MGT Only: Supplement 13: Starport Encounters - Now Available

[MongooseMatt]

Supplement 13: Starport Encounters is the latest core book for Traveller and we think it is one of the best!

You can find Starport Encounters at;

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/120642/Supplement-13-Starport-Encounters?affiliate_id=7242

It happens to every referee at one time or another. The players jump in-system, dock at a starport, offload passengers and cargo, and then ask a string of questions.

‘So, what other ships are in the port?’

‘This cargo of pharmaceuticals – which does it actually contain?’

‘I go to the bar for a few drinks. Who else is around right now?’

This book will allow you to answer those questions with the minimum of effort, giving every appearance to your players that you have created your universe down to the very last detail. You come off looking like a World Class referee, while your players have the joy of experiencing a bustling universe where there are plenty of other people around who clearly have their own lives to lead, making it feel like a real, living, breathing place.

Supplement 13: Starport Encounters provides you with hundreds of fellow travellers, cargoes and starcrews, any of which can lead to a brand new adventure.

 

[Marchand]

I just bought Supp 13 and 101 Starcrews from BITS without realising 101 Starcrews duplicates the first third of Supp 13. 101 Starcrews is 3.11 pounds on Drivethru; Supp 13 is 9.34 pounds.

I'm not really complaining over the price of a pint and a packet of crisps - I should have checked the free previews. But if you only need the starcrews and not the cargoes or the NPC listing, then you only need 101 Starcrews.

Overall I consider it worth the extra six quid for the stuff in Supp 13.

 

[Spinward Scout]

I'm going to plead ignorance and just say I misunderstood some of what you just said, Marchand. I'm going to assume a 'packet of crisps' is a bag of chips? And I've never been able to figure out what a pound or a quid is. Although I do realize it's money.

 

[Marchand]

And I've never been able to figure out what a pound or a quid is. Although I do realize it's money.

I think TNE introduced "exchange rates"

 

[rancke]

I'm going to assume a 'packet of crisps' is a bag of chips? And I've never been able to figure out what a pound or a quid is. Although I do realize it's money.

A quid is slang for a pound. A pound (sterling) is extremely easy to google. By today's exchange rate it is worth $1.62.


Hans

 

[SpaceBadger]

It happens to every referee at one time or another. The players jump in-system, dock at a starport, offload passengers and cargo, and then ask a string of questions.

‘So, what other ships are in the port?’

‘This cargo of pharmaceuticals – which does it actually contain?’

‘I go to the bar for a few drinks. Who else is around right now?’

This book will allow you to answer those questions with the minimum of effort, giving every appearance to your players that you have created your universe down to the very last detail. You come off looking like a World Class referee, while your players have the joy of experiencing a bustling universe where there are plenty of other people around who clearly have their own lives to lead, making it feel like a real, living, breathing place.

So, those of you who bought this and have looked it over... does it live up to the ad copy quoted above?

I ask because I have mostly been disappointed by game products that provide lots of random stuff by rolling on tables - from the old Judges Guild stuff up to the "66" Traveller stuff today. Does this product give useful results, or do you have to do a lot of re-rolls to avoid silliness and get something you really want to use?

 

[whulorigan]

I'm going to assume a 'packet of crisps' is a bag of chips?

In the UK, "Crisps" are Potato Chips, and "Chips" are French Fries.

 

[Spinward Scout]

I think TNE introduced "exchange rates"

So now I have to wait 3500 years to exchange my money?

A quid is slang for a pound. A pound (sterling) is extremely easy to google. By today's exchange rate it is worth $1.62.

Thanks Hans!

In the UK, "Crisps" are Potato Chips, and "Chips" are French Fries.

And people wonder why I have a confused look on my face a lot. :rofl:

 

[Shonner]

I'm going to plead ignorance and just say I misunderstood some of what you just said, Marchand. I'm going to assume a 'packet of crisps' is a bag of chips? And I've never been able to figure out what a pound or a quid is. Although I do realize it's money.

A quid is a buck. The UK has other names for apartment, cigarette, elevator, truck, etc, even though they still speak English over there.

 

[MongooseMatt]

In the UK, "Crisps" are Potato Chips, and "Chips" are French Fries.

Actually, French Fries are thin chips (like you get at McDonalds). Big, fat, greasy chips (from the local Fish & Chip shop) are called, well, chips

Best served in paper.

