On this episode of Let’s Roll!, Siskoid welcomes the Irredeemable Shag and his GameMaster Patrick Pence to talk about the granddaddy of science fiction games, Traveller! Plus, GameMaster Advice on how to use (or not use) any given RPG’s big Meta-Arc!
Relevant images and credits in the Let’s Roll Supplemental.
This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK
- Visit our WEBSITE: https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/
- Like our FACEBOOK page – https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork
- Use our HASHTAG online: #FWPodcasts
- Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fwpodcasts
Subscribe via Apple at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-roll-fire-and-waters-role-playing-podcast/id1078162750 or Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/0eCs23TGRRrHTzLbxvWwoR
Leave us a comment, we’ll roll with the punches!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I had a terrific time discussing Traveller with both of these fine fellows. I hope this will inspire new Travellers and Referees out there!
It was great listening to this podcast!
Okay, that was weird — I seem to have submitted immediately after that first sentence. As I was going to say:
When I first got to the U.S. the first RPG I bought was Paranoia (1st Edition), the first RPG I played at the Rec Center was Robot Warriors (a Hero System mecha game), but the first RPG campaign that I played in regularly for some time was actually Traveller. I’d jumped into a long-running campaign where there were established characters with great skill and great equipment, so this brought back lots of memories.
Unlike Shag, my experience in gaming has largely been without Karma, Bennies, or other equivalents. Traveller as a SF genre game to me was certainly inspired by Star Wars, but was also likely inspired by the rich tradition of Science Fiction novels and short stories at the time that were all about Military SF and questions of interstellar diplomacy and empire:
Gordon R. Dickson’s _Dorsai_, Keith Laumer’s books on Retief, David Drake’s _Hammer’s Slammers_, H.Beam Piper’s novels (esp. Space Viking), and stuff by Herbert, Larry Niven, Poul Anderson, Jerry Pournelle. These are “harder” (such as it is) science fiction & space opera stories that contributed more to the feel of Traveller at the time.
Great conversation, gentlemen. I have heard of Traveller before, but that’s about it. It certainly sounds like a flexible game mechanic that a skilled GM can adapt to fit the preferences and skills of the player group.
Really enjoyed the discussion about sandbox vs On Rails play styles; that was something that came up when I was playing games of Storium (which was as much an online creative writing platform as it was an RPG). Striking the right balance to allow player freedom whilst advancing the plot is a true skill.
I am a sucker for games that include a life path mechanic as part of the character creation process. I really like the way they give your character a built-in backstory that fits with their game statistics. Unfortunately, I don’t know of many games that use such a system. Catalyst Game Lab’s MechWarrior RPG is the only other one that I’ve encountered in my (admittedly) limited experience.
Critical Role’s Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount does implement a life path-lite mechanic for D&D 5e, which seems to have been well received by players. It’s not as complex as the life path system you described in Traveller, but I think it does help you fit your character into that specific campaign setting.
All that to say that I’ll have to check out Traveller.
Thank you for another excellent episode.