hirch duckfinder
SOC-13
it all started going wrong when the decision was taken to box the ref in with a task system.
(covers ears and sings loudly)
(covers ears and sings loudly)
When It's Cold I'd Like To Die (July 18th, 2005 interview with MWM on rpg.net)
- Thread starter clementk
- Start date
Jeff M. Hopper
SOC-14 1K
Thanks for the Japanese site links guys! I'll have plenty to look through when I get back from work tonight.
Aramis: What about the Task Resolution solution which came out from the guys over at BITS? I think it was T4.1, but can't remember at the moment.
As to the artwork style: I'm partial to what Syd Mead calls the "technoform box", large blocky shapes which may not necessarily be streamlined. With the invention of grav plates, a ship doesn't have to be streamlined to escape the atmosphere (it will do so faster if streamlined, though).
Aramis: What about the Task Resolution solution which came out from the guys over at BITS? I think it was T4.1, but can't remember at the moment.
As to the artwork style: I'm partial to what Syd Mead calls the "technoform box", large blocky shapes which may not necessarily be streamlined. With the invention of grav plates, a ship doesn't have to be streamlined to escape the atmosphere (it will do so faster if streamlined, though).
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
"The problem with Traveller ships I think is that they're either dull or hideously ugly."
Well, there's the problem with Foss then: his ships are too pretty!
Well, there's the problem with Foss then: his ships are too pretty!
Scarecrow
SOC-14 1K
Cool site, even if I don't have a translation program! I want a few of those Beisel-class DEs... </font>[/QUOTE]Agreed. That really is an Excellent site!
It's a shame the 3D work is so basic because the ideas and designs are absolutely rock solid and the ammount of work that's gone into them is incredible. Wish I could read the pages.
Crow
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
I like the A310 Far Trader section, and the grav tanks look pretty spiffy too.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
What about submarines?
This one will get you giggling.
</font>[/QUOTE]I actually think that looks like a pretty cool and well thought out concept. Though I'd put the main thrusters in the body and use MHD and perhaps have some bow and outboard mounted burst use quiet props for fast attitude and direction changes. And I don't think Fritz would argue that submarines should be designed more like airplanes than surface ships.As far as that goes the DDX didn't get a giggle out of me either. It's a move in the right direction and doesn't look half bad imo.
Oh well, beauty is in the eye of beholder they say, and some wag will counter with love is blind
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
It reminds me of the SeaQuest, not that I ever got to see a very clear picture of it...
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Thank you Andrew
It looks vaguely Vorlon-like...
It looks vaguely Vorlon-like...
Jeff: T4.1 was, for better or worse, Marc's release. It was his "answer" to the great task system debates. T4.1 with "This Is Hard" rules is a workable bit, but still fails to address two points:
handling of unannounced difficulties (You can't do it with the dice vary by difficulty model) and Uncertain tasks (ref rolls some of the dice? Players will know for sure on many failures...).
Not to mention the repeated commercial non-success of dice-by-difficulty systems (T4, TFT, TFFV, Alternity, a couple others). If it had been great, SJG would have kept it from TFT to GURPS; He didn't.
Most of the variable dice roll systems use dice by skill.
The few successful dice by difficulty systems are using dice by own skill vs dice by difficulty; the GM's roll must be beaten by the player's roll kind of mode.
The Traveller5 poll is just barely 50% liking the T5draft; it's a group fairly well selected for favoring MWM's mode of thought.
handling of unannounced difficulties (You can't do it with the dice vary by difficulty model) and Uncertain tasks (ref rolls some of the dice? Players will know for sure on many failures...).
Not to mention the repeated commercial non-success of dice-by-difficulty systems (T4, TFT, TFFV, Alternity, a couple others). If it had been great, SJG would have kept it from TFT to GURPS; He didn't.
Most of the variable dice roll systems use dice by skill.
The few successful dice by difficulty systems are using dice by own skill vs dice by difficulty; the GM's roll must be beaten by the player's roll kind of mode.
The Traveller5 poll is just barely 50% liking the T5draft; it's a group fairly well selected for favoring MWM's mode of thought.
M
Malenfant
Guest
The bottom line though, is "do we even need another system for Traveller at all"?
I have still heard no persuasive argument that it'd be useful or necessary, or indeed that there is any sensible reason for it.
Personally, I wouldn't go near anything with "T5" on it. I'm happy with the system that I've got so far (in practise, GURPS).
I have still heard no persuasive argument that it'd be useful or necessary, or indeed that there is any sensible reason for it.
Personally, I wouldn't go near anything with "T5" on it. I'm happy with the system that I've got so far (in practise, GURPS).
Well, the main point of another edition of Traveller would be create a single template from which all others could source.
Many canonistas would argue that is what CT is for. However, the way that CT is written makes it largely inaccessible and spread out over too many volumes.
MT was made to consolidate the CT but it actually made it more complicated.
T5, it is hoped, will finally get UPPs right and build in a flexible dynamic ruleset that we can either play with or ignore. It also hopefully will also be a large item, but inexpensive (oxymoron, I know) to allow for a full range of possibilities within the OTU and NOTU. As a visually attractive and accessible ruleset** will keep Traveller as a presence until we can all LARP it in virtual environments.
And, lastly, we have admit that Marc wants to leave with a bang and who wouldn't want to end their active career that way. So as a send off into retirement, why not?
**Even I don't don't understand all the mechanics of T20. Whereas, I had no problem picking up CT...maybe, I am just too old.
Many canonistas would argue that is what CT is for. However, the way that CT is written makes it largely inaccessible and spread out over too many volumes.
MT was made to consolidate the CT but it actually made it more complicated.
T5, it is hoped, will finally get UPPs right and build in a flexible dynamic ruleset that we can either play with or ignore. It also hopefully will also be a large item, but inexpensive (oxymoron, I know) to allow for a full range of possibilities within the OTU and NOTU. As a visually attractive and accessible ruleset** will keep Traveller as a presence until we can all LARP it in virtual environments.
And, lastly, we have admit that Marc wants to leave with a bang and who wouldn't want to end their active career that way. So as a send off into retirement, why not?
**Even I don't don't understand all the mechanics of T20. Whereas, I had no problem picking up CT...maybe, I am just too old.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
What's this thread about, again? 
M
Malenfant
Guest
Given that six previous versions have not satisfied everyone, what makes Marc think a seventh would work?
One could argue that the reprints have pulled all that together. But then the rules are still spread all over the place within those.
Did it? I thought it did a pretty good job pulling everything together, and it was fairly straightforward.
Again, other versions have done that already. GURPS and T20 certainly did that, while allowing TRaveller players to draw on a wealth of existing GURPS and D20 material. How could a new ruleset do it any more effectively?
Again, how would T5 do this better than previous versions?
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Given that six previous versions have not satisfied everyone, what makes Marc think a seventh would work?
</font>[/QUOTE]Because it's a lucky number?
M
Malenfant
Guest
well Interstellar Wars is technically the seventh version of Traveller anyway...
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
That is funny on so many levels 
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Well, if you want to get technical...
Let's see:
CT 1st edition
CT 2nd edition - to include TTB and ST
MT
TNE
T4
GT 1st edition
GT 2nd edition
T20
GT:IW
T5
There you go. T5 will be the tenth edition of Traveller