The PCs indeed have a vehicle, happily detail its “improvements”, and list achievements (read: kill scores). But ask a trick question like “What color is it?” or “What’s its name?” and the response is “Um, er….”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThese situations bother me. For me, gaming is all about characters trying to be heroic, and a lot of heroes have transportation indisputably theirs – James Bond and his Aston Martin, Kirk and various ‘Enterprises’, The Doctor and the TARDIS, Mal and ‘Serenity’, Jack Sparrow and ‘The Black Pearl’, etcetera. Creating a kick-@$$ character for an action-adventure(-ish) campaign and NOT giving that worthy a suitably personalized transport seems …. well, a missed opportunity. But a character\u2019s vehicle used only as a combination gun emplacement and storage closet is a terrible waste.<\/p>\n
What follows are my thoughts on the use and misuse of vehicles in role-playing games, plus a few semi-related side issues. Being a long-time devotee of things Trek, (Classic) ‘Traveller’ and ‘7th Sea’, I think mainly in terms of ships and starships, but most of these ideas can also be applied to other conveyances in varying genres. <\/p>\n
Why Do We Need A Vehicle?<\/h3>\n
The main purpose of an in-game vehicle is to move the PCs and their stuff from place to place. More specifically, to get the Party from one adventure to the next \u2013 or from one part of an adventure to the next. Sure, they could beg \/ borrow \/ hire \/ steal something to make each trip, but owning a vehicle suitable for the job gives feelings of being in control, rather than being subject to the whims of the GM. <\/p>\n
The vehicle may represent the Party\u2019s common purpose, their means of travel as a group, and even be their living space as well. From the Referee\u2019s standpoint, it is also a great way of encouraging the Party to stay together. Where do the Characters all rest and recuperate? In the vehicle. Where do they keep all their stuff? Same answer. How do they get into \/ out of trouble? Same answer, again.<\/p>\n
There are also the role-playing aspects.<\/p>\n
The vehicle can represent a Character\u2019s back-story. The scion of a rich\u2019n\u2019powerful family, sent off to \u201cmake his own fortune\u201d with his personal yacht. The disillusioned warrior who takes (steals?) a vehicle when she has finally had enough and quits (deserts?) whatever organization she has been serving. The down-on-his-luck scavenger who finds a wrecked vehicle of uncertain origins. Many possibilities to, as always, to be hammered out by the Referee and Player(s) involved. <\/p>\n
Being part of the vehicle crew also provides sound reason for diversified PCs right from the start – PC #1 is the Captain, PC #2 the Engineer (and employee of PC #1), PC #3 the Steward (and minority shareholder), and so on. Rather than a bunch of thugs with the only visible differences being personal choices of weaponry, each PC has a very specific role in the team. Think of the \u2018Firefly\u2019 TV series. If your Character is The Captain, she\u2019d better have some idea how to make decisions and operate the ship. For the Engineer, knowing how to make repairs is essential. And if the Party has no one who can do either, then they better find people to fill those jobs before the trouble starts. Arguably, perhaps, it already has…<\/p>\n
![\"station\"](\"https:\/\/www.campaignmastery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/station.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Money, Money, Money..<\/h3>\n
A vehicle can be a solid source of income, whether the Party is honest and law-abiding …. or not. A sturdy ship and crew can always find (or be found by) lucrative opportunities.<\/p>\n
And again, there is the other side of the financial coin to consider. Vehicles are a helpful means of earning cash. But they are also an excellent means to lose<\/em> money. Whatever they do, whether earning $$$ or blowing things up or sitting idle, vehicles will<\/em> need upkeep (maintenance, parking \/ docking fees, fuel, licenses \/ bureaucratic ahhh \u201csupport\u201d, ammo, and so on), which means money spent just to keep the status quo – in turn, meaning that the Party treasury can be kept at a manageable level.<\/p>\n\n(Ideally, the Referee avoids having PCs throw around ridiculous amounts of cash to blow up his meticulously planned, deep and meaningful scenario. The endgame is the epic confrontation the Ref aimed for, instead of the PCs bribing all and sundry to have the Complex Villain put away on trumped-up charges of sheep-worrying.<\/p>\nIn Act #1.<\/p>\n
Never happened in any game I was in, but surely this has happened SOMEwhere, to SOMEone.) – Ian<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Caveat Princeps (\u201c(Game) Master Beware\u201d)<\/h3>\n
