, and that's Vilani for Fish Food!

     So, since we're supposed to arrive at this shindig with all our buckles and bows agleam, I just gotta be a pest, and ask....

     Just what does a Formal Dress Uniform of the Imperial Navy of the Third Imperium look like?

  I don't know if that's ever been fully addressed anywhere, but my guess is that it's a much fancier version of the standard one, complete with any decorative doodads you've earned the right to wear in full dress (medals and such).

  Think of it as going from an everyday suit to a full-formality tuxedo. With a naval uniform theme.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:10, Sat 25 July 2020.

I'm biased but I see it as a version of the current USN dress whites with the high collars.  You can have a dark blue version for 'winter' wear.

Just look at my picture. We are going full warhammer 40k in our wardrobe

Can I request a briefing room thread for the senior officers and I? We can use it as a stand-alone thread to have briefings and such.

  I've added a briefing room thread.

I actually like the baroque look.

Is everyone a senior officer? I lost track when we added a few more at the end

  I may have lost track of something in all of the name changes and character sheet shuffling, but my last account was...


T0  Captain  (Thenroy)
T1  XO       (Gvoellaekh)

T2  Gunnery  (Sidare)
T2  Engineer (Iita)
T2  Marines  (?)

T3  Bridge Engineer  (Mammady)
T3  Astrogator       (?)
T3  Chief Pilot      (Hrolf)
T3  Medical          (Sauli)
T3  Smallcraft Ops   (Ishakhi)
T3  Master-at-Arms   (?)
T3  Intelligence     (Colonel)

??  Aslani76
??  Ingrid
??  Kyper


  No sheets in from the last three yet.

I'm curious what nickname the crew might develop for me. I wasn't sure what style would emerge from his character but if I was on his crew I think I would call him Baron Ballbreaker.

  Edit #2: Okay, now that I've seen the briefing...

  ...nah, that name doesn't quite fit. There's more to his attitude than just being a taskmaster. Needs something a bit more colorful.

  Gvoellaekh, of course, is far too professional to even think one, much less suggest it. Ahem.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:03, Sun 26 July 2020.

If they study history then there are plenty of possibilities... perhaps we should wait and see.

  Eargh. Writing up a post and suddenly RPOL does its 'Bad Gateway' trick again. Let's see what I can salvage...

     Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

In reply to Ishakhi Kiikag Kimpasherki (msg # 250):

Ding dong the witch is dead!

I had asked about equipment before but I finally found an answer:


Officer standard sidearm is a Model 998 Gauss Pistol (3D damage, AP 3, Auto 2) although I think it's a typo not to also include zero-g given it is a gauss gun.

Crew and marines would have a snub pistol (3D-3, Zero-G)

Sentries and boarding parties would be equipped with a naval snub carbine (3D-3, Zero-G)

Marines would have a "close assault weapon" which is a more functional version of the cutlass but has identical stats.

Officers of sufficient rank (i.e. those that get the melee (blade) and above would have a cutlass with an ornate basket hilt.

Military Police and security personnel would wear Shipboard Security armor (+4 protection) which is kind of like riot armor. Fits over regular clothes, has a helmet and visor that provides a bit of gas resistance but is not a full vacc suit.

Crew get Shipboard Working Dress (+1 protection) that which is a big ankle-to-head coverall. Again not a vacc suit but the ankles seal to your boots and comes with emergency gloves and a bubble-like head covering allows crew to operate in vacuum for a few minutes, long enough to get to safety or patch the hole in the hull.

Naval Vacc Suit  (+12) these are of limited quantity and thus are used mainly for repair work only although they have long ranged secure communications and rangefinders built in so can also be used to call in support fire.

Kimim AAR
A courtesy robot designed to provide snacks and drinks to senior officers or visiting delegation. It has Carouse 1 and Diplomat 0. It is widely believed that they also have an emergency gun that can be offered if a senior officer says the right code word to it, dubbed a "mutiny gun".

Keshan GAA
A large ordnance robot that moves missiles from the hoists to the loading ramps or from magazine to magazine if they become unbalanced. It is designed so if the bot is in motion the missiles have to be inert and safe.

Naasirka Model 899
Security support personnel. The Imperium is firmly against any "warbots" but the model 899 is often assigned to security patrols to carry extra ammunition, specialized and/or heavy equipment or the "contraband bag" to prevent items from going missing. It looks like an upright cylinder  with lots of extendable arms that carry tools like fire extinguishers and a cutting torch that allows it to (very slowly) cut through bulkheads. They usually see action as part of firefighting or rescue but in the case of a gunfight they can open up all their panels to create temporary cover.

A gauss pistol definitely has recoil so would not be a zero-g weapon.  It's a nice weapon though and a suitable side arm.

  You wouldn't normally need a Zero-G weapon as an officer on the ship since it has artificial gravity, and if that's out AND the officers' stations are being attacked then the recoil of your sidearm is the least of your problems...

  Of course, those are standard-issue weapons. Heavier stuff would be available on an as-needed basis, but under normal circumstances (and not conducting training exercises) it'd be locked down, and unlocking it would require high-level authorization.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:23, Tue 28 July 2020.

  And since the above post brings us to another relevant data dump for anyone who doesn't have the book...



SECURITY AND OPERATIONS

When anyone comes aboard any Imperial Navy warship they are scanned into the ship’s data systems and assigned a status. The formal reporting-aboard carried out by all personnel automatically informs the ship’s computer of their arrival and confirms their status. A crewmember who has not reported aboard or one who is relieved of duty for medical or disciplinary reasons, is flagged by the system as invalid. Depending on what they try to do, they may be passively tracked by the ship’s computer or a security detachment can be dispatched to apprehend and question them.

