Playing High Ranking Nobles in Traveller

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
On another topic, after reading both this thread and the other one, I realized how many chargen 'tweaks' you employ. Because of that, I'm no longer 'amazed' at the 'odd' PCs you've generated. Weird chargens produce weird characters.

Also...

I needed some NPCs for the uber-62-year-old's ship. I had the same player who created the uber-62-year-old over tonight to roll up these NPCs.

Here's what we ended up with (using the rules I outlined above).


SHIP'S GUNNER
(4 Terms: 2 Terms Merchant; 2 Terms Bureacrat)

Age: 36
UPP: 6A5E46
Medical-2
Electronics-2
Mechanical-2
Gunnery-1
Carousing-3
Brawling-1
Interrogation-1
Admin-1
Recruiting-1

We figure this guy worked for a shipping line before taking a job dirtside working for another shipping company as a salesman selling the company's freight services. He met the uber-62-year-old in this last capacity, trying to solict the tramp freighter captain to use his company's services.


SHIP'S NAVIGATOR
(5 Terms: All 5 Terms as a merchant)

Age: 38
UPP: AA4B77
Mechanical-3
Medical-1
Streetwise-1
Shotgun-3
Navigation-2
Blade-1
Bribery-2
Gunnery-1
Vacc Suit-1
Pilot-1

What's interesting is that this guy made "Captain" via the CT promotion rolls on the exact same year (we rolled which year) that the uber-62-year-old bought the tramp freighter (we rolled that too). For it to be the exact same year, just using a random die roll, was pretty incredible in itself.

Given that, we're saying that this guy is his partner and owns 15% of the ship (the other 85% is owned by the uber-62-year-old).


This last character we rolled up tonight, using my CT tweaked rules, is a good example of what will typically happen if you try to go a lot of terms and risk the aging table. You'll get some skills, but you won't have any stats.

I mentioned that the same player who rolled up the uber-62-year-old also rolled up these three NPC's. He thought he might be able to duplicate what he had done the other night.

He was wrong.


SHIP'S STEWARD
(8 Terms; 1 attempt as a Scout (no skills); 1 attempt as a Merchant (no skills); 7 Terms as a Bureaucrat.)

Age: 50
UPP: 324A76
Admin-1
Recruiting-1
Medical-1
Brawling-6
Leader-1
Carousing-5
Robotics-1


This dude rolled a 2 on his DEX from the get-go. He never improved. He rolled enlistment into the Scouts, but failed survival that first term (so he got no skills). Instead of going the standard 2 years, I let my player roll 1-4 years.

This poor bastard went three years for nothing--no skills.

Then, he made enlistment (at +2 difficulty to enlist) in the Merchants, then again failed his survival. So, now, the character is 24 years old, and he hasn't got a single skill. He's still got DEX-2 too.

He finally made (at +3) enlistment as a Bureaucrat, and he got some skills under his belt during that 7 terms. But, the aging rolls ate his lunch.

Luckily, all 5 of the DEX aging checks were passed! But, most of the STR and END rolls were failed!

Here's what we came up for this guy: He was born with some debilitationg disease--he walks in a shuffle with a crooked spine. His mobility is very limited, and one of his shoes has a four inch sole on it.

He had no money (this poor guy couldn't even roll well on the muster tables: a 1 or 2 on the Bureacrat muster tables gives you nothing, and he rolled a 1 or 2 all three times he rolled on the muster table!). He needed a ride to another world.

The uber-62-year-old wanted to help him, but he also had a business to run (his ship). He told the crip that he'd let him ride for free only if the crip went low passage.

Well, we figure that the uber-62-year-old, with his Medical skill, was the one who pulled the crip out of the low berth. And, we also figure that this was one of those times, on the aging table, that the crip lost -1 STR and -1 END.

There were complications bringing this guy out of the bert.

The uber-62-year-old wished he had never let this dude aboard. But, he did, and now the crip was even more handicapped.

So, the uber-62-year-old felt sorry for him. He felt responsible.

And, he gave him a job....a job that, to everyone's surprise, the crip was quite good at (Carousing-5!).

So, now, the crip (the hunchback of the Free Trader ADROIT PURSUIT!) is out steward.

And, eventhough a weak character (as soon as he gets into a fight, he's dead), he's got quite a backstory!

We're going to role-play the hell out of this one.

Many small and crippled people dream of walking upright and straight, being the bad-ass when they need to. We figure this guy spends all of his time studying kung-fu or some martial art (maybe even Vargr infighting!). So, he can't move very well, and if you punch him, you'll knock him out...but if he ever hits you, he knows how to do some damage! (Brawling-6!)


This system is really putting a lot of "character" into the characters.

I'm diggin' it.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

How in the world does a guy with stats of 324 get Brawling of 6?! (Even your explanation is a little thin on that one...

) And, I'm not sure how Carousing will allow him to be a Steward. The skill descriptions seem to be totally different things....

But, yes, I love semi-random chargen for that very reason: How do I explain this character?

