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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Imperator on February 20, 2013, 05:09:38 AM

Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Imperator on February 20, 2013, 05:09:38 AM
I am considering picking up this book given that several of my players and myself are Trek aficionados. What do we know about it? Is it any good?
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Spinachcat on February 20, 2013, 06:00:52 AM
Is this a new product? AKA, a MongTrav one?

I had the old Prime Directive books and they were a great resource BUT the setting is Star Fleet Battles, not Star Trek so that may affect how some groups like the game.

Our crew were SFB junkies from waaay back so it worked for us.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Imperator on February 20, 2013, 06:51:38 AM
Quote from: Spinachcat;630177
Is this a new product? AKA, a MongTrav one?

I had the old Prime Directive books and they were a great resource BUT the setting is Star Fleet Battles, not Star Trek so that may affect how some groups like the game.

Our crew were SFB junkies from waaay back so it worked for us.


I don't even know if it's out yet, TBH.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: jeff37923 on February 20, 2013, 01:14:13 PM
I don't think it is out yet.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: colwebbsfmc on February 20, 2013, 01:23:17 PM
It's not out.  I just PM'd Jean Sexton on Facebook, she's the editor for ADB.  She let me know the book is still awaiting some artwork (deckplans, mainly) and is currently on hold until the art gets turned-in and approved.

I for one would love to see this - not only do I love Trek and Traveller, but I was working on D6 Prime Directive for ADB, turned in 5 chapters, and then it kinda went quiet from there as other projects like this one took precedence...  So if PD:D6 has to be canned so something else can come out, I'd really like to see that something else come out...
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Warthur on February 22, 2013, 06:34:44 AM
Surprised that they are waiting on the deckplans though - wouldn't these be exactly the same as the deckplans from all the other PD versions?
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: David Johansen on February 22, 2013, 09:20:13 AM
I'd love a deck plan for the Federation Heavy Cruiser and Klingon d7 to be in there.  I know ADB love their Star Fleet Universe but I really only care about the the original series.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Danger on February 23, 2013, 05:48:04 AM
Quote from: David Johansen;630889
I'd love a deck plan for the Federation Heavy Cruiser and Klingon d7 to be in there.  I know ADB love their Star Fleet Universe but I really only care about the the original series.


Amen and I'll get back to you about deck plans.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: jeff37923 on February 23, 2013, 06:11:15 AM
Quote from: David Johansen;630889
I'd love a deck plan for the Federation Heavy Cruiser and Klingon d7 to be in there.  I know ADB love their Star Fleet Universe but I really only care about the the original series.


Jeez, why didn't you just say so.

Star Trek Blueprints Database (http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints-main2.php)

You will have to do a bit of searching, but the deck plans you are looking for are in there.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Danger on February 23, 2013, 02:20:13 PM
Dang, that's some sweet stuff there.

I was just going to scan the plans from the old FASA set (I think I've still got them...somewhere) into a pdf bundle; one of the advantages at working in an Engineering firm = can scan up to 36" width.

Still can if anyone is interested - hope I'm not stepping on any toes with that offer, by the way, so mods feel free to amend as needed.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on May 15, 2013, 03:25:42 AM
Quote from: Imperator;630173
I am considering picking up this book given that several of my players and myself are Trek aficionados. What do we know about it? Is it any good?


Last I heard, it was going to be a Star Fleet sourcebook using Mongoose Traveller rules (Star Fleet careers and skills).  Unknown what the ship combat rules will be.  GURPS PD used Space 3e rules and SFB rules for its various editions.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: David Johansen on May 15, 2013, 08:50:46 AM
IRRC they mention in GURPS PD that they're just waiting for GURPS Vehicle Design to do the official GURPS ship stats.  sigh
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on May 15, 2013, 03:32:34 PM
They went ahead and published the GURPS 4e PD without waiting for GURPS 4e Space.  But GURPS 4e Space is a different animal all together compared to GURPS 3e Space, anyway.

Did GURPS come out with a Vehicles 4e yet?  I saw at a game store, someone using GURPS 4e Spaceships or Starships (I forget now).  GURPS 4e Traveller might have some spaceship rules that GURPS 4e PD could use?

I think the PD people want us to use SFB for most ship combat though these days.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on November 29, 2014, 05:47:15 AM
Can someone name a game that took longer than this to be released? D&D 5e didn't take this long. Traveller 5 took forever.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: JeremyR on November 29, 2014, 09:48:45 PM
Bureau 13 d20 took ages to come out.

