Ruleset changes incoming

I've made changes to the ruleset to allow vehicle weapons to be added to vehicle records as well as to add vehicle criticals (manual entries and automatically rolled). Note that critical effects are not automated yet, referees are advised to have a method of adding extra damage handy where required. These updates are in preparation for further work on the ruleset down the line and to have the core rulebook functions automated and in place. Most of the vehicle code is for the referee, but let me know if there are groups where the ref would like their players to see the criticals they caused on enemy vehicles.

I'm working on making player vehicles a reality, but need more time to come up with a viable solution - then I'll show the criticals for the pc vehicle to the pcs but not for npc and have a system where players will be able to fire their vehicle weapons directly.

The second change is seemingly small but took quite a while to get right. I've extracted the Psionic Talents from the Psionic Abilities and constructed a list so that when a player wants to create a psionic character they don't have to drag an ability to the Psi talents entry on the character sheet, they can drag the talent. This should clear up a lot of confusion I hope ;)

I was not able to add the group entries for the Psi Talents, but the Module filters do work. This is due to the workaround I had to implement as the core ruleset only defines abilities, I had to infer talents from that list.

The third change is to make the targeting icon available to the client so players can drag the crosshairs over whatever they want to target, control click still works as intended.

These are large changes and I'll appreciate feedback and/or comments so I can improve or correct issues where possible.

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 safe—data 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.

I've pushed an update to fix the armour critical coding as it was not deducting the correct values. I've added support for smart weapons for vehicles and characters. It compares the TL of the weapon to that of the vehicle (or worn armour) for a character and adds a plus to hit based on the difference between the weapon TL and Target TL to a min of +1 and max of +6. Destructive weapons for characters and vehicles can now have a + added. So 3DD+3 will behave the same as 3DD+30 resulting in a range of 60-210 damage. This will support twin linked vehicle weapons - referees take care when using main vehicle armament against soft targets such as travellers!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toko Loshe

I've pushed an update to fix the armour critical coding as it was not deducting the correct values. I've added support for smart weapons for vehicles and characters. It compares the TL of the weapon to that of the vehicle (or worn armour) for a character and adds a plus to hit based on the difference between the weapon TL and Target TL to a min of +1 and max of +6. Destructive weapons for characters and vehicles can now have a + added. So 3DD+3 will behave the same as 3DD+30 resulting in a range of 60-210 damage. This will support twin linked vehicle weapons - referees take care when using main vehicle armament against soft targets such as travellers!

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Is 3DD+3 supposed to be the same as 3DD+30 though? I did see some cases of the "+#" being also multiplied by 10 during ruleset roles, but was not sure it was supposed to be. I think it should just add the "+#" and not also multiply it by 10. I would be interested in the specific rule regarding this.

My understanding is...
- 3DD+30 = (3D × 10) + 30
- Minimum: 60
- Maximum: 210

...should be different than...

- 3DD+3 = (3D × 10) + 3
-Minimum: 33
-Maximum: 183

BTW...I was trying things out after the update and the +# is not getting added at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stargrove

Is 3DD+3 supposed to be the same as 3DD+30 though? I did see some cases of the "+#" being also multiplied by 10 during ruleset roles, but was not sure it was supposed to be. I think it should just add the "+#" and not also multiply it by 10. I would be interested in the specific rule regarding this.

My understanding is...
- 3DD+30 = (3D × 10) + 30
- Minimum: 60
- Maximum: 210

...should be different than...

- 3DD+3 = (3D × 10) + 3
-Minimum: 33
-Maximum: 183

BTW...I was trying things out after the update and the +# is not getting added at all.

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Rules as written (RAW) states that for linked weapons, they add +1 per damage dice for every extra weapon. In the case of destructive weapons this bonus is added before the damage is multiplied. (vehicle handbook p104).The core rulebook update 2022 is more vague stating that a Destuctive weapon multiplies the total rolled for Damage by 10. The new vehicle rules are in addition to the main rules and more recent and supercedes those rules. The original vehicle handbook stated that in the case of Destructive weapons the bonus is added before the damage is multiplied.

Some weapons are written as 3DD+30 - that would make the weapon more destructive than some spacecraft scale weapons! (+300) damage - so I interpreted it as +3 is equivalent to +30.
I have tested the destructive damage calculations - they seem to be working, please update again and if the issue persists, check if there are any spaces between the DD and the plus, it should be 3DD+3 not 3DD +3 or 3DD+ 3
Attachment 66927
Attachment 66928
Attachment 66927

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toko Loshe

Rules as written (RAW) states that for linked weapons, they add +1 per damage dice for every extra weapon. In the case of destructive weapons this bonus is added before the damage is multiplied. (vehicle handbook p104).The core rulebook update 2022 is more vague stating that a Destuctive weapon multiplies the total rolled for Damage by 10. The new vehicle rules are in addition to the main rules and more recent and supercedes those rules. The original vehicle handbook stated that in the case of Destructive weapons the bonus is added before the damage is multiplied.

