An MGT That Might Be Worth Buying

[tbeard1999]

I'm reviewing a draft of the upcoming MGT Central Supply Catalogue. If my initial impressions hold, this could be the best supplement for MGT I've ever seen and the first MGT supplement that is definitely worth a look from CT players.

I've mentioned it in the MGT forum, but I wanted to explain to CT players why I think it's good for CT. In a word, stuff. It's literally filled with new weapons (and of course some non-weapon stuff that I suppose some other folks might like ). In addition, it's got tons of illustrations of the gear, especially weapons.

Generally, I don't much care about artwork. However, with gear, I think it's a very good thing, especially for combat gear. As RPGs have almost completely separated from their wargaming roots, the percentage of players who are familiar with weaponry terminology has declined dramatically. Illustrations help them. And while equipment guides are popular RPG supplements, I find that they either (a) lack illustrations, which makes the supplement very dry to read, or (b) are lavishly illustrated but with a relatively small amount of gear. This supplement seems to hit a sweet spot for me -- lots of gear *and* lots of illustrations. Of course, many of the illustrations in the draft copy are sketches, but there's enough finished artwork to show that it's gonna be nice. Heck, even the preliminary sketches are nice. At the very least, you can open the catalogue and say "that is what the TL10 Rifle looks like".

Note that this supplement appears to me to be much different from the T4 CSC (far more weapons, and somewhat different ones than the Emperor's Arsenal).

At some point -- after it comes out at least -- I'll probably post a CT conversion guide for the weaponry in this supplement.

 

[mike wightman]

It'll be a very welcome addition to my collection then.

The pdf version (when it eventually comes out) will be even more useful.

 

[Supplement Four]

At some point -- after it comes out at least -- I'll probably post a CT conversion guide for the weaponry in this supplement.

It might be the first good supplement for MGT, but I don't see it being a good CT buy unless there are CT stats: Advantaged Stat; DisAdvantaged Stat; Range Matrix; Armor Matrix.

Without that, it will be like taking an equipment book from just about any game and using it in CT. The GM still needs to figure the stats--which is a lot of work.

 

[tbeard1999]

It might be the first good supplement for MGT, but I don't see it being a good CT buy unless there are CT stats: Advantaged Stat; DisAdvantaged Stat; Range Matrix; Armor Matrix.

Without that, it will be like taking an equipment book from just about any game and using it in CT. The GM still needs to figure the stats--which is a lot of work.

Well, I do think it's worth a look. The weapon illustrations are useful IMHO and highly evocative -- much like the weapon illustrations in 2300 AD, only better in many cases. The flavor text is pretty good as well. And as noted, I'll probably post CT stats (and Striker stats) for the weapons at some point.

 

[JustinInOz]

Weapons

G'Day Ty,

Your statement about gamers not recognising their weapons gave me a chuckle.

I played Phoenix Command for a while ages ago. One of the things that they certainly did have was heaps of illustrations for their weapons. I can still recognise a Kalashnikov from and Armalite from a Heckler un Koch from a Galil from a Fabrique Nacional. There are few weapons that look as sweet or threatening as a Franchi SPAS-12.

When I travelled through Central America in 2002, it was pretty easy to see which countries had been on what side of conflicts. The security forces we supplied with weapons left over from the 1990's. The route traced out a map between Armalite and Kalashnikov.

I'll keep and eye out for it too. As long the stats are consistent, conversion is never that much of a hassle.

Justin.

 

[ShapeShifter]

As RPGs have almost completely separated from their wargaming roots, the percentage of players who are familiar with weaponry terminology has declined dramatically.

Deplorable, but true. Not only weapon terms, but tactics, strategy, army orgs, etc. My RPG experience has been immeasurably enhanced by my study of military history and involvement in historical miniatures wargaming.

A MGP book solely a catalogue of "stuff" I am chary of, in light of MGP's lackluster, poorly-reviewed Tito's Trading Post for the Conan RPG line.

 

[tbeard1999]

Deplorable, but true. Not only weapon terms, but tactics, strategy, army orgs, etc. My RPG experience has been immeasurably enhanced by my study of military history and involvement in historical miniatures wargaming.

A MGP book solely a catalogue of "stuff" I am chary of, in light of MGP's lackluster, poorly-reviewed Tito's Trading Post for the Conan RPG line.

I haven't seen that supplement. But I am a fanatical miniature wargamer and I doubt anyone could seriously accuse me of being a Mongoose apologist

The supplement hits a real sweet spot for me and I think that it could be very useful to players of other versions of Traveller as well.