It is easy for Referees to overdo measures thought sensible, such as siphoning off the Party\u2019s excess money. But Players get frustrated if their efforts are blocked too often, and react poorly if their Characters\u2019 hoard is \u201carbitrarily\u201d messed with – either of which will lead to trouble. The best move is to keep the in-game cash-flow highly variable and mobile in both directions.<\/em><\/p>\n(E.G.:<\/p>\n
GM (in the guise of an NPC, addressing a PC: \u201dYo, Harry. Good news. The client paid up, and he even added the full bonus! But the Port dues have just risen another 10%, they say because of the war.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cAGAIN with the Port costs?!? Dangit!!!! Oh well, could be much worse. We now have the cash to finish repairs AND refuel, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cErrrrr. Refuel,<\/strong> you say?.\u201d).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nAcquisition – The \u2018Traveller\u2019 Way\u2122<\/h5>\n
In most versions of the \u2018Traveller\u2019 RPG, certain career paths provide starships as part of a Character\u2019s mustering out \/ pre-adventuring benefits. Strings are often attached \u2013 such as bank loans to be paid off, or the ship is a \u2018loaner\u2019 with the Character having certain obligations to the rightful owner.<\/p>\n
Within the system\u2019s constraints, this usually works well, but there are things the Referee should watch out for.<\/p>\n
1. \u201cLet\u2019s Be Bad Guys\u201d<\/em><\/h6>\nThe PCs want the ship, but not the obligations. So they dodge the latter, either actively (eg. \u201cskip out\u201d on making payments, and basically go on the run) or passively (e.g. they \u201csomehow\u201d never seem to be any place where the ship\u2019s rightful owner can contact them).<\/p>\n
But – any interstellar empire in which organizations routinely loan out starships and\/or large sums of money, should have scary ways of dealing with abusers of this trust. That means not only law enforcement (bad enough), but professional skip tracers and bounty hunters \u2013 stubborn, mean-spirited, inventive people who do not play nice OR fair (in short, act just like Player-Characters). Besides which, once word gets out, Character benefits such as Pensions or TAS Memberships or valuable properties or even average-plus Social stats are all going to vanish or at least be frozen. Point out all this to the Party before they get started. Odds are they will reconsider.<\/p>\n
\nNot to mention the potential for built-in technological solutions, the starship equivalent of the immobilizers built into modern autos \u2013 Mike<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
2. Multiple Ship Benefits<\/h6>\n
I’ve had this happen to me a few times in my Traveller refereeing days. Different PCs ALL roll up ship benefits (very easy to do, there being several career paths with this). Instead of a bunch of adventurers on one ship, you get a bunch of adventurers with their own frackin\u2019 navy.<\/p>\n
A fun game can still be had. But it tends to be an administrative horror as everybody struggles to keep track of where everybody else is and what their own ships are up to, etc., etc.. But there are ways:<\/p>\n
\n- Amalgamation. –<\/em><\/strong> IF those involved are OK with the idea, have one large starship jointly-owned by the PCs (with suitable adjustments to their respective backstories) instead of a bunch of lesser craft. To this end, one of exactly 2.3 things I liked about \u2018Traveller: The New Era\u2019 was the table in it specifically for amalgamating ship benefits. Like most things TNE, it left much unstated, but it is a basis from which to start.<\/li>\n
- Conversion. –<\/em><\/strong> Allow \u201cexcess\u201d starship benefits to be turned into either other benefits on the Mustering Out tables, or into improving skills or stats. One-for-one works well in both cases, I have found. Warning: Converting excess ship benefits directly into their cash equivalent might SEEM fair, but the PCs will then be awash in money, so be warned (see above).<\/li>\n
