I picked that up from the context. This sounds like a lot of fun!For some added context, 0 is good for a Skill because the default is a malus.
I don't know contemporary versions, but know the 1977 and 1981 versions quite well (where they differ, I generally prefer 1977). I started a campaign in 2017 that we still play intermittently, and I've also played it with my kids. Here's an actual play post which should give an idea of what I like about itI've certainly heard about Traveller, but apart from the whole "you can die during character creation" thing I know next to nothing about it
<snip>
What's the game like?
Not in the versions I know and enjoy. I'm not sure about the more recent versions.I'm curious, for those players who come to the table with pages of background already, are there options to directly choose portions of the character generation to match the character they had in their head, or is that sort of thing discouraged and against the spirit of how the game is set up?
I am sure that there must be alternate rules out there for how to spec and build characters that people have pit together over the years, but the spirit of Traveller is letting the dice fall where they may, with most characters being in some degree of "failing" at life (hence being Travellers rather than having a nice house in the Space 'Burbs in their 30's).I picked that up from the context. This sounds like a lot of fun!
I'm curious, for those players who come to the table with pages of background already, are there options to directly choose portions of the character generation to match the character they had in their head, or is that sort of thing discouraged and against the spirit of how the game is set up?
Traveller is very much a lifepath character creation game. Lots of stuff determined by rolling at the table to generate your character. This is emphasized by building connections with the other characters during that lifepath creation. There are optional rules in the Companion for solo character creation.I picked that up from the context. This sounds like a lot of fun!
I'm curious, for those players who come to the table with pages of background already, are there options to directly choose portions of the character generation to match the character they had in their head, or is that sort of thing discouraged and against the spirit of how the game is set up?
To add to this, I think you can certainly plan some generalities, but specifics are going to be difficult. For example, imaging your Traveller going to university and then medical school to become a doctor. This is pretty easy to find ways to make happen. Thinking the Traveller graduated with honors and served on a ship that they now own before rolling a single dice isnt likely to turn out (but could).I am sure that there must be alternate rules out there for how to spec and build characters that people have pit together over the years, but the spirit of Traveller is letting the dice fall where they may, with most characters being in some degree of "failing" at life (hence being Travellers rather than having a nice house in the Space 'Burbs in their 30's).
IIRC, the Mongoose game encourages a group Session free of preconceptions over who anybody is, so that connections between characters can emerge organically. So, like, if the next player after @payn happened to roll into a career as a lawyer (entirely poasible), they could become the lawyer who helped out Ross when she was 30, and went on to be Travelling for reasons of their own...
In my experience no adjustment is needed. Just ask the players to focus physical stats and have the Travellers to stick to military service during chargen. Being a bad ass solider is more about equipment than anything.I will say, while you can play traveller in a lot of different kinds of scenarios, the char gen is the one made for the rag tag team with a tramp steamer going different places on the map. If you want to play traveller on a military warship, or as a group of badass soldiers, you'll probably want to adjust the character generation to suit.