Total Beginner to RPG's need some advice about traveller.

[Tset_Tsyung]

Hi there all,

First off this is my first post, if I've asked something that has already been answered then please provide a link so I can stop wasting everyone's time...

Basically I'm a noob to RPG's (although I've loved all the Fallouts on the PC), but have recently purchased the "3:16 Carnage amongst the stars". I've played one game with my brother and our wives and we really enjoyed it - of course we totally didn't take it at all seriously and just had a laugh (anythign more serious and I don't think they'd play).

However that game is mainly combat - I am going to try and expand the story with more rolls and puzzles and such.

We only like the idea of Science Fiction games and I would like to know what the traveller games are like. Most reviews are in depth and talk about the mechanics, but don't provide ANY details about how easy it is to pick up for casual new players.

Would this be a good game to move onto if we wanted more adventure and story? If so how would I get into it? It's VERY confusing when the same game has been redone several times with new mechanics!!!

I've been looking at the serenity game (yes I know it has it's flaws) as we're all fans of the series and film. Would this perhaps been an easier choice as it all uses the one system?

I would ask that in your answers beware that I have NO IDEA what GRUPS and T20 are (seriously, NO idea), and if you could give a rough cost estimate of requirements to start playing and a list of said requirements I would be eternally in your favour!

Thank to y'all before hand!!!



Mike

 

[BytePro]

Straight up, for your group, sounds like Serenity might be the best choice to keep everyone hooked... Traveller will provide you greater freedom and material if you want to go beyond (and I like the mechanics better).

Do suggest you take a look at Mongoose Traveller (current licensee). Some free open content rules can be found at http://www.travellersrd.com/ so you can get an idea. Their main site is at www.mongoosepublishing.com and they have a forum as well.

See http://www.farfuture.net/ for most of the other versions (much is also sold at drivethrurpg and the like).

You only really need one 'book' for Mongoose or most of the other versions (Classic Traveller books 1-3 can be obtained together - the CT CD-ROMs and Reprints provide a lot of material for a low price...)

Enjoy!

 

[Tset_Tsyung]

BytePro,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. I've had a quick look at the mongoose site and they do have the introductory book for 8 quid! (about $15 for our USA friends)

Think I'll check that out. Especially as the serenity game is currently out of print. Does anyone know when this might be taken up again? Downloading the PDF is the only way to get it without out paying through the nose for a second hand copy. And that is a big hit on my conscience... as it is illegal and so on.

Other than that I think I'll check out the mongoose licensee soon, many thanks again bytepro!

 

[robject]

I think BytePro nailed it in one. Mongoose's core Traveller rulebook is all you need.

While I also agree that Serenity would be a good choice, it is out of print... but there are many Firefly fans in this board who have put in some effort to make Firefly work with the Traveller rules. So maybe Mongoose will have what you need, and this board can point you to free resources on the web.

 

[aramis]

Traveller is likely the original system which Joss was playing when the 'Verse was first a glimmer in his mind's eye. Many of my Traveller games before I saw Firefly were very much like Firefly in tone and technology levels.

My dislike of the Cortex system notwithstanding, The Serenity RPG is out of print, can be hard to find used, and the PDF edition is no longer legally available. (MWP gave up their license.)

Traveller in any edition supports a variety of playstyles. I'd suggest picking up the Mongoose Core Rules, and treating it like a slightly more realistic version of the Firefly feel.

The core "things Traveller"

• Jump Drive (the FTL drive) always takes a week no matter how far you went
• No blasters, just heavy-to-carry lasers and very comparable damage slugthrowers, and some very heavy-to-carry highly lethal plasma and fusion guns at higher tech levels
• Constant thrust drives (Except in one edition)
• Artificial gravity
• disparate tech levels by world
• tendency to monolithic world governments
• Many main characters will have military backgrounds

I highly recommend the Mongoose Traveller core rules (The supplements are often less than stellar, but the core rules are very solid), and if you want bigger ships, Mongoose's High Guard.