Traveller - RPGA

[kafka47]

It just struck me that we do not really have a counterpart to RPGA which seems to be a solely D&D shop these days. Numerious attempts were tried eg. Citizens of the Imperium (Imperium Games venture); JTAS roll calls (used to have a database); HWIG, etc. Would people be interested in having such a association formed.

Intial cost: nil
Benefits: Get your name and contact details on a database. Benefits could expand if there was sufficient interest.

What do others think?

 

[Ganidirsii O'Flynn]

I could see that being useful. If anything, it would get us all playing rather than reading and trying to find groups.

There would have to be some consensus as to era, how much OTU is involved, answering the gearhead questions and so on, but that could be worked out. It would be a lot of pulling hair and beating chests, but....

My problem is that most folks who actually game (as opposed to those of us who just buy the books to read) have a hard time with the sci-fi paradigm. Where a fantasy game hands out a +2 Longsword of Giant Slaying, a sci-fi game might hand out 'Reliable Contact: Bartender at TAS Regina'. Personally I'm ok with that, but alot of gamers at the table would rather have the swag.

 

[Higgipedia]

Do you mean a "Living Traveller" game?

That would be tough, for certain, given IP issues and the like.

 

[DElrick]

Maybe BITS needs to expand to include the rest of the world...

 

[Ran]

My problem is that most folks who actually game (as opposed to those of us who just buy the books to read) have a hard time with the sci-fi paradigm. Where a fantasy game hands out a +2 Longsword of Giant Slaying, a sci-fi game might hand out 'Reliable Contact: Bartender at TAS Regina'. Personally I'm ok with that, but alot of gamers at the table would rather have the swag.

True. I would think things like an undetectable poison, a rather rare jump engine part, or something else of a discretionary nature would be a good substitute, like high yield ammo.

Same effect, but now its all sci-fi. And even better, something like ammo ends up being used up if used at all. That Sword +2 typically ends up in the inventory till something better comes along.

 

[pendragonman]

There would have to be some consensus as to era, how much OTU is involved, answering the gearhead questions and so on, but that could be worked out. It would be a lot of pulling hair and beating chests, but....

While one aspect of the RPGA is a (somewhat) living game, it has other purposes. It is for the other purposes that I think Kafka is after. Several of those purposes are already dealt with in these forums; but others, like discounts on related products, are not.

In these forums we have people sharing their campaign ideas, their adventure ideas (and a few people go so far as to share not just the campaign idea but the actual work product they use ), and their home-made software. We share our miniature paint schemes, our 3-d renderings, our artwork. In short, this forum already handles most of the RPGA-related ideas. In fact, I have found that it is actually easier to share information and get hard intel from people here than almost any I have contacted in RPGA.

These forums, at least in my opinion, give you what you put into them. If you want alot out, you gotta put alot in. The only thing we are missing that I recall RPGA having is discounts to conventions and a large corporate sponsor.

 

[kafka47]

Right now, I think it is too early to talk about a "Living Traveller" let alone discounts. If it would evolve into something that one could card members at events that would be cool.

Right now, I think, we should concentrate on getting a database of potential players/referees.

 

[pendragonman]

Right now, I think, we should concentrate on getting a database of potential players/referees.

We have one. It is called the forum registration database. As with the RPGA, it is not accessible to everyone.

 

[kafka47]

Problem that I have with the database is that it does not pinpoint people (as if some people can write as I did between two different places - Prague & Toronto...) nor does not prevent people signing up with bogus identities (as one thread revealed that some get a laff arguing with themselves).

In long run, it would be hoped that Traveller publishers could pony up for something but I would imagine after we settle on some sort of small membership fee.

 

[Ganidirsii O'Flynn]

Ok, I'm in. When we get a secure db up, I'll post my personals and I'll be Member #2.

Silly question. Has anyone kited this idea past Marc?

 

[kafka47]

Getting the sense of the audience here before I "sell it" to Marc.

 

[Jame]

I would sign up for this.

 

[chshrkt]

I have been on nearbygamers for a couple years now, but I would totally sign up for this GM/Player database thingie.