Desirable Rules Sets

[BillDowns]

I am looking for advice on purchasing one set of rules. I am only going to get one - not all of them - and Mongoose & T5 are out of the running until something is actually available.

What I am interested in are these aspects:
Skills
Star System generation
Ship Construction

So, what is the consensus on
MT
TNE
T4
T20

Thanks

 

[pendragonman]

Since you rule out CT, I prefer the TNE ruleset.

System generation is not much different than CT (at least either prior to collapse OR post collapse. Trnasition between prior to post can be a bit challenging).

Ship design is more technical, but I like that.

Character generation is straight forward.

 

[BillDowns]

Forgot to Mention

I have CT....Sorry about forgetting to mention that

 

[pendragonman]

I prefer, over all of the others out so far, CT

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Worldgen is pretty much identical across CT/MT/TNE.

By skills I assume you mean chargen & task system? MT wins hands down, with TNE second.

T4 FF&S2 shipgen is best, but you need the spreadsheet. TNE FF&S is easier to understand. MT is easier.

 

[Jeffr0]

CT is the best, hands down.

I say ignore all the rest and consolidate your CT collection with FFE books and CD's.

 

[robject]

I prefer, over all of the others out so far, CT

Seconded. I suppose T20 would be my second, though I suspect it's close enough to CT not to fundamentally change anything about YTU.

 

[Agemegos]

MT
TNE
T4
T20

I take it that you are not interested in GURPS Traveller?

 

[jrmapes]

Like was said expand your CT with the CD-ROM purchase and go with that. Easiest and most flexible system to run.

IF you insist on another version then it becomes hard to recommend something.

T20 is good, if you like D20, it also allows you to swap between CT and T20 fairly easily.

MT is also good but there is a ton of mistakes so you need to the errata which has more pages than the MT box set originally came with in original rules.

T4 is even worse IMO to try to use since you have to either houserule all the flubs or find fixes.

TNE is ok rules wise - if you like crunch. Setting wise, if you prefer the earlier years 1105-1112 then you end up tossing out huge chunks of the books and using your Classic setting books. If you don't like the TNE setting with the virus stuff and the Imperium hanging on by the skin of it's teeth, but you like the rules then there is the 1248 option and buying the Comstar Games supplements (which I would look at regardless of edition you choose - they are darn good.).

But I would still go with Classic for the simple reason the rules make the game so easy to run and play and it's hard to beat the $35 price tag to get all the GDW material in one place. Not to mention that there is little errata required but tons of options with the inclusion of the Magazines and Fanzines (many still available on the web).


Jerry

 

[aramis]

MT: Characters generally CT-ish in skill levels; more levels per term, but more skills to spread them out over for non-gunbunny characters. Broader weapons skills. You can keep using HG with the MT combat system, or you can use the MT design system. LOADS of errata issues, but other than that, a solid game engine. It doesn't always feel the same as CT, and is very much "CT hybridized with Striker". But it is the most directly character compatible. Many rules poorly worded, but once understood, shines; few take the time to get to understand them.

TNE: characters convertible (sort of)... but not compatible. Combat sytem's major flaws are in damage taking. Damage system results in no lethality threat from handguns... solved often by switching to D10's for damage, rather than keeping d6's. Design system more detailed than MT, and no longer HG compatible, using neither the same ratios nor the same reuslt ratings. Really, it's Twilight2000 OTU...

T20: Characters totally incompatible with all other editions. Ship design is a variant of HG, and very close to HG. HG derivative vehicle design system, too. T&C variant of Bk2. System generation slightly revised from the CT/MT/TNE mode.

My choices of preference are MT-T20 Hybrid, MT, WODTrav, T20, CT, TNE, T4

 

[R_Chance]

MegaTraveller. There are consolidated rules errata available to take care of some issues. Ship design is more complex (good or bad depending how much you enjoy that -- I do) but the task (skill) resolution system is comprehensive and quite good. Once you get used to the task resolution system it works quite well, almost second nature. There are some MT supplements from DGP that are great too -- namely the Starship Operators Manual and the Worldbuilder's Handbook. The various alien supplements for MT were even better IMO than the excellent ones for CT. I skipped the whole MT OTU storyline about the assassination of Strephon btw (didn't really hold together for me -- just an exercise in wiping the slate clean) but I adapted the mechanics enthusiastically.

CT is good too, but I welcomed the task resolution system (originally released in the Traveller's Digest magazine prior to MT IIRC). The constant need for "winging it" or coming up with house rules / rolls for skills was a bit much. The task resolution system could be adopted to CT fairly easily.

I'm not a fan of TNE, and for me T4 was just an exercise in collecting bookloads of material that seemed really familiar... I have picked up some GURPS Traveller, but never used it so I can't comment on those rules...

Everything else (T5, MGT) is just over the horizon and probably involves a lot of familiar material and repetition of Traveller themes. Of course, having said that they could also be the perfect rules set with everything nicely gift rapped and perfected...

 

[Supplement Four]

CT is the best, hands down.

I say ignore all the rest and consolidate your CT collection with FFE books and CD's.

Jeffr0 speaks truth.

 

[Ishmael]

MT is best and easiest to houserule
FFS for vehicles/ships
T4..Pocket Empires!

 

[sfchbryan]

I'd go with MT, after all it is just CT with a task system, but everything is all in one place.

Skills - With cascades, char gen it doesn't matter if you use basic or advanced char gen; Any character gets a reasonable set of skills.

Star System Generation - Star sizes are hosed, but fixed in the errata.

Ship construction - Errata mandatory. However, once it is integrated, ships are real easy to design & a certificate in Excel is not required.

The rebellion milleu is optional, I certainly don't use it. From what I have seen, MT is the closest I have seen to a complete set of rules. And because of the errata issue, the most work on corrections for any of the rules sets has been done on the MT set.

I will grant that Don McKinney's errata is a requirement.

Note: His webpage went poof when winterwar switched servers, but he should have that fixed in the next few days. I have already sent him a note. But if I don't hear from him, PM me & I'll send you the latest version (2.14) of the errata.

 

[BillDowns]

Thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions....I think I will just just get LBB6, 7, and 8, and then get T20 just for giggles.

I may get Mongoose and/or T5 whenever they appear, but will most likely wait to hear what you more adventurous guys think