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.