And what about that GMS Kickstarter. Far West?
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Just Another Snake Cult on November 30, 2014, 11:38:56 AM
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;801428
Can someone name a game that took longer than this to be released? D&D 5e didn't take this long. Traveller 5 took forever.


The Realms of Sorcery hardcover for Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 1st ed was fifteen years late, IIRC.

It was very nice but it was kinda weird sitting there reading long after I had quit running the game and after all the old friends I used to play it with had since moved away.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Warthur on December 03, 2014, 08:29:05 AM
From February 2013:

Quote from: colwebbsfmc;630279
It's not out.  I just PM'd Jean Sexton on Facebook, she's the editor for ADB.  She let me know the book is still awaiting some artwork (deckplans, mainly) and is currently on hold until the art gets turned-in and approved.


Jeepers, how long does it take to produce a few bits of art and copy-paste some deckplans?
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: selfdeleteduser00001 on December 03, 2014, 09:02:00 AM
AFB and PD/SFB stuff is never fast.
I also really hope they do a clean, nicely laid out and compliant version of Trek for Traveller and Traveller for Trek.
Just need a few ships, and then off I jolly well go..

I am not sure I'd want to use SFB for combat so Traveller ship stats would be helpful.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Simlasa on December 04, 2014, 12:37:31 PM
Have there been any other Traveller products that focused on PCs as command/crew on large ships? I can't think of any but I'm ignorant of the scope outside CT and the GURPS version.
I know there were modules featuring large vessels but those didn't seem meant as home base for the PCs.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: selfdeleteduser00001 on December 05, 2014, 11:43:49 AM
Readily done from the core.
In many ways a Scouts game is Trek. Ditto a Navy game based on High Guard.
Trek is clearly a core influence on Traveller with variant systems and cultures every system.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: David Johansen on December 06, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
To use CT as Star Trek:

Careers to Star Fleet Branches
Command - Navy
Engineering - Navy
Security - Marines
Science - Scientist or Scouts

Phaser I - Body Pistol Ranges, Laser Carbine Penetration and Damage
Phaser II - Auto Pistol Ranges, Laser Rifle Penetration and Damage
Phaser Rifle - Laser Rifle +2 with Rifle Weight.

Travelling - Call Jump number Warp Number, ignore refueling but assume volume is taken up in hardware and antimatter containment.

Space Combat - Call Sand Casters shields and pretend "turrets" are advanced multidirectional phaser arrays.
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: RPGPundit on December 10, 2014, 10:48:06 PM
I know nothing about this specific game, but if well modified, Trav would probably work very nicely for Star Trek (particularly the classic-era Star Trek of Prime Directive).
Title: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on December 14, 2014, 11:43:48 AM
I'm sure referees have already run Star Trek games by now using Mongoose Traveller, instead of waiting for the Prime Directive book. Amarillo Design Bureau just assumed their PR person could write out the game in a month or two, since maybe it was her idea that a book be made.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on October 15, 2021, 02:31:46 PM
I was just told that Traveller Prime Directive has been green-lit for Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition. But I see a repeat of no game being produced once Mongoose releases its Traveller 2022.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 15, 2021, 02:36:42 PM
I have been waiting for this game for... 10 years now!  Oh my goodness I had blacked out how long I've been waiting otherwise I'd go insane!
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: shoplifter on October 15, 2021, 04:29:51 PM
Bureau 13 d20 took ages to come out.

And what about that GMS Kickstarter. Far West?

http://intothefarwest.com/2021/02/22/the-long-trail-home/

This is the last update, GMS claims it's finally going to come out this year!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/1AIeYgwnqeBUxh6juu/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Dave 2 on October 15, 2021, 07:47:21 PM
I had grand plans for Trav Trek when I first heard about it. I thought of starting with one term red shirts on away missions, and having players roll up replacement characters with one additional term each time their previous character died. Sadly I've got other things on deck now, and I'm unlikely to revisit that campaign idea.

I do think Traveller is a good fit mechanically though. The Task Chain mechanic especially would adapt very easily to Trekkish technobabble solutions to problems.