 

[rancke]

Here are the notes I've made about the nobles of Aramis subsector, with references:

Bolden: Noble family one of whose members married into the Tukera family around 950; the family name was changed to Bolden-Tukera. [N:106]

Bolden-Tukera: Family to which one of Leonard Bolden-Tukera's grandparents belonged. Holds the Marquisate of Aramis.

Jorge Hayashi Bolden-Tukera, 18th Marquis of Aramis.

Leonard Fratelli Bolden-Tukera, 19th Marquis of Aramis.

Hayashi: Family that held the Marquisate of Aramis from it was created in 631. The 17th Marquis (< ? > < ? > Hayashi) married a member of the Bolden-Tukera family some time after 950 and for some reason his son Jorge took Bolden-Tukera as his primary name (rather than the name that was, until then, associated with the marquisate). The line was obviously considered unbroken, since Jorge's son Leonard Bolden-Tukera is considered the 19th Marquis. [N:106]

Marova hault-Hayashi, 1st Marchioness of Aramis.

WJP, is Dame Arianne your own invention or is she canonical? If the latter, could you give me the reference?


Hans

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by rancke:
WJP, is Dame Arianne your own invention or is she canonical? If the latter, could you give me the reference?

She's canonical. Check out pg. 22 of The Traveller Adventure.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by WJP:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rancke:
WJP, is Dame Arianne your own invention or is she canonical? If the latter, could you give me the reference?

She's canonical. Check out pg. 22 of The Traveller Adventure. </font>[/QUOTE]Thanks. She goes on the list immediately.


Hans

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
How in the world does a guy with stats of 324 get Brawling of 6?!

We figure this is one of those guys who's not very physically capable, but knows and studies a lot about martial arts.

He knows where to hit you, he just can't get any power behind it.

Remember, in my game, I'm using the a CT multiple action rule (that you and I discussed before).

This poor bastard won't get more than one attack in a round--only two if he's very lucky (and he'll have to trade in movement in order to get a second attack).

Even with his Brawling-6, all it means is that he will hit when he tries (and, he's got a decent defense). But, he can't take any damage, and he won't be giving any damage either (in fact, he'll do less damage per round because he won't get as many actions as a fit character).

And, I'm not sure how Carousing will allow him to be a Steward. The skill descriptions seem to be totally different things....

Actually, check out the description in MT. There, Carousing is listed as "Steward minus one". The two skills are closely linked.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by rancke:
Thanks. She goes on the list immediately.

Hans, FYI. In the book, she is listed as "Lady Arianne Tukera". I used the different title Dame.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by WJP:
Hans, FYI. In the book, she is listed as "Lady Arianne Tukera". I used the different title Dame.

There's quite a difference, you know. 'Dame' is the female equivalent of 'Sir', making Dame Arianne a knight. 'Lady' denotes a peer (or the wife or sister of a peer).


Hans

 

[daryen]

Originally posted by WJP:
7) Since the creation of the uber-62 year old, I am now using a rule that makes re-enlistment harder starting at Term 8 (8+ renlistment; 9+ on Term 9, 10+ on Term 10, 11+ on Term 11, etc.).

If you are basing this on the CT system, the reenlistment rolls at the end of Term 7 and beyond is a natural 12 with no modifiers. In other words you can't reenlist after seven terms unless forced to (on a natural 12).

So you aren't making reenlistment harder, you are actually making it easier.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Originally posted by WJP:
Actually, check out the description in MT. There, Carousing is listed as "Steward minus one". The two skills are closely linked.

Ah. Well. That would be MT, though, and not strictly CT.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by rancke:
'Dame' is the female equivalent of 'Sir', making Dame Arianne a knight. 'Lady' denotes a peer (or the wife or sister of a peer).


Hans

Alright, maybe I'm mistaken. I thought "Lady" and "Dame" were inter-changeable, denoting a knight, the same as the title "Baron" or "von" in front of the sirname denotes a Baron.

 

[Supplement Four]

So, I had lunch with the player of the Marquis today, and we banged this out as a prologue to the game...

The Cliff-Notes version--

Sternmetal is attempting to take control of Aramanx. The Tukeras don't like it. They want Aramis subsector for themselves (thus their implementing Akerut lines, owning Lewis and Natoko, and their headway into Aramis via the marriage of Leonard Bolden and Lady Arianne--not to mention our pc Marquis).

It's a bitch when Sternmetal ignores your messages and makes your envoys wait, without even seeing them, before they return home with nothing politically accomlished.

If the Marquis went to Aramanx normally, full honor guard and all that, Sternmetal would be prepared.

So...


The Marquis is giving up on trying to reason with Sternmetal. Sternmetal is investing in the smaller of the three main countries on Aramanx (the UK to the other two countries of China and the USA). And, that smaller power is making a massive land grab due to its new found Sternmetal influence.

The Marquis is going to make a secret meeting with one of the heads of the other two (bigger) countries on Armanx--make a similar deal that Sternmetal has made with the smaller country.

The Marquis goal will be to make it too expensive for Sternmetal's plan to work on Aramanx. Hopefully, Sternmetal will do a cost/benefit analysis and go home. At the least, The Marquis can hope for a stop-gap stand-off type measure on Aramanx, impeeding Sternmetal's progress.

