Classic Traveller Double Adventure 01b - Annic Nova solo play

Introduction

Three versions of running the Classic Traveller adventure Annic Nova solo – one using my own solo RPG, one using an SF version of 3 Dice (4 Dice SFRPG) and also another SF version of 3 Dice (4 Dice PPS SFRPG)

Background

I am attempting to replay solo Classic Traveller adventures.  I started with Traveller RPG but then moved onto writing my own, streamlining them as I go.  I use a spreadsheet to run through the adventures that has grown into a monster with dozens of buttons, macros and formulas that I cannot remember how they work!   I ran through Annic Nova with a version of the spreadsheet and then completely rewrote the rules.  I then got jack of that and while on hiatus looked at various solo RPGs I had previously acquired.  I tried an SF version I wrote of Dungeon Roll but was unsuccessful.  I ended up looking a 3 Dice and all its derivatives and wrote an SF version.  I worked up a simple spreadsheet for replay and ran a few generic adventures through it and then tackled Annic Nova again to see if it worked with CT adventures.  While 3 Dice SF does not provide the level of granularity of characters compared to other RPGs, for running solo adventures I find I am just looking for the main difference of the characters – why use one in a situation over another?  And I also found I needed to make more choices with 3 Dice SF.  And lastly, the way I generated the narrative using 3 Dice was more conducive to adding to the narrative.  I think I had gone too far in formulaic narrative in my older spreadsheets.

After doing 3 Dice SF I still thought there was room to improve it to what I was looking for and revised it to a new version 4 Dice SFRPG.  I found I could automate the adventure flow entirely so ran a party through 4 Dice SFRPG with no human input to see if they could reach the end.  I may not do this automation in future though.

Game with 3 Dice SFRPG

Note that this is almost the raw narrative generated by the spreadsheet but did add some dialogue.

Prologue

The date is 001 1105 on Keng. The party is:

·        Riley Kidd, a female Human from a rich background with good skills.

·        Kaylynn Gallagher, a female Human from a poor background with good skills.

·        Niko Davila, an intimidated male Aslan from a military background with good skills.

The team need to find a treasure: The Annic Nova!

Act 1: Investigate

To succeed the group have to pass a number of tasks to obtain a working spaceship.

The group travel to the space location. It is quiet and calming.

Scene 1 Space Obstacle

It is daytime.  It is in space they discover the possible location of a spaceship. The task seems routine. The possible bonus is a clue (to the spaceship whereabouts).

“I’ve got this,” says Kaylynn.

Kaylynn has great skill but fails badly and breaks some special equipment in the process.

Riley steps up. “Here, let me.”

Riley continues with the detection task and brings it to a successful conclusion.

Scene 2 Spaceship Hazard

It is outside the spaceship the party have their safety endangered trying to enter the ship. The task seems easy. The possible benefit from completion is having time to recover.

Niko tackles opening the airlock with great skill and succeeds.

Hooray, the encounter is finished! With time to recover once inside, Kaylynn regains some health.

Scene 3 Command Obstacle

It is afternoon.  It is in the command location the team try and solve how to use the computer. The task seems fairly easy.

Riley has great skill and succeeds.

“It looked hard to start with, but in reality computers are computers no matter who invented them!”

It is now completed.

Scene 4 Engineering Obstacle

It is afternoon.  It is in the engineering location they are attempting to understand engine operation. The task seems very hard.

Riley tackles the task and loses faith and decides not to continue.  He hands it over to Niko. Niko has great skill and succeeds.

“Thanks Nico.”

The task is complete! Riley regains some health.

Scene 5 Commons Hazard

It is now the next morning.  The adventurers may potentially become sick from the disease aboard the ship. Riley becomes sick (in a week so) and his skill level is reduced permanently.   The rest recover fine after a small period of convalescence.

They have a ship!

 

Game with 4 Dice SFRPG (automated)

This was a single run though completely automated.  It is the raw narrative to provide as an example.

Here is the automation rules I used (based what dice rolled are not random):

Acts: 1

Adventure aim: 3 (an unknown spaceship)

Scene 1: Zone 6, Objective 6 (Investigate but this is just a placeholder and not using objectives), Location 1, Class 3, Reward 6 (They have found a clue to the spaceship's location.)

Scene 2: Location 5, Class 5, Reward 2 (They have broken into to spaceship.)

Scene 3: Location 1, Class 3, Reward 6 (They have figured out how to use the computer.)

Scene 4: Location 3, Class 3, Reward 2 (They now understand how the engines function.)

Scene 5: Location 4, Class 5, Reward 1 (They have the sickness disease.)

Prologue

The date is 001 1105 on Keng. The party is:

·        Ibrahim Curry, a dim male Aslan from a military background with great skills.

·        Meadow Velez, a female Human from a industrial background with great skills and a grenade.

·        Kendrick Mullen, a snobbish male Robot from a space background with average skills especially technical.

·        Kamron Hutchinson, a male Robot from a space background with good skills and a stimpack.

The team need to recover an object, specifically an unknown spaceship.

Act 1: Investigate

To succeed the group must talk to people in the area to determine a way forward.

The party travel to the spaceship location. "Hmm.  No weapons or blast to be found.  At least there is less danger here!" Anxiety levels are low.

Scene 1 Command Obstacle

It is now the late hours.  In the command zone the party are subject to sudden darkness and attempt to resolve this. The task seems routine. The possible benefit is a clue.

Ibrahim applies good technical skill and succeeds.

Hooray, the encounter is finished! They have found a clue to the spaceship's location.

Scene 2 Cargohold Hazard

The main part of the day is over.  It is evening at the moment.  While in the cargohold locale the party are paralysed and try and overcome it. The task seems trivial.

