Three Classic Traveller Services
As I tinker with Classic Traveller, I think that later versions lose something by re-framing the "Prior Service" tables as a universal background system. It's interesting and provocative that each of the 5 original options is framed as a service -- the world of CT is one where adventurers have been part of (and were possibly drafted into) a hierarchical military or quasi-military service.1
All this is to say that if one were to add to the lifepaths, I think it's most interesting to extend this theme to encompass other rigid institutions (of those in Citizens of The Imperium, Bureaucrat and Diplomat work best, imo).
For my sector, Odradek's Drift, there are two three additional services one can apply to, though they are not eligible for the draft. Neither one is likely to turn out a well-rounded adventurer.2
**Update: thank you to MTB for testing out a Clergyman -- per his feedback I have upped the survival and promotion targets.
Castalian Order
When the world is at peace, when all things are tranquil and all men obey their superiors in all their courses, then music can be perfected. When desires and passions do not turn into wrongful paths, music can be perfected. Perfect music has its cause. It arises from equilibrium. Equilibrium arises from righteousness, and righteousness arises from the meaning of the cosmos. Therefore one can speak about music only with a man who has perceived the meaning of the cosmos.
-- Herman Hesse, The Glass Bead Game
Prior Service
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| Enlistment | 10+ +1 if Intel 9+ +2 if Educ 9+ |
| Survival | 3+ |
| Commission | 8+ +1 if Intel 10+ |
| Promotion | 8+ +1 if Educ 10+ |
| Reenlist | 5+ |
Table of Ranks
| Rank | Castalian Order |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Initiate |
| Rank 2 | Acolyte |
| Rank 3 | Brother |
| Rank 4 | Father |
| Rank 5 | Master |
| Rank 6 | Ludi Magister |
Acquired Skills
| d6 | Personal Development |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Intel |
| 2 | +1 Intel |
| 3 | +1 Educ |
| 4 | +1 Educ |
| 5 | +1 Social |
| 6 | Forgery |
| d6 | Service Skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lute |
| 2 | Harpsichord |
| 3 | Calligraphy |
| 4 | Bookbinding |
| 5 | Gardening |
| 6 | Teaching |
| d6 | Advanced Education |
|---|---|
| 1 | Computer |
| 2 | Mathematics |
| 3 | Music Theory |
| 4 | Philosophy |
| 5 | +1 Educ |
| 6 | Teaching |
| d6 | Advanced Education (education 8+) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mathematics |
| 2 | Music Theory |
| 3 | Astronomy |
| 4 | History |
| 5 | Philosophy |
| 6 | Philology |
Mustering Out
| d6 | Material Benefits | Cash Allowances |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Psg | 0 |
| 2 | +1 Intel | 1000 |
| 3 | +1 Social | 2000 |
| 4 | +1 Educ | 4000 |
| 5 | Travellers' | 8000 |
| 6 | High Psg | 12000 |
| 7 | +2 Educ | 16000 |
The Church
If they are knocking the Bible,
Be sure they are bent,
Just see, and you will understand,
The book is heaven sent.
Prior Service
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| Enlistment | 6+ +1 if Intel 6+ +2 if Soc 8+ |
| Survival | 6+ +2 if Soc 8+ |
| Commission | 10+ +1 if Soc 10+ |
| Promotion | 8+ +1 if Educ 10+ |
| Reenlist | 3+ |
Table of Ranks
| Rank | Clergy |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Vicar |
| Rank 2 | Deacon |
| Rank 3 | Eparch |
| Rank 4 | Prelate |
| Rank 5 | Bishop |
| Rank 6 | Metropolitan |
Acquired Skills
| d6 | Personal Development |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Educ |
| 2 | +1 Intel |
| 3 | +1 Soc |
| 4 | +1 Stren |
| 5 | Gambling |
| 6 | Bribery |
| d6 | Service Skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Theology |
| 2 | Medical |
| 3 | Streetwise |
| 4 | +1 Educ |
| 5 | Jack-o-T |
| 6 | Bribery |
| d6 | Advanced Education |
|---|---|
| 1 | Theology |
| 2 | Admin |
| 3 | Leader |
| 4 | +1 Social |
| 5 | Oration |
| 6 | +1 Educ |
| d6 | Advanced Education (education 8+) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Admin |
| 2 | Leader |
| 3 | Theology |
| 4 | Casuistry |
| 5 | Medical |
| 6 | Computer |
Mustering Out
| d6 | Material Benefits | Cash Allowances |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Psg | 1000 |
| 2 | +1 Social | 5000 |
| 3 | +1 Educ | 10000 |
| 4 | Mid Psg | 20000 |
| 5 | +1 Intel | 20000 |
| 6 | High Psg | 30000 |
| 7 | +2 Social | 50000 |
Coca-cola® Brand Ambassador
"The Coca-Cola corporation has already lived such a wonderful life filled with rich experiences, and relatively speaking, it is still in its infancy as it will most likely live to be 5,000 or more years old. A human life could simply never compare."
Prior Service
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| Enlistment | 10+ +1 if INT 9+ +2 if SOC 9+ |
| Survival | 5+ +1 if END 8+ |
| Commission | 8+ +1 if SOC 10+ |
| Promotion | 8+ +1 if SOC 10+ |
| Reenlist | 6+ |
Table of Ranks
| Rank | Brand Ambassador Tier |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Affiliate marketer |
| Rank 2 | Brand advocate |
| Rank 3 | Community engagement specialist |
| Rank 4 | Product marketing manager |
| Rank 5 | Celebrity brand ambassador |
| Rank 6 | Chief marketing officer |
Acquired Skills
| d6 | Personal Development |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 SOC |
| 2 | +1 SOC |
| 3 | -1 END |
| 4 | +1 INT |
| 5 | Bribery |
| 6 | Forgery |
| d6 | Service Skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Admin |
| 2 | Jack-o-T |
| 3 | Bribery |
| 4 | Blade Cbt |
| 5 | Gambling |
| 6 | Streetwise |
| d6 | Advanced Education |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 SOC |
| 2 | Admin |
| 3 | Computer |
| 4 | Navigation |
| 5 | Air/Raft |
| 6 | Forgery |
| d6 | Advanced Education (education 8+) |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 SOC |
| 2 | Admin |
| 3 | Electronics |
| 4 | Computer |
| 5 | Forgery |
| 6 | Admin |
Mustering Out
| d6 | Material Benefits | Cash Allowances |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 EDU | 5000 |
| 2 | +1 SOC | 10000 |
| 3 | High Psg. | 20000 |
| 4 | Travellers' | 30000 |
| 5 | High Psg. | 50000 |
| 6 | Mid Psg. | 50000 |
| 7 | +2 SOC | 150000 |
Jared Sinclair makes this observation in his Simone Sector overview.↩
Thank you to MTB of Says Who? for suggesting "Teaching" as a Castalian skill.↩