And while I could do my own prep work and run it with core, there's something to be said for having a book to point players to, and to set the tone. Less prep work obviously, and I've seen games go wrong when it's a generic system just decreed to be a certain genre or universe, unless there's some work put into adapting the rules and character options.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Mishihari on October 15, 2021, 08:17:08 PM
I have a tough time mentally fitting Traveller and Star Trek together.  Tasks and technology, aren't bad, but the themes don't fit at all.  Star Trek is very collectivist "we don't use money" etc, and Traveller goes more with Firefly, Uncharted Stars, and the Poleseotechnic League, in which making money is a really big deal, and that's only the start of it.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on October 15, 2021, 09:54:58 PM
I have a tough time mentally fitting Traveller and Star Trek together.
Don't confuse setting with system. Mongoose Traveller can be made as generic or as specific to a setting as you want. It's modular. And its 2D6 task check system works fine in a Star Trek setting.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: King Tyranno on October 16, 2021, 08:35:13 AM
The marriage of Star Fleet Battles and Traveller was something I didn't know I needed until this point. My nerd boner right now can break steel. I used to love Star Fleet Battles as a kid. Loved the lore especially, it was much better than what we ended up getting in TNG onwards.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: RandyB on October 16, 2021, 11:53:03 AM
The marriage of Star Fleet Battles and Traveller was something I didn't know I needed until this point. My nerd boner right now can break steel. I used to love Star Fleet Battles as a kid. Loved the lore especially, it was much better than what we ended up getting in TNG onwards.

The Star Fleet Universe - the publisher's name for it - is my all-time second favorite iteration of Trek. My favorite remains pre-TNG FASATrek.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Shawn Driscoll on October 16, 2021, 03:28:27 PM
The marriage of Star Fleet Battles and Traveller was something I didn't know I needed until this point. My nerd boner right now can break steel. I used to love Star Fleet Battles as a kid. Loved the lore especially, it was much better than what we ended up getting in TNG onwards.
I been a fan of that Star Trek universe since buying the Star Fleet Technical Manual in the '70s.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Baron on October 16, 2021, 03:31:53 PM
I loved TOS, the SFB universe, and FASA Trek pre-movie era products. Been a trekkie since first broadcast, did the cons in NYC back in the 70s and spent way too much on memorabilia like the Technical Manual. I still think those ships are the best!
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: palaeomerus on October 17, 2021, 07:08:52 PM
This is probably off topic but it is meant to be helpful.

Noble Knight Game (online game store with some vintage stuff) has some of the 4" Gamescience Lou Zocci plastic Federation ships based on the Jeffries diagrams.(Scout, Destroyer, Cargo Pod Freightet, Heavy Cruiser, and Dreadnought* ) They also have the lumpy D7 and Romulan Bird of Prey in metal.
Just search for "Star Fleet Battle Manual."

(https://resources.nobleknight.com/Catalog/Images/900/900/0/1/0/GSDreadnought2.jpeg)

*Lt. Kivrin not included, thankfully. 

Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: HappyDaze on October 17, 2021, 07:12:48 PM
The minature line is actually pretty large these days. Go to ADB's boards and you can see the ever-expanding line.  I've personally never bothered with them though, because I find the counters superior for actual play (and I use forces from so many different fleets--but partial to Seltorians, Orions, Romulans, and Vudar--that it would take way too many minis to have everything that I need)
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: palaeomerus on October 17, 2021, 07:33:59 PM
Zocci's are big plastic multipart models. They've been around on and off for a long time. They make decal sets for them too.

ADB makes metal ships in two scales the larger one of which I'm not sure is supported anymore because it was for Mongoose's A Call To Arms: Star Fleet which was sort of a simpler truncated version SFB with bigger models that was supposed to be more casual and beer and pretzels.

Mongoose used to sell big fleet boxes of them with something like 3 frigates a couple of destroyers, a couple of cruisers and a big capital ship. They also had smaller squadron boxes with maybe five ships.

(https://resources.nobleknight.com/catalog/images/0/0/510/1/0/MGP30003.jpg)

They had Klingons, Romulans, Federation, Gorn, & Kzinti I think.  I never saw any Lyrans or Hydrans or Orion/Wyn boxes at the store. 

A Call To Arms was originally a Babylon 5 warship game with some similarity to SFB though I don't think it had the phased movement it did use SSD's and power allocation rules so ship could be put on an evasive, buttoned up to resist fire, or ready to fire everything posture..

Apparently the SF:ACTA got an expansion and 2nd edition but it seems to be PDF only so I am not clear on how alive this game is.

