CHARACTER CREATION CHALLENGE 2023: Classic Traveller (3 of 6)
THE GAME: Traveller (1977)
Citizens of the Imperium (1979)
Our first two characters were created using the 1977 Book 01 - Characters and Combat, and the slightly revised The Traveller Book from 1982. Both those products had the basic Traveller services - Army, Navy, Marines, Scouts, Merchants, and Other. But what if you want to get more specific than “Other?” That’s where Citizens of the Imperium comes in. This digest-sized saddle-stapled 44-page book contains a ton of pregenerated characters, but better than that, it contains rules for a whole slew of new careers. The new options are Pirate, Belter, Sailor, Diplomat, Doctor, Flyer, Barbarian, Bureaucrat, Rogue, Noble, Scientist, and Hunter. That brings the possible careers from 6 to 18!
We’re going to create our next two characters using this book, one from the first two-page set of new careers, and one from the second set.
Traveller Character Generation
Generate Characteristics
Roll to enter Career
Terms of Service
Another term? Go to 3.
Muster Out/Retire
Step 1: Generate Characteristics
Throw 2D6 six times in order: 97888A.
I think that’s the best Traveller UPP I’ve rolled yet- this character is above average in everything but Dexterity, which is exactly average. Rolling to randomize gender and name, I come up with Matthias Ogutu. It’s interesting that two of the three characters we’ve created have randomly had names from ethnic groups hailing from Africa on Earth, in this case Luo from South Sudan. Perhaps there was a colony ship at some point in the planet’s history that launched from Africa. Could make for a cool bit of planetary history. By the way, I’m using Regina as the homeworld for all these characters, so that there’s an easy reason they would all be at the same starport when they wrap up their careers.
Step 2: Career
Matthias is going to go into one of the first set of expansion careers. I’ll list them, and the enlistment roll (modified for Matthias’ characteristics) needed on the dice: Pirate 7+, Belter 6+, Sailor 6+, Diplomat 5+, Doctor 8+, Flyer 5+. Pirate and Belter are both dangerous professions, so our high-Social and well-educated fellow might want to skip on those. Sailor and Flyer would be mostly employed on his homeworld of Regina, and he wants to see the stars. That leaves Diplomat and Doctor. Either of which could find adventure offworld. Matthias chooses to bow to family pressure and apply to the Diplomatic Corps, since his Social Standing of A gives him a nice bonus. Coincidentally, if Matthias wanted to join the Pirates, his Social would have to be low or average to grant a lot of bonuses. Not a lot of Gentleman Pirates in the Spinward Marches, I take it. Matthias needs 5+, and throws 6. He’s in.
Steps 3 and 4: Terms of Service
His initial training in the Diplomatic Corps gives him Liaison-1 automatically. Survival requires only a 3+, and Matthias throws a 5. Maybe diplomacy is a bit more dangerous than he was led to believe! He applies for a position within the delegation, needing 4+ and throwing 7. He is awarded the title of 3rd Secretary. Promotion is tough, needing a 10+, modified to 9+ by high Social. 9 exactly, Matthias Ogutu becomes a 2nd Secretary by the age of 22! Perhaps the close call survival roll indicates there were some casualties among a diplomatic delegation, and Matthias was sharp enough to take over the duties of a senior diplomat who was wounded or killed. Can he re-enlist? He needs 5+, 4! Oh, no! He’s out of service at the end of this term. This means Matthias qualifies for a whopping FOUR skills for his first term and only term! He decides to take one skill from each of the four tables. Personal Development, 4, Blade Combat. Matthias chooses “Blade” as it is a more intimidating weapon than a standard dagger, but not obnoxiously so. He can probably get away with wearing it and having most people assume it’s ornamental. Service Skills, 5, Gambling. Ah, Matthias has spent his share of time in the casinos and betting houses of the worlds he visited. Also- when he musters out of the service, Gambling provides a benefit to his rolls on the Cash table! Advanced Education, 3, Interrogation. Perhaps Matthias was involved in solving the mystery of who attacked the delegation, and learned this skill, or perhaps he’s just very good at getting information out of the person across the table. Advanced Education (EDU 8+), 3, Admin. Matthias learns how to navigate the labyrinthine red tape mazes of the Imperium. Unfortunately, the Diplomatic Service decided to let him go- did he make an enemy? Does he know too much about a sensitive subject? Plot hooks abound.
Step 5: Muster Out/Retire
2nd Secretary Ogutu is 22 years old. He gets one benefit for his term of service, and another for his rank. He rolls once on each table. Benefits, 5, +1 Social. He’s now Sir Matthias Ogutu! Cash Table, 6+1 for Gambling=7, cr70,000. That’s a good stack of cash. And with a Knighthood to boot!
Sir Matthias Ogutu, late 2nd Secretary to the Ambassador, hits the streets of Regina with an interesting mix of skills, great characteristics, and youth on his side. Lots of room for growth, and his Admin, Interrogation, and Liaison skills can help get a crew out of all sorts of legal entanglements.
