MGT Only: Mongoose 2nd Edition... I'm Impressed

[Kilgs]

After playing around with that HG spreadsheet, I decided to pick up High Guard because the additional customization intrigued me.

And then CSC.

And then the Main Book.

I've railed at Mongoose's production quality here numerous times. I've pointed out how later supplements have disappointed me. It's only fair to admit when I am downright impressed.

The books are beautiful, I love the isometric graphics, the new graphics for CSC, and the cleaned up character generation. The rules are laid out better and presented in far more pleasing fashion. Skills make more sense. Ships have more options and customization available to them. The new MRB has expanded trade rules and other improvements.

I'm still not a fan of the 2d6 Traveller mechanic (which is not Mongoose's fault). I can't speak to mechanical improvements but this feels like a product/line that has some solid investment in it. It feels like Mongoose really went to bat to support this edition and it really shows. After a long line of "get it out the door" supplements, these three books nail it. This is actually a 2nd edition that is worth the purchase.

Bravo, Mongoose, bravo.

 

[bluekieran]

My biggest problem with the 2d6 system is that I have all these lovely dice...

 

[simonh]

Yep 2D6, how quaint. Clearly the future belongs to 1D6 systems like the Gumshoe family of games.

Simon Hibbs

 

[Kilgs]

Yep 2D6, how quaint. Clearly the future belongs to 1D6 systems like the Gumshoe family of games.

Simon Hibbs

Don't you start with me... I've settled on Silhouette after deciding not to go with Ashen Star... don't make me go down that rabbit hole again ;-)

 

[atpollard]

What about d2?
(who doesn't have a coin to toss?)

 

[Kilgs]

What about d2?
(who doesn't have a coin to toss?)

Please, oh please won't someone think of the little dice?! What will happen to them? Who would care for them?

 

[atpollard]

Please, oh please won't someone think of the little dice?! What will happen to them? Who would care for them?

Yahtzee! :rofl:

 

[atpollard]

After playing around with that HG spreadsheet, I decided to pick up High Guard because the additional customization intrigued me.

And then CSC.

And then the Main Book.

I've railed at Mongoose's production quality here numerous times. I've pointed out how later supplements have disappointed me. It's only fair to admit when I am downright impressed.

The books are beautiful, I love the isometric graphics, the new graphics for CSC, and the cleaned up character generation. The rules are laid out better and presented in far more pleasing fashion. Skills make more sense. Ships have more options and customization available to them. The new MRB has expanded trade rules and other improvements.

I'm still not a fan of the 2d6 Traveller mechanic (which is not Mongoose's fault). I can't speak to mechanical improvements but this feels like a product/line that has some solid investment in it. It feels like Mongoose really went to bat to support this edition and it really shows. After a long line of "get it out the door" supplements, these three books nail it. This is actually a 2nd edition that is worth the purchase.

Bravo, Mongoose, bravo.

I am glad to hear that production quality is good. Personally, I enjoyed playing the MgT1ed rules (even the first printing of Mercenary) and found it a game that was actually a lot of fun from a role-playing point of view. I'm interested in hearing some chatter on how the game mechanics have been changed and how they play. I have CT as my 'go to' and MgT1ed already to raid for ideas and inspiration, so I am in no particular hurry to rush into MgT2ed until I learn a little more about what it actually entails.

(since I participated in the bunny trail, I thought I'd try to offer something on-topic as well.)

 

[Daidoji Dave]

And then CSC.

What are the changes to CSC? The last thing I heard (I admit I haven't followed it closely) was you could just use the 1e CSC with 2e core.

I've railed at Mongoose's production quality here numerous times. I've pointed out how later supplements have disappointed me. It's only fair to admit when I am downright impressed.

The books are beautiful, I love the isometric graphics, the new graphics for CSC, and the cleaned up character generation. The rules are laid out better and presented in far more pleasing fashion. Skills make more sense. Ships have more options and customization available to them. The new MRB has expanded trade rules and other improvements.

My dilemma is I like 2d6 and I like Mongoose's approach to game design, but their editing and line control really has been terrible. So I should be all over a cleaned up edition, but I don't actually trust them not to screw up the supplements again. If I'm going to end up patching and houseruling I may as well stay with the line I've already purchased.

 

[simonh]

If I'm going to end up patching and houseruling I may as well stay with the line I've already purchased.

The fact that MGT is based on a highly CT and MT compatible 2D6 base system mitigates that for me. It takes very little effort to use CT or MT supplements with MGT or vice versa, so I feel I can pick and choose the best MGT supplements and use resources from previous editions to fill any gaps.

Simon Hibbs

 

[Olschoolgamer]

I was able to pick up the core, HG, supply and GM screen for cheap.
I do like what I have read so far. But where are the random animal charts?

 

[Nathan Brazil]

But where are the random animal charts?

Promised to be in the future release Traveller Companion? June for PDF, Oct for print on the release schedule. All those charts and fine artwork took up page count. 1st ed is ~180 pages. 2nd ed is clocking in at ~230 pages not counting Sindal subsector, which is 10 more and was not in 1st ed.

 

[Jame]

What about d2?
(who doesn't have a coin to toss?)

Roll me 100d1-100. :devil:

 

[Jame]

So anyways, can anyone tell me what's different between 1E and 2E?

If there's a thread for this already, let me know, and I'll look at that instead of further hijack.