TTRPG 25-27 ~ Traveling with Traveller

On the road

Last week was a travel week for work. As I usually do I travel with a small game to pass the evening time if there is some to spare. One favorite travel companion of mine is the white facsimile version of Traveller: Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far Future with the additional title, The Classic SF RPG Rules.

Part of the reason I like traveling with this version of the Traveller rules is that—in addition to the rules compiled into a single book—they are the most simple and original core version. The rules are setting-less, in that the setting is really not much more than a set of technological and loose political assumptions that shape the future. Of course, the various sub-games (Character Generation, Shipbuilding, World Creation, etc.) make for small, quick “sessions” of play that are perfect for killing off a half-hour of time in a hotel.

Ogit

So let me introduce you to Ogit Tonday. At age 18, Ogit is physically just a bit below average for a human (where average is 7 in each characteristic) with Strength 6, Dexterity 5, and Endurance 9. Mentally and socially, Ogit is slightly above average with Intelligence 9, Education 7, and Social Status 9.

Taking stock of himself, at age 18 Ogit tries to join the Merchant Service. I imagine his social connections lead him to believe he is a better fit for the life of a Trader than serving in a military service. Fate, however, sends Ogit on a different path when the Merchant Service rejects him and the Draft sends him to the Navy.

In Ogit’s first term life the unfortunate turn of events seems to be put well past him. Not only does Ogit survive the term but he also gains a Commission (Rank 1) and a Promotion (Rank 2). The combination of service training and commission/promotion gives Ogit +1 Intelligence, Engineering 1, Forward Observer 1, and Gun Combat (Auto Pistol) 1.

Reenlisting for a second term, Ogit once again survives and gains another Promotion (Rank 3). This entitles him to two new skills which are +1 Dexterity and Ship’s Boat 1. Seeing how life is doing well, Ogit goes for a third term which sees another Promotion (Rank 4) and new skills Intelligence +1 and Vacc Suit 1. Ogit considers the Navy his home and goes for a fourth term…

…which almost is the death (literally) of him. Requiring a die roll of 5+ to survive, Ogit needs all the Intelligence bonus he can muster (+2 if Intelligence 7+) to barely survive (die roll [3] plus 2 bonus for—barely—[5] to survive). For the first time in his career Ogit also does not get promoted and comes away with but a single skill (Jack-o-Trades 1). Now 34 years old, age starts catching up with Ogit who loses -1 Strength, – 1 Dexterity, and -1 Endurance.

Ogit decides that he has had enough of the Navy and Musters Out. With four terms and Rank 4 he earns six (6) rolls on the Mustering Out Table and lands +2 Education, a Low Passage, a Travellers’ Aid Society membership, and 75,000Cr.

Ogit Tonday, Age-34, 4-Terms Naval Service (Rank 4 – Commander)

• Strength 5 / Dexterity 5 / Endurance 8 / Intelligence B (11) / Education 9 / Social Status 9.
• Engineering 1 / Forward Observer 1 / Gun Combat (Auto Pistol) 1 / Jack-o-Trades 1 / Ship’s Boat 1 / Vacc Suit 1
• Low Passage / Travellers’ Aid Society Member / 75kCr

Taking stock of himself after 16 years of naval service, Ogit looks to leverage his experience as a pilot and engineer of small craft that is also Vacc Suit rated to work for a planetary or single-system defense force.

Security Pinnace

Looking at “Book 2 Starships” of Traveller there are some “Small Craft” (ships under 100 displacement tons – dT). A full design sequence for Small Craft is not provided in Book 2; instead some modifications to given Small Craft are available. Using the few tools available, Ogit comes to command what I name as a Security Pinnace. Starting with the standard 40dT Pinnace, a Model 1bis computer with programs Maneuver 1, Gunner 1, Target 1, and Launch 1 is added for 8.1MCr. A Missile Rack is also added for an additional 4.1MCr. The total cost for the Security Pinnace, less consumables such as Missile Reloads, is 20MCr for the Pinnace and 12.2MCr for upgrades giving a final price of 32.2MCr.

Scoundrels

Now that I have a character and a ship I need someplace to give him work. Alas, my trip ended before I got to Book 3 Worlds and Adventures to build a planet. When I got home, however, I pledged my support to the latest Scoundrels of Brixton campaign on Kickstarter called Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier from Jeffrey Jones and Adam Kovac. What makes the Brixton setting a bit unique is that it takes place in a single solar system and leans heavily into a criminal underworld motif. In more than a few ways my Ogit character with Ship’s Boat skill (i.e. system craft) is well-suited to a setting spanning a single solar system. While I wait for the Savage Frontier Kickstarter to fulfill, I already have SU1: Phantoms of Unov, SD1: Under a Hard Sun and SD2: The Clean Hands to start adventuring with.

Customs enforcer

As I write this post, I feel that it a bit unfinished, in that it should be easy to start the adventure. Looking at the Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier Kickstarter I see a new ship, the Brixton Begger, a Tech Level (TL) Heavy Trader. What if…

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