The SFB minis are bit smaller. You would swap them out easily enough but the smaller model line is more complete being older than the Mongoose crossover ones.
(https://resources.nobleknight.com/catalog/images/0/0/510/1/0/ADB-0344.JPG)
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Eirikrautha on October 17, 2021, 07:53:26 PM
The SFB minis are bit smaller. You would swap them out easily enough but the smaller model line is more complete being older than the Mongoose crossover ones.
(https://resources.nobleknight.com/catalog/images/0/0/510/1/0/ADB-0344.JPG)
It's amazing how those metal miniatures from back then had minor flaws and defects, but were still considered great quality.  And today, I can make a higher-quality model on my 3D printer tonight for almost nothing.  The progress is incredible.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 18, 2021, 05:13:43 PM
ACTA: Star Fleet got a revised edition for "Book 1" which contains some ships for federation, klingon, romulan, gorn, kzinti, and a few of the orion, tholian, and things like freighters.

ACTA: Star Fleet has a "Book 2" added more federation, klingon, romulan, kzinti, and gorn ships, then kinda revamped the tholian fleet, and orion fleet, and added the seltorian fleet.  There's also more civilian ships and some space monsters.

"Book 3" is being worked on, it should have Lyrans, and Hydrans as new fleets, and some new ships of existing fleets.

ADB has some ships available in the 3D printing store "Shapeways",  in the 3788 Scale (same size as 2400 series),  3125 scale (2500 series released from mongoose), and 7000 scale (about the size of the tokens/markers)

They almost have 2800 items available in their 3d printing store on shapeways.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: jhkim on October 18, 2021, 07:10:04 PM
The marriage of Star Fleet Battles and Traveller was something I didn't know I needed until this point. My nerd boner right now can break steel. I used to love Star Fleet Battles as a kid. Loved the lore especially, it was much better than what we ended up getting in TNG onwards.

I loved Star Fleet Battles in the past too, though I gave up on it a while ago.

Even when I was really into SFB, though, I didn't like the design for the original Prime Directive. For one thing, the rules sucked. In addition, though, it had a wonky take on the background. Rather than playing bridge officers like in Star Trek, the PCs were members of "Prime Teams" who were modeled on modern-day special ops - down to having camo outfits and piles of hardware. It seemed very opposed to the Star Trek roots, and didn't make much sense either. They had to jump through hoops so that transporters couldn't be used and to downgrade the power of phasers.

I once used a version of Greg Porters "CORPS" system for Star Trek role-playing while using SFB for the ship battles. Today I'm not sure what I would use. I'd want cinematic hand-to-hand combat, but I wouldn't want a lot of complexity in other systems.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 18, 2023, 05:27:03 PM
Bureau 13 d20 took ages to come out.

And what about that GMS Kickstarter. Far West?

http://intothefarwest.com/2021/02/22/the-long-trail-home/

This is the last update, GMS claims it's finally going to come out this year!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/1AIeYgwnqeBUxh6juu/giphy.gif)

Sigh, still not out.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: BadApple on October 18, 2023, 07:37:40 PM
Bureau 13 d20 took ages to come out.

And what about that GMS Kickstarter. Far West?

http://intothefarwest.com/2021/02/22/the-long-trail-home/

This is the last update, GMS claims it's finally going to come out this year!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/1AIeYgwnqeBUxh6juu/giphy.gif)

Sigh, still not out.

You mean this?  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/452473/Far-West?cPath=22132

It's out and I did a review of it here.  https://www.therpgsite.com/reviews/far-west-a-first-look/
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: King Tyranno on October 19, 2023, 09:02:31 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 19, 2023, 09:02:56 AM
Bureau 13 d20 took ages to come out.

And what about that GMS Kickstarter. Far West?

http://intothefarwest.com/2021/02/22/the-long-trail-home/

This is the last update, GMS claims it's finally going to come out this year!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/1AIeYgwnqeBUxh6juu/giphy.gif)

Sigh, still not out.

You mean this?  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/452473/Far-West?cPath=22132

It's out and I did a review of it here.  https://www.therpgsite.com/reviews/far-west-a-first-look/

I misread the post,  I meant that Traveller: Prime Directive is still not out, many years later.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 19, 2023, 09:06:38 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: King Tyranno on October 19, 2023, 09:10:42 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.

What I may end up doing for my home games is replacing most of the counters with resin 3D prints. There are tons of SFB models for free on Thingiverse and Cults. Alongside a homebrew cleanup and streamlining of the rules. I'll make my own bloated kickstarter boardgame for a fraction of the price (for free and for personal use). I'll release this hyperthetical cleaned up rule book too when it's been playtested a bit.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 19, 2023, 09:28:37 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.