Ibrahim has great survival skill and is successful.

It is now successfully completed. They have broken into to spaceship.

Scene 3 Command Obstacle

The time has moved to the morning.  In the command region the team squabble and attempt to resolve this. The task seems difficult. The possible benefit is a clue.

Ibrahim applies good technical skill but does not succeed.

Meadow acts with great technical skill and gets a win.

The scene has come to a successful conclusion. They have figured out how to use the computer.

Scene 4 Engineering Obstacle

The time has moved to the morning.  In the engineering locale the group squabble and attempt to resolve this. The task seems trivial.

Meadow applies great technical skill and succeeds.

The encounter is won! They now understand how the engines function. Ibrahim recuperates.

Scene 5 Commons Hazard

It is the early hours of the day.  In the commons region the party have their safety endangered and try and overcome it. The task seems trivial.

Ibrahim applies great survival skill and succeeds.

This event is now done. They have the sickness disease.

Finally, the objective is completed.

Adventure aim completed successfully.

Ibrahim still at great skill level; Meadow still at great skill level and has: a grenade (1); Kendrick still at average skill level; Kamron still at good skill level and has: a stimpack (1).

Older Game run through

This is the run though with the older spreadsheet.  I am now favouring 4 Dice PPS SFRPG over the older rules.

Chapter 1 - An objective is established

The story begins on Keng during the late hours on 001 1105 with the team located in the command area of the space locale.  The team leader is Leslie Figueroa with the other members being Ouraeglluez, Diego Valentine. The starting tension is low.

Leslie Figueroa is an introverted human female politician from Keanou with average fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Mind, Interaction, Combat. They are armed with a knife.

Ouraeglluez is a disagreeable Vargr male business magnate from Human with average fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Technical, Mind, Interaction, Vehicle. They are armed with a shotgun.

Diego Valentine is a thoughtless human male police officer from Human with high fortitude. Notable attributes are Survival, Mind, Interaction, Combat.

Keng is an Imperial planet located in the Spinward Marches. It is a small sized world with a breathable atmosphere, little or none (desert world) and is at a agreeable temperature. The tech level is similar to 17th-19th C, population is average and the law level has highly restrictive measures. The government is based on dictatorship with an aristocratic society and an average economy based on agriculture and industry. It has landing pad only and no military bases.

The team need to find a treasure: derelict starship. To achieve this requires around three clues and may take up to six scenes to complete.

Chapter 2 - Solve a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship

That they may fulfil the challenge at this time the band of travellers must work out a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship. 

Inwardly, the team have no misgivings about the task. Before attempting the challenge, it seems the adventurers may need to overcome one possible problem along the way.

It is early hours in the command's outside spaceship. On this occasion an issue arises for the travellers to confront.

The group require cautiousness to continue. Leslie gives it a try with high talent.  Leslie has overcome the hazard.

The band require cautiousness to continue. Ouraeglluez undertakes to achieve success with average talent.  Ouraeglluez has overcome the hazard.

The group require cautiousness to continue. Diego takes it on with high know-how.  Diego did not get through the hazard.

It is late hours in the Command's outside spaceship. It is a strange sight to see something out of place and unexpected like this. Diego is laughing far louder and more often than others. Finally the party are ready for the undertaking to fathom out a puzzle concerning the method to enter the starship.

The party have a go at decoding the puzzle. Leslie endeavours to settle the matter with very high know-how.  Leslie solves the puzzle and gains a clue.

They manage to get into the "Annic Nova" without breaking anything.

Chapter 3 - Solve a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer

In order to carry out the upcoming difficulty the team must work out a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer. To do this the group need to travel to the space command area.

The tension level is low. Looking at what is required to perform the challenge, it seems the party may need to survive a few possible difficulties along the way.

It is daytime in the command's work area. It doesn't have to be stark, but this area is devoid of any attractive décor. While travelling through this locality a predicament takes place for the team.

The crew have their survival threatened. Leslie looks to conclude the task with average know-how.  Leslie did not get through the hazard.

The team have their survival threatened. Ouraeglluez seeks to settle the issue with low expertise.  Ouraeglluez has endured the hazard but wounded in the process.

The party have their survival threatened. Diego endeavours to carry out the task with low proficiency.  Diego could not beat the hazard.

It is early hours in the Command's Bridge. It doesn't have to be stark, but this area is devoid of any attractive décor. Leslie is squinting. At last the party are primed for the test to solve a puzzling problem concerning the working of the ship's computer.

The party labour at working out the puzzle. Leslie endeavours to settle the matter with high proficiency.  Leslie manages to easily solve the puzzle and gain a clue.

Chapter 4 - Solve a puzzle concerning the working of the engines

In order to carry out the next difficulty to overcome the travellers need to solve a puzzle concerning the working of the engines. To do this the gang need to travel to the space command area.

The air is quiet and calming. Preceding the execution of the challenge, it seems the crew may need to surmount a few possible complications along the way.

It is evening in the Command's Engineering. A broken light is still visible.  It is a strange sight to see something out of place and unexpected like this. Diego is chewing something. At last the group are ready for the challenge to solve a puzzle concerning the working of the ship's computer.

The band attempt to solve a puzzle. Leslie aims to complete the job with high capability.  Leslie solves the puzzle and gains a clue.

The party have solved the working of the Annic Nova.

Note that Leslie and Diego have contracted the disease and become sick in about a week.

The band of travellers find time to rest and recuperate. Leslie Figueroa needs to recover and remains carrying an injury.   Diego Valentine needs to recover and is no longer able to continue with the team.      

A high price to pay for a ship.