the target market

[mike wightman]

I'm hoping that QLI's 1248 book will stimulate renewed interest in Traveller - which ever edition people use to tun the game.
They may even choose to use a ruleset other than a Traveller version to run the setting

1248 definitely allows for a more modern sci-fi feel to be injected into the OTU, which T5 could hopefully build upon.

 

[Malenfant]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Perhaps more options are needed in character generation to bring it up to date - I've been looking at the Burning Wheel lifepath generation system (and so has Mal, I think) and wondering if something like it could be adapted. [/QB]

Just got the books yesterday actually... yes, I'm definitely thinking about adapting the system from BW to Traveller. Haven't read the Character Burner book yet though, but I think it could definitely be done.

Either way one of us should start a thread on CotI somewhere (Lone Star? IMTU?) about it when we feel we've got enough to begin...

 

[aramis]

Slugline to kill a game:

"Traveller 5: Science Fiction Adventure in the Distant Past of the Far Future!

Agreed... it's a lamer.

The CT/MT C-gen METHOD isn't bad, for those who like it. It's got some serious issues (aging starts too early, but, I'll say, I'm 35, and fel a los of Dex and End already, but that may be the mild Muscular Dystrophy and Cigarettes...) mid 30's for unassisted aging effects is common and biologically fairly accurate. It's the lack of assistance in the process that is at issue. Mild Anagathics (IE, no skipping rolls, but make them at bonuses) should be in CG. THey aren't.

Those who want point based, they have GT. Those who want mixed development have T20. (Of course, i know a great many who like point based and hate GURPS, making my lack of like for its simulationism look utterly mild. And getting the "I hate D20 crowd to look at T20 is a pain.)

There is a dual market, too: dead tree and PDF; some of us would like both.

But if the target audience is CT/MT players, T20 has a lot of undoing to do...

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Why not "Traveller V: Dawn of the Imperium" ?

 

[Malenfant]

So long as it's the Fourth (or Fifth) Imperium, I don't mind...

 

[mike wightman]

Going "back in time" would be a mistake IMHO.

1248 is the future of the OTU, T5 should default to that or advance the timeline still further.

Then the historical setting books can come out.

YMMV etc.

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by Malenfant:
Either way one of us should start a thread on CotI somewhere (Lone Star? IMTU?) about it when we feel we've got enough to begin...

Good idea.

 

[Flynn]

I personally agree with Sigg on this. I would love it if MWM took 1248 and ran with it for T5, or moved the timeline a little further forward from that point, to a more stable Charted Space with growing and established sector-sized polities. I think it would do more for Traveller than retreating to the past of the game. However, the decision is ultimately his, not mine.

Just my two credits, of course,
Flynn

 

[Jeffr0]

1248 has its merits...

4248 or later could put enough distance between T5 and the weight of canon that noobs might feel less 'pressure' to pick up old stuff for 'research' purposes.

The Far Far Future (thousands of years after the Imperium)

Something like that could simultaneously provide something new for the grogs... and something accessible for the noobs.


And another thing... I have to confess that in my neck of the woods... a Burning Wheel edition of Traveller is probably my best bet for getting a half dozen roleplayers from all walks of life into a Far Future game.

 

[Malenfant]

I would love it if MWM took 1248 and ran with it for T5, or moved the timeline a little further forward from that point, to a more stable Charted Space with growing and established sector-sized polities.

Only problem with that is that it's likely that the plot hammer you feared would hit in 1248 that would screw up peoples' campaigns (assuming they're the type that drop everything when something official is released that is different) would hit there instead.

 

[kafka47]

Originally posted by Jeffr0:
1248 has its merits...

4248 or later could put enough distance between T5 and the weight of canon that noobs might feel less 'pressure' to pick up old stuff for 'research' purposes.

The Far Far Future (thousands of years after the Imperium)

Something like that could simultaneously provide something new for the grogs... and something accessible for the noobs.

I rather like this idea. If Traveller is ever going to escape its association as only being about the Imperium's rise and fall and at the same time remain a generic role playing game. Time travel to the Far Far Far Future would allow all the gee whiz technology that anyone could ever hope for & those who want something slower could always play in one of the "historical" eras.

