New material, first draft in....

[wbyrd]

A few months ago I was given a chance to write new material for Mongoose Traveller. Nothing major, just a catalog of ships to add to a line of ships already puttering about the Imperium.

after a more than a few very long nights over the past couple of months I finally got the first draft off to the Editors. Now I am setting and waiting for them to give me their verdict.

It's my first time getting a chance to get published in any significant way, so I expected to be a little anxious when I sent it in. I didnt expect a armada of dreadnought class butterflies lead by a Death Star sized knot in my stomach.

Now I am going to have to set and patiently wait for the list of alterations, additional material, and edits the Guys at Mongoose want to make....No worries, I have a crate of aspirin, antacid, and whiskey.( just in case it's bad news.)

I am looking forward to seeing how it's received, and enduring the inevitable not picking, flaming, and curses that I am sure will be sent my way....if by some strange twist of fate I actually got it right..I will be happily surprised.

I can't say when it will be out but I hope you fine folks will like what I've done...or at least not moved to take up a collection for a hit man.

 

[GM Joe]

Congratulations on getting published.

It is a nervous business. For me, every time it was that way all the way up until I had the book in my hands and could see if there were any mistrakes that made it all the way through the process and into print.

Is there a title for the supplement you're working on?

 

[wbyrd]

The working title is

Ships Of Gold: Commercial Starships of the Imperium

Its a catalog of new ships, stats, game use suggestions, NPC, and Adventure Seeds.

I've been working on some of the ideas for a while for my own games, and to m surprise when I submitted some items they Offered me a chance to do a 138ish page book. The designs, adventure seeds. and other material are my own, as well as the concept drawings for the ships.

Fortunately for me they are going to get real artists to dress up my scribbles, so I am anxious to see what they can do with my ideas.

I'm excited, like I said initially I really love this game. It was one of the first RPGs I ever played...back in the days of Of the classic little black books.

the worst part is that I had more ideas than time to work, and space in the book. I had to restrict my first try to commercial and Mercenary vessels. I'm hoping the project is well received. Partly for my own satisfaction, and then there is the purely selfish motivation of getting a chance to do another book.

 

[MongooseMatt]

It is already in the hands of one of our Traveller Wizards, so expect some comments soon!

Don't panic too much - it would be amazing if anyone got absolutely every stat right in a ships book, so there will likely be some changes forthcoming.

All going well, we expect this one to be out early in the New Year!

 

[GM Joe]

The working title is

Ships Of Gold: Commercial Starships of the Imperium

Its a catalog of new ships, stats, game use suggestions, NPC, and Adventure Seeds.

Sounds good!

I've been working on some of the ideas for a while for my own games, and to m surprise when I submitted some items they Offered me a chance to do a 138ish page book. The designs, adventure seeds. and other material are my own, as well as the concept drawings for the ships.

Hoo! 138 pages is a lot of material to produce. I'll bet that must have involved at least a couple of late nights.

Fortunately for me they are going to get real artists to dress up my scribbles, so I am anxious to see what they can do with my ideas.

I'm excited, like I said initially I really love this game. It was one of the first RPGs I ever played...back in the days of Of the classic little black books.

Those were the days! I didn't find Traveller until the Deluxe Starter Set came out, but I have to admire the person that designed those little black books, from the typeface to the page design and all the rest. Not to mention those iconic covers...

And now you're part of the ongoing history of the game! There's nothing quite like the feeling you get from adding to the official material available for your favorite game, eh?

the worst part is that I had more ideas than time to work, and space in the book. I had to restrict my first try to commercial and Mercenary vessels. I'm hoping the project is well received. Partly for my own satisfaction, and then there is the purely selfish motivation of getting a chance to do another book.

Do you know if it will be available as a physical book, or as a PDF only?

 

[Jame]

It is already in the hands of one of our Traveller Wizards, so expect some comments soon!

Don't panic too much - it would be amazing if anyone got absolutely every stat right in a ships book, so there will likely be some changes forthcoming.

All going well, we expect this one to be out early in the New Year!

He's nervous enough already, so make sure the Traveller Wizard knows to only be as harsh as necessary!

 

[wbyrd]

Sounds good!
Hoo! 138 pages is a lot of material to produce. I'll bet that must have involved at least a couple of late nights.

I had a head start luckily. I've ben working on some of the ideas for a year or two for my own game...and well...I take my gaming obsessions and quirks seriously..so there were a lot of notes on my machine.

Those were the days! I didn't find Traveller until the Deluxe Starter Set came out, but I have to admire the person that designed those little black books, from the typeface to the page design and all the rest. Not to mention those iconic covers...

It was a great idea that they had, small handy, and those simple black covers was a bit of genius.

And now you're part of the ongoing history of the game! There's nothing quite like the feeling you get from adding to the official material available for your favorite game, eh?

Yeah, and no pressure at all...not like their is a horde of devoted gearheads out there, waiting with the glee that only new gaming material to rip to shreds inspires.

Do you know if it will be available as a physical book, or as a PDF only?

PDF unless they feel there is a demand for a print version.


And I have no illusions that the wizards will do their job, it's what they are paid to do. The better they do their job, the better my stuffz looks.

 

[GM Joe]

PDF unless they feel there is a demand for a print version.

Here's hoping.

 

[wbyrd]

By the way if you are curious, here is what is in the book, pending edits, and pruning....

30-500 ton utility modules, passenger, cargo, workshop, medical, troop bays..etc....
10-30 ton automated travel and cargo pods
20-1000 ton automated fuel skimmers
10 -20 ton work/tug/salvage pods
10 ton EVA combat pod
10 ton racing pod ( with suggestions on how to handle racing scenarios)
20 ton interceptor( suggestions on how to handle intercepting missiles/torpedoes and other craft)
30 ton fighter
50 ton fighter
50-100 ton dropship
100 ton packet trader
100 ton gunship/escort
200 ton escort
200 ton fast yacht
200 ton inter system hauler streamlined aerodynamic
300 ton Mercenary Brigs several versions ( 300 hundred tonners are a tricksy beast)
300 ton Special purpose ships ( several versions, scout explorer, mining ship, combat scout, fast attack, stealth fast attack)
300 ton hunter killer
500 ton j-2 armed merchant ship( basic, passenger, merchantman, and Q-ship)
500 ton J-3 freighter
500 ton passenger liner
500 ton Yacht
500 ton Race Yacht
500 to 1000 tone tanker, with a sample mobile refueling platform
500 ton tow vessel
1000 ton Jump ferry
2000 ton cargo vessel

I also included sample ships, NPCs, and adventure seeds for several of the vessels.

 

[Anja]

Keep us updated

 

[MongooseMatt]

We are beavering through the book as I type

Expect to see it up on Drivethru as an ebook later this month/early next, and perhaps a printed release in 3-4 months time!

 

[DickNervous]

We are beavering through the book as I type

Expect to see it up on Drivethru as an ebook later this month/early next, and perhaps a printed release in 3-4 months time!

Awesome!