daltoncalford
SOC-12
Is this an old product or is there any active development for it?
best regards
Dalton
best regards
Dalton
Is Traveller GRIP still supported?
- Thread starter daltoncalford
- Start date
Maladominus
SOC-14 1K
I am a GM of a current lively GRIP Traveller campaign. So I am probably as qualified as anyone to answer you with an honest answer.
1) Is it supported any more? Is there active development any more?
Hell no. The developers (QLI, the same people who run this website) don't even make an effort to answer any questions about GRIP any more. It's like they pretend the product does not exist any more.
2) Is it an old product?
Ummm, yes. Is John Travolta old? Is William Shatner old? GRIP is about as old and outdated as Windows 98. The interface for GRIP makes it feel more like a Windows 95 product. And I am being kind and generous here. Really, I am.
3) So why the hell do I still use this clunky buggy thing called GRIP for my online Traveller campaign?
Simply because there is hardly any other competing product on the market which is "Classic Traveller online friendly". That's why.
If a single company sold a piece of software that had much of GRIP's functionality, and also made it easy to run an online CT game.... then you can bet that I'd abandon GRIP in a heartbeat.
And in case you want to see the irony of the fact that my GRIP campaign is lively and thriving... DESPITE the fact that I am cantankerous and openly critical of the GRIP software.... then just see for yourself and visit my GRIP campaign website
http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=42665&TabID=376526
My advice? Only get GRIP if you will be playing Classic Traveller online campaign. Do not buy it for any other reason. Secondly, do not make the mistake of buying GRIP full price. It is not worth $60. Just go to eBay and find someone's used copy, for cheap.
If you intend to play D20 Traveller.... you really need to go with Klooge instead. Klooge was built for the D20 ruleset. Unlike GRIP, Klooge is actual a *modern* piece of software.
You probably heard more than you wanted to.
1) Is it supported any more? Is there active development any more?
Hell no. The developers (QLI, the same people who run this website) don't even make an effort to answer any questions about GRIP any more. It's like they pretend the product does not exist any more.
2) Is it an old product?
Ummm, yes. Is John Travolta old? Is William Shatner old? GRIP is about as old and outdated as Windows 98. The interface for GRIP makes it feel more like a Windows 95 product. And I am being kind and generous here. Really, I am.
3) So why the hell do I still use this clunky buggy thing called GRIP for my online Traveller campaign?
Simply because there is hardly any other competing product on the market which is "Classic Traveller online friendly". That's why.
If a single company sold a piece of software that had much of GRIP's functionality, and also made it easy to run an online CT game.... then you can bet that I'd abandon GRIP in a heartbeat.
And in case you want to see the irony of the fact that my GRIP campaign is lively and thriving... DESPITE the fact that I am cantankerous and openly critical of the GRIP software.... then just see for yourself and visit my GRIP campaign website
http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=42665&TabID=376526
My advice? Only get GRIP if you will be playing Classic Traveller online campaign. Do not buy it for any other reason. Secondly, do not make the mistake of buying GRIP full price. It is not worth $60. Just go to eBay and find someone's used copy, for cheap.
If you intend to play D20 Traveller.... you really need to go with Klooge instead. Klooge was built for the D20 ruleset. Unlike GRIP, Klooge is actual a *modern* piece of software.
You probably heard more than you wanted to.
daltoncalford
SOC-12
Thanks Maladominus
I am looking for a more generic roleplaying system since none of my players play D20.
Do you know of any good generic programs for this sort of thing?
best regards
Dalton
I am looking for a more generic roleplaying system since none of my players play D20.
Do you know of any good generic programs for this sort of thing?
best regards
Dalton
Maladominus
SOC-14 1K
That's one of GRIPs few strengths.... it is very generic, hence this is the reason it will accomodate the Traveller d6 system easily.
Klooge and other sophisticated online software are pretty much "Play D20 system or go away!"
You can always download the GRIP 60-day free trial, just to see if it works for you. The trial version is fully functional.
Klooge and other sophisticated online software are pretty much "Play D20 system or go away!"
You can always download the GRIP 60-day free trial, just to see if it works for you. The trial version is fully functional.
daltoncalford
SOC-12
Have you tried the traveller edition of Grip?
Does it have a good library of graphics to build maps with?
best regards
Dalton
Does it have a good library of graphics to build maps with?
best regards
Dalton
Here is a Link on E-Bay...
GRiP Traveller Edition
Only $35 USD
No I am not the seller
My website has art and deckplans for GRiP and I just posted my completed GRiP conversion for the Adventure in issue 1 of Stellar Reaches
GRiP Traveller Edition
Only $35 USD
No I am not the seller
My website has art and deckplans for GRiP and I just posted my completed GRiP conversion for the Adventure in issue 1 of Stellar Reaches
daltoncalford
SOC-12
Hi Berg,Originally posted by Berg:
Here is a Link on E-Bay...
GRiP Traveller Edition
Only $35 USD
No I am not the seller
My website has art and deckplans for GRiP and I just posted my completed GRiP conversion for the Adventure in issue 1 of Stellar Reaches
I am impressed by the graphics for your grip adventure. Did you create them using grip or are they from external programs?
