After the MGT debacle, T5 may not look so bad...

[aramis]

Characters definitely will NOT be 100% CT compatible, since MWM's stated rate is 1 skill level per year, not one per 4-year-term. Essentially, goign from an average of 1.5 levels per term (ct) to about 5 levels per term, a factor of just over 3x.

Stats, due to the higher number of skill levels per term, will also be somewhat higher, eating some of the skill levels.

 

[Lizard_SF]

Skill levels range higher than CT. An approximation might be had by taking a Mongoose Traveller character and doubling the levels of his skills. I think this is probably more than twice that of CT skill levels.

Hrm.

This seems to make most tasks, even 'formidable' ones, fairly easy to accomplish. Assuming a character will likely have a 10 in their most important stat and (if we double CT ranks) an 8-10 in their primary skill(s), then they'll have a Stat+Skill of 18. This means they'll have a 50/50 chance (roughly) of making a 6D skill check. This would be acceptable if that level of stat/skill was near-legendary, but you're saying it represents average starting PC ability.

 

[pendragonman]

I really hope T5 is good and even if the mechanic is not to my taste, coming from Marc I expect that most everything will be CT compatible ( I really really hope so anyway).

I wanted to pre-order when it was announced but that has been delayed to at least early March. We were hit with two very outrageous propane gas bills that has really put a bite on my gaming funds. I had to dip into the last of my play money to supplement valentines day activities for SWMBO. Sorry bout the money rant but it has become rather frustrating lately when I have even had to put off doctor appointments till after payday just so we could afford the gasoline for the trip there and back (unfortunately our doctor visits are 2 hr drives each way). Sometimes living out in the middle of nowhere isn't an advantage.

Jerry

Jerry, do I know you? Have we met?

I used to live (and play) in Omaha. You sound very much like a JR Mapes I used to be acquainted with.

Anyway, I feel your cash flow pain. I had to squeeze the T5 cash out of my textbook funds by some rather interesting purchasing for this semester.

I have faith that T5 will live up to my expectations. It sounds like there exists an isomorphism between it and TNE, and I loved TNE. Just couldn't keep a group going using it.

Pat Mitchell

 

[Renaissance Man]

Technically, Parkinson's isn't a disease, either, but a genetic disorder.

Although this isn't really germane to the discussion at hand, I'm pretty sure you can acquire Parkinson's for reasons beside genetic pre-disposition. Like for example heavy cocaine/crack/methamphetamine use.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Characters definitely will NOT be 100% CT compatible, since MWM's stated rate is 1 skill level per year, not one per 4-year-term.

No, CT gives ~1 skill/year, as does MT and T4.

 

[Sturn]

I wanted to pre-order when it was announced but that has been delayed to at least early March. We were hit with two very outrageous propane gas bills that has really put a bite on my gaming funds....<snip>....Jerry

Anyway, I feel your cash flow pain....<snip>...

So, us here on the board all send a buck or two to Jerry via Pay Pal so he can get his T5?

 

[Foxroe]

No, CT gives ~1 skill/year, as does MT and T4.

The impression that I get is that T5 does away with CT's "basic" and "advanced" career paths, and sort of blends the two together. So yes, T5 gives more skills than CT's basic generation, but it's pretty close to CT's advanced scheme (maybe a little more).

-Fox

 

[robject]

The impression that I get is that T5 does away with CT's "basic" and "advanced" career paths, and sort of blends the two together. So yes, T5 gives more skills than CT's basic generation, but it's pretty close to CT's advanced scheme (maybe a little more).

-Fox

Seems like T5 gives more skill levels; 1 per year plus some freebies. I thought CT was more spare, even in advanced?

And, I suppose skill levels of 8 and 10 could be rare, but are possible. Just as a skill level of 4 or 5 seems rare in MGT... if I'm wrong, then my conversion rule of thumb will change...

 

[aramis]

No, CT gives ~1 skill/year, as does MT and T4.

Sorry Andrew, but you are quite wrong on that, at least as far as Bk1..

Bk1 you get 1 per term, plus one for commission, and one for officer promotion. An additional is gained for 1st term. Automatic skills can add up to 2 levels (Best is Army and Army Lt) within one term, and IIRC 3 levels total.

Bk4-7 gives no base per term, plus a chance of one per year (usually aboug 40% chance on about 60% of years, or about 24% chance of skill per year, thus averaging 1 per term), plus one for promotion. Schools can grant 0-5 skills...

Bk1 ranges 1-6 skills per term, averaging 1.6 skills per term, with a sustainable rate of 1-3 skills per term

MT adds special duty, and bonus skills making the range 1-10 skills per term for basic. It averaged about 2.5 skill receipts per term, with a sustainable rate of 1-5 reciepts per term.

T4 was one per year base, plus 1 for special duty, comission, promotion (each of which was once per term) for a range of 4-7 skills per term, averaging about 5. Rankless careers, with a base of 6 per term, got an average of about 6.5... due to special duty.

I did the math when T4 came out, and Marc hasn't publicly swerved from those rates. Check the TML archives (ISTR it was either aramis@asylumbbs.com or ANWFH@uaa.alaska.edu that I posted it from.)

 

[jrmapes]

So, us here on the board all send a buck or two to Jerry via Pay Pal so he can get his T5?

Heh.

Thanks. But no. I can wait. If I miss the pre-order all I will miss is the handful of freebies. I can live with that if that happens.

