What happen to Decoration (LBB 4 Merc, LBB 5 HG) from CT to MGT or MGT2E?

[Muns]

ello everyone, I am getting back into Traveller after a long absence. So my question is, why did the generations of Traveller seem to play down (my words) the decorations from CT to the succeeding version to now they seem to be an afterthought in MGT2E? I could be totally wrong and my bad impression, but what the heck happened while this old Grounard left the game for a while (RL career in the Army).

So I am juts wondering how this happened and what was the reasoning. So I can understand.

Any of the old COTI or HIWG or SJ GURPS or Mongoose folks can help out this old Dumb Tanker understand the thought process I would appreciate it immensely!

I also posted this in Reddit and I am getting a lot of suggestions and great thoughts, but no "Hey this is why we did this".

 

[TamsinP]

I don't know if they were in all the editions after MegaTraveller, but they did appear in Mongoose 1st edition (possibly only in the expanded career books). They aren't in Mongoose 2nd edition though.

I can't see any reason why you couldn't graft the CT/MT rules onto MgT2e though, if you want to add them in for the relevant careers.

 

[Muns]

This is what I was planning on doing. I was looking for the logic or rationale behind why the decoration rolls went away.

 

[Dragoner]

I kept them from MgT1 in Kosmic.

 

[whulorigan]

The only thing I can think of is that decoratrolls were a part of Advanced CharGen in CT (not Basic CharGen) with Adv assignment resolution being done iteratively per year instead of comprehensively per four year block-term.

MgT1 Basic CharGen and MgT2 CharGen are both evolutions of CT Basic CharGen, so perhaps it was overlooked or not considered?

T5 does include a decoration system (with the old awards, plus an SEH w/ Diamonds and a fairly routine Exemplary Service Badge/Award (XS) below MCUF that covers range of more common awards). Purple Heart is replaced by the more generic "Wound Badge".

 

[Dragoner]

I no longer remember if I modified them or not:

 

[Muns]

Right, but the old CT mechanics provided for the awards to help out in promotion rolls which in turn added more chances to earn skills. IN the MgT1E and MgT2E it seems like an afterthought and no added bonus to gain skills or promotion. In post-war campaigns, awards will be seen by NPC as reputation bonus no matter if the character or player knows anything about why they are being hired. The lack of the awards in none post war game adventures can make sense.
With MG coming out with their own 5th Frontier War adventure/Modules, and some games being played in the war, it would make sense to have mechanics for this.
BUT
In the recognition to gain the medal, in MgT it is just that, here is your Gong, pat on the back and move on.
Thanks to those that answered.

 

[whulorigan]

Right, but the old CT mechanics provided for the awards to help out in promotion rolls which in turn added more chances to earn skills. IN the MgT1E and MgT2E it seems like an afterthought and no added bonus to gain skills or promotion. In post-war campaigns, awards will be seen by NPC as reputation bonus no matter if the character or player knows anything about why they are being hired. The lack of the awards in none post war game adventures can make sense.
With MG coming out with their own 5th Frontier War adventure/Modules, and some games being played in the war, it would make sense to have mechanics for this.
BUT
In the recognition to gain the medal, in MgT it is just that, here is your Gong, pat on the back and move on.
Thanks to those that answered.

It seems that it should be simple enough to add to the above Events / Life Events an associated +1 DM to the current or next commission/promotion roll when an Award is achieved. It could also grant an associated additional skill with either a sufficiently high Effect, or with a successful second D6 roll of 5-6 (for example).

 

[Hairy Jim DeGriz]

Something like this?

Army Events
9 Surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy, you hold out until relief arrives. Gain DM+2 to your next
advancement roll.
10 You are assigned to a peacekeeping role. Gain one of Admin 1, Investigate 1, Deception 1 or Recon 1.

Number 9: Roll for Award 7+ receive MCUF 12+ receive SEH
Number 10: Roll for Award 12+ for MCUF
Upon receipt of an Award roll again for a PH. On a 5 or less also receive a PH award. On a 3 or less suffer -2 to STR or DEX or END.
Awards are not Free.

Only some events will qualify for an Award. Further, for an SEH, Roll 11+ upon mustering out for SOC +1. However, a lot of US MOH winners were pulled from combat for the duration of their military service, and they were brought home for publicity. Once you win an SEH, the GM could say re-roll any "dangerous" event.

 

[whulorigan]

Further, for an SEH, Roll 11+ upon mustering out for SOC +1.

On some of the documentation accompanying the MCG Cards that were given out, there is the comment that the Emperor holds the bearer of an MCG in esteem just below that of a Knight of the Empire. Presumably an SEH is the same but senior to an MCG (NOTE: If anyone posesses SEH documentation, please share).

So should they be elevated to Soc=9 or 10 (w/o lands), or perhaps be regarded as such in certain contexts?