Poppyseed45
SOC-12
So, comrades, I'll be starting a brand new Traveller campaign next month, and Classic is the ruleset. This is for my regular tabletop group, and for all of them it'll be the first time playing Traveller. I've got some comments and questions mixed in as I sort out my exact ideas here for the campaign, and I'm hoping to get some commentary on how you all think it would go with the very minor tweaks and such not I'd be making. Feel free to comment or ask questions and the like.
Rules:
I'll be pretty much using the rules "as-is." Book-wise, I'll be using: Books 1-3, 4 (some equipment, and recruiting, mass combat, etc if it happens); Supplements 1, 2, 3 (question in a moment), 4 (comment in a moment), 6 (of course!), 7, 8, and 11.
Rules-wise, I'll run basic combat like it says in Bk1. Space combat will be Bk2 minus the miniatures thing (we'll just use real-world ranges - otherwise, I like the "let's jigger the computer programs and worry if a shot will take us out in one hit" thing).
For character creation, I plan to use Bk1 and Sup4. Failing the Survival roll just means you're kicked out, age 1-3 years, and don't get a skill or benefit. Also, character generation ends for that character.
Another of the few house-rules: any character in a career that does not get rank gets 2 skills per term instead of one (like Scouts). Why? Mostly because the guys with "officer" and promotion rolls can get 4 skills in one term, plus 2 every term thereafter, plus extra loot and goodies when mustering out (not counting extra skills due to rank, like Army Lts and the like). I figure the extra guaranteed skill is a nice balance. Only problem I can see is that certain careers become very "safe" for lots of skill, but then, that's what the reenlistment roll is for (since it's unmodified). That also stops character creation.
Setting:
Setting is the Imperium, as outlined in the Spinward Marches book, and the Library Data info. One change though:
IMTU, Nobles are sort of like the Senators from Republican Rome and "figurehead leaders" in, say, British Commonwealth countries. What I mean is, for me, Nobles are those of family (or achievement) who are allowed to sit on the various Subsector, Sector, or Imperial Senates. The receive no "pay" for this, unless they're in the Noble career (more on this in a moment). The Subsector Duke is more of a "Principes Senatus" than a lord of a piece of the Imperium. In fact, as things are, each planet rules itself, and the Navy and Army are split amongst their various commands.
What are nobles then? Nobles are those who legislate or decree action within their area. For example, for the Imperial Navy to invade rebel worlds in a particular subsector, the Subsector Senate would meet (with all nobles of Baron and above within the subsector able to attend).
Now, how does this fit with the Noble career? Basically, all nobles NOT part of the official career are backbenchers - their title gives them the right to sit on council or committee, and they can vote, but that's it. They do not lead the various councils or subcommittees, they can present neither decree or legislation. That's left for Nobles who work in the career. Think of them as the Tribunes, Praetors, and Consuls of our Imperium - they are the ones who are given governorships in those few places the Imperium runs directly.
They act as local "head of state" for certain ceremonial functions that are the right of the Imperium (for example, Countess So-and-So, for her 3 planets of the Imperium, is the one who can grant Imperial citizenship and signs the papers, or acts as the arbitrator between her three worlds in disagreements). As mentioned, in the Subsector or Sector Senate, she can propose legislation or decrees and petitions, and can sit in judgement of other nobles for crimes against the Imperium.
Thoughts? In my view, this gives plenty of reason why nobles can have title and simultaneously no money, but also why they are highly regarded and will probably receive many benefits for their title. It also lets knights be lower gentry without land; a nice, quiet title. I'll probably right more late but this is what's in my head now.
Rules:
I'll be pretty much using the rules "as-is." Book-wise, I'll be using: Books 1-3, 4 (some equipment, and recruiting, mass combat, etc if it happens); Supplements 1, 2, 3 (question in a moment), 4 (comment in a moment), 6 (of course!), 7, 8, and 11.
Rules-wise, I'll run basic combat like it says in Bk1. Space combat will be Bk2 minus the miniatures thing (we'll just use real-world ranges - otherwise, I like the "let's jigger the computer programs and worry if a shot will take us out in one hit" thing).
For character creation, I plan to use Bk1 and Sup4. Failing the Survival roll just means you're kicked out, age 1-3 years, and don't get a skill or benefit. Also, character generation ends for that character.
Another of the few house-rules: any character in a career that does not get rank gets 2 skills per term instead of one (like Scouts). Why? Mostly because the guys with "officer" and promotion rolls can get 4 skills in one term, plus 2 every term thereafter, plus extra loot and goodies when mustering out (not counting extra skills due to rank, like Army Lts and the like). I figure the extra guaranteed skill is a nice balance. Only problem I can see is that certain careers become very "safe" for lots of skill, but then, that's what the reenlistment roll is for (since it's unmodified). That also stops character creation.
Setting:
Setting is the Imperium, as outlined in the Spinward Marches book, and the Library Data info. One change though:
IMTU, Nobles are sort of like the Senators from Republican Rome and "figurehead leaders" in, say, British Commonwealth countries. What I mean is, for me, Nobles are those of family (or achievement) who are allowed to sit on the various Subsector, Sector, or Imperial Senates. The receive no "pay" for this, unless they're in the Noble career (more on this in a moment). The Subsector Duke is more of a "Principes Senatus" than a lord of a piece of the Imperium. In fact, as things are, each planet rules itself, and the Navy and Army are split amongst their various commands.
What are nobles then? Nobles are those who legislate or decree action within their area. For example, for the Imperial Navy to invade rebel worlds in a particular subsector, the Subsector Senate would meet (with all nobles of Baron and above within the subsector able to attend).
Now, how does this fit with the Noble career? Basically, all nobles NOT part of the official career are backbenchers - their title gives them the right to sit on council or committee, and they can vote, but that's it. They do not lead the various councils or subcommittees, they can present neither decree or legislation. That's left for Nobles who work in the career. Think of them as the Tribunes, Praetors, and Consuls of our Imperium - they are the ones who are given governorships in those few places the Imperium runs directly.
They act as local "head of state" for certain ceremonial functions that are the right of the Imperium (for example, Countess So-and-So, for her 3 planets of the Imperium, is the one who can grant Imperial citizenship and signs the papers, or acts as the arbitrator between her three worlds in disagreements). As mentioned, in the Subsector or Sector Senate, she can propose legislation or decrees and petitions, and can sit in judgement of other nobles for crimes against the Imperium.
Thoughts? In my view, this gives plenty of reason why nobles can have title and simultaneously no money, but also why they are highly regarded and will probably receive many benefits for their title. It also lets knights be lower gentry without land; a nice, quiet title. I'll probably right more late but this is what's in my head now.
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