Random Travelling

Low-prep Traveller gaming driven by random dice rolls to find location, Patron, encounters etc. and then improvising the rest on the night.

Game Logs

The original Random Travelling with the crew of the I.S. Ryan.
- Random Travelling Log

Diplomatic Action with the crew of the Black Star.
- Season 1 - Season 2

Resources

Character Sheets

The expanded character sheet: TAS Personal Data and History character sheet (pdf, v0.91) (with old XP rules)

The expanded character sheet: TAS Personal Data and History character sheet (pdf, v0.92) (with new XP rule reminders)

Experience System

The 3 levels system from totally random to specific choice: Traveller XP (pdf, v0.4) (now with added Leadership!)

Rules

What prep is done?

Each week I usually:

1. Randomly roll for a destination system within 3 parsecs of the current system
2. Advance the timeline by the amount of time it would take to get there
3. Read the canon for the system to see if immediate inspiration strikes
4. If not I'll roll for a starship encounter to see if anything interesting or session filling comes up
5. If not then I'll roll a random Patron encounter to be the adventure
6. I'll also usually roll for a 'colour' starship encounter if the main adventure isn't one already

There is usually a day or two at work to think through a few things so that the nights not totally improvised.

Character Creation

The initial characters were rolled up in Mongoose Traveller and converted to Phudge.

The extra two characters were created directly in Phudge using the Mongoose careers as outlined below.
The Phudged Mongoose Traveller Character Generation Worksheet (pdf, v0.3) could be very useful.

1. Roll attributes with 3dF against Fair. If the average is below Fair then raise any attibutes until the average is Fair.
2. Roll a random homeworld or select one from the list provided - gain 3 Mediocre background skills as per MGT p6
3. Select a career that the characters stats match reasonably well to and roll 2d3 for the number of successful terms (rule of thumb - 2 of the 3 beneficial stats are Fair or better)
4. Successful Terms
   • Basic Training: For 1st term in first career gain all service skills at Mediocre; for subsequent careers gain 1 service skill at Mediocre
   • Roll 1d6 and choose 1 skill from all the skills at that number on the tables the character qualifies for
   • Survival is automatic
   • Roll for an event. +x to advancement is automatic extra advancement.
   • Advancement is automatic
   • Roll for mustering out after each term
5. At the end of the characters Successful Terms roll a Mishap to end their career or continue into Risky Terms.
   • Risky Terms
     • Roll for survival (5- Mediocre, 6-8 Fair, 9+ Good)
     • If survived roll for an event. For +x to advancement divide x by 2
     • Roll for advancement (5- Mediocre, 6-8 Fair, 9+ Good)
     • Ageing is automatic at the end of each term: choose one physical attribute to lower by 1 level. If term 9 or higher lower a mental attribute as well.
6. Finish off your character with two connections (gain 1 skill level in any skill for each connection - can't raise a skill above Good) and 1 package skill at Fair (either from groups package or any skill).
7. Create 4 or 5 Aspects for your character:
   • Homeworld e.g. I come from the desert world of Callia.
   • Career e.g. My time in the Marines has made me the life of the party.
   • Motivation e.g. I want to see justice done.
   • Free choice based on anything, including things like signature equipment
   • Free choice based on anything

Cost of Living

Note your character's ongoing cost for their Standard of living based on their Social Standing as shown in the table in MGT:Central Supply Catalogue p182.

Ship Shares

Player with the most spends 1 to get base level ship of the most appropriate type to their career from the table below.

The ship starts with 40 years of mortgage owed; in Mediocre condition; and with no small craft or vehicles.

Each remaining share can be spent for one of:

• Reduce mortgage by 5% of total
• Raise the ship condition by one level
• Upgrade the ship type
• add a vehicle or small craft the ship is fitted for

Conversion

Attributes

Damage

For conversion of damage values see the the Damage Table on the Phudge Damage and Healing page.

Armour