Looked through one of my 'old stuff' boxes today and found this:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aarcentral.com%2Fpics%2FTravtrek.jpg&hash=c96e684d5de3a3ee716a2a5b3be865f14f94a750)
I'm thinking about using the Mythic Game Master Emulator that gameleaper posted about here (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=13467.msg359736#msg359736) to play one or both of these.
I haven't opened either one yet but I now there's more inside than what was included with the original boxes. In fact, I think my original RPG dice are inside the Star Trek box. :)
I've been eyeing the latest version of Traveller, along with the 2300AD sourcebook for it, because I thought both were pretty good long ago (along with MegaTraveller). But I've filled up on some new RPGs lately so they'll have to wait.
Haven't played Traveller since the original back in high school. I though about trying to get back into it but not sure I want to go for the newer versions or try collecting the old books off ebay. I have heard that the Mongoose version is based off the original Traveller rules and one of the best versions out there.
Neat.
I managed to find two copies of the Traveller rulebook which was a hardback version of the boxed set minus the other bits (I think) wilst trolling through used bookstores a few years back (and two copies of the D&D Rules Cyclopedia later on). Always admired how clean seeming everything was before the ever increasing complexity starting being piled onto the Traveller universe.
Having said that, I utterly loved the MegaTraveller mileu; the apocalyptic galactic civil war appealed to my angry, angsty teen self.
I got a copy of the Star Trek game at yet another store and it not only had the dice, the catalog, and the rules but it had both maps of the Fed. Cruiser and Klingon Destroyer (1/4 scale?) for miniatures use as well as two sourcebooks from later on in the game line. Good haul that day.
From the bits I've seen, the Mongoose version isn't half bad. They have certainly put out plenty of support materials for the game, so big ups on them for that
p.s. I'd be so down for a 2300 game; need to check into that stuff..
I cherished the old multi-colored MegaTraveller box in my youth. It was pretty high quality stuff at the time. That big hex map with all the star systems, and their types, was awesome as were the rest of the contents.
Also owned the boxed 2300AD from GDW. I recall the setting info being rather thin in that core set, but thinking that the [notably combat?] mechanics were kinda cool. I got the impression that the 2300AD timeline was an extension from the Twilight 2000 one, after things had returned to normal progress and early star'sploration (with a slight dose of Heinlen's bugs as alien enemies).
I'm almost afraid of checking out the 2300AD setting for the latest Traveller system since some of the old mechanics I liked (but don't quite recall) aren't going to be there. While Traveller had a lot going for it, I don't recall it having a very innovative skill/combat resolution system. Might seem like a downgrade in parts.
Quote from: Nefaro on June 19, 2015, 10:18:52 AM
I cherished the old multi-colored MegaTraveller box in my youth. It was pretty high quality stuff at the time. That big hex map with all the star systems, and their types, was awesome as were the rest of the contents.
Also owned the boxed 2300AD from GDW. I recall the setting info being rather thin in that core set, but thinking that the [notably combat?] mechanics were kinda cool. I got the impression that the 2300AD timeline was an extension from the Twilight 2000 one, after things had returned to normal progress and early star'sploration (with a slight dose of Heinlen's bugs as alien enemies).
Yup. 2300AD was an extension of the Twilight 2000 timeline but didn't use the same system - also got tagged with the Traveller surname at some point which just went to confuse the whole damn thing further on down the line.
Kind of interesting about all the things they had up in the air during GDW's heyday; I know I certainly added to their bottom line with all the things I bought bearing the GDW tag (being an unabashed GDW fanboy).
I need to pull the 2300 spaceship combat set out and take a gander at that one of these days...
One of the things I forgot about classic Traveller was how short the rules are. The three books are tiny! But that's also what's great about it. O0
Quote from: bbmike on June 20, 2015, 07:05:03 AMOne of the things I forgot about classic Traveller was how short the rules are.
https://rpggeek.com/rpg/1170/twerps
Hmm, that's dated 1987 so I should remember it... ???
