Fixing T5

[Supplement Four]

So, I've spent some time exploring the rules, and I've discovered and discussed a lot of the game's problems. In this thread, it's time to take a more positive look at the game and suggest ways to fix the parts of T5 that I think are broken or ugly.

You are welcome to comment or post your own fixes. If you do, please identify clearly your "fix" post so that someone scanning through this thread can easily pick out the suggested fix rules from the discussion.

And, now...LET'S FIX TRAVELLER 5!

 

[Thlaylie]

I'm looking through GURPS Traveller as I write this.

 

[Murdoc]

I have recently posted my collected house rules for T5 here: http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=30396. Most of these are enhancements rather than fixes, but there are a few, such as Mustering Out tables DMs, and Rogue skills; nothing major. As I mention in that thread though, I am working on tackling the combat and task systems to make them work better. It's not finished yet but if there's interest I will post when done. I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but it works for me, but basically I am doing a hybridization of T5 and MT rules, using MT where T5 seems to have problems, but keeping as much of T5 intact as possible because it is so integrated (like the difficulty levels so you don't have to change chargen). I've done the hard part and figured out essentially how it will work, and it seems to work well (not play-tested yet though), but I was surprised that I could find something that did seem to work this well.

 

[Supplement Four]

Fixing T5 - AMMUNITION

- AMMUNITION -



Problem: T5 doesn't track the use of ammunition. In the game, a character is always assumed to have enough ammo for the type of shot he is making. Thus, characters are allowed to fire so often that they could theoretically fire more ammunition than the character could possibly carry.





Solution: Every attack task is made with one die designated as the ammo die. This die will indicate if/when the character has emptied his weapon.





The Ammo Die: The Ref will assign a number (1-6) to the weapon based on the size of the weapon's magazine. When this number, or less, appears on the ammo die, the character has spent a magazine firing the weapon. AD=6 (6 on the ammo die) means that a magazine is emptied every time the weapon is fired (as with a single shot Derringer).

When assigning the AD number, the Ref should also consider that T5 uses an abstract combat round. Thus, during a round, a character could pull the trigger on this weapon several times. One attack does not mean necessarily mean that the weapon was operated only once. An attack throw can represent a single shot or multiple pulls of the trigger.

It is assumed that characters will conserve ammo as best they can, and thus, for many weapons, AD=1 is appropriate. This means that a character will empty his weapon when the ammo die lands on a 1 (regardless of whether the attack succeeded or not--bullets are still spent missing the target).

If burst fire is used, then increase the weapon's AD code by +1. If Full automatic fire is used, then increase AD by +2. See page 256 for a description of Burst and Fully Automatic fire.

Thus, with many weapons a roll on the ammo die means:

1 = Replace Magazine
2 = Replace Magazine if Burst Fire used.
3 = Replace Magazine if Full Fire used.
4 = Magazine not emptied.
5 = Magazine not emptied.
6 = Magazine not emptied.

Weapons with large magazine capacity are typically capable of Burst or Full Fire only. With a large capacity weapon that is capable of Single Fire, the Ref may assign the AD=0 code, which means, as long as the character fires the weapon in Single Fire mode, he will not have to replace the magazine during the combat. The rule for Burst Fire (+1 AD) and Full Fire (+2 AD) are used, though.





Optional Rule: Multiple Magazines.

Since we are dealing with an abstract combat round that can be fairly long in length (averages one minute), a character could only fire his weapon once, or he could fire the weapon multiple times, then reload the weapon, then fire the weapon some more, reload again, and fire some more. Conceiveably, a character could burn through several magazines in a single combat round. This optional rule accounts for those occurences.

When ever the ammo die both indicates a magazine is emptied and that die is matched by one or more dice on the attack throw, then a magazine is used for each matching dice.

For example, consider an automatic pistol rated at AD=1. Single Fire is used, and on the attack throw, the result is 1ad, 1 with a "1" on the ammo die. This means 2 magazines have been used up that combat round.





Weapon Ammo Capacity: Weapons in T5 are not listed with magazne capacity as with other editions of Traveller. Turn to page 248. There, you will see some example magazines for various weapons. Using the examples as a baseline, the Ref extrapolates and determines the magazine size of any weapon. Using this information, the Ref can then determine the weapon's AD code.

Examples

Rifle pictured on page 241 uses a 30 round magazine. See example E on page 248.

The TL 12 Gauss Rifle pictured on page 246 uses a 100 round magazine. See example R on page 248.

The ImP-6 shown on page 244 is also known as a "staple gun". It uses a 200 round magazine. See example S on page 248.

The TL 11 Precision Hunting Carbine shown on page 245 uses a 200 round magazine. See example L on page 248.

Some weapons with listed magazine size are shown on page 236.

Note: Many weapons can be fitted with different size magazines. On page 248, a 10 round, 20 round, and two 30 round magazines are pictured for the 8mm Battle Rifle. A weapon's AD code can change depending on the size of the magazine used.





Magazine Weight: As with magazine capacity, the Ref will determine the weight of a weapon's magazine (used when calculating character load) by extrapolation and comparison of the images on page 248. I will give you a couple of benchmarks below. Studious Refs may notate each of the page 248 examples with actual mass in kg.

Page 248 Benchmarks

Example A = 1/1
Example D = 2/1
Example H = 3/1

Example N = 2/1
Example P = 1/1
Example Q = 1/2

Magazines per kg. Example A means that 1 magazine weighs approximately 1 kg. Example H means that 3 magazines weigh about 1 kg. Example Q means that 1 magazine weighs about 2 kgs.

Note that the magazine in the weapon is not counted. Its mass is considered in the mass of the weapon. When figuring magazine weight, only consider the number of extra magazine the character is carrying.





