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Low-Tech CharGen Options

Jame

SOC-14 5K
"Barbarian" implies tribal/survivalist people with low/scattered populations. So what do you do when you need someone primitive, but from an actual civilization (as opposed to culture) which is low-tech?
 
I started building basic low-tech chargen, that's what I did. Didn't get far enough, of course, but it was a useful exercise.
 
Here's the only link I've got. It describes, in general terms, the classes and subclasses of characters available, plus the primary skill(s) for each.

The idea was to create four basic chargen sequences: one for the fighter, one for the scholar, one for the civilian, and one for the outsider. Each class receives immediate experience in a primary skill.

Inside each of these career types are 5 subtypes, which would be chosen by the player or randomly determined. This subtype is given immediate experience in one or two secondary skills.

http://eaglestone.pocketempires.com/rules/GlassAndGold.html
 
Originally posted by Jame:
"Barbarian" implies tribal/survivalist people with low/scattered populations. So what do you do when you need someone primitive, but from an actual civilization (as opposed to culture) which is low-tech?
Actually there are two types of barbarians, the one you mention is the low tech barbarian. What Traveller neglects are those high tech barbarians, they ones that aren't primitive at all, but just uncivilized.
 
Originally posted by Space Cadet:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jame:
"Barbarian" implies tribal/survivalist people with low/scattered populations. So what do you do when you need someone primitive, but from an actual civilization (as opposed to culture) which is low-tech?
Actually there are two types of barbarians, the one you mention is the low tech barbarian. What Traveller neglects are those high tech barbarians, they ones that aren't primitive at all, but just uncivilized. </font>[/QUOTE]Too true. But I'm looking for something like a Roman/Greek/Assyrian CG for Traveller...
 
Cadet, I think that is exactly Jame's problem. There is only 1 creation method for a vary diverse group of people.

Roman Citizens and South American Hunter/Gatherers are NOT going to have the same skills.
 
Well, I don't have any of my books handy, but off the top of my head...

Replace vehicle skills with Animal Handling.

Weapons would be culture specific- Roman bow, sling, javelin, sword, trident, net.

Navigation would be only half normal (shore hugging triremes, galleys, etc).

Am I making sense?
 
Originally posted by Plankowner:
Cadet, I think that is exactly Jame's problem. There is only 1 creation method for a vary diverse group of people.

Roman Citizens and South American Hunter/Gatherers are NOT going to have the same skills.
That's a fundamental point that I didn't grasp. Even though it may be obvious to you, it wasn't to me, and so you've enlightened me. Thanks!

So let's abstract away these types of people into characteristics or skill groupings. I'm interested in seeing how they differ in a role-playing setting.

Draft 1

Assumption: all societies have a peasant class and a ruler/priestly class.

Merchant/Artisan class. If this class exists, then these skills are available only to that class. Otherwise they are generally available to all.
Craftsman
Metallurgy
Other languages


Warrior class. If this class exists, then these skills are available only to that class. Otherwise they are generally available to all.
Weapon use
Survival
Stealth
Leader
Tactics

Literate If this attribute is true, then these skills are available to all. Otherwise they're not available.
Strategy
Law
Admin
Bureaucracy
Diplomacy

Sedentary If this attribute is true, then these skills are available to all. Otherwise they're not available.
Agriculture
Advanced building
 
Originally posted by robject:
-clip-

Draft 1

Assumption: all societies have a peasant class and a ruler/priestly class.

Merchant/Artisan class. If this class exists, then these skills are available only to that class. Otherwise they are generally available to all.
Craftsman
Metallurgy
Other languages


Warrior class. If this class exists, then these skills are available only to that class. Otherwise they are generally available to all.
Weapon use
Survival
Stealth
Leader
Tactics

Literate If this attribute is true, then these skills are available to all. Otherwise they're not available.
Strategy
Law
Admin
Bureaucracy
Diplomacy

Sedentary If this attribute is true, then these skills are available to all. Otherwise they're not available.
Agriculture
Advanced building
Potential feedback from a relative newcomer - to be taken with a grain or more of salt
.