What I may end up doing for my home games is replacing most of the counters with resin 3D prints. There are tons of SFB models for free on Thingiverse and Cults. Alongside a homebrew cleanup and streamlining of the rules. I'll make my own bloated kickstarter boardgame for a fraction of the price. I'll release this hyperthetical cleaned up rule book too when it's been playtested a bit.
A cleaned up version of F&E?  Or one of the other games?
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: King Tyranno on October 19, 2023, 09:36:39 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.

What I may end up doing for my home games is replacing most of the counters with resin 3D prints. There are tons of SFB models for free on Thingiverse and Cults. Alongside a homebrew cleanup and streamlining of the rules. I'll make my own bloated kickstarter boardgame for a fraction of the price. I'll release this hyperthetical cleaned up rule book too when it's been playtested a bit.
A cleaned up version of F&E?  Or one of the other games?

Yes. Federation & Empire. I actually think it'd be easier to clean that game up than Star Fleet Battle proper. Although that's something I want to tackle too someday. This is all going to be long into the future when I have some time though.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 19, 2023, 09:44:23 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.

What I may end up doing for my home games is replacing most of the counters with resin 3D prints. There are tons of SFB models for free on Thingiverse and Cults. Alongside a homebrew cleanup and streamlining of the rules. I'll make my own bloated kickstarter boardgame for a fraction of the price. I'll release this hyperthetical cleaned up rule book too when it's been playtested a bit.
A cleaned up version of F&E?  Or one of the other games?

Yes. Federation & Empire. I actually think it'd be easier to clean that game up than Star Fleet Battle proper. Although that's something I want to tackle too someday. This is all going to be long into the future when I have some time though.
What are your thoughts about Federation Commander being a "cleaned up" SFB?  Or "ACTA:SF"/"Starmada" being a "cleaned up" Federation Commander?
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: King Tyranno on October 19, 2023, 11:16:09 AM
As this thread has been necroed. I'm going to talk about SFB again. I recently had a game of Empire & Federation. It can get very crazy. I was playing the Romulans and the Federation player made a deal with me to help fight the Klingons if I just gave him my cloaking tech. Which I did because this bloke is a good friend of mine who would never betray me.

Having to deal with Federation dreadnoughts just appearing above your home planet from cloak really puts friendships into perspective.

It was great fun though. However I really wish ADB would step into the 21st century and do a cleaning up of the rules for the modern day. Similar to Battletech. What I dread happening though is them doing one of those overbloated board game kickstarters where they sell a new version of the game for £200 or more before shipping. Which is becoming a distressingly common occurrence for Board Games and a main factor for why I don't play many board games anymore.

Starfleet Battles/Starfleet Universe is probably one of my favorite settings for games, but ADB is probably one of my least favorite companies for actually getting products done.
All of their games have a great set of rules and systems, they can be clunky for playing in person but they are doable,  but they'd be amazing systems for computer games allowing the game engine to handle all of the crunch so that people can spend more time doing decisions.

What I may end up doing for my home games is replacing most of the counters with resin 3D prints. There are tons of SFB models for free on Thingiverse and Cults. Alongside a homebrew cleanup and streamlining of the rules. I'll make my own bloated kickstarter boardgame for a fraction of the price. I'll release this hyperthetical cleaned up rule book too when it's been playtested a bit.
A cleaned up version of F&E?  Or one of the other games?

Yes. Federation & Empire. I actually think it'd be easier to clean that game up than Star Fleet Battle proper. Although that's something I want to tackle too someday. This is all going to be long into the future when I have some time though.
What are your thoughts about Federation Commander being a "cleaned up" SFB?  Or "ACTA:SF"/"Starmada" being a "cleaned up" Federation Commander?

 I haven't played or even heard of Starmada so I will check that out. I have played Federation Commander. I think it was a great attempt to bring a game from the 70's into the late 90's. Just two decades late by releasing in the 2010's. It did simplify some things but a lot of the game is still very esoteric to newcomers and presentation is still stuck in the past of dry board game manuals. I have been able to explain it to newbies but that's verbal. You shouldn't NEED to have a game explained to you by someone else. You should be able to read the manual and get the basics at least.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Banjo Destructo on October 19, 2023, 12:04:29 PM
I haven't played or even heard of Starmada so I will check that out. I have played Federation Commander. I think it was a great attempt to bring a game from the 70's into the late 90's. Just two decades late by releasing in the 2010's. It did simplify some things but a lot of the game is still very esoteric to newcomers and presentation is still stuck in the past of dry board game manuals. I have been able to explain it to newbies but that's verbal. You shouldn't NEED to have a game explained to you by someone else. You should be able to read the manual and get the basics at least.

