Who are we?

[BlackBat242]

Quint - You sound a lot like me (except for the part about going away from CT - heretic ).

Here's my entry:
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showpost.php?p=28906&postcount=524

And from another post of mine:

"You realize that there was no New Era, it didn't happen and I refuse to believe it."

Not only that, the rumor that the Emperor has been assassinated is now known to be just an example of "tabloid journalism" at its worst.

Life in the Imperium continues as normal, with none of the events one would associate with the aftermath of an assassination.

Favourite Version: Only played CT back when it first came out in the 70's.
I'm now a complete Newb to all th the other versions now out there (and frankly a bit confused by the multiverses!).

LOL! Most people are! Those that say they aren't don't understand all the bits of all the multiverses.

But I'm not confused at all!

I just refuse to accept the existence of any of the other universes :smirk:


'There is only one reality, and that is the one described by CT". me

 

[Quint]

Quint - You sound a lot like me (except for the part about going away from CT - heretic ).

LOL! I like CT, really I do - you should see my collection of CT materials! I loved DGP's expansion of the OTO, but was underwhelmed by the Rebellion (let alone the New Era/Virus). I liked chargen in MT (a minigame I enjoy) but I am clearly in the "small ships" camp and found all of the vehicle design stuff far too fiddly (a minigame that wasn't fun for me).

I've pretty much decided to run with MgT because it is the most accessible for new players to get ahold of - and then just ruthlessly raid everything I enjoy from CT and every other SciFi setting that I like.

I'm kind of starting with a PTU and expanding rapidly into an IMTU.

D,

 

[SpaceBadger]

Huh, was just searching this thread, curious to see what I posted, and it appears that I never posted in it, so here goes:

Name: Chuck
Age: 51 (b.1962)
Country: USA, Central Missouri (but strong ties to Oklahoma, Texas, and southeastern states where I lived when young)
Military Service: None personally. Army brat to age 15, from military family, but Dad talked me out of making Army my career as he said I'd either be bored/wasted stateside, or else sit on my butt in Germany waiting to get nuked by the Soviets (this was 1981); I followed his advice. One of my sons is now US Army PFC (13-Romeo) stationed w 10th Mountain Division.
Favorite Traveller Service: Varies. Often Army or Scouts or Merchants, depending on campaign.
Favorite Traveller Version: CT w houserules, but I am liking T5 more and more. 2300AD has some good stuff, too.
Favorite Traveller Book: The Traveller Book is my prime rules reference. I also like the GURPS Traveller stuff for lots of detailed fluff, but would not play by GURPS rules.
Favorite Traveller Supplement: Traders and Gunboats - finally some guidance on how to convert ship designs into deckplans!
Favorite Traveller Race: Humans or Vargr
Favorite Traveller Setting: Oh, so many good ones to choose! Have played mostly in Spinward Marches either pre- or post-FFW. Enjoyed working backward to make Daibei/Reavers' Deep setting during Long Night for SBRD campaign. Strongly looking forward to "Traveller 2500" homebrew setting w/ elements from 2300AD, if I ever get it finished enough to play in.
Started Playing Traveller: Same old story, bought my LBB in 1978 and more books thereafter, but friends all wanted to play D&D instead. Ran a few games in 1983-86, then nothing until my boys were old enough to play about 2006, then here at CotI.

 

[atpollard]

Name: Arthur
Age: 52 (born 1962)
Country: USA ... currently Florida ... at one time or another New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina ... some day Tennessee.
Military Service: None. Temperamentally Unsuited.
Favorite Traveller Service: Merchant, Navy, Other and Scout ... In that order.
Favorite Traveller Version: CT ... small ship universe ... With LBB 5 ship design.
Favorite Traveller Book: The Traveller Book, hands down, no contest.
Favorite Traveller Supplement: LBB 5: High Guard
Favorite Traveller Race: Humans (Hivers)
Favorite Traveller Setting: none ... I am a proto-traveller guy.
Started Playing Traveller: 1980

 

[Adam Dray]

