"Does Traveller have a rule for hopeless characters" - sort of. You get crushed by machinery in your first term as a cargo-handler and get to start again
I'm glad you stuck with Anselm. I know the urge to play borderline superheroes is very strong, especially considering he's going to be soloing, but having a flawed character is much more entertaining. Especially with high constitution because, for my money, toughness and grit are THE most heroic of traits anyway.
I have the Mongoose Traveller 2021 core book. GMed it for my group but they didn't like it. Solo will be the next step. Thanks for making these videos.
Wow, you sure tried really hard to kill that poor guy. He reminds me a bit of Steve Rogers pre-super soldier serum: "I can do this all day" is all that got this weak, clumsy guy through the hardships of the one branch that tries harder to kill characters than any other. Looking forward to his adventures.
I will admit, I was fully prepared to roll up about 4 characters before I got one that completed a full career. With Anselm's low stats, I really didn't think he'd make it!
I too like the backstory building element of character rollup. One thing to remember is that "credits" were influenced by the value of the American dollar back when the rules were first written about 1976 (release in 1977). At that time, 4,000/year would not have been terrible (but not great either). Inflation to date makes that amount the equivalent of $21,320 today. Fortunately, the prices in the rule books reflect then-day commodity costs. For game purposes, one obviously is using credits and not dollars. However, our value perceptions require recalibration.
I’m a huge fan of Mongoose Traveller, and I think it does work for solo play with a little tinkering. I look forward to seeing where your game takes you!
Great example of character creation in Traveler! I have loads of Traveler and play solo, just never thought of putting the two together. I look forward to watching this guy and other adventures.
First term, first character, if there was a lot of hostile life that he needed a gun to defend himself from, I’m thinking a jungle which was naturally hard on electronic systems, including the energy weapons they used to defend themselves. Had to learn to maintain and repair electronic systems due to frequent breakdowns.
Rolling in order was easily defeated by my players. Once they had created all the characters, they simply switch character sheets between themselves to play the 'class' or 'profession' they preferred. LOL
Is there any chance you could collect all of these into a playlist, please? I would very much be interested in listening to them as I do other things and playlists keep me from having to hunt for the next episodes. Thanks in advance!
I got those from Black Oak Workshop www.blackoakworkshop.com/ at Gen Con 2021. That's where I got the H.P. Lovecraft and Star Wars hyperspace dice as well. Besides the super-cool graphics, I like the size. They're bigger than usual, but not comically/nigh unusably big! The rolling problem may be the operator (based on past performance.) 😁
Is character creation like this in all Travellers or is it only in this SOLO RPG version? Because I really liked being able to do dice rolls to see how things have gone throughout his life. PS: That character with 2 Intelligence but 12 in Education could be that he was born into a wealthy family that insisted a lot on giving him the best education even after they saw that his son was not the brightest, and he had a good memory. Or it may be that although he is quite slow thinking he has always liked to read anything, so he is a walking encyclopedia despite being somewhat "dumb". I would say very much like several of those Savant people.
Character creation is like this throughout all what would be called "Classic Traveller." It's very similar in Mongoose Traveller from what I understand. It's also like this in Cepheus System. All of them have you create what is known these days as a "life path" for your character. I don't know if games like d20 Traveller or Traveller HERO use the same character creation system or not. On a related note, I'm using the standard Classic Traveller system from The Traveller Book. The only thing that makes this SOLO is that I'm using the Mythic GM Emulator to come up with the adventure. Zozer Games does have a specific book called, ironically enough, SOLO that takes the Traveller rules and adds a solo component to it. I have the book, but I haven't really gotten into it yet. That may be some of the videos that I do after the adventures of Anselm! Let me know if you have any more questions! 🙂
Hi. I'm learning classic traveller 1981. On page 15 there are 'Acquired skills' and 'Rank and Service skills (automatic)'. My character is in the Army (first term) and doesn't get any commission/promotion. Skills: +1 Educ, Gun Cbt (SMG) 1, Rifle 1. On the second term gets a commision and a promotion so receives automatic SMG 1 (for lieutenant). My question: I already have SMG 1 so now I have SMG 2? Or since it's same level 1 then no skill is gained? Why the automatic rank skills have number 1? All the other skills on the page don't have any number. Is this number 1 important to obtain skills and if you already have level 1 then you don't obtain anything? Thanks.