I like "A call to arms: Star Fleet" myself.  I've been able to grok it without other people explaining it.  Imagine federation commander at fleet scale, no power points (just a few special commands that may drain power with a few limited effects of drained power, like choosing to go slower, or fire less weapons),  no shield arcs just firing arcs for weapons and one shield number for the whole ship, no damage boxes just a hull value and the possibility for critical hits to damage specific systems.

I mean, it may be pretty close to what you'd want, who knows, I guess you'd have to look at it. It is meant for battles of like.. 6+ ships per side, but I don't think it breaks down if you go smaller.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: FASAfan on October 19, 2023, 02:36:06 PM
Disclosure: I was a proofreader on Prime Directive D20 Modern (PD20M) and play tester on a few Federation Commander products.  I’m also a rabid FASA Star Trek fan (more like Spaceflight Chronology fan by Fred and Stan Goldstein, which FASA basically adopted whole cloth) and collector of Star Trek games.

There is a D20 and a D20 Modern version of Prime Directive, both written by the late Jonathan Thompson of Battlefield Press for ADB.  Jonathan was a FASA Star Trek fan and didn’t mind if his love of that game and setting influenced his work :) The D20 version uses the PHB 3.5 as the “core rules” (as per the OGL) whereas the D20 Modern uses the D20 Modern core rule book.

I have both versions but my group played the PD20M version, aka the “Modern” version. As huge FASA Star Trek fans, we just used the rules in a FASA Star Trek universe background. We had an absolute blast and the rules were great - particularly since the PCs were private merchants/adventurers in FASA’s Triangle region (very Traveller like).  Add on the D20 Future supplement and you’re cooking with gas! I can’t recommend enough.

The game also has some supplements. The Klingon and Romulan sourcebooks are very good and useful for fleshing out servitor and other races within these empires. I adopted these freely into the FASA background.  The Federation sourcebook is good, too, but the Feddies aren’t hurting for member races. There are just a few more products. Ah crap, here’s a link: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Prime_Directive_(game)

I’m also a fan of Federation Commander and think it’s wonderful - a greater game than FASA’s starship combat game but less involved than Star Fleet Battles.  I’ve seen ACTA:SF played and own Books 1 and 2.  Some people swear by it but I’ve yet to play it, only observe.

ADB has moved their miniatures over to Shapeways and 3D printing. You can get the ships in a few different scales.  I’m currently collecting 1/7000 (!) scale.  Of course, you can choose the quality of the print you want. They are a bit pricey but my prints have been stellar.  They have even added marine combat vehicles to support their marine combat game.

If you’re concerned about the SFB universe being too odd, different or weird, don’t be.  I was like that for years. It is different but it makes sense internally.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: honeydipperdavid on October 20, 2023, 03:31:17 PM
Why not just play traveller?  Its a good game, good rules and its a decent system.  The character generation system is better than anything Paizo or WotC can come up with in in 100 years.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: Baron on October 20, 2023, 03:39:30 PM
I've been playing Star Fleet Battles, FASA Star Trek and Classic Traveller since they were new. I love the SFB universe and would like to role-play in it. And so I want to try Prime Directive. Not really interested in d20 or GURPS, but I'd like to play the original Prime Directive.

Playing Traveller and FASA Trek side by side as I did, I have to say that Traveller doesn't really seem like it would feel like Trek as much as FASA does. But since I'm a Traveller fan I'm keeping an open mind for the someday-edition of Traveller: Prime Directive.
Title: Re: Traveller Prime Directive: Is it any good?
Post by: jhkim on October 21, 2023, 01:48:38 AM
I've been playing Star Fleet Battles, FASA Star Trek and Classic Traveller since they were new. I love the SFB universe and would like to role-play in it. And so I want to try Prime Directive. Not really interested in d20 or GURPS, but I'd like to play the original Prime Directive.

I was into Star Fleet Battles for a while, and ran an old website of it. I enjoy the Original Series setting, and played a bit of FASA Trek as well. However, I found the original Prime Directive to be completely awful. The core mechanics were convoluted, with different "tri-codes" for every task to indicate levels of success on the d6 dice-pool roll. Moreover, though, it felt completely like a 20th-century special ops game that has to constantly shut down every bit of Star Trek technology.

I ran several Star Trek games in the 1990s that used SFB for ship combat, but I didn't use the Prime Directive rules. I adapted the core rules from Greg Porter's CORPS instead. I have a clunky write-up of my rules here:

https://darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/trek/