Let's Read: Traveller, 1977 Edition, Characters & Combat, page 24

So, this page introduces us to ‘Jamison’, a merchant captain. The format of this character creation incorporates the character’s background as the dice are rolled, turning the set of numbers rolled into an actual fleshed-out character. Looks good so far. So, instead of just quoting what’s already in the book, I’m going to actually use the same procedure for JR. Yes, he’s already rolled up, but I have a record of the rolls from earlier in the thread, so I’ll just go back to that. I’ve already forgotten what they were, so this will be sort-of a fresh take.

Let’s review Jamie’s UPP: 59A769. So, to recap: He’s got great endurance and agility, but he’s not very strong; we’ll say he’s on the smallish-side. Average intelligence, and he just barely passed in school. He’s from a good family, so his parents probably made sure he got through. In fact, with a social status that high, they likely tried to push him into the Navy so as to get that noble title through him. That’s plausible; God knows there are still a gazillion parents trying to live their own dreams and fantasies through their kids. So, his family wanted him in the Navy, but Jamie has two things against that: First, he’s not, brains-wise, Navy material, and second, he is smart enough to know he isn’t. Besides, his parents pushed hard on a Navy career, but it just isn’t his thing. Too technical, too confined, and too dull. He prefers the Great Outdoors to being Preston of the Spaceways. So, as an act of teen rebellion, he walked right past the Navy recruitment station and headed straight for the Army instead. Naturally, his parents are pissed, and he’s now the Black Sheep of his family.

So far, so good. Now, his Army enlistment target roll was 2+, a.k.a. automatic. The Army took one look at him, and realized that while he wasn’t the biggest and strongest guy around, he can certainly handle a firearm, he has enough of an education to understand the basics, and he has the stamina to handle those ninety-mile hikes in the frozen tundra. As a bonus, they get to stick it to a pro-Navy family. Because there should be some cross-service rivalries, right? Anyway, they took him without hesitation, and he went straight into Basic, where he was trained in how to use a rifle (skill-1).

During his first term of service [survival roll requires is 5+, with a DM of +2 allowed for Education; he rolls 8 (+2=10)] and doesn’t encounter any serious risks. He writes the test for a commission (required roll of 5+, DM of +1 for Endurance, he rolls a 4 [+1=5]) and passes by the skin of his teeth (story of his life). However, despite excelling in both gun (SMG-1 for becoming a lieutenant and Rifle-2 as a rolled skill) and sword fighting (Blade-1), he stalls out at Lieutenant in his first term. He learns how to do some basic field repairs on army equipment (Mechanical-1). Jamie is definitely happy about where his is in his life; he’s out in the wild DOING things, not just sitting at a workstation reading printouts of ship systems; no way would he have gotten a commission in the Navy.

In his second term of service, Jamie doesn’t run into much trouble (survival roll 8+2=10). However, he also doesn’t attain a promotion (roll of 3). He ends up serving in an artillery unit as a forward observer (skill -1), which bothers him a bit since he’d still rather be on the front lines where the action is. Still, he definitely enjoys the Army life, and he’s sticking around for another term.

In his third term, he does run into some trouble, but gets through it basically unscathed (survival roll of 6+2=8). Once again, though, he fails to get a promotion. He’s been in the Army for twelve years, and a Lieutenant for ten of them, but no promotion. Instead, he spends most of this term in the Mobile Command, and learns how to handle an ATV (skill-1). Okay, at least it’s more on the front lines than being a Forward Observer, but something isn’t right. He’s the oldest lieutenant in his division. He’s had some friction with his superiors, but nothing that bad. The Army still wants him (reenlistment of 11) and he still likes being out in the field. Assessing his situation, he decides that he’s getting a broad base of skills, and he still loves the Army life. So, he’s sticking around and hoping to get that elusive promotion to Captain.

Now, onto term four. He finds himself moved away from the more dangerous theaters into a support position, where he gets more technical training (Electronics-1). Then, a bombshell: One of his superiors has been holding him and others back, using them to buff up his own resumé at the expense of these more talented subordinates. The court-martial is quick, and Jamie’s new superior recognizes his efforts almost immediately; he’s promoted to Captain, and goes back to the combat lines. But age is starting to take its toll, and he isn’t as accurate and agile as he was a few years earlier. Fortunately, his skill with weapons improves enough to compensate for that loss (Rifle-3); he’s one of the best snipers in the Army. Now feeling like he has truly found his place, he re-ups one more time (roll of 7) to complete his twenty-year career.