Murdok Madness House Rules - Revision history

BreeLightfoot: /* Travelling Between Systems */

2025-06-14T10:29:38Z

Travelling Between Systems

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 14 June 2025
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	Travelling between star systems requires a single Average difficulty task chain. If no passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft, if passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft -> Steward.		Travelling between star systems requires a single Average difficulty task chain. If no passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft, if passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft -> Steward.

	~~Nothing happens if~~ the players ~~succeed, but if they fail the referee will roll on~~ a ~~table for something bad to happen :) Failing should~~ be ~~rare~~. ~~The random bad thing could be a ship problem~~, ~~passenger problem~~, ~~crew problem, cargo problem, etc~~. ~~And, who knows, it might completely derail~~ the ~~session into dealing with this new problem~~.		If the players find themselves in a particularly hairy situation a bane die may be applied by the ref. (e.g., damaged j-drive) Boon dice are less likely, but possible. Jumping in combat raises the difficulty to Difficult 10+.

	We ~~will no longer~~ roll for mail, cargo, or trade. We will assume the ship makes enough money travelling between systems to support itself and also a little profit. We will also assume ship passenger berths are full, cargo is legal, refueling happens, and general maintenance happens.		If the players succeed the jump is uneventful. However, if they fail the referee will roll on a table for something bad to happen :) Failing should be rare. The random bad thing could be a ship problem, passenger problem, crew problem, cargo problem, etc. And, who knows, it might completely derail the session into dealing with this new problem.

			We do not roll for mail, cargo, or trade. We will assume the ship makes enough money travelling between systems to support itself and also a little profit. We will also assume ship passenger berths are full, cargo is legal, refueling happens, and general maintenance happens.

	'''Exceptions'''		'''Exceptions'''

BreeLightfoot: /* Natural 2 and 12 */

2025-06-14T10:21:14Z

Natural 2 and 12

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:21, 14 June 2025
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	There should always be a chance for failure and a chance for success. At any time when rolling 2D6 a player will fail their roll if they roll a natural 2 and will succeed at their roll if they roll a natural 12. This goes for both skills checks and combat. However, general reason still applies and if the referee determines it is completely unreasonable to have a player succeed or fail in a given situation. The referee always gets the final say.		There should always be a chance for failure and a chance for success. At any time when rolling 2D6 a player will fail their roll if they roll a natural 2 and will succeed at their roll if they roll a natural 12. This goes for both skills checks and combat. However, general reason still applies and if the referee determines it is completely unreasonable to have a player succeed or fail in a given situation. The referee always gets the final say.

			Effects on Task Chains require special consideration. If the final roll of a Task Chain is a natural 2 the task fails disastrously. Likewise if the final roll of a Task Chain is a natural 12 the task succeeds spectacularly. When it is not the last roll, a natural 2 applies DM-6 and a natural 12 applies DM+6 to the next roll. For more info on Task Chains see page 63 of the Core Rulebook 2022 edition.

	== Inspiration ==		== Inspiration ==

BreeLightfoot: /* Skills Progression */

2025-05-30T23:05:23Z

Skills Progression

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 30 May 2025
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	The skill a character advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.		The skill a character advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.

	t

	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

BreeLightfoot: /* Skills Progression */

2025-05-30T23:05:13Z

Skills Progression

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 30 May 2025
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	The skill a character advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.		The skill a character advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.

			t

	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

BreeLightfoot: /* Skills Progression */

2024-09-09T12:32:52Z

Skills Progression

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:32, 9 September 2024
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	* Multiply this by 3 for the Jack-of-all-Trades skill		* Multiply this by 3 for the Jack-of-all-Trades skill

	The skill a ~~charcter~~ advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.		The skill a character advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.

	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

BreeLightfoot: fixes

2024-08-23T14:08:37Z

fixes

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:08, 23 August 2024
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	== Natural 2 and 12 ==		== Natural 2 and 12 ==

	There should always be a chance for failure and a chance for success. At any time when rolling 2D6 a player will fail their roll if they roll a natural 2 and will succeed at their roll if they roll a natural 12. This goes for both skills checks and combat. However, general reason still applies and if the referee determines it is completely unreasonable to have a player succeed or fail in a given situation ~~the~~ referee always gets the final say.		There should always be a chance for failure and a chance for success. At any time when rolling 2D6 a player will fail their roll if they roll a natural 2 and will succeed at their roll if they roll a natural 12. This goes for both skills checks and combat. However, general reason still applies and if the referee determines it is completely unreasonable to have a player succeed or fail in a given situation. The referee always gets the final say.

