T5 - 2D Tasks - I cracked it

[Supplement Four]

TRAVELLER DEUCE

A 2D Task Conversion for T5. Keep reading the thread to see the Higher is Better version.



For those of you who don't like the multiple dice in T5, I've figured a method that keeps the task system intact but allows you to roll only 2D. And results are in the close ballpark to the multi-dice system (which is to say, success chance is close in both systems).

Here's how it works.



1. PLAYER THROWS 2D FOR TASKS. And, only 2D.

2. TASKS ARE CREATED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE T5 GAME. With one extra step.

3. THE EXTRA STEP IS JUST ADDING A MODIFIER TO THE TARGET NUMBER. I'll show you how to do this below. It's easy.






THE EXTRA STEP (Creating a modifier).

If the task is a 1D task, then add +3 to the target number, making it larger.

If the T5 task requires 3D or more dice, then add the appropriate modifier from the table below. The table will look familiar to you MegaTraveller players.

[B]3D  -3
4D  -7

5D  -11
6D  -15
7D  -19

8D  -23
9D  -27

10D  -31[/B]

NOTES: Instead of using multiple dice, think of each die more or less than 2D to be a modifier to the target number. Roll 2D for the modified target, and your results will be very close to what they would be if you had thrown multiple dice.

How I figured this out was that I realized that a lot of the multiple results provided by multiple dice are a bit of an illusion because, the more dice you throw, the flatter the distribution of results becomes. If you throw 5D, there's really not a lot of difference, relatively and statistically speaking.

The success chance should fall within 10% or so of the it would be if the T5 multi-dice system was used.













TEST

Let's test what I am saying by looking at some T5 tasks.

Eneri Typicali 777777 Hypno-3

To Create the Hypnotic State
Difficult (3D) < C4 + Hypno

In T5 Terms, this is 3D for 10-. That's a 50% chance.

In TD Terms (Traveller Deuce), this is 2D for 7-. That's a 58% chance.






Eneri Typicali 767676 Hypno-2

To Create the Hypnotic State
Difficult (3D) < C4 + Hypno

+1D TiH Rule.

In T5 Terms, this is 4D for 8-. That's a 5% chance.

In TD Terms (Traveller Deuce), this is 2D for 1-. That's a 0% chance*

If you allow snake eyes to always succeed, then it's a 3% chance.







See the example on page 212.

Zolomion Shoul 777777 Fighting-4, Slug Thrower-2

+3 mod for apparent size
Range=2

The T5 task is 2D for 16 or less. That's a 100% chance.

The TD task is also 2D for 16 or less. That's also a 100% chance.





Eneri Exampli 777777 Rider-3

To ride a well-trained riding animal
Easy (1D) < DEX + Rider

In T5 Terms, this is 1D for 10-. That's a 100% chance.

In TD Terms (Traveller Deuce), this is 2D for 13-. That's a 100% chance.



To ride a wild animal
Staggering (5D) < DEX + Rider

+1D TiH

In T5 Terms, this is 6D for 10-. That's a 0% chance (less than 1%).

In TD Terms, this is a 2D for 0-. That's a 0% chance*

*You could rule that snake eyes always succeeds, making it a 3% chance.





EDIT: Looking for a 2D, Higher is Better conversion for T5 tasks? CLICK HERE.

 

[Supplement Four]

In other words...

You are playing the T5 task system as is, except you are only rolling 2D or less for success. You're adding a modifier to your target number to account for the missing dice on the throw.

That's it.





A 1D throw is now 2D or less, with a +3 modifier.

A 2D throw remains the same.

A 3D throw is now 2D or less, with a -3 modifier.

A 4D throw is now 2D or less, with a -7 modifier.

A 5D throw is now 2D or less, with a -11 modifier.

And so on.

 

[Supplement Four]

T5 2D HIGHER IS BETTER



Ok, want a 2D, higher is better system for T5?

It's a two step process to covert.

First, you convert the task to a 2D, lower is better, system, as shown above.

THEN, your target number becomes 14 minus old target number.

That's it.









So...

