Average Number of Terms?

[McPerth]

I've never counted college terms towards retirement. It changes the modes for service to 2 and 5 terms of service when college is expected.

In CT/MT, neither as player nor as referee, I've never had players attending the college (I had to the Naval/military/merchant accademies), nor many ones that stayed in career long enough to earn pension, so I've never had the problem.

For those attending an Academy, I counted the term for mustering out, as it was not until MgT that I read they don't.

 

[Peter Newman]

I find that as I get older I tend to have my characters serve more terms.

When I was 18 I would not have been able to role-play a 42 year old character very effectively and so I avoided the "Naval Academy + 5 terms in the Navy = retired officer with a pension" character. Now that I'm over 42 I find that concept much easier to play.

 

[madmike]

Four terms is about the sweet spot for our group. Funnily enough it was the same back in the 80's when we played as well.

Humans naturally live longer in higher tech level societies (at least in my campaigns) so mid to late 40's is a prime of life type age for adventurers.

 

[Merxiless]

It depends for me on what setting I am going for.

Some Characters, I need a combat vet with 19 years in, on his final mission, leading some guy with 2 tours and 1 woman with 1.

Some games, I let whoever go with however many terms.

 

[Riik O'Shae]

The die roll determines the length of service.

I've had PC's that only had one term and i've had PC's that had 6 terms. I've also had PC's that were somewhere in between.

Riik

 

[SanDragon]

I prefer to shoot for retirement, so...

Five terms?

Currently have a character that went 19 terms...

 

[McPerth]

Currently have a character that went 19 terms...

94 years? I hope your doctor is a good gerontologist :devil:...

 

[SanDragon]

One more skill in Medical and I could have been my own doctor.

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/images/4908/1_DroyneTASForm2.jpg

 

[nats]

I treat it as a role playing exercise so if a character loses his job before 30 I will probably enlist somewhere else but if its after around 30 I will usually leave the chargen. Some characters just are rubbish and will usually end up being young because there is little point taking them on too far, whilst others are great from early on and end up being older because I want to see them through to retirement.

Certainly whereas I used to think 38 was old now I feel 46 is still young because I at that age still feel quite young. But I dont usually let my characters get into their 50s unless they are going to be a specific NPC. Adventurers for me are between 30 and 38 mostly, 42 at the oldest.

 

[Dagrill]

traveller terms

I see I'm in the majority with 4, in my case usually aiming for 5 and not quite making it most of the time, never terribly lucky wih the dice when I need it

regards

David

 

[Supplement Four]

It varies on what game edition is being used. If you're talking CT, I'd say 3 or 4 terms.

 

[THHeinrichT1@aol.com]

I am taking most of the time a character with 3 to 4 terms. This of course gives the character still a lot of room to develope (if he survives the campaigns that is).

 

[SpaceBadger]

When I was in college, probably 3 or 4 terms, for the skills.

Nowadays, usually more than that, not so much for the skills as that I like to play a character closer to my real age (51).

 

[Jame]

The referee of the game I'm in generally limits it to no more than 4-5 terms. I'd say that this is a good general limit, though I'd allow 1 or 2 terms also.

 

[aramis]

For those attending an Academy, I counted the term for mustering out, as it was not until MgT that I read they don't.

In the US military, Academy time only counts towards retirement for those who wash out or who attended while already on active duty as enlisted. Note that the latter are rare, but not unheard of, especially for Annapolis (USNA).

This undoubtedly colors the use of them in Traveller. Which, after all, is pretty much Yanks In Space With Nobles.

 

[robject]

It varies on what game edition is being used.

What he said. But I think 4 terms hits a sweet spot, preference wise, that is.

 

[flykiller]

my average is 4, but almost all the characters are either 3 or 5 terms - 3 to keep them young, 5 if they need to gain certain skill levels. the mode is 5.

 

[mike wightman]

I've noticed a change over time.

Thirty five years ago we usually went not higher than 4 terms - who wants to play old folk?

Now it is fun to generate a seven term veteran who is still younger then most of the players around the table...

 

[aramis]

I've noticed a change over time.

Thirty five years ago we usually went not higher than 4 terms - who wants to play old folk?

Now it is fun to generate a seven term veteran who is still younger then most of the players around the table...

In my teens and 20's, most of us shot for retirement. Now we play younger characters.

 

[Ulsyus]

...This undoubtedly colors the use of them in Traveller. Which, after all, is pretty much Yanks In Space With Nobles.

Not in everyone's games. Sylean traditions don't necessarily have to be drawn just from one single old Terran source!

In my teens and 20's, most of us shot for retirement. Now we play younger characters.

People want what they haven't got?