Starting a new Face to Face game

[infojunky]

Ok, I am setting up to run a game for a bunch of new to Traveller players.

I am considering the Broadly Competent option for basic character creation. In which the assumption that all skills are effectively level zero. I am going to use basic Book1 and Supplement4 for character generation.

Not seeing a downside for this.

Comments?

 

[Spinward Flow]

I am considering the Broadly Competent option for basic character creation. In which the assumption that all skills are effectively level zero.

This makes life (after surviving character generation) MUCH easier on the Players. It's effectively Jack of all Trades-1 (in a variety of ways).

I am going to use basic Book1 and Supplement4 for character generation.

Nice.

Comments?

Pity it's not an online (or even PBP here on the forums).
If the game didn't have to be in person, I'd be inclined to apply to play!

 

[kilemall]

I don’t care for that kind of setup as I prefer characters that are specially good at what they do and defective in others, requiring teamwork and hiring. That allows intro of NPCs they need.

I also want JoAT skill to mean something.

Certainly both player agency and much of source sci-fi depicts that sort of self reliant competence, so a matter of taste not drawback.

 

[Spinward Scout]

Just being in the Third Imperium should give the Characters benefits:

• Admin-0 - just to get through School, Adulting, applying for Service/Careers, etc...
• Athletics-0 - Gym class. You might suck at it, but you know the basics.
• Gun Combat-0 - almost every Career should require it. Especially working for the Imperium.
• Imperium Knowledge-0 - should be a given just for a Character living in the Imperium
• Charted Space Knowledge-0, - again, your Character lives there.
• Language (Anglic)- the skill level equal to your Character's EDU bonus? I'm torn on this.
• A number of 0-level Languages equal to your Character's EDU bonus
• Animals-0 - if your Character had a Pet.
• Hobby-0 - What did your Character have fun doing outside of School?
• Electronics (Computers)-0 - anyone living in the Imperium on a world higher than TL-8 should learn this in School

The list could probably be bigger. But I wouldn't give them every skill. Just have a list of skills learned in School.
Unless you have a plausible reason, like subliminal sleep learning or something. Or a device similar to the Personality Overlay from Expedition to Zhodane.

 

[whartung]

Electronics (Computers)-0 - anyone living in the Imperium on a world higher than TL-8 should learn this in School

Curious how you think that manifests in todays world. A simple example, I had a blood draw recently, and the phlebotomist obviously had to use a rather complicated application to manage my appointment info, personal info, keying in the labs to do, printing labels, etc.

So, she understands mousing, and clicking, and keyboard actions. Do you consider that "Computer-0"? I assume she knows how to turn the machine on, perhaps log in, and start the program (if they even shut the things down at night).

But does she know anything about computers? What those wires do coming out the back, anything at all about the architecture? The OS?

There are likely millions of people that are Driver-1 and not even Car-0. Who may consider opening the hood to void the warranty. "When the light goes on, I take it to the dealer."

The beauty is, of course, that folks nowadays don't have to know much about cars in order to operate them. Driving? Yes. Dynamics, steering, braking, traction, etc. Mechanics? No.

You don't need to know anything about computers to operate an ATM.

So, just curious what you consider "Computer-0" to be in todays world.

 

[mike wightman]

Personally I would say using Apps is linked to Edu.

The issue becomes what does a TL8+ computer interface look like and how do you use it?

The original skill didn't know what was around the corner with AI digital assistants, voice and gesture recognition etc.

Computer: The individual is skilled in the programming and operation of electronic and fibre optic computers, both ground and shipboard models.
Computers perform valuable functions in human society, and individuals capable of using them find that their skill is equally valuable.
Characters with computer expertise may be hired (when needed) to operate and program computers for organizations, ships, or other employers.

So the skill assumes software writing and use.

 

[bookwyrm]

I think it's a good way to get them started with Traveller, as long as they understand that knowing all skills is just part of the introduction to the game and not something that's part of every Character generation.