With this task from above

Eneri Typicali 777777 Hypno-3

To Create the Hypnotic State
Difficult (3D) < C4 + Hypno

In T5 Terms, this is 3D for 10-. That's a 50% chance.

In TD Terms (Traveller Deuce), this is 2D for 7-. That's a 58% chance.

Your target is 14 - 7 = 7.

You throw 2D for 7+, which is a 58% chance.

Viola! 2D, higher is better, for T5!

 

[Supplement Four]

T5 2D Higher Is Better




If you see a T5 task:

Eneri Joei 777777 Explosives-3

To disarm a booby-trapped device
Difficult (3D) < Dex + Explosives

T5 is: 3D for 10-. That's a 50% chance.



Converting to higher is better, you add modifiers.

2D for 14 - (10 - 3)

That's the T5 target added to the dice modifier, and that total subtracted from 14.

TD High is: 2D for 7+ (that's a 58% chance).

 

[Supplement Four]

T5 Higher Is Better



Follow these steps to create a 2D, higher is better task, for use in T5.

STEP 1: Create the T5 target number normally.

STEP 2: Reduce (or in the case of a 1D task, increase) the target number by the dice modifier.

STEP 3: Your 2D High target is 14 minus Step 2 target.




Boom. All done.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Holy Space Cows, Bat-Man!

I have an even easier concept and it skips the extra step, try playing the game like it is T5 and not CT. Seriously, Supp4 let it go, you didn't get your wish and T5 is T5 not CT. Dude, get over it.

Also, I think something you Elders are forgetting is that the modern crowd rather like throwing a handful of dice. We have progressed from the days of 2D6 which you got from some board game, now we have dice in wacky shapes, colors, sizes and even the rare truly odd ones. Thing is once you start buying all those new dice you want to use them. Before we only had Shadowrun and WEG for handfuls of dice. Then I think there was that awful monster RPG that also had handfuls of dice to throw. Thing is the world has moved on since you have started playing Traveller and that is okay.

Trust me dude, you can get over this. Hell, I have accepted the Rebllion and the Shattered Imperium and trust me I was ever so salty about that set of events (the death of Dulinor and 3d art is what made me try GT even). Thing is that I accept that change, it is okay. Also, not my game so I still have to lump it or leave it. I chose to lump it, I love Traveller too much to leave it.

For crying out loud (which man you do a lot of) play CT if T5 annoys you so much with its heritical dice systems. I hear that fine old game uses that 2D mechanic you are so in love with.

 

[Supplement Four]

I have an even easier concept and it skips the extra step, try playing the game like it is T5 and not CT. Seriously, Supp4 let it go, you didn't get your wish and T5 is T5 not CT. Dude, get over it.

Well, why would I? With you always saying such nice things.

It's very simple. This idea, re-stated in a cleaner format: Click HERE.

 

[cuTTer]

Before we only had Shadowrun and WEG for handfuls of dice.

T5 'inspired' me to dig out d6 Star Wars.

True story.

 

[atpollard]

... play CT if T5 annoys you so much with its heritical dice systems. I hear that fine old game uses that 2D mechanic you are so in love with.

There are more differences between CT and T5 than "2D6" vs "Variable Die".
It is not unreasonable that someone might want to house rule a 2D6 task system to all of the other T5 goodness like (insert your personal favorite T5 acronym).

(Actually, it could be construed as a mark of acceptance that T5 joins the ranks of Rules that S4 has an alternate for. )

 

[Supplement Four]

T5 'inspired' me to dig out d6 Star Wars.

True story.

WEG D6 Star Wars is one of the best mechanics systems ever written, imo.

True story, also.

 

[pendragonman]

WEG D6 Star Wars is one of the best mechanics systems ever written, imo.

True story, also.

I love the cascading wild die...just plain love it.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Because I really don't want an Infraction.

Well, why would I? With you always saying such nice things.

It's very simple. This idea, re-stated in a cleaner format: Click HERE.

Really, I want say other things but I have enough infractions already.

I think the reason am sick to death of your harping is that you admit you don't like system and won't play it, yet you keep bombing this forum like it was Dresden and you're the bloody 8th USAAF.

