T5 Only: Do you like T5?

[Timerover51]

The father of my daughter's boy friend is an avid gamer and I discovered in talking with him today that he got a copy of Traveller 5 on Kickstarter, and is willing to loan me the hard copy to look over during the Christmas break. I might have to change my vote after going over it. It should be interesting to go over it.

 

[77topaz]

The father of my daughter's boy friend is an avid gamer and I discovered in talking with him today that he got a copy of Traveller 5 on Kickstarter, and is willing to loan me the hard copy to look over during the Christmas break. I might have to change my vote after going over it. It should be interesting to go over it.

I don't think it is even possible to change one's vote in these polls... :/

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

There are nuggets of absolute pure fun within Traveller5, but you have to do some digging to get at them. I would not recommend the game for new Players, but I do recommend it to people who have been playng Traveller since Classic.

 

[Timerover51]

A friend loaned me a hard copy of Traveller 5 today, and my initial reaction is that it is not for a beginning gamer.

 

[Timerover51]

Following up on my prior comment about T5 not being a game for beginners, I think what would be useful is something like a starter edition or game for T5, using a basic character set, pre-built ships with maybe some customizing options, basic world creation rules, and a basic adventure, similar to say Mission on Mithril or Shadows. Clearly show in the starter version that there is a lot more in the full version, but have something that would ease new players into the game.

Right now, the rules are a bit of an information overload.

 

[Marchand]

It's interesting that the middle options hold a majority (at the moment) in the context of the forum version-warring here and elsewhere. Inevitable that those with strongest views will shout loudest, I suppose.

I'm disappointed overall, but I can't shake the feeling I should partly be disappointed with myself for not putting in the work others have done to find the pearls in T5. But other calls on my time rule that out.

 

[aramis]

I don't think it is even possible to change one's vote in these polls... :/

The admins have the ability to reset the poll...

 

[Timerover51]

It's interesting that the middle options hold a majority (at the moment) in the context of the forum version-warring here and elsewhere. Inevitable that those with strongest views will shout loudest, I suppose.

I'm disappointed overall, but I can't shake the feeling I should partly be disappointed with myself for not putting in the work others have done to find the pearls in T5. But other calls on my time rule that out.

I borrowed the copy to see what it had it in and if it was worth the price of purchasing it. There are some interesting ideas in it, but I do not plan on buying it. I am picking up copies of the older versions online for use instead.

 

[Supplement Four]

It's interesting that the middle options hold a majority (at the moment) in the context of the forum version-warring here and elsewhere. Inevitable that those with strongest views will shout loudest, I suppose.

I'm disappointed overall, but I can't shake the feeling I should partly be disappointed with myself for not putting in the work others have done to find the pearls in T5. But other calls on my time rule that out.

I've wondered if Marc really thought the game would be embraced by the Traveller community. As you cite, the poll numbers on this main Traveller forum are not that promising for a new Traveller game. So far, out of almost a hundred Traveller fans, barely a fifth of them have embraced T5. I'm curious if he really didn't "hear" the dissenting opinions we've heard were voiced during the playtesting and beta.

I think the sales for the Core rulebook sold like flapjacks on the Kickstarter. I'm curious to see how it does with a second book in the T5 line.

 

[aramis]

It's interesting that the middle options hold a majority (at the moment) in the context of the forum version-warring here and elsewhere. Inevitable that those with strongest views will shout loudest, I suppose.

I'm disappointed overall, but I can't shake the feeling I should partly be disappointed with myself for not putting in the work others have done to find the pearls in T5. But other calls on my time rule that out.

A good number of games simply die when a "bad" edition comes out - T5 has its fans as a game, tho' I don't think very many like the organization, and many dislike the error load. Traveller isn't dying - if T5 were the only edition in print, it would likely look very different to the fanbase.

So, don't feel bad about not liking it. Not using it doesn't mean Traveller dies.

 

[aramis]

I've wondered if Marc really thought the game would be embraced by the Traveller community. As you cite, the poll numbers on this main Traveller forum are not that promising for a new Traveller game. So far, out of almost a hundred Traveller fans, barely a fifth of them have embraced T5. I'm curious if he really didn't "hear" the dissenting opinions we've heard were voiced during the playtesting and beta.

