Crazy Opinions: A Response
Over at 2D6 SF, the esteemed Mr. Loftin has been sharing his thoughts on Traveller. Inspired by his posts, I wanted to share a few of my own "crazy opinions." As he rightly notes, these are just personal preferences, and our diverse viewpoints are what make this hobby great. YMMV* Unified task system While Classic Traveller lacks a unified task system, I believe its 2D6 8+ mechanic laid the groundwork for these systems in later RPGs. I personally think the game benefits from a unified approach, a sentiment the original creators seemed to share as the game evolved. I also believe they were unaware of the concept until later on as roleplaying games developed. In my own games, I use a narrative-focused approach rather than a strict unified mechanic. I adjust difficulty on the fly using three axes—time, distance, and difficulty—to maintain dramatic tension. Sometimes, if a player rolls an 8 or better on 2D6, I’ll simply let the story take precedence over strict rules. I also pref...