I have Mariner Book 1, Characters and Conflict (http://mariner.pbwiki.com/Book-1) in playtestable format now. It's not what I had originally hoped for -- it does not use the "classic" Traveller mechanics -- but the system that I settled on, the One Roll Engine, has pleased me immensely in its application.
There are a number of adaptations with kinks that need to be ironed out, and I'd take it as a kindness if you'd help me find them and perhaps even work through them. Download the .PDF, read the rules, make up a couple of characters, tell me how it works (or doesn't) for you.
!i!
Any opinions so far? How does it look? How does the One Roll Engine shake your tree? What happened when you tried to write up a character?
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAny opinions so far? How does it look? How does the One Roll Engine shake your tree? What happened when you tried to write up a character?
!i!
I was excited about this until I saw you decided on ORE, Ian. Then I figured someone else who likes ORE can playtest it.
-clash
I worked with three different systems (including one of yours) after it became apparent that the Traveller rules set wasn't going to be available, and the one that settled in most comfortably was the ORE. All of the systems that I was working with were significantly different from the original Traveller system, so I've been prepared to disappoint someone in the process. I realise this isn't exactly a One Roll Engine love-in hereabouts, but my hope is that enthusiasm for the project as a whole will encourage some to give it a shake.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI It's not what I had originally hoped for -- it does not use the "classic" Traveller mechanics... ...it became apparent that the Traveller rules set wasn't going to be available
I don't understand this at all.
Just pull a Mongoose, re-write the "Traveller mechanics" into the cleaned up and improved "Mariner mechanics".
If you are having to re-write a bunch of rules any way - you might as well re-write the ones you wanted in the first place.
Especially if you are going to use your own setting.
I can understand wanting to get permission, but if they're being foolish about a mechanic with no copyright protection...
.
Well, the situation is actually an interesting convolution in the development of my idea. First and foremost, I intend MARINER as a forthright and complimentary homage to Traveller. My original intent was to secure the rights to the original mechanics, even going so far as to pay to license them for a project that might never be released for commercial distribution (though I had hoped to do so). However, my attempts to contact the license holder for permission have met with no response thus far.
In my enthusiasm to forge ahead on the project, I set my adaptation of the Traveller rules aside and decided to work on an end-run of sorts, adapting another established game system that would capture the spirit of Traveller, yet be readily available for my use. Among those systems, Clash very generously offered his Star Cluster system when I asked, using In Harm's Way and Aces in Spades as a model, though, ultimately, it didn't quite click in my head. I also started down the route of d20, but quickly realised that it would take a more committed soul than myself to pursue that beast. Ultimately, I started fiddling with the ORE as used in NEMESIS, I personally found it very, very easy to adapt to my needs, and Dennis Detwiller and Greg Stolze were generous enough to grant permission to use it free of charge.
Here are the funny kinks to the ordeal. I have permission to use the adapted ORE free of charge, but the agreement necessitates that the document must be distributed freely, in perpetuity. Fair enough, but if I've abandoned any ambition of ever selling the document for profit, then perhaps I don't need to worry myself about licensed permission to use the Traveller rules. Furthermore, I'm aware that I can create my own set of Traveller-like mechanics as long as I don't plagiarise the text, with which I could do as I pleased, distributing for free or for profit. However, both of these last two realisations run counter to that whole "forthright and complimentary homage" I mentioned above. Yeah, I could probably get away with it, but that was never what I wanted to do in the first place.
Now, here's another kink in the chain. I've unabashedly borrowed the title font and general layout of the original boxed set, and I've made obvious mock-ups of the original covers. Does that constitute plagiarism? No, but it might be considered intentional product confusion -- making a knock-off product look like a more popular product with the intent of confusing potential customers. Why am I worried about the text and mechanics when I'm not worried about the covers? Honestly, I don't have an answer to that.
Anyway, this is all part and parcel of the playtest: Do the ORE mechanics work for you? Given that the real point of the project is to emulate the good ol' classic Traveller, does this adaptation capture the feel of the game? I know that fans of ORE who like Traveller will be well-disposed toward it, but will fans of Traveller, independent of their other tastes in games, will they like this?
!i!
And, in a breaking update, I've just learned that the Traveller rules set, in one form or another, may be available for the MARINER project after all. Fortune favors the persistent.