I still have my Star Trek RPG from FASA. Just the books; sadly the box didn't survive. I remember spending hours just generating characters because I loved the character creation system so much.
Gentlemen:
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/TravellerLBBs
Now is the time to "get it on," per se.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on June 27, 2015, 02:00:09 PM
Gentlemen:
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/TravellerLBBs
Now is the time to "get it on," per se.
Nice! I couldn't resist at that price. O0
Little black books on Bundle of Holding!
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/TravellerLBBs
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on June 20, 2015, 07:17:57 PM
I still have my Star Trek RPG from FASA. Just the books; sadly the box didn't survive. I remember spending hours just generating characters because I loved the character creation system so much.
Yeah me too. I would also use the Star Fleet Technical Manual and assign them ships for each assignment.
Any word on the quality of these books (meaning the bundleofholding stuff)?
My sci-fi rpg collection is, outside of the aforementioned Traveller hardbacks, is lacking in the classic Traveller realm - I started my time with GDW via MegaTraveller, so I'm broken to start with. I need to fix this.
most of the old repubs are clean scans from mint copies of the vintage books - they're excellent quality scans, but they aren't always OCR'ed to where you can do text searches instead of just reading what's there
They are indeed high quality PDFs. I would love to print them out.
In other news, I've ordered the hardback Mongoose Traveller Core Rules from DriveThruRPG!
You, Sir, have a problem.
O0
...and I have some pdfs to purchase...
Quote from: bbmike on July 03, 2015, 07:39:11 AM
In other news, I've ordered the hardback Mongoose Traveller Core Rules from DriveThruRPG!
Was the hardback cheaper there or something? I've seen the latest hardbacks on sale from Amazon and elsewhere.
Quote from: Nefaro on July 04, 2015, 01:45:56 AM
Quote from: bbmike on July 03, 2015, 07:39:11 AM
In other news, I've ordered the hardback Mongoose Traveller Core Rules from DriveThruRPG!
Was the hardback cheaper there or something? I've seen the latest hardbacks on sale from Amazon and elsewhere.
No, it was an impulse buy. I did look at eBay and Amazon but at the time the prices were about the same.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 03, 2015, 09:58:21 PM
You, Sir, have a problem.
O0
...and I have some pdfs to purchase...
If lovin' my hobby is wrong, I don't wanna be right! ;D
Man. That was a lot of stuff for such a small $$ amount.
Need to plus-up my haul with some additional supplements, stat!
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 06, 2015, 02:03:05 PMMan. That was a lot of stuff for such a small $$ amount.
are you talking about the promo deal? or a different one?
Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 06, 2015, 07:11:37 PM
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 06, 2015, 02:03:05 PMMan. That was a lot of stuff for such a small $$ amount.
are you talking about the promo deal? or a different one?
Sorry; talking about the bundleofholding offer.
Impressed at the quality and general succinctness of the materials ive seen so far.
Sad that I missed this game the first time 'round.
Damn you all. I just bought the pack and I never played Traveler before. Nor have I anyone to play it with now! :(
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on July 07, 2015, 08:44:09 AM
Damn you all. I just bought the pack and I never played Traveler before. Nor have I anyone to play it with now! :(
If it makes you feel any better, many of the RPGs I've bought ended up just being reading material. But that's okay because I enjoy learning game systems, for some reason. Even better if they have an interesting background setting, monsters, magic, and other things to read about.
I've not yet tried one of the Solitaire GM systems, but I plan on trying the Mythic GME with one of my RPGs sometime soon. Would be more like a mix of RPG used to assist in your creation of a fictional story, yet with unforeseen twists. Can actually see how the Mythic one would come in
real handy for GM-less games too, with little prep needed.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on July 07, 2015, 08:44:09 AM
Damn you all. I just bought the pack and I never played Traveler before. Nor have I anyone to play it with now! :(
Yeah, good time to give the Mythic system a go. I'm about to start a game of Star Trek RPG with it. I spent the last couple of weeks creating my crew. I had fun just doing that! I'll eventually start a solo Traveller game as well.
