Adv. 4 Leviathan question

[Black Globe Generator]

Trivial question: what are the skill-level requirements listed for the Captain of Leviathan?

I'm comparing the requirements in Leviathan with those in Merchant Prince as I overthink (as usual) what it means to be a captain of a merchant vessel in the Third Imperium...

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Trivial question: what are the skill-level requirements listed for the Captain of Leviathan?

I'm comparing the requirements in Leviathan with those in Merchant Prince as I overthink (as usual) what it means to be a captain of a merchant vessel in the Third Imperium...

 

[Whipsnade]

BGG,

A:4 lists the minimum skills required for each position in the crew. The minimums for the captain, or master, position are Admin-1, Comp-1, and Pilot-1.

Remember, A:4 was published before all the extended CT chargens; Mercenary, HG2, Scouts, and Merchant Prince so the skill requirements in A:4 will be low. The same holds true for A:1 Kinunir.

GT:FT lists the certificate requirements to be a ship's master. I believe T20 has something similar too.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Whipsnade]

BGG,

A:4 lists the minimum skills required for each position in the crew. The minimums for the captain, or master, position are Admin-1, Comp-1, and Pilot-1.

Remember, A:4 was published before all the extended CT chargens; Mercenary, HG2, Scouts, and Merchant Prince so the skill requirements in A:4 will be low. The same holds true for A:1 Kinunir.

GT:FT lists the certificate requirements to be a ship's master. I believe T20 has something similar too.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Remember, A:4 was published before all the extended CT chargens; Mercenary, HG2, Scouts, and Merchant Prince so the skill requirements in A:4 will be low.

That's what I assumed would be the case - I wanted to get a handle on the exact difference.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
GT:FT lists the certificate requirements to be a ship's master. I believe T20 has something similar too.

So far I've resisted the temptation to pick up any of the GT books - I need to flesh out my CT library first! - but if I do, Far Trader is at the top of the list.

I was also thumbing through T20 yesterday - some nifty bits in there, too.

It's great to be a Traveller gamer!

Thanks very much for the reply - most appreciated.

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Remember, A:4 was published before all the extended CT chargens; Mercenary, HG2, Scouts, and Merchant Prince so the skill requirements in A:4 will be low.

That's what I assumed would be the case - I wanted to get a handle on the exact difference.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
GT:FT lists the certificate requirements to be a ship's master. I believe T20 has something similar too.

So far I've resisted the temptation to pick up any of the GT books - I need to flesh out my CT library first! - but if I do, Far Trader is at the top of the list.

I was also thumbing through T20 yesterday - some nifty bits in there, too.

It's great to be a Traveller gamer!

Thanks very much for the reply - most appreciated.

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:That's what I assumed would be the case - I wanted to get a handle on the exact difference.

BGG,

It's quite a difference, isn't it? Glancing at LBB:7 and the required qualifications for promotions in the Deck Department, a PC needs Nav-1 for O1/4th Officer, Admin-1 for O2/3rd Officer, Ship's Boat-1 or Pilot-1 for O3/2nd Officer, Pilot-1 only for 04/1st Officer, and Legal-1 for Captain.

Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

FWIW, I believe the chargen in LBB:7 to be one of the toughest due to the skill requirements for promotion.

I was also thumbing through T20 yesterday - some nifty bits in there, too.

T20 is just crammed full of nifty little bits.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:That's what I assumed would be the case - I wanted to get a handle on the exact difference.

BGG,

It's quite a difference, isn't it? Glancing at LBB:7 and the required qualifications for promotions in the Deck Department, a PC needs Nav-1 for O1/4th Officer, Admin-1 for O2/3rd Officer, Ship's Boat-1 or Pilot-1 for O3/2nd Officer, Pilot-1 only for 04/1st Officer, and Legal-1 for Captain.

Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

FWIW, I believe the chargen in LBB:7 to be one of the toughest due to the skill requirements for promotion.

I was also thumbing through T20 yesterday - some nifty bits in there, too.

T20 is just crammed full of nifty little bits.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
It's quite a difference, isn't it? Glancing at LBB:7 and the required qualifications for promotions in the Deck Department, a PC needs Nav-1 for O1/4th Officer, Admin-1 for O2/3rd Officer, Ship's Boat-1 or Pilot-1 for O3/2nd Officer, Pilot-1 only for 04/1st Officer, and Legal-1 for Captain.

That's what got me thinking about it.

A LBB 1 merchant captain can actually get by with nothing more than the Pilot 1 s/he picked up on promotion to first officer. It's possible to end up with a character with multiple ranks in Streetwise, Bribery, a weapon skill, and Vacc Suit but only a single rank in Pilot as captain of a free trader!

I'm not saying that's a bad thing, or that it needs to be changed - quite the opposite. It makes for some intriguing characters and situations. It's just interesting thinking about how this all fits together.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
FWIW, I believe the chargen in LBB:7 to be one of the toughest due to the skill requirements for promotion.

I like the fact that a character can be rated for one position but could go through a term of service without ever actually working in that billet - "I see you're rated for Chief Purser, but never worked above the level of Assistant Purser..."

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
T20 is just crammed full of nifty little bits.

Noted!

While I have no interest in playing a d20 version of Traveller, I do like how the the book really tries to keep to the feel of the original - it also makes it easier to strip away cool stuff and add it to CT!