More as this develops.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAnd, in a breaking update, I've just learned that the Traveller rules set, in one form or another, may be available for the MARINER project after all. Fortune favors the persistent.
More as this develops.
!i!
That's good news - I'd rather see this using the Traveller ruleset than the one you are using at present.
By the way, it looks very good and very true to Traveller. My only question is what do you envisage the characters doing in a typical adventure?
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAnd, in a breaking update, I've just learned that the Traveller rules set, in one form or another, may be available for the MARINER project after all. Fortune favors the persistent.
More as this develops.
!i!
That would absolutely rock, Ian! :D
I'm not usually a systems bigot, but I really can't stand ORE.
-clash
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAnd, in a breaking update, I've just learned that the Traveller rules set, in one form or another, may be available for the MARINER project after all. Fortune favors the persistent.
More as this develops.
!i!
Let me put it my excitement this way: When I found out you weren't going with CT, I started seriously considering doing my own Traveller Modern in your stead. ;)
So I'm happy to hear I might not have to go through that much work. :D
Quote from: Simon WThat's good news - I'd rather see this using the Traveller ruleset than the one you are using at present.
I am both pleased and hurt by this remark. :deflated: I understand your sentiments, though, and you share them with a number of people who've commented on the project.
QuoteBy the way, it looks very good and very true to Traveller. My only question is what do you envisage the characters doing in a typical adventure?
For my part, I mostly envisage character activity to focus either around tramp steamers or professional marine salvage companies. The former likens to the classic "free trader" model in
Traveller, while the latter can span the gamut from high seas rescue of distressed ships to treasure hunting. For those with an eye toward the model of
Book 4, Mercenary, there's the option of signing on with a martime security company -- hired soldiers who guard ships against pirates. The frequency of unusual activity will necessarily be greater than that in real life, but that's a necessity of entertainment aspect of the game.
For inspiration, the TV show "Firefly" is a very good model. I've also been finding the Arturo Pérez-Reverte novels
The Nautical Chart (http://www.amazon.com/Nautical-Chart-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/0156029820/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/102-9920699-1543327?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183752728&sr=8-5) and
Queen of the South (http://www.amazon.com/Queen-South-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/0330413147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7/102-9920699-1543327?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183752846&sr=8-7) highly inspiring.
!i!
Oh BTW, have you had a chance to watch Black Lagoon yet?
EDIT: Black Lagoon is basically eactly what I'd wanna run with this, is why I ask.
I can point you to some fansubs if you'd like, they'd be a quite nifty reference, though they might be a little action-movie.
How aboot the Colin Glencannon (http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/glencX01.htm) stories? I hae the fearst and secon' Omnibooses... :O
:D
-clash, Clan Graham of Montrose
Quote from: J ArcaneOh BTW, have you had a chance to watch Black Lagoon yet?
That's right, you'd mentioned
Black Lagoon some time back. I just Googled up a couple of references and found that
Geneon (http://geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=57464a8a-7851-4ec0-9b3c-1b73a1715e80&CatUID=7e51ecae-1202-4cf7-bba0-0c37b9953f93&Letter=B&TitleType=bc3bba18-208c-4534-9697-f3719fd13683&Title=2315b604-2de0-4817-8e26-4d6757e79b73&ctl_BrowseGridpg=0) already has the official studio subs on the market. This looks very, very interesting, and, yes, this is exactly the sort of thing I'd envisage players doing wtih
MARINER. After all, it's pretty much exactly what we did with
Traveller (right down to the businessman character being a barely-explicable member of the crew -- thank heavens for the Bureaucrat career in
Supplement 4).
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThat's right, you'd mentioned Black Lagoon some time back. I just Googled up a couple of references and found that Geneon (http://geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=57464a8a-7851-4ec0-9b3c-1b73a1715e80&CatUID=7e51ecae-1202-4cf7-bba0-0c37b9953f93&Letter=B&TitleType=bc3bba18-208c-4534-9697-f3719fd13683&Title=2315b604-2de0-4817-8e26-4d6757e79b73&ctl_BrowseGridpg=0) already has the official studio subs on the market. This looks very, very interesting, and, yes, this is exactly the sort of thing I'd envisage players doing wtih MARINER. After all, it's pretty much exactly what we did with Traveller (right down to the businessman character being a barely-explicable member of the crew -- thank heavens for the Bureaucrat career in Supplement 4).
