How often do you use ANY Traveller ship combat rules?

[robject]

As it says on the tin.

Most of us have used Traveller ship combat rules at one point in time. The question is, how frequently in the recent years have we done so?

ANY official, licensed Traveller ship combat rules. Mongoose, GURPS, GDW, Imperium Games, FFE. Any one of 'em.

 

[robject]

Update. I've edited "The Handwave" into the first option.

 

[flykiller]

published rules? none since the specified date. but some time ago I did extensive analysis of hg2 rules - ship design, batteries bearing, tech levels, large-scale fleet actions. decided I didn't like it, came up with my own. two of my own, actually. put one up here, no comments on it, offered to run the other as a game but no takers.

 

[robject]

I think that is a general trend.

 

[flykiller]

I think that is a general trend.

... what? to not play?

 

[kilemall]

In general most space battles are going to be ruinous even if you win, I would expect most ACS avoid it like the plague.

A major major event to have several million CR worth of equipment explode in less then an hour.

 

[robject]

... what? to not play?

To not use Traveller ship combat rules when playing Traveller. To handwave the results or avoid space combat altogether.

 

[flykiller]

To not use Traveller ship combat rules when playing Traveller.

well, as kilemall points out, shipboard damage is painfully expensive, not to mention potentially fatal, and most referees ... how to put this ... make allowance for the survival of their players' characters. not to mention they make allowance for the survival of their games' adventures. kind of hard to get to the planet of lonesome carhop babes if the players blow up their one and only ship ....

 

[salochin999]

If they were in bigger ships I'd probably do it more often but they're mostly in tiny ships so I try and avoid space combat as I don't want to get the players killed.

Generally the closest I get to space combat is using the ship's laser to blast open a door or shoot a giant creature on the ground.

 

[Shadowrunner]

I'll look at the rules to remind myself or learn something, but when it comes to combat I've usually created roll tables specific to the story or combat in question.

 

[aramis]

Note that, in using it, I was demoing it for someone, not actually running a traveller campaign. 1x Mayday, and 1x Bk2.

I've not actually been playing traveller much lately. (D&D, Firefly, and FFG Star Wars)

 

[Shadowrunner]

This thread was hugely useful in giving me confidence as a player, I thought I was lax about using rules, but clearly I am average. The same thing happens when I game WW2 1/72, it tends to be a discussion about what was likely to happen in a given situation, rather than arguing about the angle the shell hit the Sherman at.

 

[Vargas]

Actually a pretty easy question since I haven't played Traveller within that timeframe.

 

[casquilho]

Actually a pretty easy question since I haven't played Traveller within that timeframe.

A year and a half without a game is a long time for someone who likes the game.

Hope you get to play soon.

 

[Cryton]

I chose monthly, as when I do run Traveller, I do use a ... greater than average amount of space combat and I am notoriously fond of the 3 marker vector movement rules from CT, regardless of the actual combat mechanics used. My players like the 3 marker vector movement system as well, stating "Best sci-fi space combat movement system ever".

So it averages out to be about once a month in the long run.

 

[wbyrd]

I seldom use the bg ships in any way..it feels too much like miniatures combat without the fun of maneuvering and positioning for advantage.

However, I use smaller starships a lot. players tend to be fairly receptive to it since it's fairly lightweight and they don't need a collection of folders, and binders full of rules to settle a battle between their second hand trader, and some jerk in a beat up corsair.

 

[salochin999]

Thinking about this some more I did used to enjoy the Bk2 type space combat but the usual player ships are generally too small imo. It might be fun setting up a situation where for some reason the players have access to a bigger ship and some actual pirates to fight - kinda like the movie "Galaxy Quest."

 

[flykiller]

It might be fun setting up a situation where for some reason the players have access to a bigger ship and some actual pirates to fight

if I set this up, would anyone be interested in playing?

 

[salochin999]

if I set this up, would anyone be interested in playing?

I was thinking of running it in my game - players come upon a system being preyed on by space bandits in a collection of 200 to 400 dton ships and there's a crashed 600 dton ship on the planet with a bunch of very pacifist types who can make up any spare crew positions.

 

[flykiller]

I was thinking more along the lines of a 1900 dton imperial destroyer vs ... somebody, maybe some zhodani frigates or well-funded pirates.