I was surprised to read that today (I snuck in some time to check it out). Makes perfect sense considering this was 1980 or so and finding gaming groups would have been a hell of a lot harder back then. I enjoyed reading their recommendations for finding a gaming group by posting a note on the bulletin board at a grocery store (as well as gaming stores of course). I remember those days well.
Could run a pbp here in the tabletop aar area perhaps?
Play-by-forum might be doable if there's a dedicated group. I've done that kind of thing before with collaborative fiction sites but I have zero Traveler experience, other than what I've read since yesterday.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 07, 2015, 10:09:21 PM
Could run a pbp here in the tabletop aar area perhaps?
If anyone decides to set this up can I get in on it please ::)
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on June 27, 2015, 02:00:09 PM
Gentlemen:
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/TravellerLBBs
Now is the time to "get it on," per se.
Oops I should say I'm talking about traveller , because I bought the bundle from this link you provided , thanks for that btw dammit Carl !! And I should say I've never played in a group before , and I'm new to this , but everyone has to start somewhere right ? O:-)
Some old, old Dragon Magazine variants for Traveller
y'all enjoy :)
Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 08, 2015, 02:59:28 PM
Some old, old Dragon Magazine variants for Traveller
y'all enjoy :)
Cool, more goodies! Thanks! O0
Play-by-forum? How would that work? Wouldn't that take forever to play?
I guess I have hopped around these rules too much because I saw something about college in a later book, speaking about it as if it was part of the game, but the first book made no mention of it. Is there a set of rules somewhere about a PC going through college? I want to say I saw it in the Scouts book but i'm not sure.
Quote from: bbmike on July 08, 2015, 07:54:23 PM
Play-by-forum? How would that work? Wouldn't that take forever to play?
From what I've seen at RPG.net and a few other boards over the years, it honestly can go many ways; from players writing out what they are doing on the board in the open to the GM doing a synopsis of each gaming "session," (however they determine that) written much like chapters in a book. Pick a style that works and that you could be consistent with.
As far as the time the game would take, that would probably depend on the group - how well and how quickly they reply to GM events and if they stick around or not - and how long the GM can keep interest going.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on July 09, 2015, 08:11:53 AM
I guess I have hopped around these rules too much because I saw something about college in a later book, speaking about it as if it was part of the game, but the first book made no mention of it. Is there a set of rules somewhere about a PC going through college? I want to say I saw it in the Scouts book but i'm not sure.
Education is a character stat when PCs are created, but Book 1 only seems to mention it in passing while Books 4, 6, and 7 seem to make a more specific call-out to college at some point.
Hmmm...good question...
Yes, it's in the Book 6 - Scouts.
I'm sure there are some here with experience at Forum RPG'ing who could suggest methods.
From what I've gathered, there is usually some consolidation to help things move faster. Such as players rolling their checks & posting the results at the same time they propose the action that may require one, before the GM chimes in. Whether he will end up using it or not. Cuts down on the back & forth.
don't forget, we've got die-rolls in the forums now, too :)
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=11764.0
Lord help me, I've bought more Traveller stuff via DriveThru!
What have you wrought, bbmike?!?
Ha! At least you haven't purchased the Traveller Core Rulebook yet. :P
I actually spent some more at DriveThru when I discovered that they had all of the Star Fleet Battles modules in PDF. SSDs in color! :D
No, but I did pull my old, hardback "Traveller," core book that has Books 1-3 and some other stuff compiled inside the covers out (forgot that some wee lad from long ago went and colored most of the illustrations in it; did a dang good job too) and will probably take it with me when I go on my annual training rotation starting tomorrow...along with my Nook which will have all the additional goodies I've got now...