!i!
There's only 4 episodes out for the official release so far, and from the sounds of it the release schedule is very slow.
It'd be nice to have an official dub, and I'm sure I'll check out the official version once it's finished, but the show is a bit too story-arc-ish to deal with waiting for the DVDs. Hell, the S1 finale is a cliffhanger, one I've waited a good year for because for some reason the fansub group just stopped to take a break after S1.
But anyway, yeah, the concept is dead perfect for a modern Traveller than leans to the shady side of legality. Really awesome show, loved S1, and now that S2 has been fansubbed, I'm downloading it as we speak. ;)
Continuing this lurch off-topic, I've also noticed two things about
Black Lagoon (which has now completely captured my interest!):
- The official dub of episodes 5-8 are due out on July 24
- A set of all 12 episodes of season 1, un-dubbed, but seemingly with English subtitles, is available for sale
I'm keeping my eyes and ears open.
!i!
I would say that you should put more examples in the text. Examples have the twin purposes of both explaining the rules more clearly, and making the rules more interesting to read, rather than just skim over...
Wow!
How did you emulate the LBB-style?
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaFor my part, I mostly envisage character activity to focus either around tramp steamers or professional marine salvage companies. The former likens to the classic "free trader" model in Traveller, while the latter can span the gamut from high seas rescue of distressed ships to treasure hunting. For those with an eye toward the model of Book 4, Mercenary, there's the option of signing on with a martime security company -- hired soldiers who guard ships against pirates. The frequency of unusual activity will necessarily be greater than that in real life, but that's a necessity of entertainment aspect of the game.
For inspiration, the TV show "Firefly" is a very good model. I've also been finding the Arturo Pérez-Reverte novels The Nautical Chart (http://www.amazon.com/Nautical-Chart-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/0156029820/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/102-9920699-1543327?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183752728&sr=8-5) and Queen of the South (http://www.amazon.com/Queen-South-Arturo-Perez-Reverte/dp/0330413147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7/102-9920699-1543327?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183752846&sr=8-7) highly inspiring.
!i!
Sounds good.
Most of Clive Cussler's Dirl Pitt novels are sea-based. I guess they would be a good source of inspiration too.
With regard to examples, I actually tried to follow the example of the original Traveller, which featured an economy of style that afforded very, very few examples, and the tone was almost academic in its delivery of the rules. The ORE featured many more examples and a far more conversational tone than I had intended. Now that I'm beginning to work with the actual Traveller mechanics, I'm going to need to decide how much of that to preserve. I'll confess that I've grown quite fond of both Captain Jameson (you got that in-joke, right?) and Yu-Ping Jones.
There are times that I feel that too many examples clutter the layout and may even detract from the exposition of the rules. One thing you can say about the classic Traveller, it laid out the rules and then moved right along to the next section.
As for the LBB style and layout, you like that, huh? I found a very close approximation of the Traveller cover and header font, then I paid close attention to how the LBBs were laid out section by section. I have to be honest, there are times that I worry that I imitated the style too closely, and that the powers-that-be might consider it a case of product confusion. At the very least, I've been working on an alternate cover that captures the feel of the LBBs without looking exactly the same. After all, FFE is still selling the collected LBBs, and I really don't want someone buying MARINER thinking that they're buying Traveller (yes, I know, as stupid as that may seem, it's the sort of thing that happens to very well-meaning and otherwise bright people).
Finally, Clive Cussler. I accidentally shop-lifted Atlantis Found (http://www.amazon.com/Atlantis-Found-Dirk-Pitt-Novel/dp/0425177173/ref=sr_1_1/102-9920699-1543327?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183822988&sr=8-1) once. I was at a pharmacist, waiting for a prescription to be filled, and I absent-mindedly picked the book up off a rack and began to read. My prescription was called when it was ready, I shuffled things between my hands and my pockets while I paid for it, then I walked out to my car and sat down. I'd forgotten to put the book back on the rack. Anyway, I finished it later that night, went back to the drug store the next day and paid for the book.
