[Common Talents]

Welcome back Auldgrump. Long time, no speak.

Could this be the sort of thing you're thinking of ?

"By Jove, Holmes, you don't mean....."

"Yes, Watson, nothing less than a hole in space, a gateway to another time and on the other side, an Island. Whats your opinion, Professor Challenger?"

"As you would say, Holmes, the games afoot. I suggest we make ready for a landing. Looks like Lord Greystoke and Quatermain are about to leap ashore ahead of us."

Strangely enough, I've recently been reading Chaosiums latest edition of Cthulhu by Gaslight and whilst it doesn't go into Steampunk tech in detail, it is a cracking sourcebook for a campaign set in the Victorian era.

A few possible ideas using FC and SC along these lines. You might find helpful.

Common Talents:

Methodical. A dogged detective who likes working through mysteries.
 
Savage. You were raised by wild animals or a primitive tribe, isolated from the modern world.

Common Specialties:

Aristocrat. Could be a Landed Peer of the Realm.   

Archer. In this setting, the Archer is replaced by the Hunter (eg Alan Quatermain) with Rifle WP instead of Bow WP.

Sailor.  Perhaps the Captain of the Tramp Steamer. Two fisted, with a taste for whiskey.

On the Island itself, maybe have strange monsters and cyclopean ruins where the angles don't quite look right...

[Solomani]

Heres the Solomani Talent:

Solomani
Claiming descent from the original Humans of Terra, the Solomani (or Men of Sol) are more innovative and inquistive than their Vilani cousins. Explorers and tinkerers, their societies can be violent and unstable.
 
• Attributes: +1 CON (1)
• Base Speed: 30ft (0)
• Favoured Class: Choose either Scout or Keeper. If you have at least 1 level in that class, you gain the next level’s class abilities. You gain no other benefits from the next level such as skill points, vitality, base attack bonus, saves, etc. If you reach level 20 in your chosen class, you instead gain a bonus feat from any tree. (3)
• Inquistive Mind: You gain 2 additional Interests (1)
• Unarmed Proficiency.  You gain the Unarmed Weapon Proficieny.(1)

This ones short on points too but I'll see what I can add after reading up on Traveller history more.

Also, remember that Monaco is the most dangerous course on the F1 circuit because it's so tight. If you mess up there's pretty much nowhere to go other than the wall. It also has a brutal hairpin after a straight in a tunnel that drivers basically have to make half blind while their eyes adjust.

Awesome. Imagine that plus PCs having to keep one eye on fleeing crew member and maybe gunfire from some of BKs thugs !!!

[Adapted]

I'd probably make talents for the subraces to represnt exemplars of them. Those that fit the stereotypes the strongest, but let the players pick any talent.

Alternatively, you could make species feats to serve the same purpose.

Hi Krensky. Yes, you're right about the subrace Talents.

PCs choosing those specific Talents would be exemplars eg Vilani growing up on worlds with all Vilani populations and adhering to Vilani cultural norms.

Vilani growing up on other planets in the Imperium wold be more cosmopolitan and could pick up any Talent. Thanks.

I decided to use Talents for the Human subraces as I wanted to cover the different cultures with one type of character option but keep the species feats in reserve for covering planetary environment adaptions which could effect any Species.

I came across this Species Feat in the Masscraft conversion and was planning on using it in the Traveller conversion. From what I remember various versions of Traveller in the past have tried to allow for the conditions on PCs homeworld (including T20) and this is a way of covering it in MC, I think.  

Adapted
Your body has adapted to the harsh conditions that you live in.
Prerequisites: Survival 6+ ranks
Benefit: Choose one of the following hazards.
• Darkness: You gain darkvision II, and a +2 bonus
on Ambush checks made in ambient light that is dim or worse.
• Deadly environment: You gain Damage Resistance
5 (choose one: Acid, Bang, Cold, Electrical,Fire, Flash, Heat or Sonic damage).
• High gravity: Your Strength increases by 1 and your jumping distance is no longer limited by your height.
• Overcrowding: You gain feral and regeneration I.
• Sleep deprivation: You require only 2 hours of sleep per day.
• Starvation: You require only 1 common meal every 2 days.
• Thin atmosphere: Your Constitution increases by 1, and you can hold your breath for a number of minutes equal to your Constitution score.
• Violence: You gain damage reduction 2.

(Thanks again to writers of Masscraft conversion)

So for example a Human PC could have Vilani (or whatever) as Talent and if he came from a very low Law Level world might take the Adapted (Violence) feat. I also though about allowing someone to take this feat multiple times ??

How about:

1) After mission briefing, scene opens with PCs driving E-type Jaguar round winding roads headed for Monte Carlo.

Screech of tyres and red Ferrari 250 GTO appears from side road. Headlights lift up and machine gun fire sprays at the PCs.

Time for a quick Chase Dramatic Conflict. Remember to slip in a big truck coming the wrong way.

