I love that this book exists and that Mongoose will be supporting role playing during the war with many supplements. A poster would have been cool, and some art in the book to show recruitment or propaganda materials would also have been great.
I'm glad as well they've decided to add some stats. I also enjoy when they provide timelines. For me, it really helps me to tie the players into the setting. As far as the recruitment poster that would have been the icing on the cake. I know they do all they can to correct typos and even then some get through, with that said, unless it looks like they didn't even make the effort, I try not to let it ruin my experience. Excellet video post as always!
I think the reason there's no High Guard stats in the book is that there's a book coming out later this year called War Fleets of the Fifth Frontier War. I imagine that will have a collection of major warship designs for the powers involved, particularly the ones who are so far largely unknown - we already have some large Imperial warships. One of a few things I would have liked to see but which wasn't in there would be a sidebar, "The Pirates of Drinax and the Fifth Frontier War." Suggest what the implications are for action in the Reach for both the Zhodani and the Imperium. A sideshow, but one that could affect things elsewhere.
I didn't see any deeper discussion of the Star Trigger and all the top secret (no spoilers) details of deploying it. Is that described in any current titles, other than the Aliens 3 book, and did it play a significant role in the previous (now unknown) history of the 5th frontier war, or was that a new angle on it for MGT2? Really trying not to spoil any storylines. Very interested to see how the Darrians will impact the war. I can't imagine it would come down to a single electronics roll, but it seems like exactly the kind of thing the Travellers could influence.
great video!!! Really can't wait to get this ..when I get out of the spousal doghouse and I have my card privilege's returned to me and can start buying Traveller things again haha.
I'm hoping there will be some support for playing the FFW as a high level campaign/wargame, i.e. Playing as a sector fleet commander, PvP (a player in command of a zhodani versus player in command of imperial fleet), etc.
Norris hasn't got his mustache, no wonder the Imperium has problems. The Zhos are black? Seldrian is 9 years old when the FFW breaks out. Is she on Regina in 1110, under siege? (Probably not) Imperials don't get their act together until 3 years in. It's made clear that Norris made up his Warrant. We always knew the Ine Givar were kinda hot. Delphine is more intelligent and educated than Norris. Not surprising, at 128 she's thrice his age! Ship counts are really low. The Zhos are not wrong.
The book doesn't address that question as such. I suspect future books will. How helpless planetary forces are or are not would mostly depend on the planet. If the planet was important enough to be needed "intact" then the ground forces would be at a disadvantage but not helpless.
@@page121tabletoproleplaying4 Thing about that is a planet has a lot of mass to absorb damage and will NEVER run out of things to shoot at you. They can have some really, really big guns with power plant sizes whose size is theoretically unlimited in size.
I think in CT any decent sized Steller Tech level planet was assumed to have Mesen (Mesan ??) gun emplacements dug into EVERY mountain range. Not to mention the vast disparity of local Infantry vs the invading fleet's embarked troops. In fact; I seem to remember that the Victory Conditions in the GDW Board Game encouraged the Zho to avoid High Pop Imperial Worlds and simply gather up all of the Low to Mid Pop Imperial systems.@@danmorgan3685
I know Tony loves it, but I can't imagine I'd enjoy playing it at all. I liked READING it, and I even liked imagining how I might RUN it, but playing it seems like it would be boring A[Family Friendly]. I don't want to spoil anything (and I'm really trying not to, no guarantees), but you already know the gist. It's like the opposite of a conventional Traveller campaign like Drinax, where you're down and out and grind to acquire money and stuff. Here you start out on a MASSIVE freaking warship with dozens of OTHER ships, each of which is more powerful than anything you'd ordinarily start with, and then you go explore. For me, RPGs are still mainly war-games. Games have combat mechanics so you can fight, win, and get stuff. Again, without trying to spoil anything, that doesn't seem to be the central thrust of Deepnight. Which is fine and it's a really nice campaign, BUT I think it's a deliberate choice that maybe everyone should be onboard with before you sit down to play for the next 10 years. YMMV
Still enjoying all the Traveller content. Looking forward to seeing what Mongoose does with this.
I love that this book exists and that Mongoose will be supporting role playing during the war with many supplements.
A poster would have been cool, and some art in the book to show recruitment or propaganda materials would also have been great.
I'm glad as well they've decided to add some stats. I also enjoy when they provide timelines. For me, it really helps me to tie the players into the setting. As far as the recruitment poster that would have been the icing on the cake. I know they do all they can to correct typos and even then some get through, with that said, unless it looks like they didn't even make the effort, I try not to let it ruin my experience. Excellet video post as always!