The skills listed for the merchants and artisans would almost certainly be available to the priests and/or leaders as well - at least in some cultures. The same for the skills listed for the Warrior class.

Also, I'm not sure I see the link between literacy and strategy - some of the native american tribes seemed to employ excellent startegies without a written language. :confused:

Thought - Why not vary the skills avaiable to a priest and / or ruler based on the civilization? Ie a Roman Leader would have skills as a warrior plus oratory and bribery skills, while a Roman priest would have skills in oratory and those of a merchant. Meanwhile an Eygtian leader be required to have advanced building skill and some priestly skills etc? ;)
 
SGB, I like that.

(It strikes me that certain careers, such as merchant, rogue, hunter and possibly doctor, can be coverted into low-tech CG.)
 
For the skills in the Background Culture (as oposed to the exceptional characters like the players) about 90% of all pre-industrial societies are farmers/herders/hunters (food production). That just leaves 10% of the population to do/be something else and applies to the Roman Empire, a Medieval village or a Hunter-Gatherer clan in the Rainforest.

This topic has been a goldmine of good ideas.
 
As a small aside, many 'native' Earth cultures have a philosophical world-view that makes “machinery” undesirable, but could still embrace a variety of “soft-science” based technologies. A TL 1 Traveller “ primitive” could posses advanced knowledge in bio-chemistry, medicine, law, philosophy, ecology, etc.

It might surprise a starship crew to learn that ‘THIS’ TL 1 civilization is capable of TL 16 holistic medicine (or TL 5 Chemical Explosives).

Just some random thoughts.
 
Originally posted by atpollard:
As a small aside, many 'native' Earth cultures have a philosophical world-view that makes “machinery” undesirable, but could still embrace a variety of “soft-science” based technologies. A TL 1 Traveller “ primitive” could posses advanced knowledge in bio-chemistry, medicine, law, philosophy, ecology, etc.
Remember that alot of TL5+ technology requires an extensive infrastructure to develop, manufacture and use. Ofcourse, assuming interstellar contact, that infrastructure (especially manufacturing and training) could be off-world, especially if the scope of local technology is limited.

Some technological items are good imports even if your tech level is low and you have no ability or desire to improve it. These are the various self-contained items such as stainless steel tools and weapons, firearms (sure, you need ammo, but ammo is cheap, and a dton of bullets - easy to order from a passing trader - lasts for quite a time if you're not engaged in serious warfare), medicines (bought in bulk, especially ones of wide-spectrum use), and various personal non-perishable survival gear.

Also, offworld knowledge will spread to almost any world with interstellar contact.
 
Originally posted by atpollard:
As a small aside, many 'native' Earth cultures have a philosophical world-view that makes “machinery” undesirable, but could still embrace a variety of “soft-science” based technologies. A TL 1 Traveller “ primitive” could posses advanced knowledge in bio-chemistry, medicine, law, philosophy, ecology, etc.

It might surprise a starship crew to learn that ‘THIS’ TL 1 civilization is capable of TL 16 holistic medicine (or TL 5 Chemical Explosives).

Just some random thoughts.
Maybe they use molecular machines instead, or perhaps biomachines, they just don't use the metallic or plastic clunkers most Traveller societies are used to. Their machines require food and reproduce like animals, but they are really machines built out of biological cells.
 
"(shore hugging triremes, galleys, etc)"


Actually, there is plenty of evidence that the Greek, Phoenician, Nordic, Arabian, Chinese, and especially Polynesian seafarers all made cross-ocean voyages far from land.

Planned round trips across the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, South China Sea/Yellow Sea, North Sea, and large stretches of the Pacific were common for peoples that Traveller would classify as TL 1.
 
"(shore hugging triremes, galleys, etc)"


Actually, there is plenty of evidence that the Greek, Phoenician, Nordic, Arabian, Chinese, and especially Polynesian seafarers all made cross-ocean voyages far from land.

Planned round trips across the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, South China Sea/Yellow Sea, North Sea, and large stretches of the Pacific were common for peoples that Traveller would classify as TL 1.

Good point!
 
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