Combat Deaths in Traveller combat

[Bob Weaver]

I'm just curious. How often does combat during a Traveller game session result in the death of a PC? It is generally agreed that Traveller combat rules as written can be quite lethal. But does it turn out that way in games? I'm mostly running games for my sons right now, and I feel I need to decide how possible it is that one of their PCs will get killed. I encourage role-playing and stealth over fighting, but combat is part of the game. Should I save their characters from death by die roll? They do not play daredevils, and I won't kill the PCs to punish them for bad role-play. Sometimes the dice are just against them. Suggestions?

Best regards,

Bob W.

 

[Chuck Anumia]

Suggestion

I allow much more role play lenience over bad rolls. If they can give me a plausible explanation of how they could turn, twist or otherwise avoid the deadly outcome I would allow it.

That being said, a hit is a hit, penetration hurts and damage is real.
A shot to the head (without a helmet) is nearly always fatal.
Falling 20 meters is nearly always fatal.
In each case I would allow an exceptional feat roll and then go with the results.

 

[mike wightman]

Very early on make sure they have access to a high TL medikit that can stabilise them in the event they are killed and it gives you the option of then using high TL medical magic to repair their mostly dead characters,

 

[CosmicGamer]

I try not to have situations where a single roll = death. It would usually require multiple choices and rolls so that a single unlucky dice roll doesn't kill off a character.



A GM that constantly fudges the dice or otherwise allows death to be cheated will have a game with characters constantly pushing the envelope and doing super heroic things as players will learn that the rewards outweigh the risk. Nothing wrong with this if that is the style of game a group wishes.



One of the concepts that often is not played out in games is surrendering or choosing to turn back and not proceed with the dangerous task that has been set before them.

Participating in a dangerous task? GM needs to explain the danger clearly and allow for the characters to choose not to take such action. Climb a cliff without any skill or proper safety gear? Splat could very well = dead. Is the character that stupid or desperate? If so...

You've been seriously injured and the opponent has no damage? Fight to the death or surrender - your choice.

Overwhelming forces or a mismatch in weapons vs armor. Heroically fight and maybe you'll get lucky, but likely you'll die. Don't like your chances - surrender or flee.

 

[flykiller]

How often does combat during a Traveller game session result in the death of a PC?

heh. how often does ANYTHING result in the death of a pc? the answer is very seldom.

there are several reasons for this. one, pc groups frequently are very thin on necessary skills, and the loss of any one pc usually renders the group unviable. (in d&d one might say "you meet a new character on the trail" but this doesn't work in space ....) two, the death of a pc means lots of extra work for the player and referee, and few want to put up with it. but three, the single biggest reason for a lack of pc deaths is the large emotional investment in the pc made by the player. players are heartbroken and angry when "the ref kills off my character!" I've run games where I have announced in detail beforehand that casualties will be very high, and then in game have made it clear that what a pc was doing was dangerous, but when that pc gets themselves killed the player gets mad and stalks off never to be heard from again.

 

[Limburger59]

As one who has been rebuked for killing my son's character (although it was a very heroic death reminiscence of Davy Crockett's last stand at the Alamo) I would fudge just a little.

A character can be rendered unconscious, to later wake up in a prison's hospital ward minus a hand. You know the character's is 777777; well the damage roll is fudged to 14 and the child has been spanked.

 

[Supplement Four]

It is generally agreed that Traveller combat rules as written can be quite lethal.

This is a bit of a misnomer. A CT character in combat is most likely to be knocked unconscious with a Minor Wound, not killed. The character is fully healed in half an hour provided he is attended by another character with Medic-1 skill (otherwise, it takes three days to become fully healed).

Think about it.

Average character is: 777777

Average gun damage is: 3D (a roll of 3, 3, 4). That's 10 points, on average.

Using this first blood rule, this 10 points of damage will take one stat to zero and reduce one more by 3 points.





The key to CT combat is to not get hit. Use Evade when you move (for the Evade bonus), and move from cover to cover (for the Cover bonus). And, always wear armor, if you can (the best way to avoid damage).

 

[Piper]

My characters were typically doddering geezers who, after failing several aging rolls, had to lean their cane against the wall in order to reload their gauss rifle.

I'm not so sure that "average" is the same as "typical".

 

[Bob Weaver]

This is a bit of a misnomer. A CT character in combat is most likely to be knocked unconscious with a Minor Wound, not killed. The character is fully healed in half an hour provided he is attended by another character with Medic-1 skill (otherwise, it takes three days to become fully healed).

Think about it.

Average character is: 777777

Average gun damage is: 3D (a roll of 3, 3, 4). That's 10 points, on average.

Using this first blood rule, this 10 points of damage will take one stat to zero and reduce one more by 3 points.


The key to CT combat is to not get hit. Use Evade when you move (for the Evade bonus), and move from cover to cover (for the Cover bonus). And, always wear armor, if you can (the best way to avoid damage).

S4, your point is well made, as always. I think that I did not express my question well enough, disguising it with my explanation of why I was asking. What I want to know is how many PCs have died during a game session, in your experience. From the answers so far, I get the idea that it does not happen that often, probably for the reasons you give above.

Cheers,
Bob W.

 

[Dagrill]

I'm just curious. How often does combat during a Traveller game session result in the death of a PC? It is generally agreed that Traveller combat rules as written can be quite lethal. But does it turn out that way in games? I'm mostly running games for my sons right now, and I feel I need to decide how possible it is that one of their PCs will get killed. I encourage role-playing and stealth over fighting, but combat is part of the game. Should I save their characters from death by die roll? They do not play daredevils, and I won't kill the PCs to punish them for bad role-play. Sometimes the dice are just against them. Suggestions?
Bob W.

Averaging 5 characters per session and a death about every 5 sessions, gives 0.04 per session, wounded a lot higher not quite 1 per per session.

Regards

David

 

[Supplement Four]

S4, your point is well made, as always. I think that I did not express my question well enough, disguising it with my explanation of why I was asking.

I saw your question, Bob. I was just trying to correct one portion of it.

What I want to know is how many PCs have died during a game session, in your experience. From the answers so far, I get the idea that it does not happen that often, probably for the reasons you give above.

Yes, I've had very few CT character deaths in my games. Sure, they've happened, from time to time, but, in my experience, a character death (using rules as written) is pretty rare.

The big, 7-year Traveller marathon campaign I ran through most of the 90's with my friends--I don't remember any major character deaths.

Well, we did have one suicide. But, that was roleplayed and deliberate. A player was moving and couldn't be part of the game anymore, and that's how he decided to go out. Pistol to the head. So, I really don't count that one.

I think combat in CT is pretty balanced. It's scary enough to keep players on their toes (because being knocked unconscious for 10 min take you out of the fight--it's just not as bad as dying), yet the average mechanics, as I've shown, do not kill characters that often.





Ironically, my major gripe with CT combat is how often characters are knocked unconscious. It stretches believably. This is why I came up with the Stun Rule that you'll see in my sig.