Most likely bad guys car ends up over the edge, rolling downhill in a ball of flame. PCs left to wonder if their cover is blown.

2) Dr. Bin Khatun is planning a meeting with the sub somewhere in the Med. He is awaiting contact with a member of the renegade crew during the party. There he will receive coordiates for meeting. BK has fast Super Yacht in harbour to get him to location.

3) Russians have assigned gorgeous agent Natalia Romanov and helpers to watch BK and follow him to sub.

4) After meeting BK, Contact panics and PCs have to chase him round Grand prix circuit, preferably during the race !!

5) PCs race BK to location. Fast speed boats, scuba gear, etc.

Just rambling but might be of use to you    

My PCs met one of these in a sewer once: (thanks again to Mister Anderson)  

Voormis Degenerate (standard NPC - 104 XP).
Attributes: Str 16, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Sz: L (1×1, Reach 1); Spd: 30 ft.
Grades: Init VII; Atk VIII; Def VII; Resilience VI; Health: VIII;
Comp: — ; Skills: Notice IV, Sneak VII, Survival IV
Qualities: All thumbs, darkvision, diving, fast healing, fearsome, feral, improved sense (scent), nocturnal, thick hide II, tough II
Attacks/Weapons: Bite I (dmg 1d6+3 lethal, error 1-2, threat 18-20, AP 4), Claw III (dmg 2d4+3 lethal, error 1, threat 18-20)

Turns out he was only an experiment created by some other evil critters. So you might want to start with a particular monster and have him lead to others (or an evil alchemist/Wizard)  

[Human (or Humaniti)]

Heres the latest version:

Human (or Humaniti)

Humans are the most common race found in Charted Space. When Humans from Terra reached the Stars, they discovered dozens of  variant Humans races, all seeming to trace their genetic ancestry back to Earth.
 
Over time, the various races have intermixed and in game terms, these Mixed Race Humans are treated as the normal Humans Species from Mastercraft. They may choose any of the Talents available.
 
A number of subraces (eg the Vilani, Solomani and Zhodani) have survived, however, and maintained their own cultural identities. These subraces are represented by specific Talents (see below).

Talents
 
Vilani

Once the Vilani ruled an empire spanning thousands of star systems - the Ziru Sirka. Their Guilds and Bureaus held this great First Imperium together. They lived long lives. Then wars and interactions with other races changed their environment forever.
 
But some remain of pure Vilani ancestry and outlook.
 
• Attributes: +1 INT (1)
• Base Speed: 30ft (0)
• Enlightened Skill (Haggle): Your maximum skill rank increases to your Career Level+5. Only the highest bonus from any enlightened ability may apply to each skill. (1)
• Sharp Mind: You gain 1 additional skill point per level. (2)
• Burden of Ages: Any effect that cures or restores your vitality has only ½ the normal effect (rounded up).(-2)

(Needs 5 option points worth to fill it out, any of you old time Traveller fans (or anybody) have any ideas ??. Thanks.  

[Humaniti.]

Humaniti.

For my original SC:Traveller game, I used the standard Human character options (Talents and Specialties) from SC. I felt these option gave the PCs more initial detail than most starting T20 PCs.

So for example, one of my PCs was called Cornelius DeWolfe, an Orphaned Criminal who became the Captain of a Free Trader ship (I used the Explorer class in SC to cover the Merchant Class in T20).  

I also toyed with the idea of having Zhodani and Vilani sub-races as Talents....

[Aslan]

A bit more detail I think:

Aslan

You are an Aslan, a member of a warrior race descended from feline hunter stock. The first humans to encounter your species found them to be very "lion-like" and gave them an appropriate name from Terran culture.
 
Aslan society is divided by gender. Males have a strong territorial instinct to accumulate land and thereby status. Because of this, most males are found in the military or politics. Aslan Females, on the other hand, are concerned with trade, industry and the accumulation of knowledge.
 
Physically, Aslan are roughly of Human height (2m) and on average weigh 100kg. They have a muscled frame, with a Leoline head atop their shoulders and large ears. Under each thumb, they have a Dewclaw.
 
The Aslan command a vast interstellar empire called the Aslan Hierate but many of them are also found amongst the worlds of the Imperium.

Aslan seek adventure for various reasons, perhaps the aquisition of land or as part of a business venture.
 
Common Personality Traits: Ill-tempered, Proud, Loyal
 
Common Physical Traits:  Heavy build, Short Fur (Orange-red or tawny-brown), Long Tail, Fast moving

Example Names : Reauwais, xxxxxxxx.
Splinter Race Feats: None.
 
Type: Medium Biped Folk with a Reach of 1. Your maximum wounds equal your Constitution score.
 