Hey there! Yes, your character would now have SMG-2. In The Traveller Book edition that I'm using on page 21 under Skills it says, "Upon the first acquisition of a skill, the player writes the skill name, followed by a dash and the number 1(thus: navigation-1). The second time the skill is acquired, the number is increased to show greater expertise (thus: navigation-2.)" I think the reason SMG-1 is listed for an Army Lieutenant is because you may not have received any Gun Cbt skill when you achieve the rank of Lieutenant. Or, since you have to choose the gun you are skilled in, you may have chosen a different gun when you first acquired the skill, say shotgun or carbine. Since you already had the SMG skill, receiving it again defaults to the rule that acquiring it a second time gives you greater expertise. Let me know if that's clear!
@@MrBunraku Thank you Ed. Yes, that makes sense. I was confused because I didn't understand that 1 on automatic skills. As I'm writing this I think it could be to differentiate from a material object (weapon). This way, with that 1, it can only be a skill. Interesting. Anyway, Ed thank you for your quick reply and help. -- David.
There's a couple of books that explain how to use pre made adventures, dm yourself is pretty well liked.check out geek gamers channel she has lots of good reviews and idea
Nice video but I hate your dice. If they had pips, I could read them, but there is just enough glare that with all the 'art' on them, that they are hard to read. Dice that get rolled and I can't read them from a distance always irritate me. Warm regards, Rick.
2 Intelligence 12 Education is just a politician
"Does Traveller have a rule for hopeless characters" - sort of. You get crushed by machinery in your first term as a cargo-handler and get to start again
Hopeless, not hapless, lol
I'm glad you stuck with Anselm. I know the urge to play borderline superheroes is very strong, especially considering he's going to be soloing, but having a flawed character is much more entertaining. Especially with high constitution because, for my money, toughness and grit are THE most heroic of traits anyway.
I have the Mongoose Traveller 2021 core book. GMed it for my group but they didn't like it. Solo will be the next step. Thanks for making these videos.
Film them and put them on UA-cam!
I knew a fella in college who finished out with a 12 in education and a 2 Intelligence.
I love watching traveller character creation.
2 for intelligence and 12 for education looks like someone was great at cheating on tests at school.
Wouldn't that mean he has tons of knowledge, but is too stupid to apply it to anything?
Wow, you sure tried really hard to kill that poor guy. He reminds me a bit of Steve Rogers pre-super soldier serum: "I can do this all day" is all that got this weak, clumsy guy through the hardships of the one branch that tries harder to kill characters than any other. Looking forward to his adventures.
I will admit, I was fully prepared to roll up about 4 characters before I got one that completed a full career. With Anselm's low stats, I really didn't think he'd make it!
I've been hoping to see a solo play of Traveller, can't wait to see more!
I too like the backstory building element of character rollup. One thing to remember is that "credits" were influenced by the value of the American dollar back when the rules were first written about 1976 (release in 1977). At that time, 4,000/year would not have been terrible (but not great either). Inflation to date makes that amount the equivalent of $21,320 today. Fortunately, the prices in the rule books reflect then-day commodity costs. For game purposes, one obviously is using credits and not dollars. However, our value perceptions require recalibration.
I’m a huge fan of Mongoose Traveller, and I think it does work for solo play with a little tinkering. I look forward to seeing where your game takes you!
Great example of character creation in Traveler! I have loads of Traveler and play solo, just never thought of putting the two together. I look forward to watching this guy and other adventures.
Solo Traveller is a blast.
First term, first character, if there was a lot of hostile life that he needed a gun to defend himself from, I’m thinking a jungle which was naturally hard on electronic systems, including the energy weapons they used to defend themselves. Had to learn to maintain and repair electronic systems due to frequent breakdowns.
Rolling in order was easily defeated by my players. Once they had created all the characters, they simply switch character sheets between themselves to play the 'class' or 'profession' they preferred. LOL
Happy 400 subs king, you deserve it
2 INT, 12 EDU... why does that remind me of the TV show The Good Doctor?
I've always had trouble getting my head around the ship building rules. If you ever have a video running through ship generation please let me know! 🙏
I recently had someone else ask about the ship building rules. That will be a video in the near future!
I am very excited for this series!
Seems strange but I love Traveller so much I understand wanting to play it even solo. I run a PBEM campaign if anyone is interested.
