If I ever get back to running a Traveller game (my last 2 did not do well, but thinking perhaps a more focused approach vs the sandbox approach may be better), I already decided that the Scouting mission would be the way to go to give it more focus on exploring strange, new worlds vs trying to make a living. As pointed out in the previous post, this gives me an opportunity to flesh out MTU a bit.
And so, I'll start with one of the undefined * worlds in the D'Arlee Quadrant. My group was discussing a colony world with giant flying beasts. How that gets handled really depends on so many things: if we have ship weapons, then these are not really an issue. However, the conversation meandered all over the place, and for a pulpier and Traveller-like feel, we want to have tension with these beasts not easily killed and still posing a threat.
Though I did get AI (sorry!) to have a Scout ship shooting a pterodactyl. Despite wanting these to be a threat, powerful weapons really implies they really cannot be a real threat unless you go without weapons. Which did remind me of a college game where my gung-ho marine, in grav power armor and FGMP managed to kill a red dragon. Though she was also killed as apparently dragon flames destroy armor as well (the ref wanted to run a D&D game, so a convenient misjump to a fantasy world. Must have been a lot of fun as I remember it 40+ years later!)
I did some workups of the planet for 57% hydrographics, and will have to work through some Book 6 system generation. But as it has been a while since my last post, figured I'd let you know that things are not entirely standing still.
Though I am thinking of taking a break from gaming with people for a bit: we got into a bit of a disagreement and I had it pointed out that I do tend to take a high moral ground about some things and that this "high moral ground" comes across as patronizing. As with many things, this is not all on me, but some of it most assuredly is. And to be honest, I do have a hard time in social situations for a number of reasons, and the gaming has been a bit of stress as much as I also like it. (In fact, the person I am having a hard time did call me socially retarded, which has all sorts of connotations that bother me. And I've been ignoring that as just the way he speaks but that coupled with a few other things finally got us into the aforementioned disagreement). Had I been born 40 years later, I am sure there would be a few labels on me. Though not sure if that is really the case or just me internet-doctoring! Regardless, I may back off a bit with the group and try to figure out if I am really being that obnoxious or if some are just more sensitive. It is, of course, somewhere in the middle but I feel I am the only one trying to make accommodations sometimes. And then I worry that I am just feeling sorry for myself! Ahh, naval gazing at its best and worst! Never fear - this too shall pass, but every once in a while, I do get into a funk. Just like the stress from the new job (which thankfully is a lot better) this stress will eventually go away. But I just may need some time. But I'll still post as I like thinking and writing about gaming, just the actual practice is, at the moment, something I don't think I want to do.