I don't pop up in the GT forum screaming about how much better it would be if they used metric and killed the Emperor or in the CT forum telling everyone there that they should improve it with adding a Multi-dice system to it, so why oh why do you come here and do similar things?

Now, I am trying to be nice about this and not just press the big red Report button, but I suppose that is going to have to be my next response.

Or you could settle down and act like an adult and realize that the world does not cater to your every whim (at least when it comes to Traveller5) and leave the "Fixing" alone and play the games you are going to play, and hell modify them to your heart's content if you must, but leave those of us who do like T5 without your crab-assing posts.

Please.

 

[Supplement Four]

I love the cascading wild die...just plain love it.

It really is a perfect game system.

It's simple. It captures the swashbuckling feel of the Star Wars genre. It is detailed enough. It is customizable. It can be gritty and deadly or super heroic. And, it's intuitive.

It's a brilliant system.

 

[aramis]

[m;]Enough about the Star Wars d6 system. It's off-topic in the T5 area. and not relevant to the topic.[/m;]

 

[mike wightman]

Could these threads be merged please - two threads about exactly the same thing is getting a bit tricky to follow.

 

[Supplement Four]

Could these threads be merged please - two threads about exactly the same thing is getting a bit tricky to follow.

No, I don't want them merged!

I started the two threads for a reason. Firstly, this one is primarily about a 2D, lower is better, system. The other one is about the 2D, Higher is Better system

Two different systems.

 

[Supplement Four]

Or you could settle down and act like an adult and realize that the world does not cater to your every whim (at least when it comes to Traveller5) and leave the "Fixing" alone and play the games you are going to play, and hell modify them to your heart's content if you must, but leave those of us who do like T5 without your crab-assing posts.

You do realize that I am working with the others to improve T5, doing the Combat re-write, yes? I just spent several hours of my four day weekend vacation--pretty much all morning--writing up a Combat Test for Don and the rest of the testers.

I've got an active interest because of this (not that I need one) in understanding, re-writing, and tweaking T5.

Besides, there's nothing here that I've said that is "crab-assed". Some people are interested in a 2D T5 task system, and I've just cracked the problem and provided it for those that are interested in such things.

If I ever do play T5, chances are I will use the 2D Higher is Better system.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Please tell me...

You do realize that I am working with the others to improve T5, doing the Combat re-write, yes? I just spent several hours of my four day weekend vacation--pretty much all morning--writing up a Combat Test for Don and the rest of the testers.

I've got an active interest because of this (not that I need one) in understanding, re-writing, and tweaking T5.

Besides, there's nothing here that I've said that is "crab-assed". Some people are interested in a 2D T5 task system, and I've just cracked the problem and provided it for those that are interested in such things.

If I ever do play T5, chances are I will use the 2D Higher is Better system.

So, again why not just playit with the system it comes with? What sooo damnable horrible about a mitt full of dice that offends so much you refuse to play with it? Seriously man, try it is rather fun, you could be surprised and actually enjoy having more dice. And mean play it, not analyse it with maths, but play it. Come on, the first ones always free. :devil:

 

[Supplement Four]

So, again why not just playit with the system it comes with? What sooo damnable horrible about a mitt full of dice that offends so much you refuse to play with it? Seriously man, try it is rather fun, you could be surprised and actually enjoy having more dice. And mean play it, not analyse it with maths, but play it. Come on, the first ones always free. :devil:

I'm quite familiar with how the task system plays. I used couple of versions of it when T4 came out. Ran a entire campaign.

I could go into detail about the problems of the T5 system, not the least of which is my plain subjective dislike of the system, but there's really no need. I'm not convinced you would listen or care.

And, if you read my Star Wars D6 comment above, you should already know that a "mit full of dice" is not really my problem with T5's system.

 

[DonM]

I actually like the XD system, and think the 2D+mods system is odd.

Sorry, I'll agree with you that it's cracked, but hopefully you won't mind if I play T5's task system as is.

I might be unhappy with T5 combat, but I really do like XD.