This is hardly representative, but I know that my gaming
store (which I partly own :) only sold 1 copy of TNE. To myself.
But ever since TNE came out, we sold a lot of MegaTRaveller
material, including the boxed set, some adventures, etc. It seems
that almost everyone (including myself :) were so put off by TNE that
they decided to stick with MT.
I think that what GDW should have done with TNE is put more
enphasis on characters and role-playing instead of game mechanics.
That seems to be the craze right now (just look at the White Wolf
games - simple mechanics but lots of role-playing/background). And
the old Traveller fans who play it for the mechanics would have
changed/added their own rules anyway so whyy bother?
I say 1) Use GOOD art. The 'techy' header and footers are
really annoying and unnactractive. The Star Wars art (Nuunis) really
looks like Star Wars, not Traveller. As for the other drawings, hey,
even I can do better. Please fire your art director or give him a
PGM-15 tan.
2) Put the emphasis on Role-playing, not combat. Traveller
players are and will always be 'sophisticated' gamers who want more
than blowing up dozens of Vargrs or TED's all the time. Theyy want
to do it some of the time. :) Give us an alternative point-oriented
character generation. Give us special character books (i.e. Marines,
Merchants, Scouts (what do you mean, the imperial scouts are dead?)),
special sourcebooks, etc.
3) Use a game system that doesn't make a super-hero out of
everyone. Competent, yes, but surhuman? Boring. I know more people
who play Traveller (CT or MT) than Twilight 2000... So why switch to
the T:2000 system? A point-based character generation system would
let players generate 'competent' characters for Traveller, and 'Green
Berets' for T:2000 if you give them more points.
4) Hire a new art director. :)
5) Please foolproof your products?
These are my main gripes. :) Oh, BTW, I bought TNE. I feel
ill. So I bought a copy of MT to replace the one I had permanently
borrowed from a friend. Then I bought Space:1889. I felt all better
again. Is there a Space:1889 mailing list? :) I love it! :)
Sorry for wasting your bandwith. :)
- --
Pierre-Louis Constantin [email removed]