LBB again?

[Gatsby]

Now for an idea to fire up the board some more:

Return to the concept of CT BEING Traveller. Since the LBBs always were update to the system anyway (Books 4,5,6,7 actually over-ruled books 1,2, and 3), why not continue as was?

The first reprint book (FFE-1) IS the core rules manual. (Or if you're lucky, you have the first print runs....) Then you can start doing LBBs again- Traveller becomes Traveller again.

Example:

Traveller Book 9 - Traveller's Way (Tasks and Interaction)

Traveller Book 10 - Nobles

Supplement 14 - The Card System

Supplement 15 - Deck Plans (how to...)

Campaign 1 (new LBB class!)- Ziru Sirka (merely rule modifications to the main systems to play in the time of the campaign and campaign info and ships, tech, etc.)

Campaign 2 - Rule of Man (merely rule modifications to the main systems to play in the time of the campaign and campaign info and ships, tech, etc.)


Adventure 13 - Faraway Sector

Etc. Etc.

LBBs could go for $7....and you can start printing them right away along with the BCB (Big Collection Books)!

Now, THAT would get me really going again...like: where's my nearest Game store! "Did any Traveller come out this week?"

Gats' (dreaming VERY good dreams, perhaps....)

[Crimson Cat]

I would love to see that. But then again I like the D&D system over the advanced especially with the dragon article on how to create new classes from scratch.
Give me a basic set of rules that can be easily modified to fit a situation and I am a happy camper.

[FlightCommanderSolitude]

If new Traveller material did indeed come out in LBB format, I would wet my pants with joy. Sadly, I don't think that's the direction things are going in.

-fcs

[DrSkull]

Gatsby, I think that is freaking brilliant.

[T. Foster]

Although I'm still attached to the idea of my massive Traveller dream-book that I've been describing over the past few days, I've gotta admit I really like the idea of new Traveller LBBs. I mean I REALLY like this idea. And it still leaves room for my MBB (massive black book) somewhere along the line -- after all, The Traveller Book coexisted with the original LBBs, as an option for folks who like fancy artwork and having everything in one place.

Bring on Book 9!

[Crimson Cat]

Would an LBB on vehicles be helpful. Liking the idea of new ones more and more(hint, hint).

[T. Foster]

OK, Book 9 is 'The Traveller's Way,' the intent of which is to upgrade the game-system as a whole in the same way Books 4-7 upgraded other specific sections.

First (Character) Section:
Homeworld Generation (from MT/T4)
Background Skills (from T4/T5 draft)
Higher Education (from T4/Books 4-7)
Life Pursuits (from T5 draft)
Special Duty (from MT)
Allies/Contacts (from TNE)
New Careers: Enforcer/Agent, Entertainer, Journalist (from MT/T4, possibly saved for later volumes)

Second (Rules) Section:
Task System (from MT preferably, IMO)
Task Library (sample tasks for common activities from Books 1-7)
Experience and Improvement (from MT)
Interpersonal Activities (from MT)
Research (from MT Ref Companion)

That's probably just about enough to fill 56 LBB pages, and IMO manages to hit pretty much every addition from the later editions that felt like real improvement rather than a mistake or change for change's sake.

I'd love to slide this book up onto my shelf.

[Myscha the sled dog]

My pen and paper rpg experience dates back to a time of the first runs of Traveller and AD&D. But I must admit the recent reprints in a landscape format of the original LBB are, in my opinion, an ideal solution to facilitate the rules.

Having a singular and secondary book open-laid on top of the other (that STAYS open) and has just about everything a referee needs to look up is much more helpful than multiple small books, hardbound books, or even the softbound versions used in T4.

Landscape books stay open, and don't require you to press down on the binding or bend it to conform to your will.

Also, the beauty and simplicity of the recent reprints of Classic Traveller compliment each other end to end on shelves or in stacks.

For a referee, I must admit using the landscape printed format is a pure pleasure. Hardbound books are clumsy, slip off each other, and are heavy. Landscape formats allows for nice easy to read "letterbox" style presentation of the material as well.

Although having lots of little books, or multiple big fat hardbound books, or hundreds of softbound vertical printed books (like Rifts) seems to be a trend with publishers, I personally prefer Landscape.

[Murph]

YES, YES, YES, bring back the LBB, they were so much more convienent. Also the minimalist covers are an effective statement themselves.

Either restart as book 9, or book 1, second edition.

[Gallowglass]

Gets my vote. In fact, if FFE go the "second" (fifth, surely ) edition route (rather than book 9), they have the opportunity to address some of the cosmetic changes discussed elsewhere in the baseline systems of books 0/-/8 (Electronics Packages etc).

And FFE could make T5 fully generic and publish new OTU material as Campaigns or Supplements. And please bring back the double adventure - I understood the idea (and I was ten!).

All the OTU material could be compatible to T20 (increasing potential sales), plus variant settings could be done as Campaigns (what's happened to the B5 License and how about the Stargate SG-1 license?) which would raise T5's profile and generate sales for FFE...

This looks frighteningly plausible people...