What would you like to see changed about MGT?

[dmccoy1693]

I'd like an OGL which would allow third parties to develop non-cannonical material for the OTU. I'm aware of all the reasons why Mongoose doesn't want to let this happen, but it's what I want it nonetheless.

My understanding is that its as much Miller as it is Mongoose and they have a license that says the same. So I am not expecting it to happen.

What a 3rd party publisher (3PP) can do is to make general universe material that might feature a Canine or Feline alien or similar. This will make it work rather easily into someone's MTU.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I am waiting for both Mercenary and High Guard to arrive before I comment fully.

1. I would like to see are a set of rules-based online/downloadable generators, a sort of "referee's toolkit" that automates worldgen, Ship Design, trade speculation, all of the things that can bog a Referee from focusing more on storyline. These applets should be easy to use, updateable, and watched carefully for any programming errors.

Maybe its one applet, or several. This applet should be Free, a game support feature from Mongoose. giving it "Traveller" style couldnt hurt either.

2. Also, I would like to see a change from the "write every skill on the page" character sheet to one with open skill slots.

3. I would like to not have Task Systems, and go back to 2d +/- DMs. Task Systems take the Vegas out of it. 2d-10 ought to tell you that you have for difficulty.

The presentation of the OTU doesn't concern me, everyone changes it as soon as they play. I do. I set mine in the OTU of 1100. And "Bad Guys" is dependent on your perspective.

 

[Echo]

If there is one setting book I'd like it'd be Dune. However, I'd like to see a number of settings developed, including original ones from third party people if they fancy. Another one of interest would be something based upon War of The Worlds, maybe. I'd also like to see cyberpunk, something akin to transhuman space, and modern technothrillers represented with supplements eventually too. A fantasy version of Traveller would be very easy to do also.

From the looks of things, we know that there will eventually be a bunch of 2000AD titles, Babylon 5, Starship Troopers, Hammer's Slammers and others. The recent Rebellion association may mean we could see Alien vs Predator along with some other high profile titles too. The Star Trek licence is still open, as far as I know...

I'm not really all that excited by OTU titles, as I've already got the Classic CD-Rom, and I get bored by the reverent attachment to 'cannon' that you tend to get amongst fans. I want something new - and modern - wherever possible.

I would definitely want a computerised generator tool for all the systems used in the corebook along with those used in the splatbooks (ie starships, star systems, vehicles).

Beyond that, just lots of adventures, and maybe single planets developed into whole campaign books.

 

[Border Reiver]

Settings.

Since they're hitting the 2000ad titles I'd really love to see the VCs. My kind of game, Ship crew of 6 highly trained troops, combat armour, big guns, nasty aliens, fuzzy ethics. Brilliant.

As to a third party ATU, I'd love to see Charlie Stross' Eschaton Universe (SingularitySky/Iron Sunrise) done but I honestly don't think that MGT has the tools to do it justice. Not yet anyway.

Space, Above and Beyond. Now that would be fun too.

By the way this is an excellent thread. Proper commentary on what is liked and disliked about MGT and what is needing changed.

 

[Gruffty]

Asimov's Robots/Empire/Foundation universe.

 

[dmccoy1693]

By the way this is an excellent thread. Proper commentary on what is liked and disliked about MGT and what is needing changed.

Me too, highly productive discussion instead of flame wars.

 

[MongooseMatt]

A personal thing (and I know others have opposing views) is that I would prefer to buy a thin rule-book with no pictures for $20 than the same book fattened with artwork for $40.

Well, if you would go for $25, the Pocket Edition is just round the corner. . .

On this note, we are watching the exchange rate very carefully at the moment. We have always said that if the exchange rate was the same as it was when Mongoose started (1.44), then the main book would be $29.95, in US money. If it drops below 1.75 and looks like holding, we will give serious thought to making that shift. However, the Dollar has been in the toilet for a good long while now, and this has to have an effect when you have UK (well, Irish) writers, UK editors, admin, support, etc. It is only the printing we do in the US!

 

[MongooseMatt]

I'd like an OGL which would allow third parties to develop non-cannonical material for the OTU. I'm aware of all the reasons why Mongoose doesn't want to let this happen, but it's what I want it nonetheless.

This is _exactly_ what we are looking at doing, and is the reason why there is a delay with a revised FUP.

The new FUP is basically done, and the TLL will be staying as it is. We are looking at a new Logo Licence that will allow the use of the OTU in a fairly unrestricted fashion (well, just one restriction, really!). We are just mucking about with the wording and the implications, and then we'll be full steam ahead!

 

[dmccoy1693]

this is _exactly_ what we are looking at doing, and is the reason why there is a delay with a revised fup.

The new fup is basically done, and the tll will be staying as it is. We are looking at a new logo licence that will allow the use of the otu in a fairly unrestricted fashion (well, just one restriction, really!). We are just mucking about with the wording and the implications, and then we'll be full steam ahead!

*Drops Jaw* *Eyes Pop Out Of Head*

Umm ... thank you!

 

[kafka47]

Maybe also a 3-5 page (afterall it is pocket sized) description of the Imperium. When I bought MGT to a Con, the first response was so where the great background that Traveller is famous for...

Also, retain the Universal Personality Profile even as you do have the blocks on the character sheet.

Adjust the racial characteristics for a more balanced set of adventurers.

Space on the character sheet for a portrait and have a smart PDF that would either do the die rolls for you or allow you to fill in the blanks.