To be valid, someone must have formally reported aboard to the officer of the watch or his appointed deputy. This is often done remotely if the crew are in a hurry but tradition requires that officers report to the officer of the watch or captain, either at their office or in the docking bay if a welcoming party is in place. Enlisted men report to a junior officer or senior petty officer, who will be physically present in the docking bay. The act of reporting to a live person is not truly necessary for security purposes but is considered to be a positive factor in maintaining the cohesion of a ship’s company.

Upon reporting, or being formally returned to duty, a crewmember or visitor gains access to the ship’s systems according to their rank, duties aboard ship and any special considerations applied by the ship’s officers. Amara-class cruisers use a standard Imperial Navy devolution and authorisation package. Very few, if any, areas of the ship or her operations are unsecured under any circumstances. Non-essential areas and systems normally operate on an ‘any crew’ basis, meaning that any member of the ship’s complement recognised by the ship’s computer as valid can operate systems in that area without setting off security alarms.

The levels of authorisation in force are:

Unsecured – No security is in place and anyone may operate the system or be in the area without attracting the ship’s security monitoring systems. Normally there are no unsecured areas aboard a warship, although some crews will alter the settings for the sake of convenience and it is not inconceivable that an Unsecured ‘hole’ could be made in a ship’s monitoring system by a suitably skilled programmer.

Any Valid – Anyone recognised as valid may enter these areas and use these systems, and will not attract security protocols. Normally Any Valid is reserved for guest quarters, mess areas and other locations where there is little a visitor can do to cause harm.

Any Crew – Any member of the crew recognised as valid may use these systems or enter these areas. Living spaces, common areas and briefing rooms are typically set to Any Crew, along with most routine operations of the ship’s internal systems. Potentially sensitive areas such as weapon turrets are normally set to Any Crew regarding personnel being in the area but Any Gunnery for operations. Thus a crewmember mopping the floor will not attract a security patrol but if he suddenly decides to fire the ship’s weapons he will not be able to operate them and will soon find a patrol in attendance.

Any (Department) – Any member of the relevant department may operate these systems. Some systems require special authorisation whether or not a valid crewmember is trying to use them; for example, the ship’s weapons are controlled by the command team. If the weaponry is set to ‘tight’ then it cannot be fired no matter who is pounding on the buttons. Likewise, whilst any crewmember can go into the galley to make a sandwich, attempting access to the ‘captain’s kitchen’ annex will attract attention unless the user has been designated as one of the senior officers’ stewards.

Any (Rank or Duty) – some systems are accessible only to personnel of a certain rank. For example, whilst any crewmember can break out firefighting equipment, it normally requires a petty officer to grant access to emergency cutting gear. Some designated damagecontrol personnel are assigned special authorisation as a result of their membership of a damage-control team.

(Department) (Rank or Duty) – Some systems are accessible only to members of a particular department who also hold a certain rank or above, or to members of a particular team. Thus, missile magazines and handling hoists might be accessible to any member of the gunnery team but the nuclear warhead storage area is only accessible to missile technicians and gunnery department officers.

(Specific) – Some posts aboard ship have specific access to systems that other crewmembers do not. The captain and executive officer have blanket access to more or less everything – a commodore or diplomat’s private computer systems are the only likely exceptions under normal operating circumstances – and other posts have specific access to certain systems. Sometimes this is dependent upon duty; for example, a quite junior officer might be serving as officer of the watch or senior bridge officer, and during this period he will have access to systems normally above his clearance. A sublieutenant would not normally be authorised to declare the ship’s weapons free but if he is the senior officer on bridge watch when a raider comes out of jump he needs the ability to do so without waiting for authorisation.


Department heads and their deputies have override access to most areas within their department’s remit and can usually authorise others to handle a task. The ship’s computer is set to recognise a valid order and assume authorisation. Thus, if the damage control officer orders someone to break out a piece of restricted equipment, the computer recognises this as authorisation. This function can be disabled, requiring formal authorisation to be granted to specific individuals but this is more time-consuming and would normally be done only if the ship is operating under very secure conditions such as when infiltration is suspected.

Under normal conditions, this system ensures that crewmembers can go about their duties without needing constant authorisation or setting off alarms but anyone who does something he would not normally be expected to do (such as a chef trying to enter a deployment shuttle in the docking bay) will be locked out and security staff notified. Orders given by someone who can authorise such tasks will remove this prohibition. However, there are workarounds used by most crews that slightly undermine the system. For example, the captain’s steward may have access to the flight bay on a permanent basis, so he can bring special packages of luxury food directly to the galley. This is not normally a problem but can lead to a supposedly secure system becoming full of little holes, created by special permissions.

In the event that a ship suffers the catastrophic loss of its command staff, there may be no-one aboard who can authorise the use of critical systems. This is clearly not acceptable, so all Imperial Navy ships operate a ‘top ten’ system, which tracks the ten most senior members of the chain of command at all times. If three of these ten personnel agree on a nominee as acting commanding officer, then command devolves to that individual and they can assign posts as desired from that point on.

Under more normal circumstances, the devolution of command follows a clearly defined path and the ship’s computer simply informs the appointed person that they are now in command of the ship. An individual may decline, in which case the computer moves to the next most senior member of the crew. Declining emergency command is a difficult decision but a badly damaged vessel might be better off with her experienced chief engineer at his post rather than trying to run the whole ship, even if this means placing a 20-year-old sublieutenant in temporary command.

