Thinking about Survival and Term Length

[aramis]

Many of my players chose scouts for the "elite" and "ubiquitous" aspects.

Scouts are elite, highly trained, and very, very cool.

Likewise, the uniform allows for limited anonymity just about anywhere, since there ARE scouts in every inhabited system, and scouts come and go almost unnoticed.

Plus, few other services provide every character therein an opportunity to have a ship. And further, a scout never need worry about room, board, nor medical care... he just needs to find his way to a scout base... and can usually hop a ride on the x-boat network.

 

[aramis]

Many of my players chose scouts for the "elite" and "ubiquitous" aspects.

Scouts are elite, highly trained, and very, very cool.

Likewise, the uniform allows for limited anonymity just about anywhere, since there ARE scouts in every inhabited system, and scouts come and go almost unnoticed.

Plus, few other services provide every character therein an opportunity to have a ship. And further, a scout never need worry about room, board, nor medical care... he just needs to find his way to a scout base... and can usually hop a ride on the x-boat network.

 

[Plankowner]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
Yeah, but who needs money if you are a Scout with a Type S? You get free gas, free maintenance, free air.... All you need money for is to eat and drink (and drink and drink and...) and adventuring will keep you going on that!

(Oh, you should probably get free ammo, too. Those worlds you might get sent to are dangerous!)

True, but since they took the Fracking guns off when they gave it to me, ammo might be tough to bargain for. HOWEVER, when they recall me for that "Special Mission", you better believe the guns are staying on!

I always played my Scouts as the honest ones. Rough of course, but basically loyal to the Imperium (or whatever) and NOT into piracy etc. Often messed up the ideas of the other players, but that is what Role Playing is all about!

 

[Plankowner]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
Yeah, but who needs money if you are a Scout with a Type S? You get free gas, free maintenance, free air.... All you need money for is to eat and drink (and drink and drink and...) and adventuring will keep you going on that!

(Oh, you should probably get free ammo, too. Those worlds you might get sent to are dangerous!)

True, but since they took the Fracking guns off when they gave it to me, ammo might be tough to bargain for. HOWEVER, when they recall me for that "Special Mission", you better believe the guns are staying on!

I always played my Scouts as the honest ones. Rough of course, but basically loyal to the Imperium (or whatever) and NOT into piracy etc. Often messed up the ideas of the other players, but that is what Role Playing is all about!

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Oh, Plank, when I said ammo, I meant for MY guns! Ammo for the ship is just H2....

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Oh, Plank, when I said ammo, I meant for MY guns! Ammo for the ship is just H2....

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by WJP:
There's a canonical reference (among several I've seen). Take Gvoudzon, the Vargr from The Traveller Adventure. He starts the game at age 38, having gone 5 terms, 2 as a Corsair and 3 as an Emissary.

Vargr have a specific provision in canon that provides for multiple careers.

That said, I have no problem with player characters with multiple starting careers.</font>[/QUOTE]Just FYI, BGG, I've got another canonical reference for you, 10-4?

Check out the human Scientist/Rogue that J. Andrew Keith wrote up in JTAS-18.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by WJP:
There's a canonical reference (among several I've seen). Take Gvoudzon, the Vargr from The Traveller Adventure. He starts the game at age 38, having gone 5 terms, 2 as a Corsair and 3 as an Emissary.

Vargr have a specific provision in canon that provides for multiple careers.

That said, I have no problem with player characters with multiple starting careers.</font>[/QUOTE]Just FYI, BGG, I've got another canonical reference for you, 10-4?

Check out the human Scientist/Rogue that J. Andrew Keith wrote up in JTAS-18.

 

[Darkhstarr]

Kinda like my wife corsair character captain. She's deserted the navy & is vocal about hating the Imperium & it minions. Yet, she's clandestinely returned to the Imperium the Close Escort she stole when she deserted; has been known to take contracts with Imperial backers;never attacks Imperial registered ships; still has all her Naval regalia & all her commendations(she protests its for subterfuge); has been known to toast Duke Norris when she's been when in her cups; and there's the ongoing joke about her singing or humming patriotic Imperial songs in her sleep.

