For Use With Mongoose Traveller: Has Mongoose thought about...?

[Spinward Scout]

I was wondering if Mongoose was going to put out a Creature book or an NPC book any time soon?

If not, would there be any way to make a Creature Index and/or and NPC Index that would show which Book and Page Number a Critter or NPC is on for the whole MgT2e+ run?

I'd also like to see a 'How to create and describe backgrounds to Players' type of book for Referees.

I think those 3 would round out MgT2e+ pretty well.

 

[mike wightman]

People have been asking for an animal encounters system and book for a long time now.

One of the genius and often overlooked features of CT was the animal encounters system of constructing animals by the ecological niche they occupy. That should be the basis. It could be expanded and example encounter tables for quick access.

The thought of a Third Imperium Monster manual fills me with dread.

 

[coliver988]

they have published a number of critters and NPCs across their JTAS line (there are 18 books so far). My only real issue with such a thing as that any specific critter is probably limited to a single world, so as Mike pointed out, the encounter tables based on the ecological niche is a better approach, though more vague application in terms of a specific animal to visualize.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Not soon, but Animals and Ecosystems is on the cards.

 

[mike wightman]

Great news, thanks Matt

 

[whartung]

One of the genius and often overlooked features of CT was the animal encounters system of constructing animals by the ecological niche they occupy. That should be the basis. It could be expanded and example encounter tables for quick access.

That's true, but the rules are so, utterly, sterile and colorless.

"Look a pouncer attacking a grazer!"

"So, there I was, wandering through the swamp. Fighting the mud from sucking off my boots. And then, suddenly, to my left, a Filter!!1!"

The mechanics are fine for a foundation, but, yea, they really need to be fleshed out.

 

[bookwyrm]

That's true, but the rules are so, utterly, sterile and colorless.

"Look a pouncer attacking a grazer!"

"So, there I was, wandering through the swamp. Fighting the mud from sucking off my boots. And then, suddenly, to my left, a Filter!!1!"

The mechanics are fine for a foundation, but, yea, they really need to be fleshed out.

I'm not good with coming up with names for aliens or alien lifeforms, which can be frustrating sometimes. On the other hand, there are those who ARE good at coming up with names for aliens & alien lifeforms, which makes me both amazed and jealous, and maybe a little awed.

 

[whartung]

I'm not good with coming up with names for aliens or alien lifeforms

This is why books help.

"Look, a Tobian Grass Cat attacking a Steppe Ox!"

Isn't that so much better?

 

[mike wightman]

I highly recommend The Perilous Void for its random tables to make stuff up.

 

[bookwyrm]

This is why books help.

"Look, a Tobian Grass Cat attacking a Steppe Ox!"

Isn't that so much better?

I've always thought of using names from books, but then I feel like I'm stealing from an authors book or producers movie and feel too guilty, even though they have great names for their aliens & alien lifeforms.

I recently thought of making names up using the alien languages from the CT Alien Modules. Might be kind of nice to use alien names for some critter when human languages might not be up to the task.

 

[Dragoner]

Players got swarmed by some flying fungus bats, and crashed their air/raft in a swamp, we just called them "fungals."

 

[mike wightman]

Humans tend to not be all that original - I imagine there will be rather a lot of
"world name" antelope
"world name" tiger
"world name" rodent of unusual size

 

[whulorigan]

Keep in mind that unless there are locals or prior expeditions to a world and library data, it doesn't need a name. Your party gets the privelige of naming it.

 

[FreeTrav]

Humans tend to not be all that original - I imagine there will be rather a lot of
"world name" antelope
"world name" tiger
"world name" rodent of unusual size

Or add an environmental niche or other descriptor to that - "Trantorian Forest Jackal", "Oradan Amphibious Shore Cat", etc.

 

[whartung]

Then there's:

Jonesian Alpha -- an 8 legged, fast moving predator that happens to be the top of its food chain, as documented by Antonio Jones.

Rogers Plight -- a small, swarming rodent, that continually afflicted Thomas Rogers during his expedition of discovery. Not lethal, but they get into EVERYTHING!

 

[Drew]

I'm not sure if this is the proper thread, but after rewatching The Expanse, has anyone developed an NPC model for common laborers or dock workers? While we have character generators for various NPCs, does anyone know of something similar that could be used? Perhaps a common man or a blue-collar worker? How does one interact with a cargo loader or a labor boss at a down port? Or how does one interact with a mechanic or fuel handler? Just curious.

 

[kilemall]

I'm not sure if this is the proper thread, but after rewatching The Expanse, has anyone developed an NPC model for common laborers or dock workers? While we have character generators for various NPCs, does anyone know of something similar that could be used? Perhaps a common man or a blue-collar worker? How does one interact with a cargo loader or a labor boss at a down port? Or how does one interact with a mechanic or fuel handler? Just curious.

Well first time I saw the skill for cargo handling was in LBB8. So a lot of the time in Traveller it’s going to be a bot in the dock. Lower TL a worker with similar skills.

Later Traveller versions have something like trade(cargo). CT Merchant, Other or Belter should pretty much cover it for most port work.

 

[whulorigan]

The MgT "Citizen" Career has Worker as a Career Path.
The MgT "Drifter" Career includes Scavenger (i.e. Belter / Salvage) as a Career Path, which should also be workable/reworkable.

 

[mike wightman]

CT Career - Other (starport dock worker)

for an NPC roll 1d for number of terms and then allocate 2 skill points per term to relevant skills.
Blade combat, brawling, bribery, computer, electronic, forgery, gambling, gun combat, mechanical, medical, streetwise, vehicle


CT Career - Other (starport dock manager)

for an NPC roll 1d for number of terms and then allocate 2 skill points per term to relevant skills.
auto skill Admin 1 (replaces Jack-o-T)
Admin, blade combat, brawling, bribery, computer, electronic, forgery, gambling, gun combat, mechanical, medical, streetwise, vehicle

 

[Garnfellow]

Not soon, but Animals and Ecosystems is on the cards.

Would love to see a chapter on Geneering and Uplifts in that!