2320 a good place to start?
- Thread starter Blustar15
- Start date
I don't think so, but then again, I'm biased. It contains considerably more material then the original 2300AD rulebooks contained. More world information, more ships, more vehicles, more weapons. Much more information on the various aliens, including character generation for all of them.
I really like 2300AD, but I think 2320AD has more material in it, especially for someone new to the setting.
I really like 2300AD, but I think 2320AD has more material in it, especially for someone new to the setting.
I'd agree with Colin that there's much more in the basic rule book than in the original game. So it is a better package for starting a campaign in this universe.
What will really round things off, though, is some campaign/adventure material. Something that will give you a feel for the micro scale of a part of the setting as well as for the macro scale of the 23x0 universe. For example, I loved the universe of the Blue Planet game, but it wasn't until the Archipelago supplement came out that I thought I knew what it was like to live there.
Anyway, I can't wait to see the final draft of the rule book with all of the art in place. It will undoubtedly be much superior to the GDW original box set.
Yes, it is surprisingly useful. The "Terror's Lair" adventure that came with 2nd edition was pretty bad as an adventure, but it demonstrated the setting nicely: starships, artificial gravity, private eyes and other field agents, realistic laser weapons, Foraline and guinea pig sandwiches.
I think 2320AD works as a start (assuming one has T20). The introduction is pretty through, telling what the setting is and what it isn't.
Terror's Lair was technically not designed as an introductory adventure. It was a solo adventure, following a very predetermined path, with the main objective to show a player or refree how the game system worked. It could be redesigned by the referee to a conventional adventure, but would have needed some work.
The Tricolor's Shadow in the 1st edition Traveller: 2300 was more of an introductory adventure, even if sparse, and it highlighted a problem that followed the game from the beginning. Information about the 2300 universe was sparse, even warranting the publication of Understanding 2300 that was included in later boxes of the 1st edition. It also locked the demonstration of new settings and game themes into a broad metaplot leading up to Invasion.
That is why I think that 2320 AD is not only a good update for us old timers, but the book also makes much easier for beginners, as they can start playing with a full universe.
Even so, an introductory adventure is useful, or perhaps even just two or three adventure seeds showing distinct ways of how the 2320 AD universe can be used.
The Tricolor's Shadow in the 1st edition Traveller: 2300 was more of an introductory adventure, even if sparse, and it highlighted a problem that followed the game from the beginning. Information about the 2300 universe was sparse, even warranting the publication of Understanding 2300 that was included in later boxes of the 1st edition. It also locked the demonstration of new settings and game themes into a broad metaplot leading up to Invasion.
That is why I think that 2320 AD is not only a good update for us old timers, but the book also makes much easier for beginners, as they can start playing with a full universe.
Even so, an introductory adventure is useful, or perhaps even just two or three adventure seeds showing distinct ways of how the 2320 AD universe can be used.
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Completely from memory, I think Operation Overlord was 2305? I think it is actually stated someplace in the adventure.
Operation Overlord is a completely militaristic adventure. It's more of an ending adventure for a grand military campaign. I would only use it to start a campaign if perhaps your characters were all of Marine background. A good fun adventure at the close of their Marine careers (introducing the setting, rules), before starting the actual campaign (perhaps the old Marine buddies start a merc unit togather, sign on to a trade ship togather, start a business as a troubleshooting team, etc).
Op Overlord is set in 2303, so after Invasion finishes, and before the renewed 2320 assault in IIRC 2305.
Op:O was not a GDW product but licensed by 3W, and is okay as an adventure.
That said, I can't stand it, but that's because militarily non-sensical and anti- the spirit of the game. 2000 US Marines liberate a German world on their own with no German input apart from a few warships, while landing in direct fire range of the Kafer citadel's defences. But it is one of my bugbears
Dan
Op:O was not a GDW product but licensed by 3W, and is okay as an adventure.
That said, I can't stand it, but that's because militarily non-sensical and anti- the spirit of the game. 2000 US Marines liberate a German world on their own with no German input apart from a few warships, while landing in direct fire range of the Kafer citadel's defences. But it is one of my bugbears
Dan
I like the rules of 2300AD (sorry no T20 fan) but I like the breadth the 2320 covers and brings the game back to its Hard SF roots. But, there were also many things that were demanded in 2320AD that run counter to the spirit of 2300AD. But, I understand Colin's choice for their inclusion.
So, for me, I would vote for 2320AD, if you don't mind that it is T20, if you do...maybe the CD ROM from Marc would be the cheapest way to get canon...although, I do think the Challenge & Traveller's Digest articles add a great deal more depth to the setting.
So, for me, I would vote for 2320AD, if you don't mind that it is T20, if you do...maybe the CD ROM from Marc would be the cheapest way to get canon...although, I do think the Challenge & Traveller's Digest articles add a great deal more depth to the setting.
Grim Nefari
SOC-8
I actually like the 2320 version as it has a more "realistic/less space opera" feel in it to me, a bit more gritty and what not. Attention to detail, at least so much in providing information on the various worlds and the alien races, without bogging down the mind of the reader at the same time, was also another turn on for me in liking this campaign setting, enough for me to plan on eventually adopting it to a few things of my own
epicenter00
SOC-13
The short answer is: It won't feel incomplete at all. 2320 stands on its own as a game.
In fact, the original 2300 material was written by a different group of authors with a different vision of the universe (and significantly - years and years ago, I still remember I rode my brontosaur to buy 2300 in paper), so you might feel a bit of a dissonance with how Colin saw the universe and the "feel" you get from the original 2300 materials.
In fact, the original 2300 material was written by a different group of authors with a different vision of the universe (and significantly - years and years ago, I still remember I rode my brontosaur to buy 2300 in paper), so you might feel a bit of a dissonance with how Colin saw the universe and the "feel" you get from the original 2300 materials.
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2320AD still available anywhere?
Is the 2320AD PDF still available for sale anywhere? My google-fu was unable to locate a current source.
Is the 2320AD PDF still available for sale anywhere? My google-fu was unable to locate a current source.
No. Eventually, it and all the other T20 materials will be available from FFE. But at present, no T20 materials are legally available new in PDF.
it's a T20 product, ans never made it to dead tree.
