The new version (published in the 2026 Lard Magazine) adds altered rules for ammunition tracking and automatic weapons and covers vehicles and anti-tank weaponry. As such it was a fairly easy job to convert to a sci-fi adaptation that I'm calling What A Traveller.
I designed the scenario based on the old Traveller RPG taking elements from:
- Mongoose Traveller (second edition),
- Reft Sector, and
- Double Adventure 5: The Chamax Plague / Horde.
I really enjoyed writing the background to the scenario as if I were designing a Traveller adventure. I've no plans to go back to running RPGs but this has, for a while at least, scratched any itch that was there.
The scenario took place in the planet-side starport on Zuflücht, a somewhat isolated world on the edge of the Islands Clusters.
Andy S ran the crew of the Serendip Belt-registered free trader Vital Spark who were infiltrating the starport's bonded storage facility to try and steal some valuable crates of Darrian brandy. They deployed from their recently-landed ship's boat, the Parra Handy.
Matt C and Gus W represented the Imperial Navy who had put together a small tactical team to retrieve vital intelligence data from a cargo module also in the bonded storage facility. They entered the table from behind the radar tower.
Arthur W was responsible for the small staff of the starport and the local civilians who turned up to help them. Starport administrator Mitla Farina and security guard Stanlie Molotoff deployed around the security building.
I umpired the game and at a suitable point unleashed the acid-secreting Chamax aliens onto the scene!
The scenario began at night (requiring an additional Spotting Dice beyond 12" for characters without image intensifying goggles) but I gave Arthur the option of turning on floodlights when the alarm was raised if he had a character in the security building. This he immediately did.
Matt really enjoyed the Advanced Combat Rifle's underslung grenade launcher...
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| An ACR grenade explodes against the liquid helium condenser |
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| Stanlie Molotoff patrols the bonded storage area |
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| The Navy are here (in plain clothes as they don't want their mission to be associated with the Imperium) |
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| Aulogia Illahunty and Bay Falango of the Vital Spark |
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| Retired Marine special forces operative Skor Sethkowsky was the highest-level character in the game |
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| Laguar von Tenno of the Navy confronts Stanlie Molotoff |
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| Matt has now discovered the joys of the smoke grenade! |
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| Free trader crew scatter as Irgi, the Navy's political analyst, drives through the smoke! |
When I deemed the time was right I started deploying the Chamax, acid-secreting aliens that had hitched a ride in cargo module 2 and that now emerged to eat whatever flesh they could find.
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| One of the Chamax - actually a "Phug" from Peter Pig |
As more and more Chamax emerged, grudging co-operation between the players became the order of the night. Whilst fighting to survive, the Free Trader crew managed to explore one of the cargo modules (but unfortunately not the one they wanted) while the Imperial Navy helped to evacuate the wounded.
At the end of the day neither of the infiltrating groups had managed to achieve their objective but we had a good time playing the game. What A Cartel looks worth further exploration. I just have a few questions:
- Do grenades really have a six inch blast diameter?
- How long does smoke last?
- When a character gets into or out of a vehicle, how do you transition between using the character's Action Dice pool and the vehicle's?
More reading and perhaps a message to Mr Savage will follow.
1 comment:
Excellent 👍 looks like a great time was had by all. Great to see some Traveller action 👍 Had a chuckle at the Skor Sethkowsky character always enjoyed his YouTube videos on Traveller and CoC 👍
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