Originally posted by Plankowner:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Fritz88:
Yeah, but who needs money if you are a Scout with a Type S? You get free gas, free maintenance, free air.... All you need money for is to eat and drink (and drink and drink and...) and adventuring will keep you going on that!

(Oh, you should probably get free ammo, too. Those worlds you might get sent to are dangerous!)

True, but since they took the Fracking guns off when they gave it to me, ammo might be tough to bargain for. HOWEVER, when they recall me for that "Special Mission", you better believe the guns are staying on!

I always played my Scouts as the honest ones. Rough of course, but basically loyal to the Imperium (or whatever) and NOT into piracy etc. Often messed up the ideas of the other players, but that is what Role Playing is all about! </font>[/QUOTE]

 

[Darkhstarr]

Kinda like my wife corsair character captain. She's deserted the navy & is vocal about hating the Imperium & it minions. Yet, she's clandestinely returned to the Imperium the Close Escort she stole when she deserted; has been known to take contracts with Imperial backers;never attacks Imperial registered ships; still has all her Naval regalia & all her commendations(she protests its for subterfuge); has been known to toast Duke Norris when she's been when in her cups; and there's the ongoing joke about her singing or humming patriotic Imperial songs in her sleep.

Originally posted by Plankowner:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Fritz88:
Yeah, but who needs money if you are a Scout with a Type S? You get free gas, free maintenance, free air.... All you need money for is to eat and drink (and drink and drink and...) and adventuring will keep you going on that!

(Oh, you should probably get free ammo, too. Those worlds you might get sent to are dangerous!)

True, but since they took the Fracking guns off when they gave it to me, ammo might be tough to bargain for. HOWEVER, when they recall me for that "Special Mission", you better believe the guns are staying on!

I always played my Scouts as the honest ones. Rough of course, but basically loyal to the Imperium (or whatever) and NOT into piracy etc. Often messed up the ideas of the other players, but that is what Role Playing is all about! </font>[/QUOTE]

 

[jawillroy]

Backinnaday, I used to use the optional "injury" rule for failed survival rolls.

Now, though, I see things differently.

The survival roll (especially for Scouts!) is a fine mechanism for keeping ages down, if you think of CharGen in terms of the game instead of a chore. You want to be sure your character's going to live to see gameplay? Think twice about enlisting to a service that'll get him killed.

And I think the risk of losing a character in generation sets Traveller's deadly, gritty tone very nicely.

 

[jawillroy]

Backinnaday, I used to use the optional "injury" rule for failed survival rolls.

Now, though, I see things differently.

The survival roll (especially for Scouts!) is a fine mechanism for keeping ages down, if you think of CharGen in terms of the game instead of a chore. You want to be sure your character's going to live to see gameplay? Think twice about enlisting to a service that'll get him killed.

And I think the risk of losing a character in generation sets Traveller's deadly, gritty tone very nicely.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Imperium Festerium:
Now, though, I see things differently.

The survival roll (especially for Scouts!) is a fine mechanism for keeping ages down,

That's exactly what I've been thinking.

I'm going to start enforcing the Survival Roll and not make it easy for a character to continue in another career.

With that new mechanic I'm using, it's possible to fail a survival throw and continue in a second career, but it's not likely. Typically, if you fail your survival, your character will start the game at that point.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Imperium Festerium:
Now, though, I see things differently.

The survival roll (especially for Scouts!) is a fine mechanism for keeping ages down,

That's exactly what I've been thinking.

I'm going to start enforcing the Survival Roll and not make it easy for a character to continue in another career.

With that new mechanic I'm using, it's possible to fail a survival throw and continue in a second career, but it's not likely. Typically, if you fail your survival, your character will start the game at that point.