Anyway, point being, I read the book and I thought it was dumb. The main character, Dirk Pitt, is a "Mary Jane" through and through, the plot was contrived, and the villains were predictable. But you know? That's kind of a shitty way to look at it. I realised that the Dirk Pitt novels are a lot like the Ramones' music -- undeniably dumb, but fun. They knew that what they were doing was dumb, but they were doing what they wanted to do, and lots of people loved them for doing it. And, when you get right down to it, that's how a lot of RPG characters play out. So, long story short, hells yeah, I'd love it if someone was inspired by the Dirk Pitt novels sat down and ran a MARINER campaign or character because of it. Many paths arrive at the same destination.
!i!
I think Traveller is a fantastic model for a good, concise gamebook, and you could do a whole lot worse in my eyes.
I don't really care for an overabundance of examples, it slows reading down, it often muddies things as much as it clarifies them, and really, if your rules are written well enough they aren't really necessary.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThere are times that I feel that too many examples clutter the layout and may even detract from the exposition of the rules. One thing you can say about the classic Traveller, it laid out the rules and then moved right along to the next section.
Anyway, point being, I read the book and I thought it was dumb. The main character, Dirk Pitt, is a "Mary Jane" through and through, the plot was contrived, and the villains were predictable. But you know? That's kind of a shitty way to look at it. I realised that the Dirk Pitt novels are a lot like the Ramones' music -- undeniably dumb, but fun. They knew that what they were doing was dumb, but they were doing what they wanted to do, and lots of people loved them for doing it. And, when you get right down to it, that's how a lot of RPG characters play out. So, long story short, hells yeah, I'd love it if someone was inspired by the Dirk Pitt novels sat down and ran a MARINER campaign or character because of it. Many paths arrive at the same destination.
!i!
Yep - i agree - no examples really in classic traveller and to emulate that, I think you are right not to put too many into your text.
As to Cussler - some of his books I find fun and some dumb. But as you say, great RPG material and, if/when I run a game of Mariner (when you have reverted to Traveller rules), I would use some of those books for scenario inspiration.
QuoteAs for the LBB style and layout, you like that, huh?
Definitely!
I would really appreciate if you could inform me on the fonts you used.
Ian, this is a wickedly cool project and your Traveller-homage layout is outstanding -- I already have my wallet out reflexively. Using ORE is a pretty cool choice, though I'm currently on a high from the system so that might be rose-coloured. The only thing that keeps me from playtesting it is the fact that I really want to play my existing campaign for a while before dumping yet another new game on my players.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThat's right, you'd mentioned Black Lagoon some time back. I just Googled up a couple of references and found that Geneon (http://geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=57464a8a-7851-4ec0-9b3c-1b73a1715e80&CatUID=7e51ecae-1202-4cf7-bba0-0c37b9953f93&Letter=B&TitleType=bc3bba18-208c-4534-9697-f3719fd13683&Title=2315b604-2de0-4817-8e26-4d6757e79b73&ctl_BrowseGridpg=0) already has the official studio subs on the market. This looks very, very interesting, and, yes, this is exactly the sort of thing I'd envisage players doing wtih MARINER. After all, it's pretty much exactly what we did with Traveller (right down to the businessman character being a barely-explicable member of the crew
I guess that's a fitting moment to tell you about my employer (http://www.anime-virtual.de).
Quote from: Dirk RemmeckeI guess that's a fitting moment to tell you about my employer (http://www.anime-virtual.de).
It's a bit of a lurch off-topic, but I found a copy of the first four episodes of
Black Lagoon (English-dubbed) this weekend. It did not disappoint, though I had a little trouble with a couple of the more strident voice actors (notably, the actress who made Revy snarl at the top of her lungs in the majority of her lines, and the actor who made the mercenary helicopter pilot sound like a cartoon dog -- maybe I need to blame the dubbing director, though). It was, indeed, good inspiration for a game.
Dirk -- I have to ask. How does your company deal with the content of episode 4 (and, presumably, ep. 5)? Perhaps my understanding is too simplistic, but I thought that depictions of the Nazi swastika and such were
verbotten.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaIt's a bit of a lurch off-topic, but I found a copy of the first four episodes of Black Lagoon (English-dubbed) this weekend. (...)