Protocol requires that a decision to decline command be reviewed every few hours. Once the immediate crisis is over, the senior officer is expected to take command if at all possible but the system recognises that there is sometimes not time for an officer to make his way to the bridge through a ship that is in the middle of a desperate fight.

Shipboard security and command systems depend heavily on the ship’s computer but can still function if it is disabled. All crewmembers carry a personal identity card, which is automatically updated with their valid status when they come aboard a ship. Doors, systems and workstations all have readers for crewmembers’ keycards and can recognise an authorised person even if the computer is down. Updating status with authorisation and permission is difficult under such circumstances, however there are few occasions under which a ship might have to function without her computer system and all its backups.

Some command decisions, notably freeing weapons to fire and initiating jump, require multiple authorisations. For weapons fire, the captain must authorise ‘weapons free’ and the gunnery officer must authorise a given battery to fire – and both must be valid at the time the order is given. Command override applies under such circumstances. For example, the executive officer is assumed to speak for the captain at all times unless specifically countermanded, so can directly order a battery to open fire. This is a breach of protocol if the gunnery officer is in place and functioning but a bypass is permitted, if necessary.

Ultimately, all authority aboard a ship devolves from its captain and runs down the chain of command. If the captain chooses to remove someone from the chain of command or rescind their authorisation to carry out specific tasks then this is his prerogative. However, under most circumstances a legal order is assumed to carry the full weight of the captain’s authority, so if the gunnery officer tells the sublieutenant in charge of point defence to open fire and he orders the crewmembers manning the system to do so, this order does not need to be confirmed by the captain. Under normal operating conditions a ship’s point defences are considered ‘free’ on the authority of the gunnery officer or senior gunnery department officer on duty, whilst offensive systems need authorisation from the bridge before they can be brought into action.

Alright all sorry about being quiet for a few days, had a family emergency I had to take care of that resulted in a family member going into surgery. I am back now, and know I've not gotten my character in yet...  :(

I suppose an officer's pistol is only used for when the crewmen get unruly.

On of my favorite 40k memes was a group of people talking about who had the biggest kill count of Imperial guard? Orcs? no. Tyranids? No. Eldar? no. The Commissar? Bingo.

Thanks Syrris for that precious info... Now could you tell me the difference between the Engineering department and the Technical department? :) And isn't the chief engineer in charge of both?

The engineering crew focus on power and drive systems; the technical crew focus on electronics and computer systems. They're normally both part of the 'Engineering' department, although they might be separated into independent departments on very large (much bigger than the Sharshana) or specialized ships.

So on the Sharshana, Mammady is (technically) the 'technical department' as well as fitting uneasily   between Engineering (cause that's the best place to put him) and Command (because his post is on the bridge)?

  As an engineering officer Mammady wouldn't be considered part of the command staff even if their usual station is on the bridge.

  It looks like Mammady has cross-training (ranks in both electronics and engineering), so they could fit into engineering or technical teams as needed. Given the current role of bridge engineer they'd probably be considered to be part of the engineering team, even if they have more experience with technical systems.

  That cross-training is also a plus in the role of advisor to the captain. Might be why they got the job!

Maybe it's just me but when I see someone post "I don't know why I'm in the room..." it takes every ounce of willpower not to have the Baron ask the same question. I don't want to put anyone on the spot but on the flipside this is the military. They don't just let anyone into classified briefings, lol.

Has any information been posted on the details of the Sharshana?  Crew complement, etc.?

Right now I'm envisioning it the size of a US navy cruiser - about 30 officers and 300 crew.

Extrapolating from 15 minutes of intensive internet research, I'm guessing a medical facility with 20 or so beds and two operating rooms.

In reply to Dr. Sauli Lassila (msg # 263):

CAPTAIN, PILOTS X 15, ASTROGATORS X 2,
ENGINEERS X 137, MAINTENANCE X 40, MEDICS X 3 ,
GUNNERS X 259, STEWARDS X 10,
ADMINISTRATORS X 12, OFFICERS X 74,
MARINES X 70

The ship also has six medical bays - so 30 sophonts under treatment at any one time.

From High Guard...

Medical Bay
The presence of a medical bay on board a ship can mean the difference between life and death for the crew, so long as there are sufficiently trained personnel on board.
A medical bay grants DM+1 to all Medic checks made within it.
Medical bays consume 4 tons and cost MCr2, which will support the treatment of 5 patients so long as one medic or autodoc (see Central Supply Catalogue, page 81) is present. It requires 1 Power.
Multiple medical bays can be combined into one larger facility.

623 total complement.

Absolutely, Captain! It's role-playing... part of his backstory--always being at the wrong place at the wrong time... or the right place at the right time... or the wrong place at the right time... etc.

For example, he 'enlisted' as an officer because they thought his first name was his rank... ergo, already an officer in the Army. It was helped by his Education of 12 (he reads a lot).

I guess it's as a good as a time to ask : how different is the Sharshana than a standard Ghalalk AC, such as presented in the following link? :)

https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/...lass_Armored_Cruiser

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 268):

They're VERY similar but not exactly the same I think.

FYI I'm fine leaving whenever. We have a lot of PCs and if we wait every time for every one of them this is going to be a loooong time before we even lift off.

Huh?

8/11 PCs have reported in and I think 2 of the other PCs still don't have characters created and the third hasn't posted at all. We have a lot of players so I'm just letting you know I am ready to push on to the next event and kick the game off with the next big event, be it lift off or a malfunction or what not.

We can wait, that is fine too but as I said in my opening pitch I am always going to be looking to push the game forward. PBP, especially large ones, can sometimes grind to a halt but that won't happen on my watch!

