Using Other Systems for Traveller

[Blue Ghost]

I am assuming that you are addressing your question to me, Blue Ghost.

Call it a case of liking another combat system that I was using long before I got into Traveller, and decided that it worked very well for simulating small-scale personal combat.

Interesting. I guess it depends on when you were playing too. In the 80s there wasn't much else (maybe two or other three systems to draw from).

You'll have to pardon my question, because when I first got into the game there really weren't too many other systems for ranged personal combat. I'm not sure if it was you or not, but someone also not only used a different system, but also kept out space/starship combat and energy weapons, which kind of strips the game down to some bare essentials.

 

[scottscane]

I've used Traveller with BattleTech, Space 1889, Richthofens War and Advanced Squadleader-never used anything for traveller but traveller.

 

[JimMarn]

I've been pondering placing my AD&D 1E campaign into my Traveller space and making adjustments.

However.

There are things going on in the far background of my AD&D pocket universe that wouldn't work well with Traveller. Like what NPCs are manipulating things...

 

[Timerover51]

Interesting. I guess it depends on when you were playing too. In the 80s there wasn't much else (maybe two or other three systems to draw from).

You'll have to pardon my question, because when I first got into the game there really weren't too many other systems for ranged personal combat. I'm not sure if it was you or not, but someone also not only used a different system, but also kept out space/starship combat and energy weapons, which kind of strips the game down to some bare essentials.

I was using Don Featherstone's Skirmish Wargaming book in 1976-78, while sitting at Walter Reed in DC waiting to find out if I would walk again, and one of the nurses had a husband who was a gamer. Between Blue Book and First Edition D&D and Don's gaming books, I was able to keep my sanity. I figured out a way of playing D&D solitaire with the encounter charts and treasure charts in the first Blue Book for D&D, and spent a lot of time playing with it on my hospital bed tray table. Meals did get it the way at times, normally at a bad time in the middle of combat.

For the Skirmish games, we had a sand table with lots of cork board to work with in terms of terrain and buildings.

 

[Murphy]

I use a rules system derived from Fate and Risus. Its main selling point is having dedicated minigames for space combat, personal combat, repairing, pathfinding/searching/skimming fuel, and of course character creation.

It's been developed and used for about ten years, throughout several gaming groups I had. Someday I'm going to publish an official rulebook.

 

[Ulsyus]

Hmmm. I can see the tile now: The Rules According to Murphy.

Really encouraging for players...

 

[Ran Targas]

Used Cyberpunk rules for a campaign because of the tech aspects. Friday Night Fire Fight rules worked pretty well too.

 

[Murphy]

Hmmm. I can see the tile now: The Rules According to Murphy.

Really encouraging for players...

That's a nice idea... to name the system "Murphy's Law" :devil:

 

[Ulsyus]

Yes, all in the 3I, or my ATU/proto version of it at least

I played in a Shadow Run campaign years ago where the ref migrated it through SR1Ed, CyberPunk, SR2Ed, back to CP, then to SR3Ed. We gave it away then as the characters had been translated so many times they didn't really seem like who they started out as, and not in an evolving and growing way.

Maybe this is why I like T5 so much - I've been able to add in bits from CT and MT and T4 with very little effort, so I don't need to worry about using a different system as such.

 

[saundby]

I've use a modified version of Mercenaries, Spies, and Private Eyes. It worked pretty well, but I ended up going back to CT. In fact, I used my own shipbuilding and space travel system for over 30 years, but now I just use Traveller's system.

 

[aramis]

I've run OTU games using 2300, EABA, and Star Hero. I've written a conversion for 1st ed VTM, that's been used by several groups. I helped a friend port to d6.

In fact, my campaign for the T20 playtest switched to being EABA. The EABA mechanics work wonderfully for Traveller. And the TN's map nicely to those in MegaTraveller. As in, the range is identical.

 

[Quint]

Used Cyberpunk 2020 for years, at this point I may have run more Traveller using that engine than any of the Traveller engines. I seem to recall experimenting with some other systems, but nothing really stands out - I think Space Opera actually got a fair shake at one point.

D.

 

[JimMarn]

I was wondering, has anyone used some or part of the rules of 'Call of Cthulhu' for Traveller ?

Seems to me this would work for a deserted starship, or a planet adventure.

Hmm... Or a misjump ? Misjumps have to have some reason, maybe this is it ?

 

[Ackehece]

I was wondering, has anyone used some or part of the rules of 'Call of Cthulhu' for Traveller ?

Seems to me this would work for a deserted starship, or a planet adventure.

Hmm... Or a misjump ? Misjumps have to have some reason, maybe this is it ?

http://paizo.com/products/btpy8fh5?Chthonian-Stars

 

[Kilgs]

Doing 2300 with Heavy Gear/Jovian Chronicles (Silhouette) is on my list of things to do.

 

[infojunky]

I too like the CT/Starter/TTB and am currently looking at combat system options: out of curiosity, what did you replace the combat system with?

Right now I am considering some streamline version of Snapshot/At Close Quarters/AHL.

 

[infojunky]

In my case it's because I find the Traveller rules inadequate to my needs. That is especially the case with the basic rules, which are much to coarse-grained for me. Two six-siders just don't provide adequate decision space IMO.

Have you considered switching to 2d12?

It's a meme going around Wargaming circles as a mod for d6 based games that are too granular...

 

[aramis]

I was wondering, has anyone used some or part of the rules of 'Call of Cthulhu' for Traveller ?

Seems to me this would work for a deserted starship, or a planet adventure.

Hmm... Or a misjump ? Misjumps have to have some reason, maybe this is it ?

There is also Other World Games' Worlds Beyond, which has an aslan clone (the Swarr), uses the BRP engine, and implements a traveller knock-off setting and playstyle. Including percentile Tech Levels.... It's the closest BRP-driven game to Traveller RAW... Same Tone, Same tech ranges, same themes, and even an obviously borrowed alien species.

 

[JimMarn]

http://paizo.com/products/btpy8fh5?Chthonian-Stars

Interesting, but a bit pricey now that I retired. Maybe it will be on sale for the holidays.

 

[JimMarn]

There is also Other World Games' Worlds Beyond, which has an aslan clone (the Swarr), uses the BRP engine, and implements a traveller knock-off setting and playstyle. Including percentile Tech Levels.... It's the closest BRP-driven game to Traveller RAW... Same Tone, Same tech ranges, same themes, and even an obviously borrowed alien species.

I hadn't heard of that game company before. Thanks for the info !