You could give the players a list of Skills to choose a few skills from as an indicator of things learned on their world of origin before they started Travelling/Adventuring.

Comp-0 & Driving-0 - A person knows how to use/operate a computer/car. If there is a problem, the user/operator goes to a specialist for help. At higher Comp skill level, the user can troubleshoot or even repair the computer and might be able to do some programming. For higher Driving skill level, the operator might be able to change oil & tires and other minor fixes. Major car problems would require Mechanic. For the computer, you could have Comp-1+ choose between hardware & software if you don't want the skill to do everything.

 

[infojunky]

This makes life (after surviving character generation) MUCH easier on the Players. It's effectively Jack of all Trades-1 (in a variety of ways).

Kinda, we'll see how it flies..

Pity it's not an online (or even PBP here on the forums).

Sorry. My 30 year old face to face Traveller game went to digital durning the Pandemic, and it's not the same.

If the game didn't have to be in person, I'd be inclined to apply to play!

Again, sorry... Though if you move to the SF Bay region you are more than invited...

 

[Spinward Flow]

if you move to the SF Bay region you are more than invited...

That's "half a country away" and would make for one LONG commute ...

 

[coliver988]

Kinda, we'll see how it flies..


Sorry. My 30 year old face to face Traveller game went to digital durning the Pandemic, and it's not the same.

Again, sorry... Though if you move to the SF Bay region you are more than invited...

I've noticed the same thing since we switched to virtual games. It is not the same and not nearly as much fun it seems. Perhaps because it becomes too much like a work meeting...

 

[Spinward Flow]

It is not the same and not nearly as much fun it seems.

When you aren't face to face at the same table, a tremendous wealth of non-verbal body language gets "lost" which then alters the social dynamics of playing. It's analogous to how communication through text (such as forums) vastly narrows down the "bandwidth" of context, overtones and body language signaling that you would otherwise have if you were sitting together at a table and just talking face to face. There's a ... disconnect ... on some of the "channels" that would be available if you were actually there in person.

You can still make yourself understood and participate, but the immediacy of seeing (and feeling) reactions and the swirl of emotions as people immerse themselves into the dynamics of playing ... are impaired. Therefore, it FEELS like a different experience.

 

[whulorigan]

I don’t care for that kind of setup as I prefer characters that are specially good at what they do and defective in others, requiring teamwork and hiring. That allows intro of NPCs they need.

I also want JoAT skill to mean something.

Certainly both player agency and much of source sci-fi depicts that sort of self reliant competence, so a matter of taste not drawback.

Things you could do with JOT:

• Each level of JOT could give you an additional attempt to succeed at a failed task, but using the "untrained" penalty of "-5" to the base roll before modifiers are applied.
• JOT-skill could give you ONE additional attempt to succeed at a failed task, but using the "untrained" penalty of "-5" to the base roll before modifiers are applied, AND adding your JOT skill level to the roll as an additional modifier.
• You could still determine that certain tasks require a certain base skill level in the task to attempt normally, otherwise requiring a task-roll penalty when attempting them. A certain level of JOT (at the GM's discretion) may be able to substitute for a certain level of deficiency in skill or knowledge).

 

[whulorigan]

There are likely millions of people that are Driver-1 and not even Car-0. Who may consider opening the hood to void the warranty. "When the light goes on, I take it to the dealer."

The beauty is, of course, that folks nowadays don't have to know much about cars in order to operate them. Driving? Yes. Dynamics, steering, braking, traction, etc.

You could give the players a list of Skills to choose a few skills from as an indicator of things learned on their world of origin before they started Travelling/Adventuring.

Comp-0 & Driving-0 - A person knows how to use/operate a computer/car. If there is a problem, the user/operator goes to a specialist for help. At higher Comp skill level, the user can troubleshoot or even repair the computer and might be able to do some programming. For higher Driving skill level, the operator might be able to change oil & tires and other minor fixes. Major car problems would require Mechanic. For the computer, you could have Comp-1+ choose between hardware & software if you don't want the skill to do everything.