And, in order to do this mission, the Marquis is going to charter a civilian vessel (the other players' ship) for the month and a half voyage from Aramis to Aramanx.

This will get the Marquis and the other players all-together on the ship.

The Marquis will have one bodyguard with him (one of the other PC's, and ex-Army Captain....who's actually keeping an eye on the Marquis for Army Intelligence), and he's going to take four Vemene Spec-Ops soldiers with him in low berth....just in case. This is a diplomatic mission, but a Tukera Marquis probably doesn't go anywhere without more protection than a single bodyguard.

During the trip, when the Vemene are awakened, I'll spring the assassination attempt on the Marquis.

You see...the Vemene acutally work for somebody else.

There...lots of intrigue and conflict to kick the campaign off.

Our Marquis (the player doesn't know any of this assassination stuff yet...he thinks he's going to Aramanx) will stick with the player's ship as a safe haven until he can figure out exactly who is trying to kill him...

...Lady Arianne?

...House Bolden?

...The Vemene Station Head?

...Sternmetal?

...Somebody else that hasn't revealed himself yet?

It's a complicated web I weaved....wheels within wheels.

 

[Spiderfish]

Originally posted by WJP:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rancke:
'Dame' is the female equivalent of 'Sir', making Dame Arianne a knight. 'Lady' denotes a peer (or the wife or sister of a peer).


Hans

Alright, maybe I'm mistaken. I thought "Lady" and "Dame" were inter-changeable, denoting a knight, the same as the title "Baron" or "von" in front of the sirname denotes a Baron. </font>[/QUOTE]I do remember reading that a Knight's wife is also a "lady". Titles are funny things though.

Does anyone else know why count was never adopted in England in place of the title of Earl even they adopted countesses and counties?

 

[aramis]

According to Fox-Davies, it's that Jarl is the elder title, dating back to the 5th C, along with Dux, Comtes, Baron and Knecht; Earl is a moderinzation, as is Duke, Count, and Knight. Many of the Earls date way back; they preferred to keep that link.

Note that an Earl's wive is still a countess. (again, Fox-Davies.)

 

[Spiderfish]

Originally posted by Aramis:
According to Fox-Davies, it's that Jarl is the elder title, dating back to the 5th C, along with Dux, Comtes, Baron and Knecht; Earl is a moderinzation, as is Duke, Count, and Knight. Many of the Earls date way back; they preferred to keep that link.

Note that an Earl's wive is still a countess. (again, Fox-Davies.)

Yes Comtes is the French for the Roman Comes and Dux literally means leader in latin.

My point was that the title of count was never adopted to replace that of Earl or to take up a place of it's own even though shires became counties and an Earl's wife became a countess.

It's believed that this was because of a certain naughty word that has a phoenetic proximity to count. I find that amusing.

 

[Elliot]

The use of the word Earl deriveds from Yarl and was synonymous in the early Saxon period with the Saxon title Atheling - a son or nephew of the king. An Earl ruled a Saxon earldom - a large area of territory.

I doubt that the reason the Normans used Earl was (as alleged by Wikipedia, the ministry of misinformation) it sounded like King Cnut, but because:

a) the Normans wanted to integrate Anglo-Saxon power structures into the Norman monarchy and (hence Sheriff, Aldermen, Vavasour etc survive as titles in England) and

b) becuase the latin monks who translated Athelstan's Code of Laws into Latin mistranslated the Saxon titles Earl and Elderman to latin Comes (i.e. French 'Comte'). Indeed a latin document (such as a deed) referring to an Earl will stile his as [name, e.g. Rogerus]Comes [County].

(A good book on this, although out of print, is Selden, Titles of Honour)

 

[Spiderfish]

Originally posted by Elliot:
[QB] The use of the word Earl deriveds from Yarl and was synonymous in the early Saxon period with the Saxon title Atheling - a son or nephew of the king. An Earl ruled a Saxon earldom - a large area of territory.

I doubt that the reason the Normans used Earl was (as alleged by Wikipedia, the ministry of misinformation) it sounded like King Cnut, but because:

As allegeded by someone called Geoffrey Hughes, I think he is a professor of the English language somewhere. I believe he wrote a book on the history of swearing, which I have not read.

What you say makes more sense however I shall use the vulgar one as an anecdote at dinner parties should I ever be invited to such an occasion. Of course they look quite boring anyway so I may not attend, I have no interest in hearing about the schooling of other people's children or that nice place someone else stayed at in France.

Yarl? Is that meant to be a J?

 

[Elliot]

Yup - sorry it is a J - my wife being a Dane and former lecturer in Scandinavian languages will kill me for that mistake

You are quite write: Geoffrey Hughes is a professor of English language in South Africa who wrote a history of swearing - however, he doesn't really give sources for the Count word not being used because it sounds rude - its just his surmise, which quite frankly is the academic version of artistic licence.

 

[Spiderfish]

What she does not know, will not hurt you.

 

[aramis]

There is further the issue that the Normans were not really french, but franco-viking....