Some weapons are written as 3DD+30 - that would make the weapon more destructive than some spacecraft scale weapons! (+300) damage - so I interpreted it as +3 is equivalent to +30.
I have tested the destructive damage calculations - they seem to be working, please update again and if the issue persists, check if there are any spaces between the DD and the plus, it should be 3DD+3 not 3DD +3 or 3DD+ 3
Attachment 66927
Attachment 66928
Attachment 66927

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Ok, I see now what you mean now. Looking at the Archangel Heavy Skyfighter (VHB2026) and the weapons is listed as 3DD+30, which, unlike the old VHB it does not state the bonus was already factored in (it probably was). So, it probably should be 3DD+3. My questions though is why? Each of the turrets it has are just one weapon and it says nothing about them being linked.

The Gecko All-Terrain Assault Vehicle (VHB2026) specifically lists "twin-linked" in its description...but it is the only vehicle stating that and yet many of them have a damage number with a +# after them. Some are also very confusing, like the ring mounts on the Destroyer (VHB2026) and the damage not making any sense.

The damage of 3DD+30 for the Titan turtle is another oddity as well. Nothing about linked and being massive should not add a +30 as the weapon is listed as only doing 3DD.

The archangel has a double turret so the twin linked rules apply. The Titan Turtle has the monofilament edge upgrade that adds +1 damage per damage die, so +3 to be added before destructive is factored in.

The current implementation of Battle Dress is not correct. The ruleset is adding the STR, DEX and END bonuses to the wound tracker which it should not do as per the core rules. In addition, its not extracting the bonuses for all equipment as some items don't have the 'Modifiers' text box populated, they use STR, DEX, END etc. fields.

I've made the required changes to fix these issues but take note that the Characteristic bonus on the Actions tab for weapons will NOT match the Max value above the wound tracker if the character is wearing battle dress, it will show the bonus from the Main tab where the equipment bonus is included for battle dress.

Equipped augments will increase the wound tracker characteristics and maximum values.

The next improvement is for referees during combat. I'll be implementing the selection of Rate of Fire for npc and vehicle actions if the weapon has the 'auto' trait. This will include tracking extra magazines so the referee can track if vehicles or npcs run out of ammunition.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toko Loshe

The next improvement is for referees during combat. I'll be implementing the selection of Rate of Fire for npc and vehicle actions if the weapon has the 'auto' trait. This will include tracking extra magazines so the referee can track if vehicles or npcs run out of ammunition.

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I've pushed the code for this. There will be a new Mags field tracking the number of magazines for npcs, vehicles and pc characters. In addition, if a player adds [weapon name] Magazine to their inventory, sets a number of items and then unequips the weapon and reequip it should extract the magazines from the inventory and decrement as the player reloads. Npc magazine count need to be set by the referee.

For this block that is standard for all Vehicles in all the new books:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forum...5&d=1733273156

Are there any thoughts to having fields for each of those entries? Right now I just put a table related to those items onto the Notes tab, but it might make more sense to have them as fields on the Main tab. Especially if ever any automation would get incorporated around the DMs related to those entries.

Also, might want to consider a Feature and Traits field as well as there is no real place to put that info on the Vehicle Form today either. The list of Feature and Traits are in the new Vehicle Handbook. I would see the field operating like it does for Item traits so when someone mouses over the field popup would show up with a short description describing each entry. Could maybe repurpose the Open/Closed field as Open itself is a trait.

Are you adding those entries to the vehicle db records? If so I should be able to update the UI components to show them

I have updated the npc record sheet to handle characteristic changes due to battle dress or augments. The higher stat bonus will be used for attacks and in the case of augments, for damage tracking. Battle dress bonuses are NOT included for damage tracking as per the rules.
Armour and weapons are saved in a list for ease of removal and tracking the bonuses for use in recalculating characteristics and attack values.

Updating npc skill levels, adding augments and battle dress will recalculate the attack value for equipped weapons.

I've also added ablat damage tracking for npcs so that the armour is reduced every time its hit by a laser weapon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toko Loshe

Are you adding those entries to the vehicle db records? If so I should be able to update the UI components to show them

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No. For the Vehicle Handbook and for the Vehicle Catalogue I have/am adding the data as just a table to the Notes tab. I suppose after I get done I could create DB fields and the entries for each vehicle.

Maybe what I could do is create an example DB with some vehicle records and the new fields with that data. If you are then able to incorporate them onto the form, I could go back and get all the data filled in for all the Vehicle Records.

That sounds good.