Traveller RPG One-Shot: Mayday! Save your Free Trader Beowulf!

Creating your character

Character Generation (Chargen) will happen at kickoff using this online tool: https://munsondevelopment.com/ Players are encouraged to play with this online tool in advance of the game. Characters made before playtime can be used.

Preparing for the session

This game will use Roll20: https://app.roll20.net/join/19818558/qLyq-A Feel free to Launch the game and have a look around! We will use Discord Voice for audio, Roll20 text as backup. Players do not need to appear on camera. https://discord.gg/m69Sr29Zg4 Please use, and test in advance, a microphone/headset rather than a computer speaker/microphone.

What Greg brings to the table

I run tense, cinematic sci-fi where the ship fights you as much as the enemy. My focus is immersion, fast-moving combat, and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Expect battles that feel brutal and personal — where grapples, parries, and armor make the difference between surviving another round or watching your suit tear open in vacuum. I’ll describe the chaos around you so you can feel the Beowulf groan and fail under the Vargr assault. The game is tactical, but never bogged down. I use streamlined tools to keep rolls quick and the action flowing, so we stay in the moment. When you make a desperate move, I’ll lean into the Rule of Cool — rewarding creativity when it heightens the drama. Above all, I want you to feel the pressure: the stress creeping in, the panic threatening to overwhelm, the victory of holding the line when everything is stacked against you. If you want a GM who pushes you into hard choices, paints vivid sci-fi chaos, and makes every roll matter — that’s what I bring to the table.

Homebrew rules

The Beowulf isn’t just a backdrop — it’s an active, hostile presence in this game. My custom rules turn the ship, your gear, and even your own nerves into part of the fight: Dynamic Ship Malfunctions — Every bad roll can spark a new crisis: power loss, zero-G, failing life support, or sudden darkness. The longer the battle drags on, the worse the Beowulf treats you. Stress & Panic — Wounds don’t just hurt; they rattle your nerves. The more you bleed, the closer you edge toward panic in combat. Stimstix Reliance — Quick fixes exist, but they come at a cost. Popping a stim can keep you fighting — or push your stress past the breaking point. Fast, Gritty Combat — Grapples, parries, and armor aren’t optional fluff; they’re the difference between survival and a vacuum-sealed grave. My streamlined macros keep the action moving. Suit Failures — Even your vacc suit isn’t safe. Under pressure, seals rip, visors crack, and oxygen runs thin. Every malfunction is personal. These tweaks make sure the fight isn’t just against the Vargr — it’s against your own ship, your equipment, and your breaking point.

How Greg creates a safe table

This adventure is intense — close-quarters combat, claustrophobic corridors, and the constant threat of the Beowulf breaking apart under you. But while the story pushes characters to the edge, I always keep the players safe. No gore, no attempt to jump-scare or make the players feel unsafe or uncomfortable IRL. At my table, we use Stoplight Cues (green / yellow / red) via voice and text or X Cards in Roll20. At any point, you can signal for a pause, shift, or stop — no explanation needed. Breaks are always available. After the session, we’ll do a short debrief to cool down and shake off the pressure of the story. My goal: you should feel free to enjoy the panic of your characters, knowing you’ll never be trapped in it yourself.