- Separation. –<\/em><\/strong> Most of the PC \u201cfleet\u201d is kept out-of-game elsewhere (rented \/ loaned \/ leased to NPCs), and busily generating a steady income for the owner. Many PCs aren\u2019t keen on this, NPCs being an inherently untrustworthy bunch after all. But the idea is worth consideration and, if the Referee is seen as trustworthy enough, is a possibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\n- Inconvenience. –<\/em><\/strong> Arrange circumstances that make being separated across multiple shops inconvenient for the PCs. Economies of scale invert with inconvenience \u2013 so a berthing fee for one, larger, ship might be considerably lower than the berthing fees for many smaller ships in aggregate.<\/em> Ditto loading fees, double ditto admin fees, etc. And when three of the ships need the same replacement part and there are only two available because supply is governed by demand, let the PCs fight it out. Skilled Manpower is another limited resource \u2013 there’s only one \u201cbest maintenance crew at the starbase\u201d and if they are already busy on the first PC’s ship, the others either wait, or accept second best \u2013 and then third best, and fourth best. Then there are the problems with secure communications between multiple ships at the same time, which makes coordination of plans, and changes in plan, logistically difficult \u2013 unless the PCs are willing to have their discussion very<\/em> publicly. – Mike<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Acquisition – The Usual Ways<\/h5>\n
There are several more generic means of acquiring a vehicle.<\/p>\n
1. Purchase<\/h6>\n
The mechanics of Purchase depends on the circumstances. Think of buying a used car today. If buying from or through an organization with a solid reputation, expect hard bargaining (they know their item\u2019s worth) but the buyer will (usually) get exactly what s\/he paid for (just be sure to read the fine print before signing). If buying super-cheap and\/or in a hurry from a stranger in a bar, then the buyers deserve everything they get \u2013 and I do mean that. Really.<\/p>\n
2. Theft<\/h6>\n
Theft is exactly what it sounds like \u2013 the Party taking a ship away from its prior owners without their consent. Maybe the previous users had it coming (eg. pirates or other hostiles), or maybe they didn\u2019t (in brief: \u201cNice ship. We\u2019ll take it.\u201d). Other than the likelihood of running afoul of law-enforcement and bureaucracy as a result, a big problem is that you are never certain of the vehicle\u2019s true condition until it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n
\nNot to mention that any enemies the previous owner had will think they are still operating it. This can be anybody from organized crime to debt collectors to law enforcement. The PCs may well find themselves on wanted posters for being stooges of the person they boosted the vessel from! Always ask yourself, when transport is being stolen, how and from where did the previous \u201cowner\u201d acquire it, and what did they do with it before the PCs took possession? And maybe it was just a little too easy to steal….. – Mike<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
3. Salvage<\/h6>\n
There is Salvage, the recovery and restoration of a wrecked or otherwise lost ship. The key word here should be \u201cfixer upper\u201d, since whatever befell the ship and its previous owner \/ crew was almost certainly dire. Noting also that the line between \u201cSalvage\u201d and \u201cTheft\u201d can blur – especially if the \u2018previous\u2019 owner is still somewhere in the picture.<\/p>\n
4. Gift<\/h6>\n
A Gift may seem the least likely way to get a ship but, from a Refereeing point of view, might be the most direct way to get the game started. No obfuscating – the ship is flat-out given<\/strong> to the PCs, \u201cinherited\u201d from a relative, or handed over as payment for something (refer PC back-stories) – or in expectation of services yet to be provided (Heh, heh, heh). <\/p>\n![\"based](\"https:\/\/www.campaignmastery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ship.jpg\")
based on “tie fighter” from FreeImages.com\/aksoy, background by Mike Bourke<\/p><\/div>\n
Vehicle Back-stories<\/h3>\n
However acquired, a second-hand vehicle will have back-story, with varying repercussions for the PCs.<\/p>\n
Consider where, why and for whom the vehicle was built; what previous users did with (or to) it; where it has been; how well it has been looked after; what enemies, rivals and allies may have been made along the way; and the circumstances under which the PCs acquire the ship.<\/p>\n
Any of these may be a factor at some point.<\/p>\n
Take the time to create a few minor details as part of the backstory, as complete or as cryptic as the Referee wants. Note that working out all details to the last percentile place beforehand is not the best move. Let Players speculate about the \u201cclues\u201d and decide for themselves which will be followed up on, and how. Odds are at least a few good ideas will come from this, and the Ref\u2019s Grand Plan can be amended accordingly.<\/p>\n
So, maybe…<\/p>\n
\n- the Ship\u2019s Log has a hidden list of mysterious coordinates.<\/li>\n
- the Galley has the complete set of \u2018Souvenir Of Altair VI\u2019 coffee mugs.<\/li>\n
- there are \u2018odd\u2019 fittings in the Hold, suggesting haulage of \u2018unusual\u2019 cargo at some stage.<\/li>\n