	== Inspiration ==		== Inspiration ==
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	== Character Creation ==		== Character Creation ==

	Character creation in ~~traveller~~ is a group story telling exercise. It is not like DnD where a player designs a character by making a bunch of decisions up front. Character creation in Traveller weaves the character’s back story into the character and allows an opportunity to engage in group story telling before the adventure even begins. During character creation you need to flow with your dice rolls and choices. The choices you make and the dice rolls you succeed or fail at will cause you to take alternate paths. Just like actual life, you don’t have complete control over how things turn out and you often have to make the best of the bad situations you find yourself in.		Character creation in Traveller is a group story telling exercise. It is not like DnD where a player designs a character by making a bunch of decisions up front. Character creation in Traveller weaves the character’s back story into the character and allows an opportunity to engage in group story telling before the adventure even begins. During character creation you need to flow with your dice rolls and choices. The choices you make and the dice rolls you succeed or fail at will cause you to take alternate paths. Just like actual life, you don’t have complete control over how things turn out and you often have to make the best of the bad situations you find yourself in.

	For our purposes we only allow human or vargr non-psionic characters. WRT psionics, we don’t need no stinkin space magic! Psionics feel unbalanced and they drastically change the galaxy away from being based in physics and physical laws to a fantasy adventure set in space.		For our purposes we only allow human or vargr non-psionic characters. WRT psionics, we don’t need no stinkin space magic! Psionics feel unbalanced and they drastically change the galaxy away from being based in physics and physical laws to a fantasy adventure set in space.

BreeLightfoot: fixes

2024-08-23T14:05:38Z

fixes

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 23 August 2024
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	Skill progression changes from time based to adventure based. We do not roll for skills progression after a set amount of time. Instead the referee hands out points at logical ends to adventures. A typical 2-4 session adventure will generate 1 point.		Skill progression changes from time based to adventure based. We do not roll for skills progression after a set amount of time. Instead the referee hands out points at logical ends to adventures. A typical 2-4 session adventure will generate 1 point.

	Points can be spent as follows:		'''Points can be spent as follows'''
	-Skill from nothing to 0, or 0 to 1. (1 point)		* Skill from nothing to 0, or 0 to 1. (1 point)
	-Skill from 1 to 2, or 2 to 3. (2 points)		* Skill from 1 to 2, or 2 to 3. (2 points)
	-Multiply this by 3 for the Jack-of-all-Trades skill		* Multiply this by 3 for the Jack-of-all-Trades skill

	The skill a charcter advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.		The skill a charcter advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.

BreeLightfoot: Added Skills Progression

2024-08-23T14:05:02Z

Added Skills Progression

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 23 August 2024
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	The referee may assign a skills package for the party at the beginning of the adventure.		The referee may assign a skills package for the party at the beginning of the adventure.

	== ~~Training~~ ==		== Skills Progression ==

	~~The 2022 Core Rule Book talks about training on page 55~~. We ~~modify these rules~~ a ~~tiny bit. The first~~ time ~~a character attempts training in a skill they follow the standard rules~~. ~~However, if they fail in this first attempt their next attempt requires half~~ the ~~number of study weeks~~. ~~Every time they fail the number of study weeks required before the next check it halved~~.		Skill progression changes from time based to adventure based. We do not roll for skills progression after a set amount of time. Instead the referee hands out points at logical ends to adventures. A typical 2-4 session adventure will generate 1 point.