Name: Adam Dray
Age: 45
Started Playing Traveller: 2013
Started Playing RPGs: 1979
Country: USA (Maryland)
Military Service: None
Role: Scientist/Engineer
Favorite Version: Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Milieu: Nova Roma (my own universe)
Favorite Supplement: Dynasty (Supplement 12, Mongoose)
Favorite Adventure: Secrets of the Ancients
Favorite Sector: SPIN (only because "my" patent grants me Baron Rech and Count Junidy)
Favorite Sophont: Humans, always humans
Favorite World: Earth

 

[GM Joe]

Name: Joe
Age: 45
Country: USA
Military Service: None
Favorite version of Traveller: Classic Traveller (TTB)
Favorite Supplement: Library Data (A-M & N-Z)
Favorite Sector: Spinward Marches
Favorite Race: Droyne
Favorite Empire: The Third Imperium
Favorite Setting: GURPS Traveller's timeline
Started Playing Traveller: 1983

 

[Travellerspud]

Name: Jeff
Age: 51
Country: USA
Favorite version of Traveller: CT + suuplements
Military Service: No (but 2 years of Army ROTC in College)
Favorite Supplement: Mercenaries
Favorite Sector: Spinward Marches
Favorite Race: Vargr
Favorite Empire: The 3rd Imperium
Started Playing Traveller: 1981

 

[Barsanuphius]

Favorite Race to play: Aslan or "something completely different"
Favorite Major Race: Aslan
Favorite Minor Race: Sphinxian Treecat (yes, I have integrated them into my

I can definately agree your tastes here. My wife's "Treecat" (Mainecoon Mix "Teig") nearly the same discriptive appearance and personality Webber writes about Nimtz. They are virtual inter-universe twins.

 

[DickNervous]

Somehow I missed this when I joined so here goes...

Name:Rich, though I will answer to Richard, Dick, and DN. Will ignore you if you call me "Richie" or "Rick" unless you are someones grandmother.
Age: 46 at the moment.... (b.1968)
Country: USA (New York)
Military Service: None

Started Playing RPGs: Probably about 1980 with D&D
Started Playing Traveller:Started back around 1983-84 and played until 1988. Started back up again in December 2014
Favorite Traveller Ruleset: Classic and Mongoose (primarily since those are the only ones I know...)
Favorite Supplement: Probably Scoundrel...
Favorite Race: Human
Favorite Sector: Spinward Marches and Trojan Reach
Favorite Empire: Imperium
Current Role: Referee trying to bring more people into the fold.

 

[Baltech Budapest]

I think I missed this one too. I joined CotI in early 2013 and instantly subscribed to become a Moot member (now just renewed for my 3rd year).


Name: Matt
Age: 43
Country: Ireland (English born and bred in Manchester)
Military Service: None
Started Playing RPGs: Between 1984 and 1985
Started Playing Traveller:1985
Favorite Traveller Ruleset: Classic (Basic) Traveller
Favorite Supplement: Traders And Gunboats
Favorite Race: Human
Favorite Sector: The Spinward Marches
Favorite Empire: The Imperium
Current Role: Referee to my older brother and my kids (the next generation).
__________________

 

[WistfulD]

Huh, was just searching this thread, curious to see what I posted, and it appears that I never posted in it, so here goes:
Military Service: None personally. Army brat to age 15, from military family, but Dad talked me out of making Army my career as he said I'd either be bored/wasted stateside, or else sit on my butt in Germany waiting to get nuked by the Soviets (this was 1981); I followed his advice. One of my sons is now US Army PFC (13-Romeo) stationed w 10th Mountain Division.

Very similar experience 15 years later (although a congenital heart condition probably would have kept me out anyway). By the time I was in high school, the military seemed like the place where poor kids went to get a college degree and/or directionless slackers went to learn some discipline and get some direction. What was I going to do if I went in? Spend two tours guarding a bridge in serbia-montenegro where a one-sided air war had already quelled any real fighting? By the time 9-11 rolled around and things got serious again, I was already studyihng health care and doing more good studying health care patterns (including some VA studies) than I would by joining up.

