Entourage

[Hanson's Roughriders]

The joys of Iphone usage *edit*

So without further ado - I am thinking of running my games almost troupe style (almost) centered around a Noble and either their political machinations or one on some sort of knights grail quest. What are peoples thoughts and opinions on this as a venture especially under the T5 banner? Please note my only Traveller experience with this group has been an awful version of character generation through the Mongoose version. However I have been a long reader of Traveller and am a true Zealot of this game and version.

So back on topic I am thinking of how combat is better in this version and that my only real issue is modifications to the patrons and resource managment. Current themes I am looking at as well are Fading Suns, Dune, Battletech and the current Imperium - however that being said I was aiming at a home brew setting harvesting the ideas from all of these settings.

Eager to hear replies and suggestions.

 

[atpollard]

Any gaming is a good thing in my opinion, so I say go for it.

One small potential concern, combat in Traveller has generally been a very dangerous activity (easy to get killed), and with the possible exception of an NPC being attacked with a revolver, I think that T5 is no different. You suggested that
1. you liked T5 combat
And
2. You were thinking about a nobleman's troupe on a quest
so I would just urge caution that you and your players be prepared for potentially high mortality rates (or some GM fiat). It is not a bad thing, just something where everyone needs to have the same expectations from the start.

Hopefully, the T5 gurus will chime in with more rules specific advice.

Honor Harrington (Flag in Exile) comes to mind as another pot to draw inspiration from.

 

[Quint]

I've often used this theme (usually with a player or players taking the role of the noble but occasionally an NPC). I have also drawn from Fading Suns and find it a useful resource for ideas (I also adapted it's personal shields mechanics for Traveller FWIW).

I was just watching the BBC's new Musketeer show and thinking about what a great idea for a campaign. It could be an actually military unit, or a order of knights, or some combination of the two - but in any case the all works of Dumas are ripe with potential.

(On the same note, you could look to Sharpe's Rifles for a more military focused campaign with many of the same elements or Dunnet's Lymond chronicles)

For an explicitly scifi setting, Bujold's Vorkosigan series would be another very helpful resource - especially the first couple books and the last couple.

D.

 

[Spinward Scout]

Are you making the Noble a Player Character? That could be a lot of fun. Paul-Muad'Dib and the Feydakin from Dune would be an example in wartime.

 

[Hemdian]

I’ve found plenty of scope for similar themes within the OTU. Not sure if this is what you’re after...

I had a group of Knighted friends who served together during the 4FW, now running a merc unit with an unusual ship. During the war they boarded and captured the Kiatlfiet (a Tiaflfiet class Patrol Frigate of the Zhodani Navy). After years of study by Naval Intelligence, and with the war over, the ship was released to the original prize crew, who renamed the ship "Pendragon" and registered it as a mercenary cruiser. When their client was the Imperial Government, they offered plausible deniability. In other words, they were a little like the Four Musketeers ... but with a former Zho ship now operating in Imperial space. (Coincidentally, I notice that the OP is "Hanson's Roughriders" and the leader of the merc unit was Sir Gregor Hanson of Hanson Military Services.)

I’m currently working on a new campaign (T5-based) where the players characters are to be investigators in the Ministry of Justice, Special Branch. I’m styling it after TV’s NCIS. Set in Spinward Marches after the 5FW there is definitely going to be a political dimension to some of their investigations (especially regarding Lord Santanocheev and his allies). An NPC is their boss: MOJ Assistant Director Baroness Mishu Agesh (Alumni of the Red Institute and Licensed Attorney of the Mora Bar Association).