The problem I would see is for Munchkin gamers would seize upon the idea and ask can't they have the PGMP-G along with the White Globe.

 

[Malenfant]

Originally posted by kafka47:
I rather like this idea. If Traveller is ever going to escape its association as only being about the Imperium's rise and fall and at the same time remain a generic role playing game. Time travel to the Far Far Far Future would allow all the gee whiz technology that anyone could ever hope for & those who want something slower could always play in one of the "historical" eras.

The problem I would see is for Munchkin gamers would seize upon the idea and ask can't they have the PGMP-G along with the White Globe. [/QB]

Well if you're going to go that far you may as well (try to) play DP9's CORE Command RPG. km-sized spaceships, world-destroying bad guys, hand-held guns that connect via wormhole to the ship's zero point energy reactor, etc...

 

[Piper]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Going "back in time" would be a mistake IMHO.

1248 is the future of the OTU, T5 should default to that or advance the timeline still further.

Then the historical setting books can come out.

Hmmm ... 3000 years ago, the Imperium, shattered by civil war, her worlds ravaged by unspeakable plagues, collapsed.
The Long Night had returned.
For 3 millenia the surviving worlds of charted space struggled to regain technology and trade. Those who failed, died. Those who succeeded have begun to reclaim the stars.
A New Dawn is coming.
Traveller: Millenium

Okay, setting aside the theatrics, putting T5 far into the future has a lot of possibilities. A dozen or so pocket empires, (say a sector or quadrant in size) competing to explore, expand and trade. Large areas of unexplored space could be available for future expansion or to have actual frontier areas. Tech level could be whatever you like with the possibility of old Imperial tech awaiting discovery. A lot like TNE in some ways, but grander in scope and more open in possibilities.

Thoughts?

 

[kafka47]

Originally posted by Malenfant:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />]

Well if you're going to go that far you may as well (try to) play DP9's CORE Command RPG. km-sized spaceships, world-destroying bad guys, hand-held guns that connect via wormhole to the ship's zero point energy reactor, etc... </font>[/QUOTE]Well, I do think that is what Marc does have planned...

When I mentioned doing an Ancients sourcebook, he said that he would always want do a Traveller milieu akin to the Lensmen series. Now, if that was his plan for the distant past...I am pretty sure that it would hold true for the Far Future.

But, remember this would only be the rules (nuts & bolts) of play action, it would be up to the supplements to really flesh out each milieu.

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by Malenfant:
Only problem with that is that it's likely that the plot hammer you feared would hit in 1248 that would screw up peoples' campaigns (assuming they're the type that drop everything when something official is released that is different) would hit there instead.

Wouldn't the same thing happen with a Year200 setting or whatever?

No default setting at all?

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by Malenfant:
Well if you're going to go that far you may as well (try to) play DP9's CORE Command RPG. km-sized spaceships, world-destroying bad guys, hand-held guns that connect via wormhole to the ship's zero point energy reactor, etc...

Sounds like the Ancients War period...

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Well, I do think that is what Marc does have planned...

I want it

 

[Malenfant]

Well, if you're going to set it so far in Traveller's future that it's not recognisable as the OTU, is there any point in calling it Traveller? Might as well just be a new game completely (particularly if the rules are being changed).

 

[Flynn]

What, and lose your name recognition in the gamer's market?!?!?

GDW did it with "Traveller:2300", so I imagine there'd be no reason not to do it again.

Enjoy,
Flynn

 

[kafka47]

It would still be Traveller. Just as the LBB are Traveller. I am sure that he would broadly sketch out the parameters of the OTU. But, from the accounts of what has appeared on the web as freebies, supplements would rule the day and one could have countless spin-offs from them.

Also, I am sure Marc is starting to get old and possibly wants to have a product that would maintain the IP of Traveller without having to get down in the day-to-day running of it. Leaving that task to the Licenced Companies who could take a Milieu and run with it for years. Sort of, like what D20 does with rules...this just would be with a constant historical backdrop that is in the process of constant renewal & recreation - the OTU.