We're good, the game is open, posting has begun. Just clearing items up is all and waiting for your officers to check in in the ward room.

  The Sharshana is essentially a standard Ghalalk modular cruiser with four missile pods, total mass of 50,000 dtons. Unsurprisingly, it has some quirks and traits beyond 'stock'. One was noted in the refit report, and the rest will probably become evident during the initial space trials.

  Its slightly short on crew as compared to the formal numbers (96% of those numbers, per Gvoellaekh's report), which isn't particularly unusual or troublesome given the mission profile. (If the Sharshana was being sent straight to a battle front it'd be a different story!)

  I sent some info to the player whose character was wondering what their job was. Should clear up their questions behind the scenes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:50, Wed 29 July 2020.

Being a simulationist at heart, I'm very interested in details... If anyone could typ me... thanks in advance :)

The link above states a Ghalalk-class Armored Cruiser has Forty 50-ton missile bays. What is the relation of missiles pods to missiles bays? :)

are the other armaments corrects ?
- Fifty triple beam laser turrets organized into five batteries.
- Ten dual fusion gun turrets organized into one battery.
- Fourteen triple sandcaster turrets organized into two batteries.
- Nuclear damper (Factor-9). Meson screen (Factor-5).
Craft : Four small craft (50 tons each).
200 Imperial Marines

Since it needs 40% of its size (or 20,000 tons) of refined fuel for it's J-4 Jump engine, I take it that the Sharshana does not carry other fuel tanks that would allow it to make a stopoff in deep space? :)

So we could jump only to star systems with a gas giant? Or could the ship land on a planet to fuel in the sea? :)


I annotated the population of each planet with more than 30,000 inhabitants. K=1,000 M=million Md=billion

So for example if we wanted to stop by Brufort (a system with no gas Giant), it better have 20,000 tons of fuel in its class-C starport? :)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:18, Wed 29 July 2020.

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 272):

I'm here, I'm here. Although in hindsight I wished I'd picked a role that allowed me to do more than calculate jumps. Ah well.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 275):

So many strange new worlds to visit! Isn't life grand?

 
  Armaments:

  1x  Spinal - Particle Accelerator (Improved)
  12x Fusion Barbette
  20x Triple Turret (Sandcasters)
  68x Triple Turret (Beam Laser)
  2x  Point Defense Batteries (Type III)
  48x Medium Missile Bay

  10x Meson Screen
  10x Nuclear Damper

  Full Hangar (240 tons)
 

  Each missile pod provides 12 of those missile bays and 12 of the beam turrets (along with other support systems). Those pods could be switched out for other mission-specific ones in theory, although four missile pods is the standard configuration for general duty/patrol.


  Taman is the only world on the patrol schedule that doesn't have a gas giant, but since it's Jump-1 away from neighboring systems in the patrol that shouldn't be a problem. The Sharshana can also refuel at spaceports if necessary.

  Zeng<->Sestos<->Mtensc is the presumed transit route and all of those systems have gas giants. Zeng hosts the naval base and we'll get supplied on the way out at Mtensc.

  Brufort isn't on the patrol route but you could get there and leave again with Jump-2s, so it is within reach even without visiting the starport.



  70 marines is book-strength for the Sharshana (not counting officers). Actual current strength is a few less than that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:01, Wed 29 July 2020.

I suggest you request the patrol route, then study the geography data and make suggestions relative to the interests in the route regarding to the mission :) [I guess we're in a sandbox style of gameplay] And yes, so many strange worlds to search information about. For example ;

- Endup : a religious autocracy with "Severe punishment for petty infractions" - wooh, better prepare a list for all the blasphemies one could utter in a single sentence ! ;)
- Beaxon : 90 billion inhabitants on a water planet? Who are they? Merfolk? ;) Do they live in arcologies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology) on the islands, or in submarine cities ? Why is the world's importance ordinary with such a population? Why is the TAS's Rating Amber ? :)
- Aosta : (we may not travel that far) : 400 inhabitants, class A starport -> all the people work and live in the starport ;)
- Taman is an anarchic hole (no govt) with only 8,000 inhabitants - all Extremely xenophobic - and no starport worth the name. Why stop there? Is there some pirate activity suspected?

Be our guide, Jacqueline ! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Wed 29 July 2020.

The WORLD TOUR!

Zeng (A426446-C)

Zeng is a fairly unremarkable world; dry but habitable, with a modest population and a moderate democratic government. Its importance is primarily as the seat of the Duchy of Zeng, whose economic capital is the large and well-appointed orbital starport.

Most people with business at Zeng conduct it at the highport; a smaller proportion visit the extensive downport and fewer still venture out into the cities of the world. The port is extremely busy, seeing a constant flow of ships passing up and down the subsector’s central main. There is also a noticeable Imperial Navy presence at the port and nearby.

The Imperial Navy maintains a base in the Zeng system, which caters mainly to destroyer- class vessels assigned to patrol operations within the subsector. Visits by larger ships are not uncommon, but the base is geared to smaller vessels. A destroyer is normally stationed close to the starport at Zeng as a guardship, though this is a courtesy rather than a formally ordered deployment.

Naval uniforms are a common site in the starport, and the business community is generally friendly to naval personnel. A uniform or naval ID is required to get into some of the starport bars, and combat ribbons will usually earn a discount on drinks and meals. Many of
the larger businesses depend on ‘navy money’ and are typically positive towards the Imperium and her armed forces. As a result Zeng is a popular place to take liberty or furlough time. The population of its orbital port includes many navy veterans or their families.