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
It's quite a difference, isn't it? Glancing at LBB:7 and the required qualifications for promotions in the Deck Department, a PC needs Nav-1 for O1/4th Officer, Admin-1 for O2/3rd Officer, Ship's Boat-1 or Pilot-1 for O3/2nd Officer, Pilot-1 only for 04/1st Officer, and Legal-1 for Captain.

That's what got me thinking about it.

A LBB 1 merchant captain can actually get by with nothing more than the Pilot 1 s/he picked up on promotion to first officer. It's possible to end up with a character with multiple ranks in Streetwise, Bribery, a weapon skill, and Vacc Suit but only a single rank in Pilot as captain of a free trader!

I'm not saying that's a bad thing, or that it needs to be changed - quite the opposite. It makes for some intriguing characters and situations. It's just interesting thinking about how this all fits together.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me.

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
FWIW, I believe the chargen in LBB:7 to be one of the toughest due to the skill requirements for promotion.

I like the fact that a character can be rated for one position but could go through a term of service without ever actually working in that billet - "I see you're rated for Chief Purser, but never worked above the level of Assistant Purser..."

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
T20 is just crammed full of nifty little bits.

Noted!

While I have no interest in playing a d20 version of Traveller, I do like how the the book really tries to keep to the feel of the original - it also makes it easier to strip away cool stuff and add it to CT!

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me. </font>[/QUOTE]There is a compromise. There is a third way between "basic" and "advanced" chargen. My system could be found here, converted to PDF by Neil Ford. Use it - or take whatver ideas from it and build your own system (as long as you credit me for these parts). The best thing about CT is its customiseability.

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me. </font>[/QUOTE]There is a compromise. There is a third way between "basic" and "advanced" chargen. My system could be found here, converted to PDF by Neil Ford. Use it - or take whatver ideas from it and build your own system (as long as you credit me for these parts). The best thing about CT is its customiseability.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me. [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]CT Basic CharGen can easily spit out characters compatible with Advanced CharGen.

Just use the "Special Duty" rule from MT, and their rule where an extra skill is provided when a Commission, Promotion, or Special Duty roll is exceeded by 4+.

Do that simple tweak, and your Basic CharGen characters will hold their own against Advanced CharGen characters.

Simple as that.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Compared to their 'extended' or 'advanced' chargen counterparts, CT PCs are rather skill poor.

True enuf.

Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me. [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]CT Basic CharGen can easily spit out characters compatible with Advanced CharGen.

Just use the "Special Duty" rule from MT, and their rule where an extra skill is provided when a Commission, Promotion, or Special Duty roll is exceeded by 4+.

Do that simple tweak, and your Basic CharGen characters will hold their own against Advanced CharGen characters.

Simple as that.

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me.

BGG,

Well, if that's crazy you and I are in the same loony bin!

Generally speaking, the more skill, stats, feats, levels, advantages, disadvantages, bells, and whistles you apply to a character the more playing with rolls is done than role-playing.

The kinds of general or relatively 'vague' skills from LBB:1 require more 'effort' by the player to apply them in play. When limited to 'computer', he must act out using sensors. After 'sensor-ops' comes into being, that action is reduced to a die roll. You can come up with many more example of this.

That being said, I like the MT's idea of homeworld default skills. A PCs life before age 18 should account for something.

Have fun,
Bill

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Black Globe Generator:Call me crazy, but there's still something about those Book 1-generated characters that appeals to me.

BGG,

Well, if that's crazy you and I are in the same loony bin!

Generally speaking, the more skill, stats, feats, levels, advantages, disadvantages, bells, and whistles you apply to a character the more playing with rolls is done than role-playing.

The kinds of general or relatively 'vague' skills from LBB:1 require more 'effort' by the player to apply them in play. When limited to 'computer', he must act out using sensors. After 'sensor-ops' comes into being, that action is reduced to a die roll. You can come up with many more example of this.

That being said, I like the MT's idea of homeworld default skills. A PCs life before age 18 should account for something.

Have fun,
Bill

 

[Golan2072]

As I said, minimum roll-playing and maximum role-playing are the advantages of CT over later versions of Traveller. My attempts at a chargen system and WJPs attempt at the UGM (United Game Mechanic) Task System both tried to preseve that spirit while attempting to streamline the nescery "roll-playing" and add variety to both role-playing and roll-playing.

 

[Golan2072]

As I said, minimum roll-playing and maximum role-playing are the advantages of CT over later versions of Traveller. My attempts at a chargen system and WJPs attempt at the UGM (United Game Mechanic) Task System both tried to preseve that spirit while attempting to streamline the nescery "roll-playing" and add variety to both role-playing and roll-playing.

 

[Supplement Four]

That being said, I like the MT's idea of homeworld default skills. A PCs life before age 18 should account for something.

Have fun,
Bill [/QB]

Absolutely. But, a GM can run with that too--

Check out what I did in my game, extending chargen to include a wide variety of background skills (skills before the character was 18).

And, during character generation, I give a character a choice of rolling on a "Fifth Table", which are skills provided by that character's homeworld instead of his career.

Check it out here--

http://www.travellerrpg.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=44;t=000270

 

[Supplement Four]

That being said, I like the MT's idea of homeworld default skills. A PCs life before age 18 should account for something.

Have fun,
Bill [/QB]

Absolutely. But, a GM can run with that too--

Check out what I did in my game, extending chargen to include a wide variety of background skills (skills before the character was 18).

And, during character generation, I give a character a choice of rolling on a "Fifth Table", which are skills provided by that character's homeworld instead of his career.

Check it out here--

http://www.travellerrpg.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=44;t=000270