Dirk -- I have to ask. How does your company deal with the content of episode 4 (and, presumably, ep. 5)? Perhaps my understanding is too simplistic, but I thought that depictions of the Nazi swastika and such were verbotten.
They are
verboten in certain contexts. In the movies (and other media) they are generally allowed if they are shown as what they were - the symbols of Nazi Germany. So
Der Untergang, Indiana Jones, Hogan's Heroes, (alternate) WW II episodes of various
Star Trek series,
Fatherland, and
Black Lagoon are all uncensored. (Though
Black Lagoon received a PG 16 rating because of this.)
The swastika is not allowed in board games (Axis & Allies!), toys (Revell modelling kits), some comic books (even -or especially?- when depicted in culturally differing meanings, e.g. in the manga,
Blade of the Immortal, and the anime,
One Piece).
Ah, thank you. And sorry for the double-t in "verboten" -- my German is hid-hujs-ly rusty.
!i!
No secrets -- I've begun to forge ahead with an adaptation of the
Traveller rules set. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the core careers I've decided on:
QuoteThere are ten standard careers in MARINER:
Navy — Maritime armed forces consisting of surface, subsurface, and aviation divisions. Also includes amphibious special forces and intelligence units.
Marines — Amphibious armed forces organized for rapid deployment, consisting of infantry, artillery, armored cavalry, reconnaissance, and air support and strike units. Popularly known for their elite training and esprit de corps.
Army — Main body armed forces consisting of infantry, artillery, armored cavalry, airborne cavalry, and special forces units.
Air Force — Airborne armed forces organized to extend and support air power into theaters of operation.
Merchants — Civilian maritime organizations involved in the contracted transport, and sometimes purchase and resale, of material goods, and the operation of associated vessels.
Doctors — Civilian medical professionals, including both nurses and medical doctors.
Scientists — Civilian organizations involved in academic and commercial research, and application of scientific knowledge.
Police — Civilian law enforcement organizations charged with enforcing and upholding local statutes.
Rogues — Criminal elements, solitary or organized, engaged in generally violent means to achieve their goals.
Other — A catch-all category for just about every other career, often indicating an individual who has held no single, steady career, possibly including the idle rich.
Any number of careers may be chosen, serving one term in a new career subsequent to another in a previous career, with only two stipulations: only one military career (Navy, Marines, Army, or Air Force) may be chosen, and; the enlistment roll or special requirement must be met for each career.
I'm also including options for College, Graduate School (including options for both Masters and Ph.D), and Medical School.
All of this I'm trying to keep clean and simple, but characters will be able to skip from a 4-year stint in the Army to 4 years of college, then an 8-year career as a scientist...or whatever combination they need to reflect the overall career that the players want. I also wanted the options available from the get-go to reflect the sort of maritime characters commonly known from novels, television, and movies.
Any comments on the core careers chosen or the descriptions given are welcome.
!i!
You might consider adding some kind of career that models white collar guys, like Rock in Blue Lagoon. Maybe adapt the Bureaucrat career from Supplement 4?
Somebody who's good with paperwork and red tape, as well as negotiation.
I rather used Black Lagoon as my make-or-break model -- any character in the first four episodes (the only eps I've seen so far) should be able to be modelled by the 10 core careers. It may not be immediately obvious from the description, but I've folded the Other and Bureaucrat careers from Traveller together, with a little smidgin of the Noble career, too. With the Prior Career tables I'm putting together, it should be possible to replicate Rock by putting the character through a 4-year college, then one term in the Other career and taking at least the skill of Admin-1.
The Other career might be described as consisting of office workers, expatriot temp workers, travel writers, low-profile con men, semi-retired dot-com dilettantes, idle rich, etc. It all depends on how the rolls land. I didn't want to make any single career too specific for the more peripheral background possibilities -- as the description says, Other is a catch-all category for just about everyone else.
!i!
I liked this part...
Optional materials
Miniature Figures (people, animals, ships)
Electronic Calculator or Personal Computer
"Electronic Calculator!" :p
It was just too cute to not include.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaIt's not what I had originally hoped for -- it does not use the "classic" Traveller mechanics -
This could change in future. See Mongoose's announcement (http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=166).