Name: Robert, Wistful Dreamer, Willie the Duck
Age: Old Enough to know how much I don't know (37) (b. 1977)
Country: Twin Cities, MN, USA. Gaming groups centering on Minnesota and "greater Minnesota" section of Wisconsin (both still amazingly over-represented in RPGs, although less so than the 70s and 80s).
Favorite version of Traveller: Classic Traveller, Mongoose Traveller, and Traveller Hero.
Military Service: None, Military History and Equipment buff, but that's it.
Favorite Suppliment: Beltstrike (we like our rags-to-riches stories)
Favorite Sector: Darrian sector, boarder wars sectors
Favorite Race: Zhodoni
Favorite Empire: Zhodoni make a very interesting antagonist empire
Started Playing Traveller: ~1986
Started Roleplaying: '84-85

 

[Timerover51]

Looks like aside from some earlier comments, I never posted here.

"Over the hill semi-cripple" courtesy of US Army Service, with a large part of military career spent in military hospitals, final duty station was Walter Reed Army Medical Center as an in-patient. Non-hospital time spent at Fort Lee, Virginia at the US Army Quartermaster Officer's School and then Fort Richardson, Alaska. Qualified Alaskan Sourdough, not a Cheechako. Retired in 1978 for permanent disability, and have not worked a 40-hour week since that time. Some days, full cripple in intense pain.

Started playing D&D, Blue Book version, while confined to hospital bed at Walter Reed, and figured out a way to play it solitaire, being player and DM at the same time. Helped keep me sane while being medical guinea pig.

Prefer Classic Traveller with house rules, which I should codify someday. No Traveller combat rule use, use percentile from Skirmish Wargaming instead for human/other on human/other combat. I am working on a usable animal combat system for hunting, along with the more intelligent creatures hunting people. See the short story Novice by James Schmitz for an example. No Zhodani or K'kree in MTU, developing an Alternate Universe with no Imperium and lots of open space to explore. Not a fan of space combat, although I do like the old Steve Jackson Warp War game. Not a fan of Psionics either, but do allow for "wild" talents.

I keep thinking that it would be fun to do something like "Sturmgeschütz and Sorcery" except it would be Traveller meets Lord of the Rings/The Incomplete Enchanter/The Unbeheaded King. I trust you get the idea. Note, I do not like Warhammer a whole lot either, as it is much too restrictive.

Fan of Tolkien (did work for Iron Crown Enterprises on their MERP game), Fletcher Pratt fantasy and non-fiction, Sprague de Camp (King Jorian and "Gun for Dinosaur") along with The Ancient Engineers, H. Beam Piper, Andre Norton, early Heinlein, military history from Sumerians forward, history of technology, Edwin Tunis series on American Life prior 1830 (great for Tech Level 3 technology) along with how people lived in history, and military technology. I also collect old cookbooks, as in prior to 1900 or so, as well as military cookbooks.

A very strange individual, I also enjoy studying logistics, from the Macedonian Army to present day. I find what I call "muscle-powered" logistics extremely fascinating. See the British campaign in Abyssinia in in 1867-68 for an example.

Note: Not a fan of Vietnam War history however.

 

[KDLadage]

Name: K. David Ladage
Age: mid 40s
Country: United States of America (Iowa)
Favorite version of Traveller: Classic (Merc, HG, Scouts, etc.)
Military Service: Navy (Data Processing Technician; Intelligence)
Favorite Supplement: Scouts
Favorite Sector: Home Brew
Favorite Race: Humaniti
Favorite Empire: None
Started Playing Traveller: 1979

Started role playing with the Frank Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Masters sets. Moved on the AD&D because that was what the others in my game groups were moving to (wish we had stayed...). Picked up Traveller and was blown away by the idea that classes could be ditched completely in favor of simple mechanics and a relatively decent skill system. I still play D&D (will be starting a 5th edition campaign soon), and Traveller (using Mongoose right now, but will likely shift to some home-brew mix of Classic + T5). I own the rights to the old fantasy RPG The Arcanum and will (hopefully) be re-releasing it at some point in the near future.