	~~'''Example'''~~		Points can be spent as follows:
			-Skill from nothing to 0, or 0 to 1. (1 point)
	~~Dudeface wants to improve his Streetwise skill~~ from nothing to ~~zero~~. ~~They study for 8 weeks, make Average~~ (8+) ~~EDU check~~, ~~and fail. They can make their next check for Streetwise after 4 weeks of study. If they fail the check a second time their next study period for Streetwise is reduced to~~ 2 ~~weeks. If Dudeface fails again their study period is reduced~~ to ~~1 week~~. ~~1 week is the minimum it can be reduced to. A character must always study for at least 1 week before making the check.~~		-Skill from 1 to 2, or 2 to 3. (2 points)
			-Multiply this by 3 for the Jack-of-all-Trades skill
	~~At anytime during~~ this ~~process if Dudeface wants to begin studying a different skill they have to start from~~ the ~~beginning~~ of ~~the process.~~

			The skill a charcter advances in should be something they used during the adventure. It's important to be flexible, but we also do not want a character that never drove anything in an adventure to somehow increase their Drive score. The player must present a logical explanation for how their character advanced in their chosen skill. It requires a realistic story. Players should track unused points, but players don’t have to declare in advance what they plan on spending the points on.

	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

BreeLightfoot: Add Money

2024-08-23T14:00:17Z

Add Money

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 23 August 2024
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	== NPC Interactions ==		== NPC Interactions ==

			=== Money ===
			We do not like thinking about money and tracking it. Money will henceforth have two states. If the party wants to do something that requires money they will either have enough or not enough. For small stuff(hotels, food, ammo) they will always have enough. For larger ticket items they may not have enough. At the referee's discretion a Broker\|Streetwise/SOC check may be required to determine if the Travellers have enough money. Travelling between star systems generates some basic profit, so as the Travellers move around in-game they will gradually generate a small profit.

			If the Travellers wish to do something that requires money they may need to complete a side quest, or wait until a main adventure finishes and they receive their reward.

	== Getting Around ==		== Getting Around ==
	The Core Rule book has no rules for finding transport between systems without a ship. As a house rule we roll a number of D3's based on the average starport quality rounded down. The result is the number of days Travellers must wait at the starport before available transport shows up to transport them to the next starport. A score of zero means no wait.		The Core Rule book has no rules for finding transport between systems without a ship. As a house rule we roll a number of D3's based on the average starport quality rounded down. The result is the number of days Travellers must wait at the starport before available transport shows up to transport them to the next starport. A score of zero means no wait.
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	We will no longer roll for mail, cargo, or trade. We will assume the ship makes enough money travelling between systems to support itself and also a little profit. We will also assume ship passenger berths are full, cargo is legal, refueling happens, and general maintenance happens.		We will no longer roll for mail, cargo, or trade. We will assume the ship makes enough money travelling between systems to support itself and also a little profit. We will also assume ship passenger berths are full, cargo is legal, refueling happens, and general maintenance happens.

	~~_Exceptions_~~		'''Exceptions'''
	- Looted cargo may be an exception to this at the referee's discretion.		* Looted cargo may be an exception to this at the referee's discretion.
	- Ship damage and upgrades may be an exception to this.		* Ship damage and upgrades may be an exception to this.
	- If the Travellers are carrying any illegal cargo it will be handled separately.		* If the Travellers are carrying any illegal cargo it will be handled separately.


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	[[Campaign_Murdok_Madness\|Campaign Main Page]]		[[Campaign_Murdok_Madness\|Campaign Main Page]]

BreeLightfoot: Added Travelling Between Systems

2024-08-23T13:53:47Z

Added Travelling Between Systems

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 23 August 2024
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	For the most part we follow the rules of Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition. However, there are a few house rules we've started using and this page documents them.		For the most part we follow the rules of Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition. However, there are a few house rules we've started using and this page documents them.

			In July of 2024 we had a big discussion around what was fun and what was boring. We decided as a group that we wanted less tracking of minutia and more narrative. We introduced three major changes as a result of this discussion tracked below in Money, Travelling Between Systems, and Skills Progression.

	== Philosophy ==		== Philosophy ==

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	After all characteristics are rolled the player has an opportunity to do the entire process over again. You can repeat this process once. So it’s a risk that the second time is even worse. If a player chooses to reroll their characteristics they must take the new ones.		After all characteristics are rolled the player has an opportunity to do the entire process over again. You can repeat this process once. So it’s a risk that the second time is even worse. If a player chooses to reroll their characteristics they must take the new ones.