After a near 10-year gap in which only reprints of the Traveller game system have been available, Mongoose Publishing becomes the centralised resource for Traveller titles with the publication of their core rule book Traveller: Science-Fiction Adventures in the Far Future, in February 2008.
[...] It is our aim to halt the fragmentation of the Traveller game, and
reintroduce one solid system (based on Classic Traveller), with one source for the official Traveller universe.
[...] Once the rules for Traveller appear, we plan to make them
available under the Open Gaming License (OGL). At the same time, we will issue a Traveller Logo License (TLL) which makes the Traveller logo and titling available to licensees.
[my emphasis]
Quote from: Kyle AaronThis could change in future. See Mongoose's announcement (http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=166).
After a near 10-year gap in which only reprints of the Traveller game system have been available, Mongoose Publishing becomes the centralised resource for Traveller titles with the publication of their core rule book Traveller: Science-Fiction Adventures in the Far Future, in February 2008.
[...] It is our aim to halt the fragmentation of the Traveller game, and reintroduce one solid system (based on Classic Traveller), with one source for the official Traveller universe.
[...] Once the rules for Traveller appear, we plan to make them available under the Open Gaming License (OGL). At the same time, we will issue a Traveller Logo License (TLL) which makes the Traveller logo and titling available to licensees.
[my emphasis]
O. M. F. G.
Uh-oh, JA just had a critical fumble in his pants! :D
To calm you down, I offer two words from Mongoose's press release: "based on". Who knows how it'll turn out... I am hopeful but not optimistic!
Quote from: Kyle AaronThis could change in future. See Mongoose's announcement (http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=166).
Yep. A few weeks ago, Marc Miller intimated as much to me, which got me quite excited. However, as you point out further on, it's "based on"
CT. It may be significantly different, and the OGL may stipulate that I can't backwards engineer the mechanics to more closely resemble
CT. Furthermore, it's Mongoose, and having to slap their name at the beginning of
MARINER pleases me none at all.
At this point, though, it's all speculative. I intend to wait and see what the OGL looks like, and, if need be, I'm prepared to continue to pursue the actual original
CT rules.
!i!
What's the latest on this, Ian?
Have you got any further with the first supplement, South China Seas?
I haven't had any further word on the exact nature of the rules set to which Marc stated I'd have access, but re-reading his last e-mail in the context of the Mongoose announcement strongly suggests that it's the Mongoose OGL that's available for MARINER.
For the time being, I've largely set the project aside until I can have a good look at the official OGL terms (and also while work has heated up for the summer, I've been away on a vacation, and I've begun working on a paying RPG gig). I make notes occasionally, grill certain friends and relatives on traveling conditions in Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, and watch DVDs of Black Lagoon almost incessantly.
!i!
two books of reference which may help, spotted (and browsed) at my library:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/512T8CN378L._BO2,204,203,200_PIlitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg)
http://tinyurl.com/2wnctk for the amazon listing.
good for travelling info, but more from a civilian perspective.
the other is the reference book for world traders. the version in my library is a small, 3 vol. set in binders. every two months we'll get an update on ten or so countries. you can find a nearby library that has it by going to worldcat ( http://www.worldcat.org ), putting in title, then adjusting the zip code as necessary to show the closest libraries that have it. there are multiple listings for that title in worldcat--the one i've perused is the first one. i'm sure the others are similar.
Inspiration/source for Mariner?
Malacca Strait Pirates (http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/malacca-strait-pirates/pirates-text.html)
BTW Ian, keep at this project! It is an absolutely brilliant idea.
- Q
Here's an abbreviated version of the character generation procedure thus far. A bit of a formatting problem, but the tables are all there. If you're at all familiar with classic Traveller or MegaTraveller, run it through the rigors, roll up a handful of characters, and let me know if they seem to be coming out balanced or not.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaHere's an abbreviated version of the character generation procedure thus far. A bit of a formatting problem, but the tables are all there. If you're at all familiar with classic Traveller or MegaTraveller, run it through the rigors, roll up a handful of characters, and let me know if they seem to be coming out balanced or not.
!i!
Heven't tried generating a character yet (but will do soon) but just to say it is looking good!
Is there any way to persuade logistics professionals to contribute to a supplement about the trading life for this?
Persuade? I don't know. Exhort? Perhaps. Seeing that there's no money behind the endeavor, I fear that virtue is its own reward.
