Very Low Tech

[travellerne]

Originally posted by Tom Kalbfus:
What would a D&D world be like if it were placed in the Traveller Universe and had to obey Traveller rules. There is no magic, but many D&D creatures could still exist. I think it would be a good idea to set up a dungeon with alot of high tech Traveller items laying around and in the hands or orcs and the like.

Yes! Kobolds with submachineguns being led by a Balrog with a megaphone!

 

[Straybow]

And a combat use for the firesuppressant foam hook-up on the AFV's water cannon

 

[robject]

Low-tech PBEM test.

I've been thinking about testing out a low-tech game, using Traveller rules and a Traveller setting:

http://home.comcast.net/~downport/campaign/shrieker/index.html

 

[Jame]

I think we need some variant rules for v. low tech chara-gen that are more than just "barbarian" - I know that MT has Farmers and Hunters, but I think we would need Craftsmen (of all types, i.e. blacksmith and fletcher), Warriors and Soldiers, as well as Priests and Knights.

Some D&D style stuff could be helpful too, although we'd need to adapt Psionics to it (although this could be a way to get magic rules written, if maybe we say that it doesn't work well, or at all, outside the system).

 

[robject]

You're right -- my lo-tek campaign needs a matrix of classes with specializations, and really ought to be compatible with CT chargen. So I'd say six to twelve classes, generally falling along traditional caste lines, and a skill chosen as a specialization within that class, perhaps from a list tailored to that class.

Of course, Shriekers have a caste system of sorts, and in fact have a list of specialization skills [i.e. primary skills] for the classes.

So, assuming four basic classes:

Serf
Warrior
Seeker
Priest

And specialization skills from which to select Primary and Secondary Specializations (say 12 available per culture from which to pick specializations):

Athletics
Awareness
Carousing
Chameleon
Craft
Dodge
Farming
Healer (Medic)
Hibernate
Hunting
Law
Leader
Long-range communication
Mathematics
Melee (Lone combat)
Memory
Perception
Philosophy
Poetry
Ride
Sail
Stealth
Survival
Teacher
Teamster
Trader
Weapon combat

...yields over 500 different character types, including the old standbys (Warrior + Healer + Philosophy = Paladin; Warrior + Melee + Philosophy = Ninja; Warrior + Healer + Hunter = Ranger...) as well as all the character mixes from Adventure 10. Rich soil for players.

Plus, of course, Elder versions of all the above (which is part of the aging process).

And, if that isn't enough, I've attempted an adaptation of psionics to fit supernatural settings here:

http://home.comcast.net/~downport/rules/variants/jumpspace-gods.html

 

[parmasson]

Are the characters falling into another universe or just a low tech planet?

Falling into another universe (misjump?) could be fun. Some physical laws might be different, equipment acting differently, having to choose an alignment. Frodrik the five term CT marine could become quite a formidable warrior!

 

[Jame]

Originally posted by robject:
You're right -- my lo-tek campaign needs a matrix of classes with specializations, and really ought to be compatible with CT chargen. So I'd say six to twelve classes, generally falling along traditional caste lines, and a skill chosen as a specialization within that class, perhaps from a list tailored to that class.

Of course, Shriekers have a caste system of sorts, and in fact have a list of specialization skills [i.e. primary skills] for the classes.

*Snippage*

Yeah. You do intend to apply this to humans too, right? Something where if I wanted I could use Traveller rules to play anything from the rise of Egypt to the Norman invasion of Britain?

 

[robject]

Yeah, I suppose I should simply create the generic system and apply backfill to alien species, if required.

So, first task is to figure out what the basic classes are, and which classes are derivable as specializations. Any suggestions?

If these four basic classes work, then that's only four chargen tables, with a specialization to declare. Some of the specializations carry connotations like those suggested below.

Any of the term skill points can be granted to the class skill or the specialization skill lieu of rolling on the skill table.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">Class Required (or automatic?) skills
--------------- -------------------------------
Wanderer Survival
- Barbarian + Weapon
- Explorer + Survey?
- Seeker + ?
- Nomad + Hunting

Fighter Weapon
- Soldier + Tactics
- Assassin + Stealth
- Crusader + Medic
- Ranger + Hunting
- Pirate + Watercraft or Animal Handling

Literati Literacy
- Chief + Strategy
- Nobility + Diplomacy
- Priest + Philosophy
- Healer + Medic
- Scholar + Research
- Bard + Music
- Magician + (magic)

Tradesman Administration
- Merchant + Trader
- Herder + Animal Handling
- Farmer + Botany
- Hunter + Hunting
- Craft + (specific craft skill?) </pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[robject]

It might also do to subdivide the lower tech levels into two sublevels each, at least for combat bonuses.

TL 0a : paleolithic
TL 0B : neolithic
TL 1a : bronze age
TL 1b : iron age

(I don't recall if TL1 or TL2 is iron age)

 

[Jame]

TL 1 is the Bronze and Iron together.

I still say they should make the Iron Age tl 2 and push everything before tl 7-8 up, both in terms of tech and time.

 

[robject]

Jame, if I were king...

And thanks for the clarification.

 

[Chuck Anumia]

Originally posted by robject:

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">Class Required (or automatic?) skills
--------------- -------------------------------
Wanderer Survival
- Barbarian + Weapon
- Explorer + Survey?
- Seeker + ?
- Nomad + Hunting

Fighter Weapon
- Soldier + Tactics
- Assassin + Stealth
- Crusader + Medic
- Ranger + Hunting
- Pirate + Watercraft or Animal Handling

Literati Literacy
- Chief + Strategy
- Nobility + Diplomacy
- Priest + Philosophy
- Healer + Medic
- Scholar + Research
- Bard + Music
- Magician + (magic)

Tradesman Administration
- Merchant + Trader
- Herder + Animal Handling
- Farmer + Botany
- Hunter + Hunting
- Craft + (specific craft skill?) </pre>

[/quote]Entrepreneur
-Theif
-Rouge
-Entertainer
-Peddler

 

[Jame]

Maybe we could add noble into that, ie "knight," "baronet," and etc., but make it more of a warrior than in regular Traveller.

Oh, and Baron, check your email...

 

[robject]

Thief added. I'm also juggling the classes around a little, shifting one here or there, trying to get a best fit. But then the subclasses are mainly suggestions (although they're very helpful).

Jame, good point: the lower nobility are mounted soldiers, while the upper nobility are strategists.

 

[Chaos]

Originally posted by Travellerne:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Tom Kalbfus:
What would a D&D world be like if it were placed in the Traveller Universe and had to obey Traveller rules. There is no magic, but many D&D creatures could still exist. I think it would be a good idea to set up a dungeon with alot of high tech Traveller items laying around and in the hands or orcs and the like.

Yes! Kobolds with submachineguns being led by a Balrog with a megaphone!

</font>[/QUOTE]Did you read "Grunts! A Fantasy with Attitudes!" by Mary Gentle?
Short summary: Orc raiders steal 20th century weapons from a dragon´s hoard - and kick ass!