Mongoose Mercenary
- Thread starter Border Reiver
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No. More like 'Patrons'.
War Mongers profit from wars, like defense contractors, only on a Personal scale rather than a corporate scale.
Imperial Planetologist
SOC-12
Like I said, in our game, those are the adventurers.
What are the skills that set a warmonger apart?
Yes, they have job descriptions that match what many adventurers end up doing. Just like there is a Free Trader assignment in the Merchant career... which also happens to match what other adventurers end up doing. Having career tables for these just means that some of the adventurers have been doing it for a living for a while.
On the other hand, I actively dislike the name "Warmonger" for the career and the "Gunslinger" specialization makes me cringe.
Trust me though, the Warmonger career is the least of the issues in the book. TBeard's criticisms of the book are accurate, IMHO. He's much more... offended (for lack of a better word) by the flaws than I am, but in general I agree with his assessment.
tbeard1999
SOC-14 1K
Depends on what you mean. I will continue to critique the game when the mood strikes. If this makes uncritical reviewers look bad, well, I can live with that.
And I now have very strong doubts that most of the Mercenary fans actually read the book. I have literally randomly selected over a dozen paragraphs and so far only one was written even passably well. Yet for some reason, the incredibly shoddy writing and nonexistent editing seems to have been missed by MGT fans, some of whom rank Mercenary as fabulous. Curious, no?
The last randomly selected paragraph had this jewel:
When soldiers began to carry powerful energy weapons that can punch through vehicle armor, warfare took a turn back toward older styles of fighting -- the marching forces of trained infantry.
Awful, just awful. I'd be embarrassed to put my name (or my company's name) on this kind of semi-literate garbage. And note that I am ramdomly selecting these examples. If I actually went looking for bad sentences, I suspect I could turn up far worse than what I've already quoted.
On the plus side, there should be no lack on MGT material, if Mercenary is an example of what Mongoose deems to be acceptable writing/editing quality.
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I suspect that Fans are aware of the writing style but making a choice to overlook the writing and focus on the rules. A poorly worded rule is easier to live with than one which works poorly (T/E anyone?).
Perhaps the editor just threw his hands in the air, unable to even see where to begin?
(Relax people, I'm just trying to inject a little fun into a sad topic.)Hey tbeard, you realize that if you sit down and correct all of the grammar issues, there will be so little of the original text left that you can legally publish the exact same book - half the pages and with a new title. It would be a hoot to compare the reviews on DTRPG. [IIRC rules cannot be protected, only the specific language used to describe them.]
Imperial Planetologist
SOC-12
I have a homebrewed prior career, Factor, which would provide the same skills and could perform many of the same functions - basically it's the groundside of Merchant Prince made into a standalone career.
That seems to be a default skill in my Traveller universe, even if it's not actually on the character sheet.atpollard said:. . . Sociopath.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
I think the editorial skills horse has been flogged to death. Time to move on.
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
I will address the 800-pound gorilla in the room then.
Tbeard, you wouldn't work for another game company or something would you?
I'm a bit confused. Didn't you playtest the Core book or something? I am not sure why you are working overtime to convince people that it sucks so much.
Can I ask a favor? If you have a review of a product, could you please write one, even a negative one, and put it in COTI's "Reviews" section, rather than doing whatever this is? It will dust off some cobwebs in the section, and maybe even encourage other people to write other reviews.
I ask because of this post:
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37117&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
To sum up, people are starting to think that we're a bunch of jerks over here, and that is hurting this website's image. Part of COTI's funding is from private sources, and some people have even begun to pull out over this.
I am not asking you as a moderator, or anything like that. I am asking you as a member that is on the fence about paying to help support this community. To "buy" the COTI product. And this sort of thing is making it a pretty hard sell.
Tbeard, you wouldn't work for another game company or something would you?
I'm a bit confused. Didn't you playtest the Core book or something? I am not sure why you are working overtime to convince people that it sucks so much.
Can I ask a favor? If you have a review of a product, could you please write one, even a negative one, and put it in COTI's "Reviews" section, rather than doing whatever this is? It will dust off some cobwebs in the section, and maybe even encourage other people to write other reviews.
I ask because of this post:
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37117&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
To sum up, people are starting to think that we're a bunch of jerks over here, and that is hurting this website's image. Part of COTI's funding is from private sources, and some people have even begun to pull out over this.
I am not asking you as a moderator, or anything like that. I am asking you as a member that is on the fence about paying to help support this community. To "buy" the COTI product. And this sort of thing is making it a pretty hard sell.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
Look at who your main perps are on that thread. Allensh, who is a raving MGT fanboy and prickles at any Mongoose negativity, and EDG, who is something I just can't say on this rated G forum--but, he's voluntarily banned himself from CotI long before MGT was even an possibility.
I've tried to reason with EDG myself, and he refuses to have a civil conversation--any dialogue with him always degenerates into conflict and flame.
Consider your source.
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
"Fanboy"?
What classification do you fall into? What's the real reason for badmouthing Mongoose? What is going on isn't criticism, I'm not sure what it is, but it really should stop.
Here's my theory:
A lot of people feel they weren't "listened to". And so they of course could write a better book and produce it and distribute it all by themselves, way better than mongoose. Even though "Mongoose Traveller" is a Liscenced line Approved by Marc, there is "something" that is just sooo wrong that all of this fervor is being caused. Nitpicky personal taste issues are always right, and a game company with a track record of course has to be wrong.
I'm not considering any "source". Nor do I give a #$% who is saying what or why, that is not the point. The point is, such pointless sour grapes masked as "criticism" is giving this site a bad name.
I think you guys should consider what your doing, and why. Are you going to give such reviews to some kid who comes out with his first pdf? When do your products come out?
