maxinstuff
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Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
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Post by maxinstuff on Jul 13, 2013 23:46:19 GMT -8
So the Mongoose core book has been on my shelf for a good long time, I have read through it and while character creation is VERY cool, the book has so far left me with a feeling of 'ummmmmm..... what now?'.
I haven't played or run a spacefaring sci-fi before so this could be a big part of it.
Enter the third imperium source books - I am tossing up between the spinward marches and the solamani rim book.
Which do people prefer? How different are they?
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Post by guitarspider on Jul 14, 2013 2:35:27 GMT -8
I got Spinward Marches a while ago for a campaign that never happened. I don't have the Rim book, but I suspect the difference is basically in the tone, Spinward Marches being more of a lawless-space-western-outlaw-Firefly type thing. I have to say, as someone who was in the same position you are in now, the book was good and all, but I felt like just picking one subsector on travellermap.com and making stuff up would have been way easier and faster than reading through the whole book, picking one subsector and remembering it (I basically got through the general setting stuff and one subsector before quitting). To me the 3rd Imperium doesn't seem like a very exciting or special sci-fi setting, it's kind of generic, so that whatever you come up with is probably just as good or better. There's roughly 10 pages of Gm stuff at the back of the book too, basically adventure seeds. I only scimmed that, but it didn't seem very groundbreaking either, and getting the book for the two paragraphs about Star Systems and Worlds as adventure setting is a bit much. I'm sure there's plenty of plot ideas and bits and pieces of setting you could take out of this book, it might be nice to have as a backup as well, but I didn't get the impression that I needed the book. TBH I probably wouldn't have used it at all. Your mileage may vary of course. edit: If you want 3rd Imperium setting bits you could use something like this as well I guess. I would have loved to give this to my players as a database in game (similar to pretending travellermap.com is on their comm) and go "As far as you know, this stuff is true, but maybe it's not."
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Post by gandalftheplaid on Jul 14, 2013 12:43:59 GMT -8
I thought the Spinward Marches and Aslan books were both good. (I haven't looked at solamani rim book.) I liked that they provided stuff for a handful of systems in each sub-sector for the inspiration impaired, while leaving the bulk of each sector un-fluffed.
Like guitarspider however, these days I think I would probably use travellermap.com. I'd then just drop in fluff that I liked from wherever.
Ultimately it largely depends on how much you have of your own ideas, hopes and dreams. there's material out there to go from written adventures to defining your own systems.
I would think what you would use might also depend on what sort of game you and your players want to do. Beyond a conscious statement of what the players would like to be doing, the selection of careers and skill package could heavily inform where and how you pick.
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maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
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Post by maxinstuff on Jul 15, 2013 15:57:29 GMT -8
That library data thing is pretty amazing. And fuck it - I have gone ahead and ordered the spinward marches book. I feel I should at least learn the 'default' setting - even I if I don't use it as written. If I can get a campaign off the ground (wouldn't be till later in the year) then next on the list would be CENTRAL SUPPLY CATALOGUE. Just because I fucking love gear. I already thought of a possible adventure too. I imagine battle dress is rather sought after - so when a player wants some I can make that an adventure in itself. I can think of many ways to make that transaction complicated > Here, fill out this form (massive questionnaire asking about health, allergies etc.) > Step into this scanner - for sizing (steals genetic data, face mapping or similar) > OK - your dress will be ready in 6 weeks (FUCK - another ship payment before I get my armour!) > Oh - you better do this training course we offer that shows you how to use it before it arrives (1 million more credits please) > Yay! Armour arrived!!! (immeadiately encounter enemies with plasma cannons) OK - that last one is cheap - but I could go on... geez all that just because some player wants battle dress. This might be easier than I thought
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Post by guitarspider on Jul 15, 2013 16:22:35 GMT -8
The CSC is great for ideas, even if you're not using the special rules. The weapons and such make for great props. I made a character for bourbonration's G+ game last week and she owns a stealth dagger. I doubt I'm ever going to use the concealment rules for it, but it's just cool to have a stealth dagger rather than a normal one.
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Post by gandalftheplaid on Jul 15, 2013 17:25:18 GMT -8
Hard to go wrong picking up the CSC. I own a few more than what I've listed below, but these are my favorites:
Core CSC Scoundrel Agent Spinward Marches
Honorable mentions: Starports Aslan
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maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
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Post by maxinstuff on Jul 15, 2013 18:09:31 GMT -8
I am struggling with this - I am a completionist and the numbering system of these books is throwing me into alternate bouts of phsychopathic rage and fits of girlish laughter.
CSC = Traveller supplement 4 (NOW I HAVE TO BUY SUPPLEMETS 1 THROUGH 3 GOD DAMMIT)
Scoundrel = Traveller, book 6 (*aneurysm*)
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Post by Forresst on Jul 16, 2013 21:12:58 GMT -8
If you want to play in a homebrew Traveller universe, you can play in our universe. It's a big universe! There's 3 human empires, a no-man's land and all sorts of cool stuff. Plus, no numbers. It's Datacan 15, and all the other Datacans live in other ships.
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maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
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Post by maxinstuff on Aug 3, 2013 17:16:19 GMT -8
So reading through this and overall I have to say the more I read it the more I can see how Mass Effect was inspired by it - especially the whole 'Ancients' trope.
One thing I really like is that despite how enormous the Imperium is - and at the same time it really is still a small part of the universe. Go outside of imperial space and things get very alien.
But what the fuck is up with the dolphins.... does anyone actually use those is games? I thought about maybe a super-intelligent psionic dolphin (like in Johnny Mnemonic) in a tank as either a cool villain or NPC.... but damn, really? Fuckin' dolphins?
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juberberry
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 132
Preferred Game Systems: Traveller, VANGUARD, Shadowrun 4, CP2020
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Favorite Species of Monkey: Ressus
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Post by juberberry on Aug 3, 2013 17:18:22 GMT -8
If you're looking for a good published adventure check out "Aramis: The Traveller Adventure" from DriveThruRPG. It's more of a minicampaign but it's a good place to start.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Aug 3, 2013 21:07:01 GMT -8
So reading through this and overall I have to say the more I read it the more I can see how Mass Effect was inspired by it - especially the whole 'Ancients' trope. One thing I really like is that despite how enormous the Imperium is - and at the same time it really is still a small part of the universe. Go outside of imperial space and things get very alien. But what the fuck is up with the dolphins.... does anyone actually use those is games? I thought about maybe a super-intelligent psionic dolphin (like in Johnny Mnemonic) in a tank as either a cool villain or NPC.... but damn, really? Fuckin' dolphins? There might be some of this going on: Ol' Mr. Herbert casts a pretty big shadow... Or they could just thank you for the fish.
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Post by guitarspider on Aug 4, 2013 1:37:26 GMT -8
Evil Mastermind Dolphin Admiral in a Tank (tm)
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