Friday, June 12, 2020

Let's Read: Traveller, 1977 Edition, Characters & Combat, page 16


So. we have a last note on tactical skill that says it helps get a job in which this skill is useful. No DM is given, but the notion is there.

Next up on the skill list is Forward Observer, which Major Rollinson has, the first of these skills that he learned in the Army. Good. So, this basically means you’re an artillery spotter. That could be useful, if the campaign sees some heavy artillery involved. But even if it doesn’t, this is a good bit of background information for the character. So, the skills learned in the service can help develop the character’s background and personality. That’s a bit ‘duh,’ I suppose, for quite a few people, but remember, new guy who’s never dealt with Traveller before. I’m used to novice characters who can barely tie their own shoes, not retired military vets who are already really good at their jobs.

Vacc suit is next, and this is your standard spacesuit knowledge. Vacc suits are great for dangerous atmospheres, as well as outer space. Levels in this skill allow the character to handle dangerous maneuvers in the suit, and if you don’t have levels, you’ll be virtually helpless if something does happen. It also lets the character use battle dress, which isn’t defined yet but assumed to be some kind of body armor for soldiers and marines. We’ll see.

Then it’s Air/Raft, the common get-around vehicle on most worlds. A combination air/water vehicle, it’s used all over the galaxy. So, the Traveller version of a car, then. Everyone knows how to use it, but the ones with skill levels can handle the rougher conditions (bad weather, fire fights, etc.) much better. It’s a quick way to resolve a vehicle chase, which is good for when things need to just move along, or the firefight part is the main point of the scene.

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