Rather than a supplement, I've been expecting Book 2: Ships and the Sea to contain simple (but effective) trading rules like unto Traveller's rules from the LBBs. I'll confess that I haven't even begun to approach those rules, though I have been working on a system for profiling seaports that mirrors the UWP. The importance of the port profile is two-fold. On one hand, it's a very simple means of sizing up potential roleplay activity -- how big is the port, who controls it, how strict are the local authorities, etc. The second feature is the means for sizing it up for trade -- size of the port, access to regionally-produced goods, specific types of goods, legal controls on imports and exports, etc.
Perhaps I should clean up those notes a little and let you play around with them. :)
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaPersuade? I don't know. Exhort? Perhaps. Seeing that there's no money behind the endeavor, I fear that virtue is its own reward.
Rather than a supplement, I've been expecting Book 2: Ships and the Sea to contain simple (but effective) trading rules like unto Traveller's rules from the LBBs. I'll confess that I haven't even begun to approach those rules, though I have been working on a system for profiling seaports that mirrors the UWP. The importance of the port profile is two-fold. On one hand, it's a very simple means of sizing up potential roleplay activity -- how big is the port, who controls it, how strict are the local authorities, etc. The second feature is the means for sizing it up for trade -- size of the port, access to regionally-produced goods, specific types of goods, legal controls on imports and exports, etc.
Perhaps I should clean up those notes a little and let you play around with them. :)
!i!
I'm not confident in my ability to make a playable TRPG ruleset, but I am confident that I can do some dry-as-dust research and post it for someone else to make into a fun, playable ruleset.
I live in the vicinity of some impressive seaports. I've wanted an excuse to visit them. However, I need to arrange a local translator, so while the information payoff is big, the starting requirements are rigorous.
I know some people I will talk to on Monday, though. I'll put a little note in my calendar. Note that I don't promise they'll have time soon.
Also, I might get more useful data by just talking to experienced folks than by visiting.
I enjoy visiting industrially significant installations, but that's just me...
Just doing that footwork would be fantastic. Thank you.
I've only gotten as far as organising the trade classification list from the US Department of Commerce as the foundation of a new trade table. Of course, notably missing from those trade classifications are illicit goods. I'm beginning to think that there needs to be two trade tables -- one for legitimate cargos, another for illegal trade, and a Law Level saving roll needs to be made for either. Fail your LL roll on the legitimate trade table, and you're tangled in red tape. Miss your roll on the illegal table, and you're in hot water, even for just inquiring after illicit goods.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaJust doing that footwork would be fantastic. Thank you.
I've only gotten as far as organising the trade classification list from the US Department of Commerce as the foundation of a new trade table. Of course, notably missing from those trade classifications are illicit goods. I'm beginning to think that there needs to be two trade tables -- one for legitimate cargos, another for illegal trade, and a Law Level saving roll needs to be made for either. Fail your LL roll on the legitimate trade table, and you're tangled in red tape. Miss your roll on the illegal table, and you're in hot water, even for just inquiring after illicit goods.
!i!
I believe the U.N. has a trade classification for "extraterritorial" activity, including illegal trade, as part of ISIC.
You should probably work with ISIC for this game.
ISIC links include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Industrial_Classification
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=27
ISIC headings include:
* A - Agriculture, forestry and fishing
* B - Mining and quarrying
* C - Manufacturing
* D - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
* E - Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
* F - Construction
* G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
* H - Transportation and storage
* I - Accommodation and food service activities
* J - Information and communication
* K - Financial and insurance activities
* L - Real estate activities
* M - Professional, scientific and technical activities
* N - Administrative and support service activities
* O - Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
* P - Education
* Q - Human health and social work activities
* R - Arts, entertainment and recreation
* S - Other service activities
* T - Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use
* U - Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies
Classification U includes crime, piracy, and messenger boys who brush up against the law because they have to eat, as in Black Lagoon.
I think ISIC is fascinating and everyone should know it, which really says something about the geekiness level of my personality.
Quote from: riprockI believe the U.N. has a trade classification for "extraterritorial" activity, including illegal trade, as part of ISIC.
...
Classification U includes crime, piracy, and messenger boys who brush up against the law because they have to eat, as in Black Lagoon.