• Attributes: +2 STR, -2 DEX (1)
• Base Speed: 30ft (0)
• Agile Defense: Your base Defense increases by 1. (1)
• Cat Fall: You suffer 1 less die of damage from falling.(0.5)
• Darkvision I. (1)
• Enlightened Skill (Sneak): Your max rank in this skill increases to your Career Level+5. Only the highest bonus from any enlightened ability may apply to each skill. (1)
• Iconic Classes: If your level in any base class is higher than your level in Solder or Courtier (for male Aslan) OR Keeper or Explorer (for female Aslan), then your AD is decreased by 1 (-1)
• Iconic Specialties: You gain your Specialties bonus Feat only if you are a Aristocrat, Barbarian, Combat Pilot, Fighter, Guardian, Lord, Mariner, Mercenary, Trooper, Warrior (for male Aslan) OR Agent, Aristocrat, Engineer, Medic, Merchant, Miner, Officer, Technician, xxxx (for female Aslan) (-1)
• Natural Attack (Claw) I: Your STR based damage rolls inflict 1 additional damage. (1)
• Natural Elegance: Your Appearance bonus increases by 1.(1)
• Sharp Hearing: You hearing range increments are equal to your WIS x 10ft. You may always act during a suprise round unless deafened. (2)
• Superior Runner I (0.5)

Ok, think that adds up to 7. Lets see what I've got on Humans in MC:Traveller  
  

A few swashbuckling options: 

http://www.crafty-games.com/content/5-combat

[Aslan]

Here's my stab at an Aslan:

Aslan

You are an Aslan, a member of a warrior race descended from feline hunter stock. The first humans to encounter your species found them to be very "lion-like" and gave them an appropriate name from Terran culture.
 
Aslan society is divided by gender. Males have a strong territorial instinct to accumulate land and thereby status. Because of this, most males are found in the military or politics. Aslan Females, on the other hand, are concerned with trade, industry and the accumulation of knowledge.
 
Physically, Aslan are roughly of Human height (2m) and on average weigh 100kg. They have a muscled frame, with a Leoline head atop their shoulders and large ears. Under each thumb, they have a Dewclaw.
 
The Aslan command a vast interstellar empire called the Aslan Hierate but many of them are also found amongst the worlds of the Imperium.
 
Common Personality Traits: Ill-tempered, Proud, Loyal
 
Common Physical Traits:  Heavy build, xxxx skin, fast moving
 
Example Names : xxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx.
Splinter Race Feats: None.
 
Type: Medium Biped Folk with a Reach of 1. Your maximum wounds equal your Constitution score.
 
• Attributes: +2 STR, -2 DEX (1)
 • Base Speed: 30ft (0)
 • Darkvision I. (1)
 • Iconic Classes: If your level in any base class is higher than your level in Solder or Courtier (for male Aslan) OR Keeper or Explorer (for female Aslan), then your AD is decreased by 1 (-1)
 • Iconic Specialties: You gain your Specialties bonus Feat only if you are a Aristocrat, Barbarian, Fighter, Mercenary, xxxx, xxxxx, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx (for male Aslan) OR  Aristocrat, Engineer, Merchant, Miner, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx, xxxx (for female Aslan) (-1)
 • Natural Attack (Claw) I: Your STR based damage rolls inflict 1 additional damage. (1)
 • Sharp Hearing: You hearing range increments are equal to your WIS x 10ft. You may always act during a suprise round unless deafened. (1)
 • Superior Runner I (??)
  
Still need to fill it out more. Maybe Natural Elegance, Cat-Fall ?? Any suggestions  

There are a few swashbuckling and Piracy elements in the Conan Conversion in the Wiki, which may be of use. Idealy, I'd love to work out rules for ship to ship combat, boarding etc but busy at moment. Anyway, have a look at the Swinging Attack and Bite Sword items.  

http://www.crafty-games.com/content/5-combat

Thanks everyone.

Snake, did you use T20 as a basic framework for classes/skills etc. and bolt it onto the Spycraft core?

I'd very much appreciate anything you can show me before I start doing my own thing. Anything to save valuable gaming time. 

Yes, originally, I was going to just use SC core and everything else from T20. But I was so impressed with SC Origins, Skills, Dramatic conflicts etc that I look to merging the two, using as much of SC as possible.

I started with Species/Races. After checking with the forum, I used the Hybrid rules (and Lupine/Feline Species Feats) from an old SC setting to run my Vargr and Aslan PCs.

http://www.crafty-games.com/forum/index.php?topic=803.0

As FC came out (and more rules for Species), I have started doing closer conversions of the T20 races (like the Sydite) to MC Species.

http://www.crafty-games.com/content/new-species

More to follow. 

Hi cjs65.  

As stated by my wise colleagues above, Spycraft can certainly be used for Traveller.

In my case, my reason for buying SC 2.0 originally was the need for a RPG engine for a T20 Traveller campaign. I found SC 2.0 (with some help from the forums) to be just the ticket.

I'll try to dig out some of my old notes and see if they may be useful to you.  

Excellent version, very cool. Thanks, MugMug.

I'll add it to the Conan Conversion on the Wiki with your permission.