Data Forms

[reefedjib]

I am getting reacquainted with Classic Traveler. I used to play as a teenager. I looked through Books 1 and 2 and saw TAS Form 2 and TAS Form 3. I am going to get some printed out. Is there a TAS Form 1? How about other useful forms?

TIA,
Rob

 

[kafka47]

Forms, like character sheets, are depends upon your mode of play. If you or your players can read a UPP and construct elaborate backgrounds and stories to match what they see...then you don't even need character sheets. This is the ultimate in free form Gygaxian Role Playing. Now, if you have a role for an collaborative narrative then you will need to pick up the CT Forms & Charts book and use most of them to add flavour. Most of us are in between...for me I would rather give the minimal details on a character sheet and giving the player a chance to add some his own backstory (if I am using pregens - which seems to be the norm in Toronto) but use lots of visual props.

 

[reefedjib]

Ok, I just grabbed the Forms and Charts book. Thanks for that. The thing is I have been a long time D&D player and I used to play a lot of Traveler (25 years ago!). I agree that a middle ground exists between free-form and all forms and that is how I used to play. We did have pretty expansive character sheets to keep track of all the skills and loot.

My nephew is 6 and I want to start gaming with him - I gave him a big bag 'o dice for his birthday - so since he is new and just learning to read I thought some of the prebuilt forms was the way to go with him.

 

[kafka47]

Ok, I just grabbed the Forms and Charts book. Thanks for that. The thing is I have been a long time D&D player and I used to play a lot of Traveler (25 years ago!). I agree that a middle ground exists between free-form and all forms and that is how I used to play. We did have pretty expansive character sheets to keep track of all the skills and loot.

My nephew is 6 and I want to start gaming with him - I gave him a big bag 'o dice for his birthday - so since he is new and just learning to read I thought some of the prebuilt forms was the way to go with him.

Maybe...the best gift that you can do is sit him down with a few (no more than 2 others) of his close friends and "play" Traveller with them.

However, I have to warn you 6yrs old kids are difficult players. Make it cinematic and understand they get more joy from rolling the dice than actually thinking what they should do next... Also make the characters fun use their first name...then they can play one additional character...what often works for me (at least) is to have one of them a talking dog/cat. Kids really get a kick of a geneered sidekick that communicates with them.