Current Status of T5

[William]

After the discussions of late here, and at JTAS as well, I thought I'd ask Marc what the current situation really is. Here are my handfull of questions and his answers. If anyone cares to repost this to the TML, be my guest.

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1) What is the current status of the draft of the T5 rule set?

T5 is a maturing concept for the next/authoritative edition of Traveller. It is intended to be well cone and playable, and to address the needs which have arisen over the past 20 years to make an RPG playable, interesting, and fun.
(That's a stock statement, I know).

I am currently working on a draft, and specializing on the first third... Characters and associated material.

2) Do you have any idea or hope for when it might be finished?

I would like to bring this portion of the system to an alpha draft for distribution by late this year.

3) Are there any other sections that could be posted at
http://www.traveller5.com for play test and comment?

You know, I have had play test files out there for several years, and I can count the number of specific comments I have receievd on the fingers of one hand. I am prepared to post this Character draft, but I am thinking of a registration / restricted access system that will ensure some sort of
feedback response. Then again, I don't want 10,000 email responses; it would overwhelm me. I may have to set up someone to vette the responses and show me the basic distilled feedback.

4) Is there a possibility of a PDF or Print On Demand hardcover edition when it is ready for publication?

If "it" is T5 final, I expect it will be produced in a Hardcover print edition. I have had conversations with Hunter about a PDF, and it is under consideration.

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There you have it, about as official as it gets.

William

 

[robject]

Every month someone asks about the status of T5. I think it's time for, if not an update, at least a heartbeat, so here it is.


I recently heard a rumor that Marc has updated playtest material which is not publicly available. I asked Marc if this is true.

This rumor is false. While Marc is revising the playest material (mainly the chargen stuff), he has not finished an update yet.

This means if you've been delaying looking at the playtest material because it's several months old, delay no further: your input on the currently available material is still valid and useful!


On the other hand, Marc's unofficial schedule is to release an alpha at the end of this month, so if you want to try some playtesting, now's a good time.

 

[Granpafishy]

Doews he have a specific group that is getting the Alpha, or will it be posted like the current playtest?

 

[Ganidirsii O'Flynn]

***cough-cough**
A-hem. ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!!


I would LOVE to playtest T5, Rob. Lemme know the status on that if you would. I'm registered on your T5 board.

 

[kafka47]

Let me guess, MWM promised an April 1st release date...

Now wouldn't that be a gas, if that happened to be true this year...

 

[robject]

Heh heh... April 1st... gads, that would drive me mad.

Actually, I have no news on how he plans on releasing the alpha. I had assumed it would just be a refresh of the playtest material, but you've got me thinking... he may want some sort of "gentleman's agreement" that we'll try it out within a certain timeframe -- what do you think?

He also mentioned getting someone/s to 'vet' the responses and funnel the compiled opinions back to him.

Regardless of what he decides to do, I have some idea as to who he might want to have helping him, and I'm certainly not that person. I'm just a grognard fanboy who occasionally pesters him (and people on COTI).

 

[Granpafishy]

Well, if he needs a group, I would like to put my group in the pot for drawing. The game I have been running is T4 with the T5 Task system, and the group is haveing a good time with it. They like the feel. If he hasn't changed the setup (which I don't think he would), my group would not have any difficulties playtesting it. This group has also done palytest for Battletech/Mech Warrior, so they understand the 'Gentleman's Agreement' that might be needed. If you have Marc's ear (figurtively, not literly) I would be very appreaciative if you relayed this to him.

Tad Hastings

 

[robject]

Hi Tad,

I do not have Marc's ear, but I'm encouraged to know that there's a group using the T5 material. I've wanted to use it in a campaign for many months now, but we're currently running a RuneQuest adventure, and at the rate we're going it'll be a long time before we can swap back to Traveller. Don't get me wrong, RQ is okay, and the referee has his material down to a fine art, but it's just not the same.

Rob

 

[robject]

I don't suppose you and Gandiriisi know each other? I see you're both from WA.

 

[Granpafishy]

Originally posted by robject:
I don't suppose you and Gandiriisi know each other? I see you're both from WA.

Unfortunately, no. I believe he's in the southern sound area with Father Fletch aound Tacoma.

Youn mentioned you might now who Marc might have tagged, do you think you could get the information to him then?

 

[robject]

Actually, my vote would be for the person in charge of downport.com, at least for some of the grunt work. If I recall, I think they have some common ground or attitudes about Traveller. But that doesn't mean Marc's elisted him to do anything official. I'm just saying, he's a candidate in my opinion.

 

[robject]

By the way, the downport guy is the same guy who created the T5 website. That makes sense, eh?

 

[Granpafishy]

If he and Marc, are on the same wavelength about T5, then it makes perfect sense.

 

[bobologic]

i went to the t5 web site, and what they showed looked ok, but if they were going to publish it, they would have already. it looks like to me, it had a good start but they ran out of gas(motivation), and they pressed on to more interesting (profitable) projects. too bad, i might have even bought a copy (unless it $50+)

 

[Granpafishy]

He's just taking his time, to get it right, and bring in capital with the reprints.

 

[kafka47]

Colin (Swordy) and Marc may be on the same wavelength but as far as I know Swordy is stuck in Maine, save for the occasional job offer, outside of the state.

If you, you need someone who can more quicker response rate, send personal message plus summons from the board for Hunter. It seems like Herr Hunter has at least the Red phone to Marc but can only in emergencies.

 

[robject]

Marc is working on it, but it's not his top priority; he has a lot of balls to juggle. After all, the reprints are making money right now; T5 might not make any money and might have higher production cost.