I have played a lot of RPGs over the years: Rolemaster/MERPS, GURPS, Top Secret, Star Frontiers, Champions/HERO, DC/Blood of Heroes, and so on, ad astra. These days, I prefer simple over detailed mechanics -- mechanics that facilitate play over hindering them in order to achieve dubious benefits. I think the d20 System was not a bad thing (although I think it was not handled well for fitting the Traveller Universe) and that the Green Ronin Mutants and Masterminds 3e is, perhaps, the greatest achievement of the Open Game License. I have written for Steve Jackson Games, Sword and Sorcery Studios, and others. I am a game designer, writer of fantasy and sci-fi, and a poet.

I served in the Navy for a bit over 9 years (Dec 1987 - Apr 1997). I was a supply side Data Processing type for my first two commands (USS RANGER and S.I.M.A. San Diego), then worked Naval Intelligence for my last command (USS CARL VINSON).

I worked for Rockwell Collins for 15 years. I left in August of 2013 due to health issues. I am currently a contractor doing computer and coding work for companies on a need-me basis. It is tough going, but I manage.

I have been married three times. I know what a pain it is to be married to someone who suffers from chronic depression, severe anxiety, P.T.S.D., A.D.H.D., E.I.D., migraines, and tinnitus... thus, I have tried to keep a decent relationship with my exes -- it is most certainly not their fault we are no longer married.

I have a daughter (early 20s; from my first wife, living in California) and two sons (both pre-teen; from my second wife. I have 50/50 care over them). The boys are starting to get into dad's strange hobbies like board games and role playing.

 

[BlackBat242]

I own the rights to the old fantasy RPG The Arcanum and will (hopefully) be re-releasing it at some point in the near future.

Interesting - how did you manage that, if I may ask?

And you got to Ranger just after I stopped going aboard (my squadron, VMA(AW)-121, was in her air wing, and I went with them every time Ranger went to sea from 11/85-12/87 (the squadron deployed with her later as well, but I didn't go with them that time).

 

[KDLadage]

Interesting - how did you manage that, if I may ask?

Contacted Steve Sechi, we talked... I paid him some money and I acquired the rights...

 

[infojunky]

And you got to Ranger just after I stopped going aboard (my squadron, VMA(AW)-121, was in her air wing, and I went with them every time Ranger went to sea from 11/85-12/87 (the squadron deployed with her later as well, but I didn't go with them that time).

Talk about being the same dock at the same time but passing.... I was on the Constellation at the same time. We always pitied the poor bastards on the Danger.... But you know how sea stories go....

 

[KDLadage]

Talk about being the same dock at the same time but passing.... I was on the Constellation at the same time. We always pitied the poor bastards on the Danger.... But you know how sea stories go....

We always pitied the poor bastards on the Constipation, and the Shitty-Kitty... yep, sea stories...

 

[BlackBat242]

Exactly - a friend was aboard Kitty in 1984, and said Ranger was a much better ship in terms of morale and general "good place to live & work".

Ranger was in great condition, having completed an 18-month refit in October 1985, and morale was great throughout.

I have a number of photos of Connie I took just south of the Aleutians in October 1986 when Connie, Ranger, New Jersey, and Long Beach met up for a group formation and to watch NJ fire her 16" guns.

Fun times.

 

[infojunky]

I have a number of photos of Connie I took just south of the Aleutians in October 1986 when Connie, Ranger, New Jersey, and Long Beach met up for a group formation and to watch NJ fire her 16" guns.

Fun times.

http://s22.photobucket.com/user/Bag...tellation 1986 corrected_zpskomybbts.jpg.html

There is a higher than Background chance I am actually standing Boat watch on the sponson visible just forward of the Island in that picture. I signed off a whole butt-load of quals for 3rd class on that trip....

 

[aramis]

I have a number of photos of Connie I took just south of the Aleutians in October 1986 when Connie, Ranger, New Jersey, and Long Beach met up for a group formation and to watch NJ fire her 16" guns.

Around that time, Y'all put into port at Anchorage. We NJROTC cadidiots got to go see her... and the infestation of swabbies also meant a lot of us got to go drinking without getting carded... simply by putting on a spare crow in place of the the ROTC bar...

And just for giggles sake, I'll point out that, while in Alaskan waters, the Connie was the 8th largest population center in Alaska.