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The Great IMTU Poll, Part I

The Great IMTU Poll, Part I: Gearheadedness

  • Total voters
    121
R

Rhialto the Marvelous

SOC-13
C'mon, you know you want to...

In the interest of peace, let's leap deftly over the +/- of the editions--we've voted on those already anyway.

Instead, shall we move on to what REALLY counts... or not.

Gearheadedness

ge++ Intricacy to the subatomic level, please!

ge+ Details === Color

ge Some detail gives me the flexibility I need for the game.

ge- Too many rules and steps stifles me.

ge-- Ack! Must we try to explain everything?
 
I just have a standard G licence with my voting. I think if you produce one book like UltraTech or FFS TNE edition that inspires as well as giving the gearheads a toolbox, it is a good thing for the game. Where Traveller gets sometimes criticized is the fact that it is ge++ without any supporting software. These days it is possible to make dungeon/starship builders and the lay person this is enough, they will want the computer to do the math and then fly the wretched thing.

So, while, there are a group of dedicated Travellers who might want to build everything and explain it. Think of us the lay, who just want to have there as chrome.
 
ge+, putting me solidly with the majority...

I like enough detail to know how something works, in case my munchkin players want to tweak/break something. Of course, I am a sucker for a good line of technobabble...
 
G, kinda of.

I like to gearhead when off-game (in preperation for game or when i hav free time and I'm in the mood for this), but when I'm in an actual gaming session I like my rules simple, my combat flowing, and the focus on the story and the action rather than on rule details.
 
I find that Traveller falls down by providing design rules with a level of detail that is much greater than the precision of the rule system. Why calculate something to a fraction of a percent and then convert it to a value of +1 to +6 (17% increments). Match the design rules to game effects, if it effects nothing, then just lump it into something else as 'chrome' - Sensors and Control Panels in MT looks like a good candidate for this.
 
ge++ only works if your system is not fixated on discrete increments (100 dT multiples for ships, etc).

So label me "ge"
 
I'd actually rather live with High Guard rules than Striker or Traveller for ship-gen, but I like delving into WBG level of detail for worlds.

So I'll say Ge+
 
This vote pattern is not surprising - it's reasonable to assume that people who post here will trend toward a bit of gearheadedness.
 
I want to know how stuff is handwaved to work, and in my spare time I find books like FF&S to be among the best Traveller supplements for me.

BUT (notice the big but :)) at the gaming table simple descriptions and simple rules are the way to do it for me and my group.
 
aramis said:
Same here; I'm wondering of I should go to ge- ...
Click to expand...

I dialed mine down one notch last week. The older I get, the lower my time and patience for detail that's underneath the threshold of just grab the dice and play...
 
ge-

My love of the intricacy and detail of this part of Traveller fell off pretty early... now I'm mostly concerned when it matters for storyline or plot in a way that's either interesting or really unavoidable without a lot of handwaving.
 
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