New Vehicle Rules Guide
Overview
This optional ruleset enhances vehicle combat for Traveller MGT2, adding tactical depth and realism. Enable it in Settings → Vehicles → Use New Vehicle Rules.
Key Features:
Six-direction armour (Forward, Port, Starboard, Aft, Dorsal, Ventral)
Size modifiers: Larger vehicles are easier to hit
TL-based protection: High-TL vehicles resist small arms
Structure damage system: Tracks critical failures, not hull loss
Improved combat tracker: Real-time status, weapon display
Enabling & Switching
Toggle "Use New Vehicle Rules" in Settings. Switching is safedata is preserved. When enabled:
Vehicle sheets show 6 armour facings
Combat tracker displays Structure/Structure Damage
Combat uses size DMs and TL protection
Critical hits use new tables
Feature Summary
1. Six-Direction Armour
Replaces 3 facings with 6: Forward, Port, Starboard, Aft, Dorsal, Ventral
Combat tracker shows all facings; GM can edit
2. Target Size Modifiers
Vehicles have size DMs (e.g., DM+2 for heavy vehicles)
DM is auto-applied to attacks if Type field is formatted
3. TL Protection
Vehicles gain extra Protection vs. non-critical, non-destructive attacks
Bonus does NOT apply if: Critical hit, Destructive trait, or Blast (except stun-only)
4. Structure Damage System
Structure = New field from updated vehicle handbook.
Structure Damage increases when damage exceeds Structure, the number of times tracked by new 'Hits' field
Status color-coded: Green (minor), Yellow (disabled), Orange (wrecked), Gray (obliterated)
GM can edit Structure/Structure Damage (Hits) in tracker
5. Critical Hit System
New hit location table (6 locations)
Effects scale by severity (e.g., Fuel: minor leak → explosion)
Client Tracker Features
"Display Vehicle Weapons to Client" (Settings) lets players see Attacks button for friendly vehicles
Players can view weapon stats if enabled
Tips & Best Practices
GMs:
Enable new rules at campaign start for clarity
Explain Structure Damage to players
Use color coding for quick status feedback
Remind players: small arms rarely affect high-TL vehicles
Players:
Target large vehicles for easier hits
Boost Attack Effect for criticals
Use Destructive/Blast weapons or heavy arms vs. vehicles
Monitor structure damage/status color
Troubleshooting
If armour facings don't update: Reopen vehicle record or re-add to tracker
Structure damage not showing: Ensure option is On, entry is a vehicle, and added after enabling
Players can't see weapons: Option must be On, vehicle set to Friend, client view
Hull is used for Structure calculation; Hull never decreases
"Use New Vehicle Rules" is all-or-nothing; can't mix features
Credits
Based on expanded vehicle combat rules for Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition.