Traveller Campaign Tips 2: Session Zero

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[@mkang8782]

As has been noted, "Session Zero" (at least in DnD) is more about understanding player expectations, the tone of the campaign, and any subjects that are off-limits (certain types of violence, spiders, or whatever is an uncomfortable topic/thing). I think it's been around since DnD 3.X, and I find it's really helpful in making sure DM/GM style and player preferences match up. I have been watching the Glass Cannon "Voyagers of the Jump" Traveller campaign 1; I really love the "connections" feature of M2E.

[@docsavage8640]

I remember a guy who'd show up with characters he rolled up at home. He thought having a 17 Wisdom would make us believe rolled 18s for everything else. 😆

[@CaptCook999]

Always had fun with session zero. Creating characters and purchasing equipment. One of the most important things when starting a game. You do need at least some variety of skills and equipment. So if nobody is buying X then I guess I'll get it. Or if we don't have a medic in the group, then we are going to have to pool our money and buy some drugs. As far as players not being there... that's where crew members come in. Our new crew member Zeek just crawled out of the engine compartment. Everyone say hi to Zeek.

[@rodneykelly8768]

I find that when you you get gamers who never met, you have to have a session Zero so everyone can tell their war stories. I have had first sessions where it was 10 minutes of gaming, and 2 hours of war stories.

[@robertbent7980]

The term session 0 came about to go over more than just character creation. It is more for people that have not gammed together before and just not for character creation but to get everyone on the same page as to expectations of the game. Like what kind of traveler game is it going to be things you as a GM may do differently or not put up with. For example one thing I put out their is no real PC vs PC strife like hiding the loot from other people or things that may be fun for you but ruin the fun of everyone else. Not that you cant have conflicts between each other but dont be that guy. If you have a long term gamming group though you would not need to go over most any of that really. The session 0 is really to try and set ground rules early for new groups to avoid strife in a group latter and get people talking so that they know they can talk about those things and to bring them up when needed not to just bottle things up while things start to boil over in a new group.

[@tomkelly00]

Not having one is crazy. Traveller creation is the most fun out of any game I’ve played

[@craig.a.glesner]

About how you handle your son "being there the whole time" is what we call the Grey Mist. It got started when our DM had a character step out of grey mist and it stuck.

[@28mmRPG]

If we don't have a "session zero" I, as a Ref, need to look over the characters to develop some NPC's for their allies/rivals/contacts that are in their term events.

[@kensvideos1]

Good luck with your campaign. Look forward to the campaign diary videos??

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

I'm thinking about doing that.

[@mbeizer]

I do the same flavor of retconning. It's useful for sessions where players aren't present too. If player 1 had the important quest mcguffin or had the secret conversation that gave an important clue, and they aren't there next session, it was player 2 with it all along.

[@Kevlar-78]

Great advice though overall for any system.

[@andysimmons2648]

Thanks for this. I hope that the campaign goes well and is fun.

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Thanks

[@ziggurat-builder8755]

Many thanks. Very, very useful.

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Thanks for watching.

[@rogue109]

Can I play? 🙂 I'm currently running a Traveller group via Fantasy Grounds and Discord because we are all remote. I've gotten pretty good at taking old PDF's and making them into Fantasy Grounds modules. We have very diverse schedules though, so we only get together maybe once a month at best.

[@williambrown2830]

I think that you stole my traveller rulebook, my boxed set looks just like that box, all scraped up and worn...LOL

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

They both have had a lot of love over the years, I guess.

[@HeadHunterSix]

Admin-4 is pretty handy, honestly. My Trader characters usually wind up with that level, sadly higher than even their Broker skill :D

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

I liked Admin 4, but I really wanted more of a tough guy character at the time.

[@Kevlar-78]

Getting ready to finally run a Mongoose 2E but only have the original printing. Are their that many changes to the 2022 update ? Anything major (worth updating my physical copy ?)

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

I never bought the original Mongoose 2nd. I only have the 2022 update so I can't compare them.

[@28mmRPG]

its always 1105... lol (inside joke with SHONNER)

[@twossock]

Sorry, did I miss the first video to this? Where is Tip 1?

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Out tomorrow. My mistake.

[@twossock]

@@page121tabletoproleplaying4 sorry felt like a bit of muppet for asking. Wonderful video.

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

@@twossock No worries. Thanks for watching.