- the Captain\u2019s Cabin is decorated entirely in mauve and puce stripes.<\/li>\n
- the PCs happen to meet an \u201cinteresting\u201d NPC with a story (accuracy indeterminate) to tell about the ship. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Some of these things will be lead-ins to adventures involving the ship\u2019s past, others will be just .. there for possible use in the future, or to simply mess with the PCs\u2019 minds. Very few should actually affect the ship\u2019s stats or functions (more on that later).<\/p>\n
Custom-Builds<\/h5>\n
There are times when PCs have the resources and inclination to build their own vehicle from scratch. Or to revamp an existing vehicle beyond all recognition.<\/p>\n
In either case, consider this project a Custom-Build. Oddly, not being up on construction techniques of the far future, the best we can do is relate it to vehicle building in the present. <\/p>\n
(For all we know, 24th century vehicle builders will all be gigantic replicators \/ 3-D printers, with financial details and individual preferences entered at one end. The buyer then relaxes and waits for the new conveyance to emerge from the other end. Efficient but, from an RPG point of view, perhaps not very exciting.) – Ian<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nThere are ways around that problem if you really want to go down the 3-D printer route. Intelligence\/Police Forces surreptitiously incorporating tracking\/monitoring devices in the designs, organized crime monkeying with the specs to create hidden compartments on all ships of a given model for use in smuggling, turning the PCs into \u201cmules\u201d without knowledge or profit-participation, heck even a ship-maintenance union who employs hackers to add interesting \u201cnew ship issues\u201d (design\/manufacturing flaws) that have to be fixed with a very expensive service before the vehicle will work \u2013 until the next built-in fault manifests, of course. It doesn’t even have to be malicious \u2013 think of this as the equivalent of constructing a PC from the basic components and circuit boards; sometimes, it’s as easy as inserting tab \u201ca\u201d into slot \u201cb\u201d, but sometimes it isn’t \u2013 and the problems can be a nightmare to solve.<\/p>\n
A friend was telling me the story of a relative who bought a new laptop a little while back, and who attempted to upgrade the device to a later version of Windows. Unexpected, inexplicable, error. Contact Microsoft, who advise returning it to the vendor for assistance. Vendor advises a complete reset and reinstall of the Operating System. Install fails \u2013 new unexpected, inexplicable, error, a variation on the original problem. Telephone the vendor, who suggests contacting the manufacturer. Manufacturer says to take it back to the vendor, the process may not have been completed properly. So, back to the vendor, coincidentally at a time when a manufacturer’s representative just happens to be in-store. Attempted fix produces the same result, ending in a conference call between the manufacturer’s head office, the vendor, and Microsoft, at the conclusion of which it emerges that there is a design incompatibility between the hardware and the new operating system, a known issue for which there is no known solution. I’ve encountered similar problems in the past and know that sometimes, you can’t even reinstall the old operating system successfully without completely scrubbing hard discs to remove files overwritten by \u201cnewer\u201d versions. In this case, the problem was eventually solved by choosing a different Operating System \u2013 with the attendant hassles of learning to use that new system.<\/p>\n
So, get creative, but don’t hit the PCs with both barrels at once \u2013 wait until you can reload the first before firing the second shot…. – Mike<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201dDesign\u201d<\/h6>\n
The first thing the Party will do is trawl through the game\u2019s design system, and produce a wish-list or \u201cplan\u201d of what they want. In-game, the PCs take these requirements to a designer (naval architect for ships and starships). After perusing the PCs\u2019 list of demands (and probably laughing hysterically), the designer converts this into a format that the prospective builder can use. The PCs make payment, sign things (with or without lawyers present), and arrange to pick up their new toy on a specific date. At which time the PCs climb aboard, run a quick systems check and sail off into the sunset. Cue music.<\/p>\n