I am trying to find out if there is any difference in the standard Grip edition vs the Traveller edition. If the software is the same, I would look at getting the standard edition since I already have all the Traveller books.
best regards
Dalton
I design them externally 
but, you can make maps that are ok. There are a few tilesets, but if you can make your own, it works fine. What I do is create maps externally and use the grip mapping features to add on the fly stuff like bodies, guns, explosions. These aren't included in the tile sets so I made new ones.
I use Dungeonforge to make anything with a grid, then I know the pixel dimensions, which makes importing dead easy. I also imported the Classic Deckplans from the fLibrary with not to much difficulty.
It's genericness does help it make up a bit for it's being dated. You can run Traveller, then Cthulhu or even the new Serenity RPG. You would just have to make the character sheets for each to accomadate the different rules systems.
In the Traveller edition you get a Character Gen, Starship design and a sector/library programs. They are all buggy and if you don't need Books 1 - 3 in a help file then skip it. I just use CT Utility, HGships and H&E to cover all that
The only thing is the Trav edition is usually the one you'll see for sale on E-Bay and such. I'd buy whichever is cheaper.
If you need help, just ask on the GRiP Boards...
Thomas
but, you can make maps that are ok. There are a few tilesets, but if you can make your own, it works fine. What I do is create maps externally and use the grip mapping features to add on the fly stuff like bodies, guns, explosions. These aren't included in the tile sets so I made new ones.I use Dungeonforge to make anything with a grid, then I know the pixel dimensions, which makes importing dead easy. I also imported the Classic Deckplans from the fLibrary with not to much difficulty.
It's genericness does help it make up a bit for it's being dated. You can run Traveller, then Cthulhu or even the new Serenity RPG. You would just have to make the character sheets for each to accomadate the different rules systems.
In the Traveller edition you get a Character Gen, Starship design and a sector/library programs. They are all buggy and if you don't need Books 1 - 3 in a help file then skip it. I just use CT Utility, HGships and H&E to cover all that
The only thing is the Trav edition is usually the one you'll see for sale on E-Bay and such. I'd buy whichever is cheaper.
If you need help, just ask on the GRiP Boards...
Thomas
daltoncalford
SOC-12
I am going to build my own using free pascal.
I am going to use a 100x100 pixel bitmap for the graphics (easier to scale and looks good for current screens)
I will use CCpro2 and other software to make it work.
I will make it opensource on Sourceforge, give me a few days and I should have a pre-alpha version up.
best regards
Dalton
I am going to use a 100x100 pixel bitmap for the graphics (easier to scale and looks good for current screens)
I will use CCpro2 and other software to make it work.
I will make it opensource on Sourceforge, give me a few days and I should have a pre-alpha version up.
best regards
Dalton
I have been using OpenRPG (http://www.openrpg.com/) to run my games. I can't say whether it is better or worse than any of the others, but I can recommend it. It is also free.
Hope this helps.
David
Hope this helps.
David
The 35$ GriP Traveller on eBay is gone, I just bought it, thanks.
As to Open RPG, it works pretty well, it is free. I have run numerous games using it, the past 3 years. One problem though is that the commmunity seems to be shrinking, and going to passworded rooms all the time more and more, because of a few individuals, purposefully crashing the servers that are up.
But some brave souls do still try for open recruiting on Fridays and weekends.
Other than open recruiting...it is hard to find games, unless you use something like RPG registry (Which seems to work okay.)
The devs of OpenRPG are working on solutions to the problem, which seems to stem from the fact that it is free / kids with nothing better to do.
Those guys are all unsung heroes, who deserve more accolades than they get.
The GMs there on the average, range from competent, to excellent, depending. Some of the younger DMs / Groups were hard for me to deal with, because they do the 7EEt-SP3A|< thing.
I was pretty hard core there, about 2 years ago, running three games a week, then discovered Neverwinter Nights, and gradually shifted away from OpenRPG, mostly due to lack of quality players who could be counted on to show consistently.
With that being said, I still have my OpenRPG software installed, because...it's still a decent format, if you can find and take the time to develop a group.
As to GRiP:
I am seeking a GRiP Classic CT group, and would like to develop and release modules for it, over the next year at least, as I am moving away from both OpenRPG and NWN, and back to my favorite Classic Traveller Campaign from nearly 30 years ago.
As to Open RPG, it works pretty well, it is free. I have run numerous games using it, the past 3 years. One problem though is that the commmunity seems to be shrinking, and going to passworded rooms all the time more and more, because of a few individuals, purposefully crashing the servers that are up.
But some brave souls do still try for open recruiting on Fridays and weekends.
Other than open recruiting...it is hard to find games, unless you use something like RPG registry (Which seems to work okay.)
The devs of OpenRPG are working on solutions to the problem, which seems to stem from the fact that it is free / kids with nothing better to do.
Those guys are all unsung heroes, who deserve more accolades than they get.
