> From: MacGyver [email removed]
> Subject: (2870) New Era Of Traveller
>
> The system will be changed so it's compatible with
> TW2000 the 2nd edition, Dark Conspiracy, etc. Because GDW has decided to
> use TW2000 2nd edition rules as the offical house system now.
My thoughts on this are mixed. The first impression I get is that GDW is
couldn't patch a SF-rpg on the Twilight/Merc/Dinos/Dark line with a straight
face at the same time as they have MegaTraveller as a living system. That is
the positive interpretation. The negative interpretation is that they try to
get their Traveller audience to get hooked on the T/M/D/D line.
Now, on to the system. I can say without modification that I like the
task system above the system T2k uses for skill success resolution. It is
possible to cram a lot more info in a task description than it is in the rather
flimsy method T2k uses.
There is also one big problem with the system T2k uses for this and for
determining wether one hit or miss with a weapon: If you have zero skill you
have zero chance hitting in any situation.
So I went to an old army officer I know who have instructed recruits in using
a rifle for several years and asked him thus:
"In system one you have zero chance hitting in any situation if you have
zero skill, and the chance goes up 10% per level.
In system two you have a small chance of hitting if you have no skill at all.
If you get some basic training this goes up a big step, and additional
skill improves it by little steps.
Which of these two systems most accurately represent reality?"
To which he answered:
"The second one."
So while I like way T2k handles successful hits, and the way it conducts
autofire, I think that the T2k skill resolution and to-hit procedure would be
a step backwards.
I also humbly wonder if a T2k-ification of Traveller would mean that they
would leave the "Give'em a design system and let'em make their own vehicles"
model from Traveller and MegaTraveller and transfer to a "Give'em lots and
lots of expensive books where they can find the vehicle data." model like in
Twilight.
> And remember how terrible
> the rulebook as far as proof reading goes in MT? This won't happen
> again, apprently they've changed and got rid of all those people
> that's responsbile for that proof reading.
What proofreading?
> Also, they promised
> better support. There will not be any involement from outside
> groups like the last time, from what I heard.
I have my reservations on wether "Better support" and "No outside
involvement" are compatible goals for a company with as many things in the
air at the same time as GDW. Compared to, TSR say, they are much smaller and
have many more product lines. And trying to make too many things at once is
an extremely dangerous path for a games company.
> Wilson MacGyver | Everytime you have an idea, I get
- -bertil-
- --
"Drow! Drow! Drow! Everywhere Drow! Now they've even started to crop up in
GDW books!"