T4 gets a bad rap

[Emperor Valdamir]

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb here... I LIKE T4. I know that's a minority opinion, but there it is.

From what I have read online about T4, the two biggest complaints concerning it were;

1) The task system

and 2) The poor production value (i.e. lots of errors)

Personally, I don't have any problem with the T4 task system. Dividing by two is not difficult for me

so using 1d3 is not a problem. I've also heard the complaint that the system emphasizes characteristics over skills. I don't have a problem with that, either.

As originally published, the errors and omissions in the production WAS a major problem. But that was seven years ago. ALOT of errata has been made available online, which corrects the problems.

My personal opinion is that the fabled T5 already exists... Take T4, apply the errata, and republish.

Okay... I said it... Tell me how crazy I am.

 

[Emperor Valdamir]

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb here... I LIKE T4. I know that's a minority opinion, but there it is.

From what I have read online about T4, the two biggest complaints concerning it were;

1) The task system

and 2) The poor production value (i.e. lots of errors)

Personally, I don't have any problem with the T4 task system. Dividing by two is not difficult for me

so using 1d3 is not a problem. I've also heard the complaint that the system emphasizes characteristics over skills. I don't have a problem with that, either.

As originally published, the errors and omissions in the production WAS a major problem. But that was seven years ago. ALOT of errata has been made available online, which corrects the problems.

My personal opinion is that the fabled T5 already exists... Take T4, apply the errata, and republish.

Okay... I said it... Tell me how crazy I am.

 

[Secrect Cow Level]

Actually, I agree with you. T4 is a solid game and I like it a lot. T4 character generation is simple yet adds some new features to CT style character generation (like characters being able to attend college without using advanced character generation). A few of the rules in the game were a little wonky but that's true of all editions of TRAVELLER.

 

[Secrect Cow Level]

Actually, I agree with you. T4 is a solid game and I like it a lot. T4 character generation is simple yet adds some new features to CT style character generation (like characters being able to attend college without using advanced character generation). A few of the rules in the game were a little wonky but that's true of all editions of TRAVELLER.

 

[Jame]

Maybe, just maybe, I'll see if I can borrow the T4 rules... Thanks for bringing this up!

 

[Jame]

Maybe, just maybe, I'll see if I can borrow the T4 rules... Thanks for bringing this up!

 

[Emperor Valdamir]

It's good to know that someone agrees.

 

[Emperor Valdamir]

It's good to know that someone agrees.

 

[Jame]

I don't know if I totally agree. I like the setting though...

 

[Jame]

I don't know if I totally agree. I like the setting though...

 

[MJD]

I like T4. It feels a lot like CT, though it's overall a batter system (other than the broken bits)

 

[MJD]

I like T4. It feels a lot like CT, though it's overall a batter system (other than the broken bits)

 

[William]

Originally posted by MJD:
I like T4. It feels a lot like CT, though it's overall a batter system (other than the broken bits)

I have found that if you take a copy of T4 and rip the task chapter out and plug in a copy of the MT Task chapters from both of the Players and Ref's books you suddenly have a very good game.

Rip out the broken ship design sequence for a copy of the version that was supposed to be in the book (available on the net at http://www.cybergoths.u-net.com/BITS_website/Acrobat/qsds15e.pdf ) and you have an excellent system.

T4 gets so much s&%$ because it was over hyped and under produced. But at it's core is an exquisite game screaming to be let out.

YMWillV,

William

 

[William]

Originally posted by MJD:
I like T4. It feels a lot like CT, though it's overall a batter system (other than the broken bits)

I have found that if you take a copy of T4 and rip the task chapter out and plug in a copy of the MT Task chapters from both of the Players and Ref's books you suddenly have a very good game.

Rip out the broken ship design sequence for a copy of the version that was supposed to be in the book (available on the net at http://www.cybergoths.u-net.com/BITS_website/Acrobat/qsds15e.pdf ) and you have an excellent system.

T4 gets so much s&%$ because it was over hyped and under produced. But at it's core is an exquisite game screaming to be let out.

YMWillV,

William

 

[MJD]

Actually, I like the T4 task system (other than half dice) better than MT.

 

[MJD]

Actually, I like the T4 task system (other than half dice) better than MT.

 

[Emperor Valdamir]

I mostly agree with you, William, except that, as I already mentioned, I don't find the T4 task system to be a problem. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's 'better' than the DGP system, but it's not as bad as many people make it out to be.
I think T4's greatest strengths are the character generation system (more flexible than MT or CT), the updated design systems in FF&S2, Starships and CSC, the Pocket Empires suppliment, and the whole Milieu-0 background. I generally play Traveller in homemade universes, but if I WERE going to play an OTU game, it would be in Milieu-0 (most of my homebrew campaigns resemble Milieu-0 anyway!).
The one thing that T4 is currently missing that I'd like to have, is a mass combat system. CT had Striker, MT had the Large Scale Combat system, and TNE had Striker II. I've been thinking of trying to convert one of these for use with T4, but haven't got anywhere with it yet. Maybe someday...

 

[Emperor Valdamir]

I mostly agree with you, William, except that, as I already mentioned, I don't find the T4 task system to be a problem. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's 'better' than the DGP system, but it's not as bad as many people make it out to be.
I think T4's greatest strengths are the character generation system (more flexible than MT or CT), the updated design systems in FF&S2, Starships and CSC, the Pocket Empires suppliment, and the whole Milieu-0 background. I generally play Traveller in homemade universes, but if I WERE going to play an OTU game, it would be in Milieu-0 (most of my homebrew campaigns resemble Milieu-0 anyway!).
The one thing that T4 is currently missing that I'd like to have, is a mass combat system. CT had Striker, MT had the Large Scale Combat system, and TNE had Striker II. I've been thinking of trying to convert one of these for use with T4, but haven't got anywhere with it yet. Maybe someday...

 

[PapaGolfWhiskey]

I received a beat up copy of T4 as gift after ending a LOOOOONG dry spell as gamer.

I missed the Hype and Like the system.

It IS imperfect and you have to watch out for characters with high statlines. And J-o-T needs to be severly controlled.

but with all my old CT materials to supplement it. It worked great. one of the most satisfactory Chargen systems I encountered and combat worked fine.

Mind you I'm completed converted to T20 these days. but I for one, don't feel the need to trash T4.

Overall I saw it as an efficient little improvement. Didn't Use Millieu Zero though. I would always go back to 1100 or so for any new campaigns.

Exception. I'm running my current campaigns in the T20 OTU.

Anyhow. Just so you're not alone in thinking T4 get's a bad rap.

 

[PapaGolfWhiskey]

I received a beat up copy of T4 as gift after ending a LOOOOONG dry spell as gamer.

I missed the Hype and Like the system.

It IS imperfect and you have to watch out for characters with high statlines. And J-o-T needs to be severly controlled.

but with all my old CT materials to supplement it. It worked great. one of the most satisfactory Chargen systems I encountered and combat worked fine.

Mind you I'm completed converted to T20 these days. but I for one, don't feel the need to trash T4.

Overall I saw it as an efficient little improvement. Didn't Use Millieu Zero though. I would always go back to 1100 or so for any new campaigns.

Exception. I'm running my current campaigns in the T20 OTU.

Anyhow. Just so you're not alone in thinking T4 get's a bad rap.