Running 'Shadows' at a convention?

[Spinward Scout]

So I went to Winter War today in Champaign, Illinois. Had a lot of fun. Got to meet Don McKinney in person. Nice guy - and very very busy running the convention. I think I saw him sit down once other than when I talked to him. But we talked a little bit and I mentioned maybe running a Traveller game next year.

Well, I got home tonite and doing a search I found this:

The Traveller adventure titled Shadows was used as the Traveller Tournament situation at WinterWar 1980.

So, I'd like to bring 'Shadows' back to Winter War. Somehow. I figure I have a year to do this.

I'd love to get my hands on the Tournament game/notes from 1980, but unless someone is extremely good at archiving (I mean like, better than the government), my chances of getting ahold of 31 year old documentation is probably close to zero.

I've also heard that there is a 'Deep Shadows' adventure, but on a Google search I'm only coming up with a video game.

And I'd like to try to update it a bit - Mongoose rules, cool artwork, diagrams, and handouts to pass around to the players, etc... I might even throw down some cash for a handful of Andrew Boulton's miniatures off of Shapeways to give to the players at the end (that's if I have more money by then).

And I've wondered if you can turn 'Shadows' into a rescue operation (other than rescuing your own arses). Say a passenger shuttle or something gets blasted and 'your team is sent to rescue the shuttle' or something like that. Maybe not - it's just a thought.

But lastly, I want to give the players a really cool, memorable game.

So I guess I'm looking for ideas.

And if you are ever near Champaign, Illinois (we drove about 2 hours to get there) at the end of January, DonM and his crew throw a really great gaming convention.

 

[far-trader]

...I've also heard that there is a 'Deep Shadows' adventure, but on a Google search I'm only coming up with a video game.

This help you with I can Padawan, strong is my google-fu tonight...

http://traveller.downport.com/mt/

(link to the pdf in the top bit there)

 

[DonM]

Thanks for the Winter War mention... Yes, I'd love to see Traveller boosted here, but it's difficult for me to do since I'm the Chair of this con...

But any Traveller referees who think a drive to Champaign, IL might be interesting in 2012 (last weekend in January, unless they move the SuperBowl)...

Drop me a note at dmckinne@winterwar.org (that's a different e-mail than the one I usually give out, so I know it's a convention e-mail).

Thanks again, and I wish I'd more time to talk.

Two years ago, Marc and Ken Burnside were here, and the three of us had some good discussions, sadly not too many other Traveller fans around.

If I could get a track of Traveller adventures, I'd work on persuading Marc to PLAY in one or more of them....

So if you think you're brave enough as a referee to have Marc as a player, you've got a year to think about that idea.

 

[Scarecrow]

I've just started warming this up for my group. I'm hoping to run it after Tower Trouble (White Dwarf 71). I've made a 3D block model of the pyramids and catacombs and I'm hoping to do some illustrations using that, including a satellite image of the area including the pyramids and a painting of the Pyramids as viewed from the crash site as handouts for the players and a 3D map for the GM. Maybe some details too like the statues.
I'm also designing the interior. I probably won't be making floorplans as such but I may do some illustrations of key locations.
I have a grand plan to turn the whole thing into an Unreal level too but that's strictly wish-list

If I do any of the above at all (I'm notoriously attention deficient) then I'll be sure to post it here or at least let you know and you're welcome to use any of it in your con game.

Crow

PS - Mark Harrison's group played through this in The Travellers - Story 3

 

[Dragoner]

I didn't know that this was happening, maybe I can make it next year, I am only a couple hours east in West Lafayette, Indiana.

-Robert

 

[Spinward Scout]

@far-trader - Thanks! May the google-fu be with you, always...

@DonM - Gaming with Marc would be AWESOME!

@Scarecrow - Thanks!

@Dragoner - Mark it on your calendar for next year.

Found a couple of threads:

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=11025

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=5680

Having the CT CD is great. I just printed it out from The Traveller Book. I'll have to look to see if it's any different than the Double Adventure.

 

[HiverLord]

I'm in the Twin Cities... not too far. It'd be fun.
I'll have to talk the wife into it, though...

 

[Dragoner]

@Dragoner - Mark it on your calendar for next year.

That I will do, looks like a big convention too.

 

[Spinward Scout]

So I'm thinking that Shadows should live up to it's name and that the lighting shouldn't be as good as it's written. Here's my changes. Roll in each room/area the characters enter (or roll ahead of time). Don't roll in the rooms that already have a problem with the lighting.

Roll 2d6
2 ~ Sparking
3 ~ None
4 ~ Flickering
5 ~ Dim
6 ~ None
7 ~ Normal
8 ~ Dim
9 ~ None
10 ~ Variable
11 ~ Dim
12 ~ None

Sparking - the lighting is off but creating an electrical discharge of some sort
Dim - the lighting is very low, just enough to make out shapes
Flickering - the lighting flickers on and off, sometimes creating a strobe effect
None - lighting is damaged or turned off somehow
Normal - the lighting is as described in the adventure
Variable - lighting slowly brightens to Dim for a few seconds, then shuts off. And then repeats

(Table can also be used aboard derelict starships)

In rooms/area that have rolled bad or no lighting, the group has to use flashlights/headlamps or rely on indirect lighting from the previous or next room/area.

 

[Scarecrow]

I totally agree. I found it odd that all the tunnels were reasonably well lit.
Stumbling about in the dark with helmet torches is much more atmospheric.

Crow

 

[Spinward Scout]

Stumbling about in the dark with helmet torches is much more atmospheric.

That's the feel I want to convey. Almost a 'Haunted House' type of atmosphere. Sounds heard over external microphones or even through the VACC suit helmet. Characters seeing something out of the corner of their eye.

I'm going to change around the creatures a bit and make them more alien and grotesque/horrifying. Fungus overgrown on the walls. VACC suit breaches that don't instantly kill in order to ramp up the intensity/dangerousness but give the characters a small but fighting chance.

 

[PVernon]

Maps

Just for grins and giggles, I have made Subsector maps for both the GM and Players, and system map using CC3. I will post thumb nails here as soon as I can get them posted on my page. After that I will have a pdf of the maps for download and the original .fcw as well. To use the .fcw you will need to have CC3 and Cosmographer 3.