Sestos (D5A6878-8)

Sestos lies at the spinward end of the Zeng subsector’s mains and sees little traffic other than jump-2 ships headed across Gulf subsector. It is an unpleasant world, with an exotic atmosphere and oceans composed of complex diluted compounds. It is these that brought people to Sestos in the past; its chemical extraction and processing plants required a large population to operate them and provide supporting industries, which in turn led to a diversified and stable economy.

Today, Sestos is balkanised in the sense that its large city-states are all self-governing. There is little population outside the cities; just a few agricultural complexes. Some of these use sealed environments to grow edible crops; others produce some quite exotic plants which are edible to most intelligent species. Meat is rare on Sestos as it is difficult to produce, and thus extremely expensive.

Mtensc (D551454-8)

A dry world with a thin atmosphere, Mtensc provides a jump-2 link between Zeng subsector and Trin’s Veil (to spinward) and Vestus (to rimward). It is very much a ‘port town’, with the entire population of a few thousand dwelling around the very basic starport and mostly dependent upon it for their livelihood. There is little industry or economic activity on Mtensc, though occasionally prospectors head out into the wilderness to seek their fortune.

Fuel and water for all other purposes are obtained by drilling into a large aquifer under the port-town. Its presence was the reason for siting the port where it is. In recent years there have been concerns that the aquifer is drying up, and the world’s ruling council has repeatedly petitioned the Duke of Zeng for funding to develop additional water sources. Thus far this has produced little more than a small scientific team who conduct research into the situation and possible remedies.

Iruku (B31048A-9)

As one of the possible jump-2 links from Trin’s Veil subsector, Iruku received considerable investment and development of its orbital starport. The orbital component of the port is a more or less self-contained environment, with a small and under-equipped downport planetside. There is little traffic to and from the surface; Iruku Highport receives most of what it needs from beyond the star system, paid for with revenue generated by commerce at the port.

Although the ‘mainworld’ of the system, Iruku itself is almost an irrelevance; a convenient gravity well for the highport and little more. Its population of fifty thousand or so are almost entirely concentrated at the downport, with a few small outposts scattered elsewhere across the planetary surface.

Iruku has little industry other than a small own-needs production capability based on mining in nearby areas. Offworld minerals corporations have thus far showed little interest in this backwater rockball, and official data suggests that there are few useful deposits of minerals or metals. This has not prevented the usual hopeful prospectors from searching from time to time.

Taman (E874300-5)

Taman lies just off the jump-2 route across the middle of Gulf subsector. It is a habitable enough world, with sufficient water and a breathable, if tainted, atmosphere. For many years Taman was on the Reserve List, not interdicted as such but not open for colonisation. The intent seems to have been to wait until sufficient investment was available to create a colony that could quickly develop into an asset to the local economy. That never happened, and attempts to obtain permission to colonise the world on a smaller budget fell victim to the cross-cutting politics of the region.

As a result, Taman’s official population consists of a few hundred people dwelling in a single town which forms the estate of House Vielnaa. House Vielnaa is a very minor – and distinctly impoverished – Imperial noble family who have been assigned to Taman as an ‘emplaced resident population’. This translates from legalese into Anglic as meaning the noble family and their staff are on Taman to provide an official population – and thereby delegitimise any attempt to unofficially colonise the world and claim squatters’ rights – but they are not recognised as ‘owning’ the world in the same way as a true local population and government would.

This complex arrangement means that the unofficial colonies that have been set up on Taman cannot claim to the only, and therefore ‘official’, population of the world. These colonies are small, with a total population of around eight thousand people and an average tech level of 5. Some are friendly to House Vielnaa, but in most cases the communities just ignore one another. The ‘port’ at Taman is a landing field at the only officially present settlement. There is no body of law as such, but the site is policed by House Vielnaa troops who have little tolerance for thievery and violence. There is virtually no industry, but the settlement has access to offworld equipment and is kept resupplied by ships from Trin. In short, ‘the town on Taman’ as it is described in a popular drinking song, is populated by people who are paid to be there just so that nobody else can claim the planet.

Nouakchat (C532114-6)

Dry, with a very thin atmosphere, Nouakchat is virtually uninhabited other than the staff of the small starport. This is run by the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service, and has a slightly larger orbital component than most Class C ports. A handful of unstreamlined Scout Service vessels are usually moored there – typically lab ships and survey scouts – whilst streamlined vessels typically land at the downport.

The only permanent residents of Nouakchat are the employees of the Nouakchat Corporation, a private firm that handles brokerage and commercial activities at the port. Most technical tasks are subcontracted to the Scout Service, and come second to ensuring the small scout base at the port remains functional. Jump-2 ships normally bypass Nouakchat, transiting
between the much better ports at Iruku and Tuwayk. Those vessels that do come through find little worth staying for; Nouakchat is a scout base that serves as a starport from time to time, and is not set up for entertaining guests or conducting major trade deals. What little profit is made by the port goes to offsetting the cost of the base and its personnel.

Tuwayk (0339) B672843-A

Lying just within the area of interest of Trin, Tuwayk is a backwater world of importance mainly for its starport. One of the standard jump-2 routes into Trin and thereby Spinward Marches sector runs through the port, though it could not really be said to pass through the world itself. The port acts as a local trade hub, but Tuwayk does not export much and thus benefits little other than from revenue generated by port operations.

The world itself is very dry and extremely hot, with an indigenous ecosystem hostile to humans and most imported species. Attempts at a ‘soft terraforming’ by way of introducing algae and similar primitive life that – hopefully – would eventually supplant the local species have been decisively defeated by the resilient and even aggressive ecosystem of Tuwayk.