It should be more complicated than that. Watch TV shows like \u2018American Chopper\u2019 and it is clear that custom builds are NEVER as simple as they first seem. Start with the designer and builder. We\u2018ll take an obvious shortcut by assuming the people selected for these jobs are both competent and honest. Even so, individual designers and builders will have their own methods, specialties and preferences. <\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Shipyard Capability: <\/strong>Specific shipyards may specialize in certain designs or types. If PCs expect a shipyard known for its freighters to build what amounts to a major warship (or vice versa), then hesitation on their part might be understandable. Not to mention that various groups will take an interest in anyone building such warships outside of the normal manufacturers!<\/li>\n
- Component Specialization:<\/strong> Both designers and shipyards may specialize in the use of specific components and not necessarily the SAME components at that. If specifications are outside comfort zones (eg. The designer likes LSP hulls, the yard \u2018always\u2019 uses General Products hulls, and the Party wants a Yoyodyne frame), then adjusting to this change in routine may take extra time, introduce failure modes, and will inevitably cost more.<\/li>\n
- Skills: <\/strong>If going with a designer \/ builder team renowned as the absolute BEST at what they do, expect higher prices and, very probably, being on a long waiting list. At the bottom. And, being expensive and well-paid, thoroughly immune to bribes to change this status \u2013 except in the negative.<\/li>\n
- DIY:<\/strong> Maybe a Party member invested in the necessary skills to do the design work themselves. Well and good \u2013 chance for role-play there maybe. A possible downside is that said designer will have to severely curtail other activities for a while, if s\/he wants to make a proper job of it. Another downside is if the designer makes any serious errors \u2013 the rest of the party may be faced with the choice of suing their teammate OR ponying up extra cash themselves to put things right.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Construction<\/h6>\n
Following that is the build process itself. Components are built, or shipped in from other sources, then fitted together. Simple, in theory. Except that there are always complications \u2013 shipments delayed or gone astray or even stolen outright; errors such as wrong items being sent (\u201cThese are Mark 4A Wossnames, we NEED Mark 5Vs.\u201d);<\/em> surprise compatibility issues between components (necessitating extra work); accidental(?) breakages and \u2018incidents\u2019 on-site, shenanigans within the business itself (\u201c… Ehhh. Haint seen Bob OR the comp\u2019nee payroll since Wensdee.\u201d),<\/em> and so on.<\/p>\nEven local or national politics can have a part.<\/p>\n
\nQuick Historical Example: Just prior to WW1, the Ottoman Empire paid for two large cruisers to be built in British shipyards for their navy. When war broke out, the Royal Navy promptly took over both near-complete vessels for its own use, leaving the at-that-time-neutral Ottomans nothing except promises of compensation \u201cafter the war\u201d. Needless to say, the Ottomans were ticked off about it. – Ian<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSo, how are the politics wherever the PCs\u2019 new ship is being built? If local authorities get in a jam, then \u201cborrowing\u201d the tricked-out and semi-complete ship in their jurisdiction (or even just certain of its equipment) may seem like a solution to their problem(s). The nature, amount and timing of any compensation promised the owners (not to mention actual return of the borrowed items) will largely depend on the final outcome, the honesty of the borrowers and their ability to make amends.<\/p>\n
Shakedown<\/h6>\n
The next phase in the build is the test drive \/ shakedown cruise. In the movies or on TV, there is a tendency for heroes to grab an untried vehicle literally straight out of construction and go directly into action. The reality is that going this path should equate with shooting oneself in the foot. The entire reason for shakedowns is to make sure that everything works properly in a safe and controlled manner. \u201cIn combat\u201d or during \u201cThe Big Race\u201d are NOT the times to discover defective components, design flaws, sabotage, or manufacturer errors. At least not from the PC’s point of view, heh!<\/p>\n
And then comes the real shakedown, as the people who can fix it tot up the bill for parts and manpower \u2013 and try and fix the problems that have been spotted this<\/em> time.<\/p>\n
![\"12603897401052211911Kliponius_Cartoon_rocket-svg-med\"](\"https:\/\/www.campaignmastery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/12603897401052211911Kliponius_Cartoon_rocket-svg-med.png\")
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.campaignmastery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/steam-train-1442795.jpg\")
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