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Dumb Questions.

J

Jorendell

SOC-5
Now I remember what it feels like to be a newbie.

I'm an old Cyberpunker that is moving on to greener pastures. I dig the d20 system and am looking for a serious Sci-Fi role-playing game with wide range potential.
I always loved the Battlemech universe but the war gaming always put me off.
SWRPG d20 has it's moments but players are turned off from it and I am underwhelmed.
I love my old Cyberpunk but now I'm a d20 snob and also want to play on a more universal scale.
Now, my question is about Traveller d20. Is it choice? Compared to what?
I was reading the Sci-Fi game comparison thread but unfortunately I feel like you guys are speaking Klingon!
The FFE # references are volume numbers I'm guessing but:
2300AD
t2k
CT
T4
???
Help me out guys. I'm flopping around like a fish newbie and it makes my inflated ego feel threatened
smile.gif



------------------
"no sir...just ants so far..."
 
Nah, that's not a dumb question, frankly I don't blame you for being a bit at a loss! Here are the ones you asked about:

2300AD a science fiction game set in the near future produced by Game Designers Workshop (GDW)

T2K: Twilight2000, a scifi rpg set after then end of World War III, also produced by GDW.

CT: Classic Traveller. The first version of Traveller produced by GDW back in 1977.

T4: Marc Miller's Traveller. The fourth version of Traveller, produced by Imperium Games.

Some others

MT: Mega Traveller. The second version of Traveller, produced by GDW

TNE: The New Era. The third version of Traveller, produced by GDW.

GT: GURPS Traveller

T5: The *next* version of Traveller being worked on by Marc Miller, the original creator of the game.

T20: The soon to be released d20 version of Traveller.


That help any?
wink.gif


Hunter

[This message has been edited by hunter (edited 02 May 2002).]
 
Woo hoo! You're the man!

So the d20 Traveller isn't out yet? Crap.
I've been reading the boards and the level of intricacy that these rules seem to cover is startling. Did the original (or other versions) Traveller have a bunch of world descriptions/ships/technologies and such.
Oh yeah...each world has it's own technology rating? How do worlds of different TRs coexist?

I think I'm having Sci-Fi hotflashes
tongue.gif


Any reviews on the T20? I looked at the book description and it looks pretty insane. Though, in truth, a marketing man worth his salt could make underware sound that amazing.

I'm sure I'm posting on the wrong board but this will have to do until a Mod kicks me in the head.
 
Of COURSE T20 is that good. *I* wrote it. (grins).

As to getting kicked in the head by mods... that's so 1970s!

(you had to be there...)
 
Hi all,

Although I like the Traveller Basics that Far-Trader posted (on his link), I want to ask MJD if he plans to do a product timeline to help anyone like me (and Jorendell) to get the Traveller story in the right way.
Do I make any sense ???
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jorendell:
I was reading the Sci-Fi game comparison thread but unfortunately I feel like you guys are speaking Klingon!
The FFE # references are volume numbers I'm guessing but:
2300AD
t2k
CT
T4
???
Help me out guys. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The FFE# are different from the products you listed (and the ones Hunter defined). FFE stands for Far Future Enterprises, and the FFE#'s are recent reprints of the original Traveller materials as compilations of the Little Black Books (LLB - the original format of the Traveller products) - they are available at your favorite local game shop (FLGS - yet another board abbreviation). They cost a bit, but being the original material, can help give you a feel for the setting. Also, you can buy them NOW to feed that Sci-Fi rush and have plenty to digest while we all wait with baited breath for T20.

Hope this helps.

------------------
Never Trust a Smiling DM.
 
You guys are the best!

Are the FFE books d20 compatible? Or are they pure info books without game mechanics? Do you think that the Star Wars guide to the universe books would fit in with the Traveller theme?

I could just go to the gaming store and look but I don't think I've seen a lot of Traveller paraphernalia in my game book window-shopping. Do you guys generally have trouble finding source books and such? Of course, with a d20 revamp they'll prolly be much easier to get ahold of.

By the by, thanks for the info link. Looks like I'm getting in over my head...woo hoo.

You catz are going to get so tired of my ranting. I would like to submit an apology in advance.

------------------
"no sir...just ants so far..."
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jorendell:
You guys are the best!

Are the FFE books d20 compatible? Or are they pure info books without game mechanics? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The FFE books are reprints of the original "Classic Traveller" books from the late 70's early 80's. FFE001 The Books is mostly just game mechanics with very little explicit setting info. FFE002 The Supplements, FFE003 The Adventures, and FFE004 The Short Adventures contain lots of setting information as well as some rule expansions. FFE005 is a compilation of rules to wargames set in the Traveller universe most of which offer allternative rules for combat resolution (both starship and individual combat)

Available soon (unless our hope cheats us) are FFE006 and FFE007 which contain reprints of the Journal of the Travellers Aid Society (JTAS) a quarterly magazine with rules, setting, and adventure material.

None of this material is particularly compatible with D20 except in the way that any game material can be used with any rule set if your willing to make the conversion effort and that setting information is of course by definition rules nuetral.

------------------
I am increasingly of the opinion that RPGs are by the nature of their creation subjective phenomenon. due to the interaction between game designers, game masters, and game players all definitions, rules, settings, and adventures are mutable in acordance with the uncertainty principle as expounded by Heisenburg. This is of course merely my point of view.