Tuwayk is very much a backwater, but within its cities at least it is a comfortable one. Harsh conditions outside are counterpointed by luxurious if rather bland climatecontrolled
living areas. There really is no ‘local’ culture as such; society is very much Imperial-standard and influenced mainly by what is ‘in’ at Trin. Trin also exerts considerable political and economic influence over Tuwayk, offering subsidies or reduced prices on necessary goods in return for continued loyalty. Normally few strings are attached but the world government controls the starport, and occasionally it may be useful to throw a few obstacles in the way of a rival. At these times, quietly having control over port operators can be a useful tool in making a shipping operator or business group’s activities in the region that little more costly and frustrating.

Beaxon (D88AA99-C)

Beaxon is a high-population water world, with around 90 billion people crammed into its cities. These are mostly built in shallow water, with the upper parts of large buildings poking above the waves. There are few structures on land; most of the available flat areas are used for intensive agriculture.

The world has been Amber Zoned for some time now, due to its internal troubles. The huge population are subject to fairly strict laws, but enforcement is a problem and there is significant unrest as well as organised and opportunistic crime. This has affected economic output; Beaxon was once a significant exporter or fairly high-tech goods but production has gradually slumped. As corruption and the general disruption of production increased, the price of Beaxon goods kept pace. Today, Beaxon’s exports are known for being overpriced and not very good… assuming they get shipped out at all.

Beaxon’s starport, never extensive, has deteriorated to the point where it is now designated as Class D. Sections remain derelict and more-or-less sealed off, though local gangs are able to use them to stash goods or hide from pursuit. The cost of returning the port to its proper status increases as systems are illegally stripped for salvage, and although the port authority makes token efforts to patrol the derelict sections it is clear that the situation is not likely to improve.

Noghon (D79798B-8)

Noghon’s dense, if tainted, atmosphere and presence of plenty of water made it an attractive candidate for early colonisation and development. The original colony was set up as an agricultural base, and was intended to become a breadbasket for expansion in the region. Although the atmospheric taint gives food raised on Noghon a slightly odd taste, most people find it strange but not unpleasant, and the world’s agricultural exports were sufficient to fund the development of its industries. Today, Noghon is primarily known as an exporter of decent quality mid-tech goods. Its food production is still extensive, but the growing population absorbed an increasing proportion until exports dwindled to almost nothing. A few luxury items such as wines are still exported, commanding a surprisingly high price for what is essentially a novelty item rather than particularly good wine. Again, the world’s atmospheric taint affects the taste, creating something unique but not especially pleasing.

Noghon has two starports. The ‘general’ one receives little traffic and is rather basic, hence its D rating. There is a better port but it is off-limits to all vessels other than contracted freighters carrying the world’s goods to market. This commercial port is set up for bulk freight handling only and cannot accommodate tourists or passengers. Nor does any commerce or speculative trade take place there; the ships that use it already have a contract in place. Everyone else is directed to the general port.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Wed 29 July 2020.

Naval Adventure 3: Fire on the Sindalian Main is to be released this month yet, that will be 3 adventures if you guys are interested. Trying to get things running smoothly, with the help of my friend Syrris, Co-GMing, we should be alright. He prods me, along with the Captain!

Here is going to be my proposal:

Zeng -> Sestos (Jump-4)
Sestos -> Mtensc (J-2)
Mtensc -> Noghon (J-3
Noghon -> Tuwayk (J-1)
Tuwayk -> Nouakchan (J-1)
Nouakchan -> Iruku (J-1)
Iruku -> Taman (J-1)

As for how we get home depends on where jump supplies are located. We could make it a loop by circling around to systems like Endup, Taomina and then back to Sestos. Maybe we just turn around and go right back the way we came.

What we really need to do is identify where we can refuel based on
A) Naval bases
B) Starports
C) Gas Giants.

In that order and we can adjust course accordingly. Looking below it looks like our main supplies for fuel will come from Mtensc and Beaxon.

One thing to consider now (I will bring this up via IC comments) is that I don't want to tip off smugglers and pirates by having the navy move a bunch of fuel in ahead of time, instead if we find points where we are running low and need an outside resupply we can put in the request for a fuel convoy to meet us in a system a day after we arrive. Moving fuel is expensive but we don't want the smugglers and pirates scattering before we hit the system.

Also keep in mind this patrol path will probably alter heavily if we engage with enemies and have to chase them around. If we get a distress call or an emergency we might have to skip around a bit.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 278):

Good point! I'll take a look.

I own GURPS Traveller Behind the Claw and the Regency Sourcebook too, but those sources are... well, not behind the times, but too far ahead of the times.

  Beaxon is also on the expected patrol zone, so the ship should have a planned stop there.

  Refuelling at gas giants has a second benefit: it puts the cruiser in a great position to inspect anyone else who is doing so (or hanging around the outsystem generally).


  The only naval base in our remit is at Zeng. There's a also scout base at Nouakchat.