...and most of the 1st edition of Legends of the Five Rings if pdf form...and God knows what else I've got loaded up already... :))
Nerdy McNerdston, reporting for duty, Sir!
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 09, 2015, 03:00:51 PM
...and most of the 1st edition of Legends of the Five Rings if pdf form...and God knows what else I've got loaded up already... :))
I picked up some used Lot5R 4th Edition hardbacks (latest version). The core rulebook and the "monster manual". They're the most beautiful 'stock' RPG books I've ever seen.
The game system looks nice, too, if you can get past the inherent limitations of RPG'ing in a primarily Samurai-inspired setting. While the setting's social and loot situation will be naturally lacking or restricted in various ways, it still has a lot of undead & demonic monsters from the various nasties.
Quote from: Nefaro on July 09, 2015, 11:17:24 AM
I'm sure there are some here with experience at Forum RPG'ing who could suggest methods.
I've run several but they do take a lot longer than ftf. Usually after about 6 months they really die off, mostly due to players dropping out. As a GM I have been guilty of letting things drag on waiting for everyone to to have a chance to post when I probably should have just pushed the game forward with the few that were really into it and let the others just become meatshields and cannon fodder where they could just chime in when they could.
If someone was going to run something I would recommend using the most streamlined system they are familiar with. Systems with a deep or extensive character creation process, (HarnMaster, RoleMaster and several others) tend to put off those who just want to play and not get bogged down in mechanics and creating their character.
Okay, so I bought that basic Traveler bundle and went with the extra books. I have no idea what else there is as there's several different versions of Traveler out there on the DriveThru website, so I wouldn't know what else I should get, just based on that basic 1e universe. Any recommendations from those of you that have been there?
I'm also thinking of buying the T2013 rules...not that I'm ever going to play it but I do love Twilight: 2000.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on July 11, 2015, 12:16:20 PM
Okay, so I bought that basic Traveler bundle and went with the extra books. I have no idea what else there is as there's several different versions of Traveler out there on the DriveThru website, so I wouldn't know what else I should get, just based on that basic 1e universe. Any recommendations from those of you that have been there?
The latest version is published by.. Mongoose I believe? Dunno, I don't currently have any Traveller stuff since I have other sci-fi RPGs sitting around, waiting to be explored.
Quote
I'm also thinking of buying the T2013 rules...not that I'm ever going to play it but I do love Twilight: 2000.
I loved the original T:2k and also the revised edition (book with the yellow cover from early 90s) that improved some things. The original T2k was one of the few RPGs I actually played (therefore, GM'd) back when I was young, and the more realistic post-WW3-apocalypse setting was great. Was a lot of fun and seemed easier for RPG novices to get into since there wasn't a bunch of fantastical stuff to learn - it's all real world hardware and such.
From what I understand, the T2013 rules are pretty much the same as the '90s "yellow book" revised version, although it may have some more material in it judging from the size. Supposedly the back story was changed and less well received in the latest version, but without any extra supplements out there you can easily change that to suit your tastes.
One thing I thought the revised rules did a good job of improving was tracking individual bullets instead of counting three rounds as the individual quantity. Doing that never made much sense to me in the original T2000, especially since you were still tracking the numbers, but with the odd mechanic of firing in threes. Good riddance. I was rather sad to see the original armored vehicle component damage charts go, but those were predicated on the penetrating round actually travelling straight through the vehicle, listing the possibly struck components in a row depending on hit angle. Of course, that wouldn't necessarily be the case with an AV pen, so it had been criticized as not properly modelling it despite the detail and they changed it in the 2nd edition (maybe making it too generalized like other RPGs). Still, there were numerous things cleaned up in the later version so it was probably better on balance.
I've really been wanting to pick up the T2013 version but since it's Out Of Print, there are only a handful of reasonably-priced ones floating around (and they are probably used, even).
After buying the traveller RPG I've managed to read through the getting started book and book one about character creation . And after MUCH reading of the rules ;D. I came up with a character .
