Sell me on TNE

[Random Goblin]

I'm a die-hard CT fan, but I managed to grab the free download of TNE while it was available.

I also kind of have a soft spot for TNE since I posed for the cover painting of one of the supplements, back in the day.

So what does TNE have that I need? The setting seems compelling enough, from my casual knowledge of it. But it always seemed like GDW's "house system" was just really complicated. Granted, it's entirely possible that I'm remembering how "complicated" it was when I was like, thirteen or so, when TNE first came out.

Any words of luring and seduction?

 

[Malenfant]

The system probably is a bit complicated - especially if you're used to rules-sparse CT. That said, Fire Fusion and Steel is a gearhead's dream come true IMO (plus it's incredibly useful for any other scifi game too). But the setting is awesome.

Forget that it "tore down the Imperium". Forget that it supposedly "invalidates everything that anyone ever played before" (because it doesn't anyway - nobody ever forced anyone to drop what they were playing and pick up TNE instead). Forget the frothing of the rabid TNE- and Nilsen haters.

Here we have a setting where the PCs can actually make a difference. As part of the Reformation Coalition, their actions will be noticed on a large scale, not disappear into a teeming background. There's rebuilding, there's unknown frontiers, there's wildly unpredictable and intelligent strains of Virus to contend with (does it want to kill you? Or just protect you because it's a God or Mother strain? Or maybe it just wants to talk?). There's moral ambiguity (is it right to just take what you need to survive? To topple 'technologically elevated dictators' if the locals seem to not mind their leaders?).

EDIT: And if you don't like that, there's always the Regency. Though that's more democratic than the old Imperium was, and it has its own problems with Zhodani refugees and Aslan invaders, and keeping the Virus at bay at its borders.

Yes, it's very different from CT. I do not see this as a bad thing.

 

[mike wightman]

The setting, buy it for the setting.

The rules are Ok, apart from personal combat.

 

[Random Goblin]

Well, I don't need to buy it, because I have it. So you're really just convincing me to actually read it.

 

[Random Goblin]

I did like the TNE novels (Dream of Chaos, Death of Wisdom, the third one that never made it out, but that's okay because dad got paid for the cover anyway).

 

[Border Reiver]

It's great, FF&S is the most amazing design sequence ever created (even if every small arm I design is about 3 times as heavy as they should be?) and the setting allows all sorts of fun but Sigg's right about the combat, a T2K grognard's dream where an entire weekend can be spent playing out a single encounter.

If you can pick up Path of Tears and The Regency Sourcebook you'll have some excellent material.

Oh and Battle Rider is quite fun too.

 

[Badbru]

Random Goblin; I only play TNE. Well, infact I run a TNE game rather than play in one (if that's a valid distinction) and the mechanics of it can be complicated. Even I'm thinking of changing to the CT+ 2d6 4/8/12/16 mechanic and I'm one of the most vocal TNE supporters around here.(though the task systems not really the complicated bit ) So as far as the core rules book goes I'd say read it all once, and then re-read the background and setting info in it. You'd not be alone if you used CT rules to play Traveller in the TNE setting, Richard Perks does, among others.

The best things of TNE aren't in the core rules book.

They are "FF&S", which equates to "Striker 1" for ability to design anything, and "Path of Tears", of which others have claimed should be the model for all sourcebooks.

 

[robject]

FFS is nice. I finally got to look it over last night, and it's great. Add the storyline to that, and TNE is cool. It's not my cup of rules, but it's still cool.

 

[Random Goblin]

Originally posted by Badbru:
They are "FF&S", which equates to "Striker 1" for ability to design anything, and "Path of Tears", of which others have claimed should be the model for all sourcebooks.

I've heard good things about FF&S.

I have like three copies of Path of Tears. Um, I actually have the original artwork for Path of Tears hanging right in front of me. I even was the model for the figure in the foreground.

(David R. Deitrick, old-school Traveller artist, is my dad, so as a baby I inhaled airbrush fumes from all of the alien module covers for CT, and Traveller was permanently burned into my brain)

I am bragging, of course, but the reason I'm bragging is by way of saying that, the fact that PoT is so well-thought-of is good, since I have it. If that made any sense at all. That means I don't have to go find a copy.

 

[Random Goblin]

 

[William]

Thank you.

William

 

[Whipsnade]

RG,

The TNE free download should have done the job already.

So the rules are GDW's house system, who cares? The setting is pure, unadulterated, GOLD.

Path of Tears is without a doubt the finest sourcebook I have ever owned, read, seen, or even heard about. Period.

FF&S1e is a supplement of nearly infinite uses, you can use it to 'gearhead' the 58th Century Viral Era, the 20th Century World Wars Era, and the 17th Century Age of Exploration equally well. You can even explore alternate technology paths with it like 'steam' or 'cyber' punk.

Buy TNE.

Use TNE.

You will not regret it.

Period.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Chuck Anumia]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:
Buy TNE.

Use TNE.

You will not regret it.

Period.

What is your take on 1248?

 

[davidence]

All this talk about TNE has made me interested.

Was there a CD made of all the TNE material? If so where can I find it?

Thanks.

 

[Malenfant]

Originally posted by Baron W. The PreacherMan:
What is your take on 1248? [/QB]

Well, my take is that it's even better.

Originally posted by Dence:
Was there a CD made of all the TNE material? If so where can I find it?

Nope. There's no CDs available of any old Traveller material yet (unless that MT one made it out). But you can buy and download all the books electronically for very reasonable prices from DTRPG:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_26

 

[spank]

My take on 1248? No matter how you dress it up it is not TNE. Avoid it at all cost.

 

[Malenfant]

Originally posted by spank:
My take on 1248? No matter how you dress it up it is not TNE. Avoid it at all cost.

There's always one isn't there...

Your issue with it, given your rants on the playtest board, is that it didn't turn out the way you wanted it. You don't like how MJD extrapolated and extended the background, you claimed that your way was right when very few people agreed, you were pretty much the lone voice there that didn't like it, and you spent most of your time demanding that it be changed. Sorry, but the way it works is that one opinion does not necessitate that the whole text be changed.

It's not TNE, it's 1248. Things have changed somewhat. But it's still an extension of TNE, whether you like it or not.

 

[aramis]

If you're going to build traveller economics from a ground up approach, it has THE definitive rules for it(, unless you accept GT.). They appear in World Tamer's Handbook. A WTH campaign is kind of like a pendragon campaign; time flys, and loads of details.

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Baron W. The PreacherMan:What is your take on 1248?

Baron W.,

I'm a moot subscriber and have read all the M;1248 playtest files. Discussing M:1248 is difficult without breaking the playtest's confidentiality.

However, suffice it to say that M:1248 will sell like hotcakes.

MJD has 'wrapped up' the Viral Era neatly, has introduced a setting rife with adventure and campaign niches, and will not 'hammer anything flat' with future releases. Mark my words, T20 players will absolutely boggle over the setting.

I would also be remiss if I did not say there are certain aspects about M:1248 I find troubling. Some from a Traveller perspective, some from a 'mechanical' persepctive, and some from an 'esthetic' perspective. However, I had some troubles with TNE too and they didn't stop me from appreciating what was and is a wonderous setting. M:1248 is much the same.


Have fun,
Bill

 

[Badbru]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:

MJD has 'wrapped up' the Viral Era neatly, has introduced a setting rife with adventure and campaign niches, and will not 'hammer anything flat' with future releases.


Have fun,
Bill [/QB]

Unless you've built up a campaign in and around the Covenant of Sufren that is

Ditto to all else though. I'm liking the look of it.