"Traveller RPG - Coast Guard Service?" Topic

It's been a while since I've looked over the LBBs, but was thinking the other day that a tour, or campaign, where the player(s) act as the local star system's Coast Guard Service, or Space Police/Security Forces might be rather interesting.

Lots of opportunities for varied scenarios, instead of the mundane, run of the mill ones like in some other jobs.

I know they have the Navy and Scout Service, as well as military forces planetside, but I don't recall seeing anything like a CG or Star System Police Force, really, for Traveller.

Heck, even space and ground-based marshalls, and other similar assignments could prove interesting, like in the movie Outland, with Sean Connery playing the marshall. Obviously, Bladerunner, and some other movies fit the bill, as well, for possible scenario fodder.

Are there any supplements, and/or background info with a focus on that type of career, or tour of duty?

I suspect assignments patroling in space, or at local spaceports in orbit, or on the ground could be entertaining. Lots of opportunities for exotic encounters, smuggling, trade deals gone wrong, etc., to make life interesting for all those involved, including even the GM(s).

Another take on this for the Star Wars era would be the Sand Troopers assignments, patroling Anchorhead and Mos Eisley, on Tatooine. For Star Trek, it could be Mudd, smuggling his women, and/or those from Orion.

Thoughts?

link

This was the first book I thought of, and pretty much the only one I know of that remotely deals with near-planetary space.

Not sure how useful a MegaTrav supplement would be to whichever version you're intending to use, however.

In the original Traveller books book 5 High Guard you have the choices of the Imperial Navy, Subsector Navy or Planetary Navy. I would think you idea of a coast guard would fall under the subsector navy or the planetary navy. You would just use those stats to generate a coast guard type character.

Mako,

I think that you're on to something. A "frontier police" scenario gives the players a chance to be powerful (but not too powerful), and grants them autonomy (but not too much autonomy). You could pillage Westerns, police procedurals, and sea stories alike for adventure ideas.

I keep thinking about their ship… A "Patrol Cutter" probably wouldn't have jump drive, but would have more room for engines and weapons. She would pack a wallop out of proportion to her size. I figured on a smallish vessel, streamlined for atmospheric flight, with a weapon turret and a couple of hardpoints for anti-ship missiles (usually not carried, but may be issued in an emergency). She would also need a boat or two, in case the ship needs to stay on orbit while personnel visit the surface. Also, cryo berths to keep the prisoners literally on ice until they are delivered. Ideally, the ship class should be named for a Western hero, or for a famous law-enforcement figure.

Ron

Planetary Navy + 400-ton System Defense Boat is exactly what you are looking for. I don't recall whether the SBD is in Book 2 or Book 5 though, possibly both. Or the Supplement about ships? I am on my phone and can't research it properly…

Thanks for the links, references, and tips.

I'll have to check into them. Didn't recall the subsector, and planetary naval options.

A patrol cutter, and/or SDB could be fun.

COACC looks promising too.

Coast guard was covered in High Guard and MegaTraveller as "planetary navy"

Check out Citizens of the Imperium, Suppliment 4. It is from classic traveller and has 12-18 more careers in it for play. You should find what you want there or be able to combine two careers to make a custom one for your game.

Mugwump