You got it.If you need to keep in touch off forum, I'll PM you my email address.
Not going to share with the rest of the board? See how you are!
:rofl:
So... Psion?
- Thread starter Spinward Scout
- Start date
Not going to share with the rest of the board? See how you are!
:rofl:
Border Reiver
SOC-14 1K
Ok, it's been a while and whilst I've been playing MGT this book is another one that irks me.
Nothing wrong with the writing per se, I've realised that what is bothering me about this (and other MGT books) is an editing problem. Mongoose appear to be trying to bulk out books instead of either cutting the page count or chroming up the product.
My main (and minor problem) with Psion is FOUR PIGGIN' PAGES OF PHOBIAS. Seriously, other books have phobias, GURPS, Call of Cthulhu, all have fairly concise lists of phobias without using up so much space. Fair enough, I can't think of another game publication with such a comprehensive list but do we really need it?
My other editorial irk which pervades most of MGT is the great swathes of EMPTY SPACE. Half page, quarter page, eighth page. Psion is full of them, I even found a page with a quarter page of text, a quarter page of art and half a page of empty space. When I'm paying £15 to £20 for a book I expect it to be packed. Hell, fill it up with character vignettes, drabbles, art, random tables just don't expect me to pay money for empty space again.
Now after that rant can I say that I'm finding Psion to be quite useful but again just missing the mark for me. I'll give it 3½ stars out of 5. (4 or 4½ if it was better layed out and edited)
Nothing wrong with the writing per se, I've realised that what is bothering me about this (and other MGT books) is an editing problem. Mongoose appear to be trying to bulk out books instead of either cutting the page count or chroming up the product.
My main (and minor problem) with Psion is FOUR PIGGIN' PAGES OF PHOBIAS. Seriously, other books have phobias, GURPS, Call of Cthulhu, all have fairly concise lists of phobias without using up so much space. Fair enough, I can't think of another game publication with such a comprehensive list but do we really need it?
My other editorial irk which pervades most of MGT is the great swathes of EMPTY SPACE. Half page, quarter page, eighth page. Psion is full of them, I even found a page with a quarter page of text, a quarter page of art and half a page of empty space. When I'm paying £15 to £20 for a book I expect it to be packed. Hell, fill it up with character vignettes, drabbles, art, random tables just don't expect me to pay money for empty space again.
Now after that rant can I say that I'm finding Psion to be quite useful but again just missing the mark for me. I'll give it 3½ stars out of 5. (4 or 4½ if it was better layed out and edited)
Space Hamster
SOC-12
At the top of page 14 it starts out "If you roll Special, you may..."
However, even with the flaws of the white space and phobias that anyone could have cribbed from Cthulhu...I was deeply impressed how useful and fun this book was. It does add to my Traveller Universe much depth that I had previously just been playing around with similar concepts.
We can argue about white space (never sure why gamers always want big blocks of text spilling everywhere - they really don't, we have sales data to back that up!), but check out Cthulhu's phobias, and then have another look at Psion. If I say so myself, it is actually a clever bit of writing. . .
Mission accomplished
Border Reiver
SOC-14 1K
We can argue about white space and then compare your sales figures with Wizards, White Wolf or even SJG that don't have quite as much emptiness. Joke. But I would feel a little less short changed if there wasn't at least 3 pages worth of empty space.
As far as the book goes I like it but again on the phobia front do you really need such a comprehensive list? Does it really need to be spread over 4 pages? If the answer is yes then can they at least get the definitions right. Here are 3 random examples;
Batophobia defined as fear of heights is actually the fear of high (or tall) things such as a tall building or animal.
Acarophobia defined as fear of itching is actually a fear of mites and other parasites, a delusional disorder which is often indicated by persistent scratching/itching.
Pantophobia defined as fear of everything is in fact a non-specific fear.
There are more but I think what I'm trying to get across is clever writing or not, just taking a dictionary definition and printing in a section which is meant to address psychiatric issues instead of looking at the medical meaning isn't that clever. Notwhithstanding the comprehensive nature of the list there are a few listed that aren't psychiatric issues but social problems or physical manifestations.
Anyway the criticisms are minor, the book is overall very good. I love the careers, the equipment is good fun and the powers as good if not better than anything done in Traveller previously.
Joke. But I would feel a little less short changed if there wasn't at least 3 pages worth of empty space. As far as the book goes I like it but again on the phobia front do you really need such a comprehensive list? Does it really need to be spread over 4 pages? If the answer is yes then can they at least get the definitions right. Here are 3 random examples;
Batophobia defined as fear of heights is actually the fear of high (or tall) things such as a tall building or animal.
Acarophobia defined as fear of itching is actually a fear of mites and other parasites, a delusional disorder which is often indicated by persistent scratching/itching.
Pantophobia defined as fear of everything is in fact a non-specific fear.
There are more but I think what I'm trying to get across is clever writing or not, just taking a dictionary definition and printing in a section which is meant to address psychiatric issues instead of looking at the medical meaning isn't that clever. Notwhithstanding the comprehensive nature of the list there are a few listed that aren't psychiatric issues but social problems or physical manifestations.
Anyway the criticisms are minor, the book is overall very good. I love the careers, the equipment is good fun and the powers as good if not better than anything done in Traveller previously.
I'll take that comparison, with all three companies.
Border Reiver
SOC-14 1K
Good for you.
That can only be good news for Traveller and for British gaming.
Any chance of filling up the gaps in future? There weren't any in Armageddon 2089 or RQ? At least not to the same extent.
That can only be good news for Traveller and for British gaming.
Any chance of filling up the gaps in future? There weren't any in Armageddon 2089 or RQ? At least not to the same extent.
White space is not an evil - even if it happens at the end of a chapter (for an extreme example, look at the difference between a novel that has white space between chapters, with chapters always starting on the facing page, and those that just stream them altogether).
You are also not being cheated - if anything it costs us a little more, not you. For example, we normally charge $24.95 for a 128 page book. We would also charge $24.95 for a 120 page book, and for a 140 page book.
In other words, if we would save 3 pages by eliminating all white space, the book would not suddenly be priced at $24.87
Border Reiver
SOC-14 1K
Quote of the week,
Accepted, but I am Scottish and it still looks like I'm losing out. :rofl:
Anyway congrats on a very good generic Traveller product. Great scope for a lot of ideas. Hope to see Agent soon and looking forward to the Vehicle Design System when it comes, hope your ready for the onslaught from the Gearheads. :devil:
Good luck with Dragonmeet SW, I'd say see you there but work demands otherwise.
The stakes have already been sharpened.
Border Reiver
SOC-14 1K
Out of interest is there a VDS lite with Hammer's Slammers or is it just vehicles designed using the system?
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