Besides if I started getting unsolicited fundage in my paypal I would most likely go and do something silly like donate it to the local food pantry.

Seriously though, I appreciate the thought - serious or tongue in cheek not mattering one wit. I just can't get over just how hard hitting this winter has been on the wallet. I will (I think/hope) I will feel better about it all come spring when I can start picking up my usual odd jobs on the side. It seems prices here/everywhere has really went up these past few months (of course they are saying expect more increases thru summer so who knows). But when the prices go up like this in combo with weather where I can't get out and about much then match that against a fixed income - yup it can get tight.

But we are far from the poor house. Heh. There hasn't been a need to resort to a strict diet of beans and rice or pork and beans and cheap hot dogs or living on the ramen yet. LOL

I will tell you the truth gentlemen - especially those that aren't married or are working towards that end - It is one of the cardinal laws of marriage that just when you think you have all the bills in line and the budget is fixed to where the ends meet, well thats when without a hint or warning the Love Of Your Life (otherwise known as SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed) will find some way to move the ends - of course the further away she is able to move the ends will be in direct correlation with double the rate of inflation.

Heh.

Anyhow - Iv'e side tracked this far to much than I should have.

Jerry

 

[jrmapes]

Jerry, do I know you? Have we met?

I used to live (and play) in Omaha. You sound very much like a JR Mapes I used to be acquainted with.

Hey Pat

Not sure. I am from way down in the S.E. corner of Kansas and about the only time I game up north is the occasional convention in KC. Although I did live in Overland Park and Shawnee Mission for a while and I had games running most all the time at home and thru the RPGKC back in the early 90's.

I haven't been to a con in Omaha in eons - don't even know if they still have cons up there. Bout the only other place I can think we might have got acquainted would have been at the 2nd or 3rd Gorilla Con in Pittsburg KS.

Jerry

 

[Sturn]

Seriously though, I appreciate the thought - serious or tongue in cheek not mattering one wit.

Not tongue in cheek honest! I once read on a Traveller forum (can't recall which one) that a fan lost his MT core books in a basement flood. I mailed him my extra set. Felt good helping out another Traveller fan.

 

[Foxroe]

...otherwise known as SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed...

:rofl:

<looks to make sure she's not looking over my shoulder>

-Fox

 

[Prospero]

Hrm.

This seems to make most tasks, even 'formidable' ones, fairly easy to accomplish.

One rule in the play test docs that looked interesting, is the "this is hard rule" TIH. Basically if you don't have as many skill levels as dice, you go up two levels. So, if you had to roll at 3D task, but only had a skill level of 1, you might end up rolling 5D.

It certainly places an emphasis on training. Anything less than a skill level of 2 is almost useless, unless you have J-o-T.

 

[aramis]

In practice, it only emphasises skill up to the level of difficulty the players really want to be cometent at; really about (stat/3)dice, since higher levels of skill than this don't make much difference in success chances until you hit large levels of skill.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Okay...

I haven't heard anything else from Marc at FFE. I haven't heard anything else from you guys...

Does that mean that the T5 Cd has shipped?

Can this actually be happening??!

I'm so excited it's embarassing

 

[Sturn]

I haven't heard anything else from Marc at FFE. I haven't heard anything else from you guys.....Does that mean that the T5 Cd has shipped?

Before you get too excited, there is this post from another thread that claims an e-mail from Marc delaying T5 until April:

I just got an email from Marc...it's going to be end of April. See below:

"My best guesstimate is by the end of April. I plan to send out an email announcement to all concerned today or tomorrow.
As always, I can make a full refund on request at any time. Marc"

This is a few days old and I as a "pre-orderer" have not received such an e-mail. Has anyone else that pre-ordered other then Optimusv received such an e-mail?

 

[optimusv]

T5 Cdrom

I haven't got the email yet regarding the delay from April. From his email to me, it sounded like he would get something out soon. If I don't hear anything soon, I was planning to email him again but I don't want to tick him off either by bugging him too much.

From sending too many emails, at least from personal xp, sometimes they get a little test.

 

[hunter]

Yes it is delayed until April. Marc is working on it full-time but wasn't able to meet the end of Feb deadline.

He send me the 'final' character creation chapter this week and asked me to read through it and post my thoughts here about it, but I have been too swamped to get a chance to do it yet. I'll try and get that posted this week sometime.

 

[Smiling DM]

This is a few days old and I as a "pre-orderer" have not received such an e-mail. Has anyone else that pre-ordered other then Optimusv received such an e-mail?

I pre-ordered in early Jan and received an e-mail from Marc earlier today. The text of the e-mail is as follows:

T5 Progress Report March 1, 2008

I wanted to update everyone on the progress on the T5 CD ROM.

First, I am so very gratified by your responses and support as we move toward completion of this project. In response to my earlier emails about delays, the overwhelming answer was… “get it right, we want to see a good project.”

I am sorry to announce we face another delay. I think that the disks I would send out this weekend would not be as satisfying as I could make them. Our revised ship date is the end of March.

As always, we offer a full refund on demand. Tell us you don’t want to wait, and we’ll refund your payment immediately. And I continue to thank you all for your support.

** If you have not received your bonus pack, something has gone wrong. Tell me by return mail and I’ll send a replacement immediately.

Thanks for your patience. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support.