David Shayne

[This message has been edited by DaveShayne (edited 03 May 2002).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DaveShayne:
None of this material is particularly compatible with D20 except in the way that any game material can be used with any rule set if your willing to make the conversion effort and that setting information is of course by definition rules nuetral.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Also worth pointing out that QLI's T20 support material (including the already-released TA1) will include game stats for both CT and T20, which should make converting between the two via the "compare and extrapolate" method quite a bit easier.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MJD:
Of COURSE T20 is that good. *I* wrote it. (grins).
B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You wrote what? The advertisement? (not sarcasm)

I was trying to get into the T20 boards and it says I'm not allowed. Is that a seniority thing or is it mods only? If so...what the heck for? The T20 stuff is what I'm interested in.

*pout*

Another question: is there a comprehensive collection of info out there? A book of starmaps / worlds / tech ? I'm wanting a general overview but if this product is Gurps related I know there are probably a billion or so suppliments out there and I am a poor man.
 
I wrote the T20 rulebook. Hunter wrote the rules.

What d'you mean a product timeline? I suppose the Traveller Bibliogralhy from BITS might be a good place to look of you want to know what products do what, and came out when...
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jorendell:
Another question: is there a comprehensive collection of info out there? A book of starmaps / worlds / tech ? I'm wanting a general overview but if this product is Gurps related I know there are probably a billion or so suppliments out there and I am a poor man.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

FFE002 The Supplements has starmaps for the two most frequently gamed in sectors (the Spinward Marches and the Solomani Rim) as well as setting information. FFE001 The Books has most of the technology information.

Out of print the MegaTraveller Imperial Encyclopedia has a good overview of this information as well.



------------------
I am increasingly of the opinion that RPGs are by the nature of their creation subjective phenomenon. due to the interaction between game designers, game masters, and game players all definitions, rules, settings, and adventures are mutable in acordance with the uncertainty principle as expounded by Heisenburg. This is of course merely my point of view.

David Shayne
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I was trying to get into the T20 boards and it says I'm not allowed. Is that a seniority thing or is it mods only? If so...what the heck for? The T20 stuff is what I'm interested in.[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Most of the T20 boards are for playtesters only. However, the first forum listed (T20 - Traveller for the D20 System) is open to all. Mostly just tid-bits of information and some other preview stuff to keep our appitites for the any-day-now release of the core rule book (which I am also anxiously awaiting, I played CT back in the 80's, then got interested again when I found the CT reprints on e-Bay).
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jorendell:

Another question: is there a comprehensive collection of info out there? A book of starmaps / worlds / tech ? I'm wanting a general overview but if this product is Gurps related I know there are probably a billion or so suppliments out there and I am a poor man.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gee you're braver than I thought.

The Illustrated Traveller Bibliography: http://www.pemaquidsolutions.com/bibliography/

Well it's not complete, but it does give you an idea of what to look for. My Suggestions:

Stars: Map of Traveller charted space http://maps.grandsurvey.com/map.html

One of my favorite places.

Worlds: Gurps Traveller: Rim of Fire http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/solomanirim/

Tech: Gurps Traveller: Ground Forces http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/groundforces/

If you don't mind the GURPS stuff, this has a collection of indespensable equipment, a modular vehicle design system, a whole lot of vhicles, descriptions of how the IA and IM work, a bunch of cool NPC's and the author's a nice guy too.
 
tjoneslo

You forgot The Spinward Marches, the first, and if you ask me best, official setting detailed in G:T Behind the Claw.

Seriously, though, even if your not into GURPS, go to Your Friendly Local Game Store and brown through GURPS: Traveller. It will give you a solid intro to the Traveller Universe, what the Third Imperium is all about, just how HONKIN' BIG the Imperium is and how OLD it is.

For example, hop in a starship on Earth and head off toward Capital - Home of The Moot, Emperor Stephron and the Iridium Throne. It will only take you a YEAR to get there with stops at about 40 planets along the way! And it's about another TWO YEARS to get to the Spinward Marches where we just happen to be engaged in the Fifth Frontier War with the Zhodoni Empire!

Traveller also has a detailed timeline going from about 100,000 BC to about 4000 AD and detailed write-ups on HUNDREDS of worlds. In face, between Behind the Claw and Rim of Fire, there are about 300 detailed world write-ups, each with about 2000 - 4000 years of detailed history.

Too overwhelming to jump in? No problem - snag one of the 20+ OTHER Sectors and write-up the history and world details yourself. Too much work? No problem - wait until Christmas and the T20 setting book will be out. You can learn along with the rest of us.

And what do you want to DO? Well, think about every sci-fi short story, novel or movie you've ever seen. THAT is what you can do in Traveller. Anything done in Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien, Aliens or Babalon 5 could happen somewhere in the Traveller universe. I mean, it's a UNIVERSE, for crying out loud.

That's what I love about Traveller. Your characters can be anything, go anywhere, do anything, all in the same universe. I started playing in '79 and I haven't looked back.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MJD:
What d'you mean a product timeline? I suppose the Traveller Bibliogralhy from BITS might be a good place to look of you want to know what products do what, and came out when...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry MJD but not quite. I was talking about a thing like this:

Traveller Date(s) -> Historical Event(s) -> Product(s)

I think it would be very useful.
 
I see. well, much of what you want is scattered throughout 25 years of puboiactions. Later stuff tends to have condensed versions of what has gone before; one reason why I found the Regency Soucrcebook very useful even if I wasn't playing TNE - it summarised earlier data...
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MJD:
I see. well, much of what you want is scattered throughout 25 years of publications...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

THATS MY POINT! That´s why I would like something... like that (and I bet I´m not the only one
biggrin.gif
)
 
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