Comprehensive combat tables and other charts clustered together rather than spread out.

Tabs (just extra printing) the designated the different areas so that a quick flip, you would know that you were in the characters section versus combat versus starships.

Bring in more art...including a revised cover. Something that will grab the attention of a young woman/man and say: "Gotta play this one!" Spinward does it for me...but I am an old gognard. If you need advise...think Honor Harrington covers.

A bit of history of the game...at the back of the book. Copy of the OGL along with a FAQ.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Copy of the OGL

Mongoose's books aren't OGL so they don't have to have a copy of the license in the back of their books. That's why they do an SRD.

The SRD is derived from the book, not the other way around like 3PP books are (who require an OGL in the back).

 

[Andrew Boulton]

*Drops Jaw* *Eyes Pop Out Of Head*

Umm ... thank you!

I second that!

[starts pulling pins out of wax figure of a mongoose]

 

[Supplement Four]

1. I would like to see are a set of rules-based online/downloadable generators, a sort of "referee's toolkit" that automates worldgen, Ship Design, trade speculation, all of the things that can bog a Referee from focusing more on storyline. These applets should be easy to use, updateable, and watched carefully for any programming errors.

Yep, I agree completely. I'd love to see more programming that makes running Traveller easier. Now, I wouldn't use MGT oriented stuff (because I don't use those rules), but if I did, I'd be very interested in programs that helped me create NPCs, run through chargen, build worlds or ships or whatever.

These could be web based or something downloadable.

3. I would like to not have Task Systems, and go back to 2d +/- DMs. Task Systems take the Vegas out of it. 2d-10 ought to tell you that you have for difficulty.

One word: ABSOLUTELY!

I've written many task systems over the years with the UGM being only the last one. Task systems have always been "my thing". I like them. I examine them. I tear them apart, and I make them better. The ones I've written from scratch were each done with a specific purpose in mind.

Given that background, you'd expect me to be using the UGM or some other task system in my own game, right? You'd be wrong.

I travelled that road only to find the elegance of the non-structured system used in CT (see Rule 68A in my sig).

That's the way to go. Standardization is "out". Customization is "in" (or, "back in"), since the hobby started out that way).

The GM should be comfortable with the dice and have a feel for probability (nothing exact, just know that rolling a stat or less on 3D is a lot harder than rolling the same stat or less on 2D). Then, let the GM assign a throw based on the situation.

This is another reason why I love Classic Traveller, just the way it is.

 

[Icosahedron]

Yep, I agree completely. I'd love to see more programming that makes running Traveller easier. Now, I wouldn't use MGT oriented stuff (because I don't use those rules), but if I did, I'd be very interested in programs that helped me create NPCs, run through chargen, build worlds or ships or whatever.

These could be web based or something downloadable.

I've written many task systems over the years with the UGM being only the last one. Task systems have always been "my thing". I like them. I examine them. I tear them apart, and I make them better. The ones I've written from scratch were each done with a specific purpose in mind.


That's the way to go. Standardization is "out". Customization is "in" (or, "back in"), since the hobby started out that way).

Bringing these ideas together - yes, programs would be good, but make them downloadable and customizable. There is nothing worse than making a houserule and then not being able to use the program because it now gives the wrong results.

Well, one thing is worse - dead links to essential online programs when the owner decides the product is no longer worth supporting, or goes bust, or...

 

[Allensh]

I have no problem at all with Traveller becoming the generic sci-fi roleplaying game, but I would like to see Mongoose label the non-OTU stuff more clearly as such. I also think it might have been a bad idea in the long run using the names of previous Traveller publications and making them the "generic" books. Better to use original names for that.

I haven't seen the dissing of the OTU that Aramis mentions (and if example links could be provided, I'd like that...I like the OTU just fine), but that has to stop. While I think its good to expand the game beyond the OTU, it is NOT a good idea to diss my favorite sci-fi RPG setting!

Allen

 

[aramis]

one of the threads disappeared on the Mongoose board last week...

 

[captainjack]

This is _exactly_ what we are looking at doing, and is the reason why there is a delay with a revised FUP.

The new FUP is basically done, and the TLL will be staying as it is. We are looking at a new Logo Licence that will allow the use of the OTU in a fairly unrestricted fashion (well, just one restriction, really!). We are just mucking about with the wording and the implications, and then we'll be full steam ahead!

WAAAAAHHHHHH_HOOOOOOO!

Thanks to you and Marc for this ! Nice to know GW/TSR short term gain isn't the ONLY model for a successful gaming company !

Be sure and mention this over at the Mongoose boards, will you ? It's a kick that it seems to be here first.

 

[captainjack]

one of the threads disappeared on the Mongoose board last week...

Ah yes. You can likely thank the two doctors for that -(me and one other). I wish it wasn't so easy for us to start snapping......ah well.

 

[sfchbryan]

3. I would like to not have Task Systems, and go back to 2d +/- DMs. Task Systems take the Vegas out of it. 2d-10 ought to tell you that you have for difficulty.
perspective.

I have to completely disagree here. I am welded to a task system. It is too much a part of my GM toolkit. It has been my observation that when you go 2d+/- DMs there are just too many DMs to remember. Without a task system, DMs grow like kudzu.

 

[Echo]

one of the threads disappeared on the Mongoose board last week...

I think that was more to do with attacks on individuals, rather than dissing on the OTU.