Special Note For Some Single Shot Weapons: Some weapons will not need an AD code. For example, it will be easy to keep track of how many 4cm grenades are fired from the underbarrel of an ACR. Some shoulder fired missiles are single use weapons. The Ref will decide which weapons fall into this category.





Weapon LongName and AD Code: Once the Ref decides on an AD code for a weapon, record it in the weapon's LongName for further game reference. The AD Code becomes part of the weapon's description. Also list the weapon's magazine capacity. See page the description of a weapon's LongName on page 242.

 

[Supplement Four]

Fixing T5 - AMMUNITION

- EXAMPLES -



Example 1: Let's do the first example in the Personal Combat chapter of T5, page 212. Zolomion Shoul encounters his old enemy Morio on the streets of startown.

Zolomion is using a revolver, and the Fighting Task from the example is 2D for 16 or less.

The Ref has rated Zolomion's revoler as a standard six round cylinder. The weapon is only capable of Single Fire (see page 256), and the Ref rates the weapon at AD=2.

Why AD=2? The weapon is not capable of Burst of Full Fire, but the magazine size is small. So, the Ref decided that a 1-in-3 chance, every combat round, of using up all six bullets is appropriate.

Once the Ref has assigned an AD code to a weapon, the code should be listed in the weapon's LongName (see page 242) for future reference.

In Combat Round 1, Zolomion makes an attack with the revolver, throwing 2D, and getting 2ad, 6. The "2" on the ammo die means that Zolomion fired all six rounds and has reloaded. The player should mark off one revolver speed loader from Zolomion's equipment.

In Combat Round 2, Zolomion makes another attack, rolling 2D and getting 5ad, 1. This means that Zolomion did not use up all six bullets during that combat round.

In Combat Round 3, Zolomion makes his third attack. He rolls 2D, getting 2ad, 2. If we use the Optional Mutli-Mag Rule, this means that Zolomion went through two speed loaders that round. If we're not using that optional rule, then Zolomion only used up one magazine in combat round three.







Example 2: In this example, I'm going to use the ACR-10 from page 240. This weapon is pictured on page 238. The Ref decides that this weapon uses a magazine similar to Example E on page 248, and thus, the Ref decides that 2 extra magazines weight 1 kg. The magazine holds 30 rounds, and the weapon is capable of Single, Burst, and Full Fire.

The Ref assigns the weapon the code of AD=1.

On Combat Round 1, the weapon is used to fire a Burst at a Medium Range target. This is a 3D task that is increased to 4D because the Auto Fire attack type is used. The 4D attack throw results in 1ad, 2, 2, 1. This means that one magazine was used that combat round. If the Optional Multi-Mag rule is used, this means that two magazines were used that combat round.

On Combat Round 2, the weapon is again used to fire at a target at Medium Range, but the attacker has switched his weapon to the Single Fire mode. This is a 3D attack, and the results of the throw are 1ad, 3, 2. This means that one magazine was used that round.

On Combat Round 3, the attacker's new target is at Long Range. Using Single Fire, the attack is done at a 4D difficulty. The dice show 5ad, 4, 5, 3, which means that the attacker did not use a magazine this rouund.







Example 3: For this example, let's use the TL-11 Precision Hunting Rifle shown on page 236. The Ref decides that this weapon has a magazine exactly like Example L on page 248. Comparing the benchmark magazines, the Ref declares that this magazine weighs 2 kgs and holds 200 rounds. But, since the character is not carrying any extra magazines, so the weight of the weapon's magazine is not considered agains the character's load as the magazine's weight is part of the weapon's weight.

The Ref decides that the weapon is capable of Single and Burst Fire. Because of the weapon's ammo capacity and rate of fire capability, the Ref determines that this weapon be rated at AD=0. That is to say, this weapon will not run out of ammo during a combat as long as Single Fire is always used.

If Burst Fire is used, then the weapon's code becomes AD=1. If the weapon is used several times for burst fire without using up the magazine, and then the character switches to Single Fire, the Ref may modify the Single Fire code to AD=1 to take in the chance that the weapon may run out of ammo.

In Combat Round 1, the weapon is used for Single Fire. At AD=0, the ammo die is not referenced.

In fact, the ammo die is never referenced with this weapon unless something changes for the Ref to declare that the weapon is rated at AD=1 or higher.

 

[Scathsealgaire]

07 Spacer - Naval Career Path, Risk and Reward, and Military Medals

I have been through Character Creation a few times and have started to build some House Rules that you may want to add to your project.

As you will see, it is mostly clarification of how the rules seem to work.

Changes
1) Career description. "After a successful begin, the spacer rolls to determine naval branch; Ratings reroll branch when promoted; Officers may not change branch, however if they have graduated with honours from a Military Academy they may choose their branch, except for Flight. Flight School graduates may choose Flight." I felt that attending a Military Academy and graduation with honours should at least let you choose your Branch.
2) Table A-Spacers has been expanded, to better reflect the process. I also added medals to the difficulty roll for continuing.
3) Branch and Operations Tables high Edu DM is optional, giving high Edu players the possibility of not being stuck on Shore Duty.
4) I clarified the Risk and Reward calculations.
5) Medals. This is where I have made the largest changes. I scrapped the written rules and wrote my own. The higher the risk the higher the reward, the converse applies.

Roll 1D + Branch mod + Operation mod – Caution/Bravery mod and Consult the Medals Table.
MEDALS TABLE
Outcome Medal
0- No Medal
1 No Medal
2 No Medal
3 XS
4 XS
5 XS
6 MCUF
7 MCUF
8 MCG
9 MCG
10 SEH
11 SEH
12+ *SEH*