	These are your starting characteristics, and they may change during character creation. Characteristics may never go lower than zero or		These are your starting characteristics, and they may change during character creation. Characteristics may never go lower than zero or higher than 15.
	higher than 15.

	=== Background Skills and pre-career Education ===		=== Background Skills and pre-career Education ===
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	Now you choose your pre-career education. It is possible to ignore pre-career education and go right into a career, you can also try and enter an education and fail. It is in your character’s best interest to attempt an education term.		Now you choose your pre-career education. It is possible to ignore pre-career education and go right into a career, you can also try and enter an education and fail. It is in your character’s best interest to attempt an education term.

	In addition to University and Military Academy from the Core Rule book, you may also choose Colonial Upbringing, Merchant Academy,		In addition to University and Military Academy from the Core Rule book, you may also choose Colonial Upbringing, Merchant Academy, School of Hard Knocks, or Spacer Community from the Traveller’s Companion. I am not allowing Psionic Community.
	School of Hard Knocks, or Spacer Community from the Traveller’s Companion. I am not allowing Psionic Community.

	=== Careers ===		=== Careers ===
	Payers can choose from all of the available careers in the Core Rule book. In addition the Believer career is available either as a chosen career or as a fallback career. We are not allowing the Truther career from the Traveller’s Companion.		Payers can choose from all of the available careers in the Core Rule book. In addition the Believer career is available either as a chosen career or as a fallback career. We are not allowing the Truther career from the Traveller’s Companion.

	Don’t feel bad if you fail to survive a career check or fail to enter your chosen career. Sometimes those can be the most interesting		Don’t feel bad if you fail to survive a career check or fail to enter your chosen career. Sometimes those can be the most interesting characters. It really is what you make of it.
	characters. It really is what you make of it.

	=== Connections ===		=== Connections ===
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	happen during the session, but it definitely can.		happen during the session, but it definitely can.

	If two players agree, then any event rolled for one Traveller can involve another if you can tell a good story about it. Also, if a		If two players agree, then any event rolled for one Traveller can involve another if you can tell a good story about it. Also, if a character gains an ally, contact or low enmity rival they can choose them to be another player character. For this both characters gain one extra skill that fits with the story. See The Connections Rule on page 19 of the Core Rule Book for details and limitations.
	character gains an ally, contact or low enmity rival they can choose them to be another player character. For this both characters gain one extra skill that fits with the story. See The Connections Rule on page 19 of the Core Rule Book for details and limitations.

	=== Mustering Out & Benefits ===		=== Mustering Out & Benefits ===
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	For example, our Travellers want to go from Acrid(2722) to Inurin(2724) in the Trojan Reach sector. Acrid has a starport quality of A and Inurin has a starport quality of E. Their average is C so the Travellers will wait 3D3 - 1 days until transport is available.		For example, our Travellers want to go from Acrid(2722) to Inurin(2724) in the Trojan Reach sector. Acrid has a starport quality of A and Inurin has a starport quality of E. Their average is C so the Travellers will wait 3D3 - 1 days until transport is available.

	=== ~~Starport Housing~~ ===		=== Travelling Between Systems ===
	~~The standard starport night stay is~~ a ~~bunk in~~ a ~~shared room~~ for ~~5Cr~~ a ~~night~~ or a ~~single room for 20Cr a night~~.		Travelling between star systems requires a single Average difficulty task chain. If no passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft, if passengers are onboard, Astrogation -> Pilot/Spacecraft -> Steward.

			Nothing happens if the players succeed, but if they fail the referee will roll on a table for something bad to happen :) Failing should be rare. The random bad thing could be a ship problem, passenger problem, crew problem, cargo problem, etc. And, who knows, it might completely derail the session into dealing with this new problem.

			We will no longer roll for mail, cargo, or trade. We will assume the ship makes enough money travelling between systems to support itself and also a little profit. We will also assume ship passenger berths are full, cargo is legal, refueling happens, and general maintenance happens.

			_Exceptions_
			- Looted cargo may be an exception to this at the referee's discretion.
			- Ship damage and upgrades may be an exception to this.
			- If the Travellers are carrying any illegal cargo it will be handled separately.


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	[[Campaign_Murdok_Madness\|Campaign Main Page]]		[[Campaign_Murdok_Madness\|Campaign Main Page]]