As a player, I'm really pleased and excited (you may have noted that) ;) to at last play Traveller instead of reading the games... :) So I realize I assumed that all starports were orbital... and it seems our 50,000 cruiser may land on a civilian starport and refuel on the nearby lake? An impressive sight for sure! :)

A few OOC questions as they're coming to my mind, if you agree :
- would we systematically completely fill up at every system? The Bismark was lost because it did not fill up in Norway! ;)
- would the orbital scout base at Nouakchat fill up our fuel needs?
- since after a jump we crawl in M-Drive, wouldn't it be better to look for the nearer way to refuel, either the planet's starport or the gas giant? Let me rephrase, with an emphasis on the "police" mission : pirates would conceivably hide in the moons of the gas giants, waiting to ambush ships who scoop fuel there, so shouldn't we aim for the gas giants to scan? (or is the gas giant fuel scoop operation in fact significantly more dangerous than refueling at the starport ? - don't strike, I'm a Traveller newbie!) ;)
- is the route not too predictable after the Tuwayk -> Nouakchan step? Bypassing Beaxon is a surprise, but J-1 jumps after that is predictable ;)

  Most starports do include an orbital facility along with ground-based ones. Class-E starports are the exception: they usually amount to 'somewhere that ships can land, and maybe there are a few support vehicles around'. Class D starports probably have an orbital unit, but not much of one.

  The cruiser itself doesn't necessarily have to do all of the fuel gathering. The hangar is normally stocked with utility craft, which could be used to retrieve fuel if it would be inappropriate/impossible to bring the Sharshana itself in to do it (such as by siphoning water from a lake or ocean).


  It's advisable to refill whenever possible 'just in case', but it isn't absolutely required.

  The scout base would be able to provide fuel.

  Operations are 'at discretion'. The gas giant is an obvious place to look for pirates, but if you're after smugglers, the starport is a better option. Operating near the planet is also considerably more visible than hunting in the outsystem. Another consideration is that varying what you do avoids the predictability problem.

  Stopping at Beaxon on the way back is an option. The systems don't have to be visited in any particular order, and having contingency plans in case the route needs to change on short notice is always a good idea. ("Events, dear boy!")
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Wed 29 July 2020.

I'm a captain dammit not a navigator!

Yes plop Beaxon on that list.
Yes we should have a full tank as much as possible. This is the military, we're not paying for it but we will pay for it if we can't respond to an emergency.

Refueling from a gas giant requires a lot of time compared to pumping it from the pumps. First you need to scoop it in as raw, then you need processors to convert it.

We can carry 18,600t of fuel. Our processor only processes 4,000t a day so it will take about 5 days to fill up the tank again, give or take. Someone else can figure out how much fuel we burn per jump but the point is that if we refuel at a starport we can get pure refined stuff so we are in and out in a day.

If we go to a gas giant, depending on how much fuel we need it could take us as much as 5 days to fully refuel.

Also note that we are only partially streamlined which means we can easily scoop fuel from gas giants but can't easily maneuver on planets with much of an atmosphere.

We have only four carried 50 ton small craft so we're not going to gain time by using them to bring in fuel.

Given that we want to stress the ship and crew somewhat I would suggest we do a full wilderness refueling at least once in our patrol.

Also can we add our own skill modifiers to the CEI rolls?

Also, is there a favorable stat to give a DM for Pilot skill?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Thu 30 July 2020.

  Piloting is normally Dex. It's not so much a case of being a joystick jockey as being someone who is quick and efficient at managing the navigation systems.

  That being said, there are certainly cases where Edu or Int might come into play.


  You can't swap your own skill in place of the CEI check, but using it to assist? The short answer there is maybe. The long answer is can you spin a good scene around it?


CEI vs Skill Checks

The Travellers may wonder why they cannot use their own skills or those of a crewmember to resolve CEI checks, This is because CEI is designed to generate an indication of how the crew (or a part of it) handled a large and complex task that would require a great many skill checks to resolve and also involved interactions and teamwork that are not modelled by skill checks.

In almost all cases, a CEI check produces a successful (or successful-ish) completion of the task. It may be a chaotic mess, with incidents and mishaps, but the job will get done. If the Travellers want to improve performance, there are ways to do it other than increasing ECEI. For example, if the crew are trying to move supplies aboard in record time, the ship’s logistics team might be ordered to prepare a most-efficient plan. This is a skill-specific task and can be resolved with the appropriate skill checks.

Measures of this sort will normally give a +1 DM to the CEI check, and in general only one such performance-improving measure can be taken per CEI check. However, if the Travellers come up with particularly good ideas they may be allowed more DMs. ‘Good’ in this case means ‘in keeping with the style and tone of a naval campaign’ rather than simply ‘effective at providing the DM the Travellers want’.

A certain kind of Traveller will want to endlessly grind out DM-producing ‘standard setups’ for tasks. This is not what naval campaigns are about. Each clever plan to improve performance on a task is an opportunity for a mini-adventure. If it is reduced to just an extra die roll to get the +1DM, the referee should disallow the attempt.



Note that the person performing the skill check doesn't have to be the one directly overseeing the task and making the CEI roll, as long as they'd reasonably be able to help.

IE: the Astrogator could assist with the piloting CEI by helping to plot out the 'race course' maneuvers using their specialist knowledge.

It'd need a bit more of a scene-write than that, though!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Thu 30 July 2020.

Ahhh... thank you for the answer.  That is exactly what I was looking for both on Pilot specifically AND the CEI process.  I certainly like the idea of roleplaying a +1 or so as it makes the roll and situation so much more 'real' and enjoyable.  I'll see what I can dream up.

"I advise you to roll well, as if your life depended on it..."

/menacing glare

:P

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 290):

Worry not...

In reply to Hrolf Standarsson (msg # 291):

     Y'know.......

     (Look!  Syrris is already cringing!)

     I sorta agree with all that crap stuff about the CEI being a "group average", and thus no individual's skill level--even if it is in a relevant skill--should provide any DM to the roll.

     But, having said that, I really do think that there should be one exception...

     I would argue that the Leadership skill of someone--or a few people--within the specific "group" for which the CEI has been calculated, could, and should, be allowed to modify the CEI Roll check.