Hopefully, you guys will understand, and knock it off on your own. I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to accomplish, or why, but you should stop now.
What classification do you fall into? What's the real reason for badmouthing Mongoose? What is going on isn't criticism, I'm not sure what it is, but it really should stop.
Here's my theory:
A lot of people feel they weren't "listened to". And so they of course could write a better book and produce it and distribute it all by themselves, way better than mongoose. Even though "Mongoose Traveller" is a Liscenced line Approved by Marc, there is "something" that is just sooo wrong that all of this fervor is being caused. Nitpicky personal taste issues are always right, and a game company with a track record of course has to be wrong.
I'm not considering any "source". Nor do I give a #$% who is saying what or why, that is not the point. The point is, such pointless sour grapes masked as "criticism" is giving this site a bad name.
I think you guys should consider what your doing, and why. Are you going to give such reviews to some kid who comes out with his first pdf? When do your products come out?
Hopefully, you guys will understand, and knock it off on your own. I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to accomplish, or why, but you should stop now.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
Call me an MGT "dis-liker". :smirk:
I mention when Mongoose does a good job. But, imo, they done a horrible job with Traveller. I point that out.
If they end up doing something superb with the game, I'll not hesitate to point that out, too.
That's it. Not big "conspiracy" or anything.
IMO, it's a sub-par game...for several reasons.
It could have been much, much more than it is.
I'm looking forward to T5. Maybe that will give us a dynamite version of Traveller.
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
Thank you so much for your review. I am sure that the many books that will be coming out will be greatly added to by such dilligent and constructive criticism.
Since you do not seem to really want to say what the real issue is, I'm not going to waste any more time discussing it. If you don't like the game, fine. Point taken. Thanks. Both America and the British Isles know that Supplement Four, does not approve of Mongoose Traveller. Here's how I know:
"I quit visiting CotI because it got to be that you couldn't even say that you have fun playing Mongoose Traveller.
It's one of the rare sites that I've written off completely. Who am I and why does it matter?
I'm a nobody in the Traveller world of things. I may not matter. But I'm playing a version of the game that's alive with 7 players. Not just talking about how I used to play."
Now I know for sure that everyone knows how displeased you are that more products for our 30 year old game are coming out.
Side Note: I haven't even gotten the damn book yet! Now I really want to read it! Maybe you guys DO work for Mongoose...
Since you do not seem to really want to say what the real issue is, I'm not going to waste any more time discussing it. If you don't like the game, fine. Point taken. Thanks. Both America and the British Isles know that Supplement Four, does not approve of Mongoose Traveller. Here's how I know:
"I quit visiting CotI because it got to be that you couldn't even say that you have fun playing Mongoose Traveller.
It's one of the rare sites that I've written off completely. Who am I and why does it matter?
I'm a nobody in the Traveller world of things. I may not matter. But I'm playing a version of the game that's alive with 7 players. Not just talking about how I used to play."
Now I know for sure that everyone knows how displeased you are that more products for our 30 year old game are coming out.
Side Note: I haven't even gotten the damn book yet! Now I really want to read it! Maybe you guys DO work for Mongoose...
Mongoose has mishandled the core rules. When the plqaytest rules didn't pan out, they rushed new rules into place. They didn't test well. The window was too short for the level of revision.
Their handling of RQ is equally poor.
And has been plagued with the very same issues:
1) Making the rules generic
2) piss poor editing
3) low playtest time
4) ignoring playtester input and/or going too far and simply replacing with little tried or untried modules
5) antagonizing the prior fanbase by using "genericizing" as an excuse for silliness in core supplements.
They have shown thier colors... and it is looking more like Imperium Games with a buisness plan than GDW...
I've not yet seen mercenary. However, the material mentioned is not stuff I'm likely to use.
I have looked at 760 "Patrons"... it's 760 Casual Encounters, not 760 patrons. Not gonna buy it on dead tree.
I'll probably get Mercenary as a PDF...
Same with High Guard. It's decent. But it's not good enough a ruleset to replace what I'm using already as a whole.
Mongoose is sloppy. Giving them a 10-year exclusive was a bad idea; allowing GT to continue is probably a good thing.
Their handling of RQ is equally poor.
And has been plagued with the very same issues:
1) Making the rules generic
2) piss poor editing
3) low playtest time
4) ignoring playtester input and/or going too far and simply replacing with little tried or untried modules
5) antagonizing the prior fanbase by using "genericizing" as an excuse for silliness in core supplements.
They have shown thier colors... and it is looking more like Imperium Games with a buisness plan than GDW...
I've not yet seen mercenary. However, the material mentioned is not stuff I'm likely to use.
I have looked at 760 "Patrons"... it's 760 Casual Encounters, not 760 patrons. Not gonna buy it on dead tree.
I'll probably get Mercenary as a PDF...
Same with High Guard. It's decent. But it's not good enough a ruleset to replace what I'm using already as a whole.
Mongoose is sloppy. Giving them a 10-year exclusive was a bad idea; allowing GT to continue is probably a good thing.
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
Is this your view, Marc's view, COTI's view, or what?
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
So there is some other version of Traveller that you are promoting? Does each Moderator on COTI have a direct Line Sponsorship or something?
What kind of liscencing deal is that? The Traveller name and system comes with its own negative publicity?
How does this not constitute a conflict of interest?
What other system is it? T5? Are GT and T20 even seriously in production anymore? When is T5 coming out exactly?
Who runs COTI now, by the way? Is it you?
What kind of liscencing deal is that? The Traveller name and system comes with its own negative publicity?
How does this not constitute a conflict of interest?
What other system is it? T5? Are GT and T20 even seriously in production anymore? When is T5 coming out exactly?
Who runs COTI now, by the way? Is it you?
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