Is there any chance you could collect all of these into a playlist, please? I would very much be interested in listening to them as I do other things and playlists keep me from having to hunt for the next episodes. Thanks in advance!
Sure!
Alright, I think the Solo Traveller episodes are collected into their own playlist now! Hope you enjoy them!
@@MrBunraku Thank you very much!
Classic Traveller = tons of lonely fun.
I was going to ask where you go those rad retro sci-fi dice... but they aren't rolling too hot. :) Actually, I would like to know...
I got those from Black Oak Workshop www.blackoakworkshop.com/ at Gen Con 2021. That's where I got the H.P. Lovecraft and Star Wars hyperspace dice as well. Besides the super-cool graphics, I like the size. They're bigger than usual, but not comically/nigh unusably big! The rolling problem may be the operator (based on past performance.) 😁
Is character creation like this in all Travellers or is it only in this SOLO RPG version? Because I really liked being able to do dice rolls to see how things have gone throughout his life.
PS: That character with 2 Intelligence but 12 in Education could be that he was born into a wealthy family that insisted a lot on giving him the best education even after they saw that his son was not the brightest, and he had a good memory. Or it may be that although he is quite slow thinking he has always liked to read anything, so he is a walking encyclopedia despite being somewhat "dumb". I would say very much like several of those Savant people.
Character creation is like this throughout all what would be called "Classic Traveller." It's very similar in Mongoose Traveller from what I understand. It's also like this in Cepheus System. All of them have you create what is known these days as a "life path" for your character. I don't know if games like d20 Traveller or Traveller HERO use the same character creation system or not. On a related note, I'm using the standard Classic Traveller system from The Traveller Book. The only thing that makes this SOLO is that I'm using the Mythic GM Emulator to come up with the adventure. Zozer Games does have a specific book called, ironically enough, SOLO that takes the Traveller rules and adds a solo component to it. I have the book, but I haven't really gotten into it yet. That may be some of the videos that I do after the adventures of Anselm! Let me know if you have any more questions! 🙂
That is how character creation is done, in most versions of Traveller (including Classic, or original, and the modern version from Mongoose)
Machete!
Hi. I'm learning classic traveller 1981. On page 15 there are 'Acquired skills' and 'Rank and Service skills (automatic)'. My character is in the Army (first term) and doesn't get any commission/promotion. Skills: +1 Educ, Gun Cbt (SMG) 1, Rifle 1. On the second term gets a commision and a promotion so receives automatic SMG 1 (for lieutenant). My question: I already have SMG 1 so now I have SMG 2? Or since it's same level 1 then no skill is gained? Why the automatic rank skills have number 1? All the other skills on the page don't have any number. Is this number 1 important to obtain skills and if you already have level 1 then you don't obtain anything? Thanks.
Hey there! Yes, your character would now have SMG-2. In The Traveller Book edition that I'm using on page 21 under Skills it says, "Upon the first acquisition of a skill, the player writes the skill name, followed by a dash and the number 1(thus: navigation-1). The second time the skill is acquired, the number is increased to show greater expertise (thus: navigation-2.)" I think the reason SMG-1 is listed for an Army Lieutenant is because you may not have received any Gun Cbt skill when you achieve the rank of Lieutenant. Or, since you have to choose the gun you are skilled in, you may have chosen a different gun when you first acquired the skill, say shotgun or carbine. Since you already had the SMG skill, receiving it again defaults to the rule that acquiring it a second time gives you greater expertise. Let me know if that's clear!
@@MrBunraku Thank you Ed. Yes, that makes sense. I was confused because I didn't understand that 1 on automatic skills. As I'm writing this I think it could be to differentiate from a material object (weapon). This way, with that 1, it can only be a skill. Interesting. Anyway, Ed thank you for your quick reply and help. -- David.
I know that dude!
But is there a way of actually playing the adventures solo?
There's a couple of books that explain how to use pre made adventures, dm yourself is pretty well liked.check out geek gamers channel she has lots of good reviews and idea
Floating scout platform?
Scout gunboat?
Playing a game by yourself is called writing a book, don’t you think?
Nice video but I hate your dice. If they had pips, I could read them, but there is just enough glare that with all the 'art' on them, that they are hard to read.
Dice that get rolled and I can't read them from a distance always irritate me.
Warm regards, Rick.
I assume they look better in person but they seem really hard to read