No, wait ... I thought that U included crime, but when I look again, it seems I was mistaken.
Possibly someone wrote an article in which U included crime, but that's not how the UN uses it.
Quote from: riprockISIC headings include...
Holy cats, they're even already in alpha-numeric notation (except for the pesky I and O, which can be confused with one and zero). I'll definitely be looking into this. :)
!i!
[Edit: Ah. The ISIC bears great resemblance to the US SIC, which is what I had found some months ago through the US Dept. of Commerce website. I prefer the more international feel.]
And in the interest of providing further light reading, here is the UN Standard Industrial Trade Classifications (http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=14) for goods. This is much closer to what I had found previously on the DoC site.
!i!
My contacts report that there are some fascinating seaports on the South China Sea. Most of the contacts are concerned with the environmental impact of the seaports. Pollution is a serious problem, and because the fishermen whose livelihoods are threatened by the ports are lower class, there are a lot of social-justice tensions within the countries concerned.
Oddly enough, rail does not seem to be widely used in minor seaports. Trucks are the order of the day.
One slight complication in data collection is that my contacts are not interested in or receptive to the notion of gaming. So far as they are concerned, my interest is legitimate only as an environmental, social, or geographical curiosity.
Therefore, Google Maps and similar sources are going to be necessary to fill in a lot of gaps.
Though you guy might find this article interesting.
U.S. Navy challenges pirates off Somalia's coast
NAIROBI, Kenya - The U.S. Navy on Friday kept its eye on a Japanese tanker taken over by pirates off Somalia's coast, while a top U.S. official said that piracy remains a "very serious security problem" in the region.
Earlier this week, a North Korean tanker overrun by pirates was taken back after crew members overpowered the hijackers in a bloody fight. The hijackers were being held aboard the ship until they can be handed over for prosecution at a port.
After the clash, Navy personnel boarded the North Korean boat to treat the wounded. The U.S. efforts came despite its hostile relations with the communist country over its nuclear program.
"You'll always find our Navy prepared to help any ship in distress and certainly any ship that is confronting pirates," said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top American envoy to six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
"This is a very serious security problem on the African coast. These are not pirates who will remind you of Johnny Depp. These are quite different kinds of pirates," Hill told reporters in Seoul, South Korea.
"So, I think we were pleased to be able to help in this regard and I hope the (North) understands that we did this out of the sense of goodwill that we have on this," he said.
The U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyer USS Porter came to the aid of the Japanese chemical tanker this week, at one point opening fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to it. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy said that it intended to remove the pirates from the Japanese tanker.
The pirates have demanded a navy ship close to the hijacked vessel move away, said Tess Villanueva, wife of the crew's foreman, Laureano. It was unclear whether the Porter, which is part of the coalition force in the area, is the ship closest to the Golden Nori.
"Apparently the navy ship was getting closer to them," she told The Associated Press in the Philippines. "The good news would be if they (pirates) leave the ship."
Negotiations under way
Negotiations have started for the release of the tanker, anchored in Somali waters with 23 crew members from the Philippines, South Korea and Myanmar, said Josefina Villanueva, Laureano's sister.
Josefina Villanueva said there had been no ransom demand from the pirates. "The talks are just starting. I think the pirates will later on demand something," she said.
On Friday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the captain of the ship contacted the Japanese company that owns the vessel the day before and reported that the crew was fine.
There has been no direct contact between the Philippine government and the pirates, he added.
"The problem is there is no central government in control (in Somalia)," he said.
The Golden Nori was carrying a load of benzene when the USS Porter fired on two pirate boats tied to the chemical tanker Sunday, sinking both. Benzene, an industrial solvent, is both highly flammable and can be fatal if too much is inhaled. The U.S. military said it was aware of what was onboard when it fired at the skiffs.
Somali pirates are trained fighters, in some cases linked to powerful Somali clans, outfitted with sophisticated arms and equipment, including GPS satellite instruments. They have seized merchant ships, ships carrying aid, and once even a cruise ship.
The United States also has supported efforts to quell an Islamic insurgency in Somalia.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, then turned on each other. The current government was formed in 2004, but has struggled to assert any real control.
Link to original story (including pic of burning pirate vessel.) (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21594439/)
Curious to what became of the project?