Federation Commander

kehrer1701 wrote:Ch2. Character Creation
Events During Pre-Career Education
*In regards to PSI, I'm wondering how wide spread this would be. Maybe if Vulan or 1/2 Vulan Heritage.

Jean and I are still talking about that and how to fit things in the MGT mechanics..

Events during Academy
*How about something caught cheating

excellent idea, though that would probably mean being banned from any career tied to a Federation academy.

First step on looking at the character point buy system was to read through and mark things that didn't make sense or could possibly be explained better..

Side Note:
Formatting, I'm wondering if we switch to more bullet points instead of everything together under each step (just for the visual appearance).

We really like the opening paragraph...really calls out what this version of character creation does in comparison to "the standard way."
*since this isn't in the 2022 updated book, will be interesting if they revised the Companion book as well and do any tweaks.

Starting Points: I like the 250 starting value.

Step 1: Starting Characteristics:
Since we use the word above section "Starting Points," I'm thinking removed "Starting" from title of Step 1: Characteristics just to match flow of other steps and avoid using "starting" again.
do we need to add a clarifier: "The Character begins with all characteristics (both Core and Other) set to a value of 0.

Step 2: Buy Characteristics
"The Character's characteristics.." Wondering if we change that to "The Traveler's characteristics..." and swap "Character" for "Traveler" when used in this entire section? Just a side comment.
"The Cost to Buy Table...." section feels like it needs more clarification. Specifically, "..indicates the cost to buy a characteristic value outright rather than calculating each increase."

Step 3: Racial Modifiers:

Should step 2 and 3 be reversed? Shouldn't racial modifiers be applied BEFORE buying characteristics? Or is this swapped to better get the feel of PD? I believe the actual Companion rules have it this way, but I'm open to leaving it as is.

Step 4: Background- no callouts

Step 5: Select Skills
"the cost of obtaining a skill based on its new level." feels like it's missing part of the sentence?

Step 6: Select Rank...
still like "purchased" rather than "bought"
"Benefit Item permits the Character" is this missing a word?

Does Star Fleet use cash? Or is this referring to non Star Fleet/Fed?

What is "Very Quick Point Buy" ?

All in all, love the point buy system. Maybe we could include a couple of bridge officers as examples?

Next step is just that for us.

kehrer1701 wrote:Side Note:
Formatting, I'm wondering if we switch to more bullet points instead of everything together under each step (just for the visual appearance).

All this is being done in Word just to get it out, final formatting will be in a professional DTP program, I'll keep this in mind.

Step 1: Starting Characteristics:
Since we use the word above section "Starting Points," I'm thinking removed "Starting" from title of Step 1: Characteristics just to match flow of other steps and avoid using "starting" again.

- I changed the paragraph heading to "Character Points".

Step 2: Buy Characteristics
"The Character's characteristics.." Wondering if we change that to "The Traveler's characteristics..." and swap "Character" for "Traveler" when used in this entire section? Just a side comment.

- The term 'Traveller' is specific to characters in The Third Imperium/Charted Space. PD has always said 'character' and some campaigns will have their characters remaining in one of the Federation careers. We've made that much easier to do with the point buy system (which is why I always planned to include it).

Also, the game named 'Traveller' is a set of mechanics with an included setting: Mongoose Traveller v2 mechanics and Third Imperium/Charted space for setting. Our setting is Prime Directive, using the mechanics but not the setting of the game 'Mongoose Traveller v2'.[/quote]

"The Cost to Buy Table...." section feels like it needs more clarification. Specifically, "..indicates the cost to buy a characteristic value outright rather than calculating each increase."

Either way we do it will seem off-putting to someone, so the terms and methods follow how MGT Companion presented it.

Step 3: Racial Modifiers:
Should step 2 and 3 be reversed? Shouldn't racial modifiers be applied BEFORE buying characteristics? Or is this swapped to better get the feel of PD?

Personally I can't remember playing any system where racial modifiers were applied before generating/buying starting characteristics. . I think it was a mistake on MGP's part flying in the face of convention here.

Step 5: Select Skills
"the cost of obtaining a skill based on its new level." feels like it's missing part of the sentence?

fixed.

Step 6: Select Rank...
still like "purchased" rather than "bought"
"Benefit Item permits the Character" is this missing a word?

- Step 2 says "buy characteristics ", so per ADB's Director of RPGS 'bought' is grammatically correct (can't fight the editor, she uses Grammerly!). *grin*

Does Star Fleet use cash? Or is this referring to non Star Fleet/Fed?

Yep, in Prime Directive cash is king

What is "Very Quick Point Buy" ?

It's from the Companion. if a player wishes to quickly make a character under the point buy system this gives them good place to start with fewer decisions to make (and less math to do).

All in all, love the point buy system. Maybe we could include a couple of bridge officers as examples?
Next step is just that for us.

Feel free to make up some suggested example characters. These will need to have their backgrounds short but kind of explain who they are (as reflected by their careers, skills, etc.) We will consider everything submitted as potential NPC's.

One additional thought that might be nice. In the Trav 2022 core update book (and it's also in the previous book) there is an updated visual to the path of character creation. It would be nice to create the PD version of this for our book.

See this link and scroll to the last page (keep in mind the free preview cuts off the final page). Click the free full sized preview..

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/37 ... t_filtered

I'll be using the point system to create some characters. Will post here when done

Just a quick note;
Chapter 2, page 6. Pre-Career Education
"A character can that has selected...."

wording is missing or needs removed.

Page 9, under Careers in the federation, 3rd line
"currently not know" should be "currently not known"