I would say that Driver-0 (or substitute whatever manually-operated mode of transportation is common on the homeworld) would be the common basic operator's level (i.e. this is what most of us all have). Higher levels of Driver (et al) represent defensive and/or tactical driving like you would learn in a military or security organization, or as a stunt or racecar driver, for example (e.g. How to spin the car around to rapidly go in the opposite direction or lose a "tail", how to do high-speed cornering, how to drive fast thru rough terrain or wet surfaces without wrecking the vehicle, etc.). It likewise might include some basic field repair knowledge, depending on the GM's assessment as to how the person acquired the skill.

 

[whartung]

It's analogous to how communication through text (such as forums) vastly narrows down the "bandwidth" of context,

The other issue with virtual meetings of any kind is that it's very difficult to do back channel conversations. You can't readily pull someone aside, or more than one, to have an impromptu gathering. Folks can use some sort of instant messaging, of course, but it's not the same.

It's also very limiting having folks stuck in the 2x2 box of the camera frame, can't walk around, can't talk and pace, etc.

When it's "one-to-many" it's Less Bad, but still not great.

 

[coliver988]

The other issue with virtual meetings of any kind is that it's very difficult to do back channel conversations. You can't readily pull someone aside, or more than one, to have an impromptu gathering. Folks can use some sort of instant messaging, of course, but it's not the same.

It's also very limiting having folks stuck in the 2x2 box of the camera frame, can't walk around, can't talk and pace, etc.

When it's "one-to-many" it's Less Bad, but still not great.

and my group does not do video so even worse...I've tried but they do not want to.

 

[kilemall]

I would say that Driver-0 (or substitute whatever manually-operated mode of transportation is common on the homeworld) would be the common basic operator's level (i.e. this is what most of us all have). Higher levels of Driver (et al) represent defensive and/or tactical driving like you would learn in a military or security organization, or as a stunt or racecar driver, for example (e.g. How to spin the car around to rapidly go in the opposite direction or lose a "tail", how to do high-speed cornering, how to drive fast thru rough terrain or wet surfaces without wrecking the vehicle, etc.). It likewise might include some basic field repair knowledge, depending on the GM's assessment as to how the person acquired the skill.

On a super high pop world they likely don’t know how to drive, and would pick it up possibly during a career. Same for TL 4-, but then you would get Equestrian-0 for your poni driver.

Below TL 7, they probably don’t get Computer-0.

 

[kilemall]

Things you could do with JOT:

• Each level of JOT could give you an additional attempt to succeed at a failed task, but using the "untrained" penalty of "-5" to the base roll before modifiers are applied.
• JOT-skill could give you ONE additional attempt to succeed at a failed task, but using the "untrained" penalty of "-5" to the base roll before modifiers are applied, AND adding your JOT skill level to the roll as an additional modifier.
• You could still determine that certain tasks require a certain base skill level in the task to attempt normally, otherwise requiring a task-roll penalty when attempting them. A certain level of JOT (at the GM's discretion) may be able to substitute for a certain level of deficiency in skill or knowledge).

I don’t know that I am keen on reducing JOT to -5 plus JOT level and DMs in the context of the general competency assumption. If I were going the way the OP is wanting to, I would probably assume the zero skill and apply the JOT level as number of saving rolls to cover the extra resourceful angle.

Maybe every Traveller gets JOT-0 and then chargen might get you the saves.

The -5 unskilled DM is more what I do, but the JOT still zeroes out the unskilled. The non-JOTs are just that, specialists.

Colonists and space habitat backgrounds are arguably high candidates for default JOT-0.

 

[coliver988]

On a super high pop world they likely don’t know how to drive, and would pick it up possibly during a career. Same for TL 4-, but then you would get Equestrian-0 for your poni driver.

Below TL 7, they probably don’t get Computer-0.

or a super-high tech may have autonomous driving, and no one knows how to drive. "Take me home, Clippy"