I think the reason there's no High Guard stats in the book is that there's a book coming out later this year called War Fleets of the Fifth Frontier War. I imagine that will have a collection of major warship designs for the powers involved, particularly the ones who are so far largely unknown - we already have some large Imperial warships.
One of a few things I would have liked to see but which wasn't in there would be a sidebar, "The Pirates of Drinax and the Fifth Frontier War." Suggest what the implications are for action in the Reach for both the Zhodani and the Imperium. A sideshow, but one that could affect things elsewhere.
I'll have to get this. I also remember the 1980s FFW, waiting for Traveller News Service dispatches.
Again another great review showing the contents of the book.
I look forward to picking up FFW soon. I only wish Mongoose could get their act together regarding editing.
I didn't see any deeper discussion of the Star Trigger and all the top secret (no spoilers) details of deploying it. Is that described in any current titles, other than the Aliens 3 book, and did it play a significant role in the previous (now unknown) history of the 5th frontier war, or was that a new angle on it for MGT2? Really trying not to spoil any storylines. Very interested to see how the Darrians will impact the war. I can't imagine it would come down to a single electronics roll, but it seems like exactly the kind of thing the Travellers could influence.
The Star Trigger is just mentioned briefly. I don't remember it having a significant role in the original FFW but who knows now.
great video!!! Really can't wait to get this ..when I get out of the spousal doghouse and I have my card privilege's returned to me and can start buying Traveller things again haha.
I want battle some Space Vikings.
love the content,
Nice overview. I think that I will be purchasing this book based on your commentary and assessment.
Cheers!
I'm hoping there will be some support for playing the FFW as a high level campaign/wargame, i.e. Playing as a sector fleet commander, PvP (a player in command of a zhodani versus player in command of imperial fleet), etc.
I try to catch all your Traveler content, so please keep it up
Norris hasn't got his mustache, no wonder the Imperium has problems.
The Zhos are black?
Seldrian is 9 years old when the FFW breaks out. Is she on Regina in 1110, under siege? (Probably not)
Imperials don't get their act together until 3 years in.
It's made clear that Norris made up his Warrant.
We always knew the Ine Givar were kinda hot.
Delphine is more intelligent and educated than Norris. Not surprising, at 128 she's thrice his age!
Ship counts are really low.
The Zhos are not wrong.
Mongoose do listen to people I think. So Grumbling About Things is actually good. Cant be bad people, since they posted your stuff in facebook :D
Im excited to see the expansions for it.
The poster would of been great
Do you ever livestream any of your Traveller gaming sessions?
Not yet. I think I might have my guys talked into letting me film a game but I don't think I'll live stream it.
Does the book fall for the cliche where planetary forces are completely helpless against a fleet in orbit?
The book doesn't address that question as such. I suspect future books will. How helpless planetary forces are or are not would mostly depend on the planet. If the planet was important enough to be needed "intact" then the ground forces would be at a disadvantage but not helpless.
@@page121tabletoproleplaying4 Thing about that is a planet has a lot of mass to absorb damage and will NEVER run out of things to shoot at you. They can have some really, really big guns with power plant sizes whose size is theoretically unlimited in size.
I think in CT any decent sized Steller Tech level planet was assumed to have Mesen (Mesan ??) gun emplacements dug into EVERY mountain range. Not to mention the vast disparity of local Infantry vs the invading fleet's embarked troops. In fact; I seem to remember that the Victory Conditions in the GDW Board Game encouraged the Zho to avoid High Pop Imperial Worlds and simply gather up all of the Low to Mid Pop Imperial systems.@@danmorgan3685
Is Deepnight Rev boring or is it just my GM? Curious to hear from others that have played the first parts after "legacy".
I love Deepnight Rev.
@@page121tabletoproleplaying4 thanks for reply. it's been a bit of watching paint dry simulator but holding out hoping it gets better for the group.
I know Tony loves it, but I can't imagine I'd enjoy playing it at all. I liked READING it, and I even liked imagining how I might RUN it, but playing it seems like it would be boring A[Family Friendly].
I don't want to spoil anything (and I'm really trying not to, no guarantees), but you already know the gist. It's like the opposite of a conventional Traveller campaign like Drinax, where you're down and out and grind to acquire money and stuff.
Here you start out on a MASSIVE freaking warship with dozens of OTHER ships, each of which is more powerful than anything you'd ordinarily start with, and then you go explore. For me, RPGs are still mainly war-games. Games have combat mechanics so you can fight, win, and get stuff. Again, without trying to spoil anything, that doesn't seem to be the central thrust of Deepnight. Which is fine and it's a really nice campaign, BUT I think it's a deliberate choice that maybe everyone should be onboard with before you sit down to play for the next 10 years. YMMV
So much space wasted on these OoB diagrams, the info in which could be far better conveyed by a few lines of text and figures..