The GMs there on the average, range from competent, to excellent, depending. Some of the younger DMs / Groups were hard for me to deal with, because they do the 7EEt-SP3A|< thing.
I was pretty hard core there, about 2 years ago, running three games a week, then discovered Neverwinter Nights, and gradually shifted away from OpenRPG, mostly due to lack of quality players who could be counted on to show consistently.
With that being said, I still have my OpenRPG software installed, because...it's still a decent format, if you can find and take the time to develop a group.
As to GRiP:
I am seeking a GRiP Classic CT group, and would like to develop and release modules for it, over the next year at least, as I am moving away from both OpenRPG and NWN, and back to my favorite Classic Traveller Campaign from nearly 30 years ago.
Well...
Currently Mr Maladominus is running a CT game that is quite excellent...
Terra Incognita
Checkout my Sig for both my web page devoted to CT and GRiP, and the GRiP community boards.
There is also the long standing GRiPList
Currently Mr Maladominus is running a CT game that is quite excellent...
Terra Incognita
Checkout my Sig for both my web page devoted to CT and GRiP, and the GRiP community boards.
There is also the long standing GRiPList
I use Klooge to run my online Traveller game now. www.kloogeinc.com Very good, customisable though in a different way to Grip. Much much more stable that Grip ever was (far too flakey for my liking). I can use images, video, maps that the players can move around on and I can reveal (this is extremely useful).
daltoncalford
SOC-12
I am currently testing screen monkey from nbos.
It has the benefit of not requiring any software to be installed on the clients computer.
I have a large gaming group now, with about 25 current active members in my little corner of suburbia. What has happened thou is that a few friends of mine from my companies head office came by on the weekend and now they are coming over once a week.
This is normally not a problem, but my wife is starting to get upset with the local game group meeting once a month and the guys driving in from Ottawa and Montreal to get in a game on the weekends.
So, my thought was that I could get a web based game going using one of these tools and save my sanity as well as my marriage.....
I am the project manager for a large software dev team, and I have 4 volunteers who are willing to work with me on the project, but the feature creep is looking like the project will never finish (can you say a real-time opengl based 3d masively multiplayer rpg experience - not enough time in the day to make it let alone play it.
So, I went back to checking different various products.
Once I get a working product up and running, I will probly send out some invites to those who are on the forums here and let me know they are interested.
The only problem I have with inviting any of you guys into our traveller sessions is that you would have to get a copy of our game concepts and mechanics hand outs - pdf I would expect since I don't think alot of you use openoffice.
Anyway, if anyone is interested in what I am up to, send me a PM and we can discuss the idea.
best regards
Dalton
It has the benefit of not requiring any software to be installed on the clients computer.
I have a large gaming group now, with about 25 current active members in my little corner of suburbia. What has happened thou is that a few friends of mine from my companies head office came by on the weekend and now they are coming over once a week.
This is normally not a problem, but my wife is starting to get upset with the local game group meeting once a month and the guys driving in from Ottawa and Montreal to get in a game on the weekends.
So, my thought was that I could get a web based game going using one of these tools and save my sanity as well as my marriage.....
I am the project manager for a large software dev team, and I have 4 volunteers who are willing to work with me on the project, but the feature creep is looking like the project will never finish (can you say a real-time opengl based 3d masively multiplayer rpg experience - not enough time in the day to make it let alone play it.
So, I went back to checking different various products.
Once I get a working product up and running, I will probly send out some invites to those who are on the forums here and let me know they are interested.
The only problem I have with inviting any of you guys into our traveller sessions is that you would have to get a copy of our game concepts and mechanics hand outs - pdf I would expect since I don't think alot of you use openoffice.
Anyway, if anyone is interested in what I am up to, send me a PM and we can discuss the idea.
best regards
Dalton
Maladominus
SOC-14 1K
Screen Monkey has good points due to its simplicity.
SM loses points for me because of....
#1) that damn page-refresh thing! it drives me nuts, absolutely drives me nuts
#2) SM is capable of having more features... but it doesn't have them. It could easily have a somewhat more detailed "character sheet" for example.... but it's not even there. What a shame. It's not like it would be that much work to add simple features into such a simple-designed software.
SM is only version 1.5 right now. Maybe it will get it "just right" by version 2.6 or so
I do admire Screen Monkey's simplicity and very easy to use setup. But I find it un-usable for the 2 reasons posted above.
SM loses points for me because of....
#1) that damn page-refresh thing! it drives me nuts, absolutely drives me nuts
#2) SM is capable of having more features... but it doesn't have them. It could easily have a somewhat more detailed "character sheet" for example.... but it's not even there. What a shame. It's not like it would be that much work to add simple features into such a simple-designed software.
SM is only version 1.5 right now. Maybe it will get it "just right" by version 2.6 or so
I do admire Screen Monkey's simplicity and very easy to use setup. But I find it un-usable for the 2 reasons posted above.
daltoncalford
SOC-12
There is a developer/user called Zeet on the nbos boards who is really extending the systems scripts including using customizable character sheets and custom die rolls.
I don't know about screen refreshes, since I am only testing and have not played with it.
best regards
Dalton