I called her Emma stryder , just because I think it's a cool name ! She joins the scouts , only just as I rolled a 7 and that was the minimum roll to join , so she narrowly escaped the draft O:-)
She spent four years exploring the universe and scouting out new far flung mysterious territories . Things got tough there for a while , but being the bad ass that she is , she managed to become a pilot and a gunner and is now trained and proficient in using a pistol and a dagger , don't mess with stryder !!
She didn't get through the re-enlistment program . Instead she came out of the service with money in her pocket to burn . She's 22 and ready and waiting for her next traveller adventure O0
I had a lot of fun playing this and getting this far with the game . I hope y'all are having fun with traveller too :)
Traveller character generation is part of its unique charm.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on July 15, 2015, 08:51:37 PM
Traveller character generation is part of its unique charm.
Same for Star Trek The RPG. I haven't started my game yet because I'm having fun creating characters! :D
And now it looks like an updated Traveller is on the way! From the email I received:
A new Traveller has arrived, the product of many years tweaking, adjusting and listening to the thousands of players who have travelled the universe of the Far Future.
Available as a beta playtest PDF, the Traveller Core Rulebook (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/156017/Traveller-Core-Rulebook-Beta-Playtest?affiliate_rem=7242) is a 248 page adventure into the Far Future that you can directly influence over the next few months. You can grab your copy here;
Travel to the Far Future and start exploring.
No time for this, though. I'm still setting up my Star Trek and Gamma World campaigns. :)
Ok, I caved. After looking at this again I had to jump in. I also suspect that Traveller Prime Directive might not be far behind this release. Anyway, I'll post thoughts here if I find the time and am allowed.
DriveThruRPG is my new Steam. :D
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0229%2F7751%2Fproducts%2FLived-Died-Design_1024x1024.jpg%3Fv%3D1432411961&hash=a5c88e9b6beb053f7a05ab8420c1ccbd6269ca1d)
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 06, 2015, 08:14:16 AM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0229%2F7751%2Fproducts%2FLived-Died-Design_1024x1024.jpg%3Fv%3D1432411961&hash=a5c88e9b6beb053f7a05ab8420c1ccbd6269ca1d)
;D I can't wait to see what they've done with character generation!
Another Traveller iteration? Jeez.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 06, 2015, 08:14:16 AM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0229%2F7751%2Fproducts%2FLived-Died-Design_1024x1024.jpg%3Fv%3D1432411961&hash=a5c88e9b6beb053f7a05ab8420c1ccbd6269ca1d)
LOL, so true
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on September 06, 2015, 09:49:28 AM
Another Traveller iteration? Jeez.
What I was thinking. Didn't the last version come out about 3 or 4 years ago?
Drives me nuts when they revise them so quickly.
Traveller5 - the latest version from M. Miller - showed up last year (IIRC).
I'm not liking the whole, "buy our beta and help us iron things out," kind of approach that Mongoose, Miller, and goodness knows who else is taking nowadays but maybe I'm just an old stick-in-the-mud like that.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on September 08, 2015, 05:55:50 PM
Traveller5 - the latest version from M. Miller - showed up last year (IIRC).
I'm not liking the whole, "buy our beta and help us iron things out," kind of approach that Mongoose, Miller, and goodness knows who else is taking nowadays but maybe I'm just an old stick-in-the-mud like that.
Yeah, but the last Mongoose version was 2008. Also, if you buy into the beta you get the hardback release version for free. And you know if I decide to run a play by forum game here you'll be the first to sign up. ;D
Eh, got me pegged correctly! :)
Traveller....I remember how various people would try and run the game for our group when I was a wee nipper. We'd roll up characters and then, having attained a ship, ruin anything the GM had prepared by immediately forcing him to use the planet development rules to find one that allowed us to carry around fusion rifles for "self defence". Upon arriving it was only a matter of time before half the party was dead in a glorious hail of plasma bolts.