     C'mon, we all know that a "Good" Leader can make "Bad" Teams perform better.  And a "Great" Leader can similarly inspire "Great" performances from any Team under their command.  And, of course, a "Bad" Leader can lower the performance of even a "Great" Team.

     Or, to look at it in another way...as it is now, our Beloved Baron Bigmouth Reziilka--cannot, now, in any way, use his (no doubt) high Leadership Skill Levels to influence any CEI check.

     I would hope--but am not aware--that the Baron's Leadership Skill Level would be taken into account when calculating the CEI....but I don't know if that is the case, here...

Well the Baron's leadership is OVER 9000!!!!!

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 293):

     See!!  As I expected!  And yet it still doesn't mean doo-doo when it comes to the CEI.  According to the CEI, and the Baron's effect upon it, that Leadership Skill Level you just claimed means the Baron is nothing more than an overly loud, ineffectual windbag.

  Leadership does actually factor into the system in one of two ways: long-term changes (good or bad) both to Effective CEI and Morale, and crisis situations (where it can provide a benefit at a cost).

  So, here comes another massive copy-paste. Last one I'm doing for today. :P



Effective CEI

A vessel’s Effective CEI (ECEI) is used to resolve situations that need to be abstracted. ECEI varies throughout the mission according to circumstances and can be increased or decreased before a mission begins. Permanent changes to CEI require long periods of training or considerable experience, and can result from a successful mission but should not be assumed to always do so.

ECEI is determined at the beginning of a mission and varies thereafter. Every time a vessel suffers a crisis there is a chance ECEI may go down, and it can be increased by various measures. A crisis can include one of the following:

• The vessel takes casualties equivalent to 5% of its starting crew.

• A major system such as the bridge, spinal mount or battery of barbettes is disabled.

• A Leadership Crisis occurs (see Morale on page 17).

• The ship’s commanding officer is disabled or killed. To avoid a reduction in ECEI the ship’s commanding officer must make a Difficult (10+) Leadership check (2D x 5 minutes, INT). If the check is unsuccessful, one point of ECEI is lost, and Morale is reduced by a value equal to any negative Effect.

ECEI may be increased before or during a mission. To obtain an increase of +1 ECEI, an event that can increase ECEI must occur and the ship’s commanding officer must make an Average (8+) Leadership check (2D x 5 minutes, INT). Morale is modified by the result of this check, and can go down if the event is mishandled.

Events that can increase ECEI include:

• Generous supply and provisioning. This is rare for naval vessels and tends to happen only when a ship is about to embark on a special mission or receives advanced equipment.

• Solid success that demonstrates good practice and the reliability of team-mates, such as a textbook rescue of a distressed merchant ship under difficult conditions.

• A period of well-planned training or exercises lasting at least 2 weeks. Note that the normal ongoing training aboard a ship is routine and necessary for the maintenance of ECEI. The crew need to receive training above and beyond this in order to improve.

• A draft of additional or replacement personnel are received.

In addition, every 2D weeks a vessel is on a mission, its crew have a chance to increase or decrease ECEI. A crew may fall into an effective working rhythm and become more efficient, or might lose their focus and become less competent overall.

The vessel’s commanding officer must make a Difficult (10+) Leadership check (INT) and apply the Effect as a DM on the table below to determine whether the crew remains effective.


ECEI CHANGES
2D + Effect  Result
0-           Morale collapses (-1D+3 Morale) and the crew is near mutiny. Reduce ECEI by -3.
1-2          -1D Morale. Reduce ECEI by -2
3-4          -D3 Morale. Reduce ECEI by -1
5-8          No change
9-11         The crew gains confidence. +1 Morale
12+          Efficiency and morale increase. +1 ECEI, +D3 Morale


Using ECEI

In addition to functioning as a whole-ship DM, ECEI can be used to get the ship out of trouble or complete difficult tasks, representing a heroic effort on the part of the crew. The commanding officer of the relevant division (or whole ship if appropriate) must make an Average (8+) Leadership check to inspire the requisite effort. Up to three points of ECEI can be deducted in the attempt, with each point imposing DM+3 on all task rolls during the effort or permitting some near impossible obstacle to be overcome.

This reduction in ECEI is permanent, and represents exhaustion, depletion of resources and the sacrifice of some crewmembers to get a necessary job done.

Example: INS Khelashimu staggers out of a desperate fight with heavy damage. Her spinal mount is out of action as is her jump drive, and enemy vessels are mopping up the defeated remains of her task force. The drive cannot be repaired with the resources at hand, nor in the time available. Khelashimu’s commanding officer expends two points of ECEI. One buys a chance to juryrig the jump drive and escape, and the other is applied to the engineering department’s attempt to complete the task in time.

INS Khelashimu receives a DM based on her ECEI of 9 at the start of the task, but as the task is completed ECEI drops to 7. She manages to enter jump and escape, but at the cost of several engineers killed working around live cables and amid tangled wreckage. The ship has been saved but she will require a dockyard and replacement crewmembers to restore her previous efficiency.

Well actually a leadership level that high means that I am automatically responsible for every success and definitely not responsible at all for any screw ups.

  The captain is ultimately responsible for everything that happens on their ship. That's why they're the captain.

  If you want to be plausibly deniable then you never accept promotion above the rank of Lieutenant. ;)

In reply to Ishakhi Kiikag Kimpasherki (msg # 294):

     Okay, cool.  I just didn't know that.  Like I said, using the Leadership Skill was the only thing that gave me pause.
     Otherwise, I'm good with the whole CEI thing...