I ask because I have mostly been disappointed by game products that provide lots of random stuff by rolling on tables - from the old Judges Guild stuff up to the "66" Traveller stuff today. Does this product give useful results, or do you have to do a lot of re-rolls to avoid silliness and get something you really want to use?

There are a handful of random tables in this book (mainly to do with cargo), but that is not the mainstay - the vast majority is good, solid, honest, adventure hook material.

If you click on the preview on this page (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/120642/Supplement-13-Starport-Encounters), and look at pages 5 & 6, that sort of material forms the majority of the book.

 

[HG_B]

There are a handful of random tables in this book (mainly to do with cargo), but that is not the mainstay - the vast majority is good, solid, honest, adventure hook material.

If you click on the preview on this page (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/120642/Supplement-13-Starport-Encounters), and look at pages 5 & 6, that sort of material forms the majority of the book.

Just because of this example I'm going to purchase:

"s3. Cooper –
Scout
Crew: Pilot Rick Marassan, Navigator/Engineer Erich Barakan.
Passengers: 5-20 Low passage.
Cargo: Passenger luggage only.

Ship: A somewhat elderly Scout ship, badly kept and in
severe need of repair.

Referee:
Rick and Erich dropped out of Scout academy,
purchased a derelict ship and used their savings to patch
it into shape and bribe an inspector for a space-worthiness
certificate. Their lack of skills impeded success as traders
and passengers shied away from their dodgy-looking ship,
so they resorted to packing all available space on the ship
with low berths to transport desperate refugees and poorer
travellers.

Regrettably, this pair are responsible for the deaths of several
of their passengers due to the criminally poor state of their
low berths and lack of medical ability. They disembark live
passengers quickly, then dump any bodies into the waste
disposal system."

 

[Jame]

This looks like it might be useful. I want it now.

 

[atpollard]

Just because of this example I'm going to purchase:

Ok, I don't generally take much interest in adventure hooks ... but that was inspired. I would love to encounter that pair and their scout ship.

Looks like MgT S13 deserves a closer look.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Just because of this example I'm going to purchase:

s3. Cooper – Scout

This book is _full_ of things like that.

Ok, I don't generally take much interest in adventure hooks ... but that was inspired. I would love to encounter that pair and their scout ship.

Looks like MgT S13 deserves a closer look.

I said on our forums (and Facebook) that I thought this was one of the best supplements we have published for some time - your players touch down at a starport and just by them looking out of the viewport (and you flicking through this book) you have half a dozen adventure hooks ready to go. But, more than that, you _also_ have a vibrant starport where things are obviously happening even when the players are not there.

Get off the ship and into the starport itself, and you have just as many 'travellers,' characters wandering about, looking for passage or to make trouble, again all giving the appearence of a living, breathing place.

And then the players start to buy cargo, and find they are not just moving boxes around.

I _am_ biased, but this book really is worth a look.

 

[rancke]

Ok, I don't generally take much interest in adventure hooks ... but that was inspired. I would love to encounter that pair and their scout ship.

As despicable scumbags that deserve to be spaced they work well enough, but I don't quite know how I'd get the PCs interested in their fate. If they have a ship of their own, they'd have only casual interest in the Scout and its crew, and if they didn't have a ship it would take massive railroading to get them aboard as passengers. At least, it would take massive railroading to get me aboard.

Perhaps one of the destitute people desperate enough to take passage with them who died turns out to have family rich enough to pay the PCs to try and find him, but not rich enough to have other ways to track him...


Hans

 

[HG_B]

Ok, I don't generally take much interest in adventure hooks ... but that was inspired. I would love to encounter that pair and their scout ship.

Looks like MgT S13 deserves a closer look.

Yes, that was a coffee spitting moment for me. Had to chuckle.

 

[HG_B]

As despicable scumbags that deserve to be spaced they work well enough, but I don't quite know how I'd get the PCs interested in their fate.

They have good hook suggestions as part of each write up. But, have to realize that not every item will be a fit with every gaming group. That's an impossible order.

 

[Dagrill]

Actually, French Fries are thin chips (like you get at McDonalds). Big, fat, greasy chips (from the local Fish & Chip shop) are called, well, chips

Best served in paper.
.

Hmmm, I would say best served in a buttie...

Kind Regards

David

 

[tancred]

I've started reading the PDF I bought off DrivethruRpg.com, and some of these people WILL be appearing in my current TravellerHero game.
I especially appreciate the descriptions of the characters and the plot hooks for each ship.
Always steal from the best is my rule as a GM, and this is high-quality stuff indeed.