I think the sales for the Core rulebook sold like flapjacks on the Kickstarter. I'm curious to see how it does with a second book in the T5 line.

TNE had similar uptake rates at first, too. Locally, TNE only crested 40% of the Traveller players about 1995... promptly followed by T4.

In fact, I don't recall any edition of Traveller having much "uptake" by the existing fanbase.

Most of us stick with our first or second edition of Traveller, whichever that was. Or, we move on to hybridizing.

 

[rancke]

So, don't feel bad about not liking it. Not using it doesn't mean Traveller dies.

We can always look forward to T6 with hope and anticipation.


Hans

 

[Supplement Four]

In fact, I don't recall any edition of Traveller having much "uptake" by the existing fanbase.

I never played it, but my impression was that GURPS Trav had a strong following. Certainly, Mongoose Trav has a pretty strong fan base.

Most of us stick with our first or second edition of Traveller, whichever that was. Or, we move on to hybridizing.

I started with Starter Traveller. Then moved on to a long period with MegaTraveller. I bought TNE but never used it--didn't like the new take on the rules. Then, played Classic Traveller again for a long, long time.

Then, back to MT.

And, when T4 came out, I embraced it for a while, until I fully understood it and realized it was inferior to what I had played before.

Then, it was back to Classic Traveller, where I've remained (as you know, I've looked at T5 and am quite disappointed with it).

 

[aramis]

I never played it, but my impression was that GURPS Trav had a strong following. Certainly, Mongoose Trav has a pretty strong fan base.

Most of whom were not fans of other editions.

Also note: GURPS Traveller had a fanbase before SJG had a license to do it. THere was a pretty decent GURPS adaptation in about 1994.

 

[Vladika]

We can always look forward to T6 with hope and anticipation.


Hans

Traveller is a lot like Windows, we keep paying for it's development but it never gets there. What we do get are a lot of "new functions" that don't run on earlier versions. So, all that MTU/YTU stuff, so lovingly and painstakingly written, doesn't play on the new version. Now I have confused myself; am I talking about Windows x.y or Traveller y.x:devil:

Both CT and Windows 95 look pretty good to me.

One of many good things about CT is that I can use it forever. Windows 95/98 is another story.

 

[thalassogen]

We can always look forward to T6 with hope and anticipation.

Rules-wise original Traveller is dead for me; if T5 cannot fix it within 2014, no version will, especially as T6 will be around in 2025 (?) if one looks at the T5 development cycle. I'll stick to FATE and GURPS to do my travelling.

Setting material-wise, though, I am looking forward to upcoming T5 books hoping for new original material.

 

[Marchand]

We can always look forward to T6 with hope and anticipation.


Hans

I've got some notes sitting on my hard drive... Don't we all, probably!

 

[Ref00000]

A good number of games simply die when a "bad" edition comes out - T5 has its fans as a game, tho' I don't think very many like the organization, and many dislike the error load. Traveller isn't dying - if T5 were the only edition in print, it would likely look very different to the fanbase.

So, don't feel bad about not liking it. Not using it doesn't mean Traveller dies.

has there been a poll about "most common rules-set in current use"?
as in; not "which do you like"?
but;
"are you actively involved in a game? and if 'yes', what rules are you using?

Just conciously noticed the thread-poll asking exactly this question. maybe that's what brought this on.
mod-gods feel free to delete this foolishness.
sorry, mah bad.

 

[Baron]

I'm not so sure how helpful that is. I have very limited time for gaming these days. When I can work a Traveller game into the mix, it's Classic. If that only happens once every year or two, and the poll comes out while I'm playing Runequest, then the poll isn't reflecting an 'active' Classic Traveller group.

 

[aramis]

has there been a poll about "most common rules-set in current use"?
as in; not "which do you like"?
but;
"are you actively involved in a game? and if 'yes', what rules are you using?

Just conciously noticed the thread-poll asking exactly this question. maybe that's what brought this on.
mod-gods feel free to delete this foolishness.
sorry, mah bad.

Not recently.