3D6 Bell Curve Adjusted to 2D6 Range

From time to time, the discussion comes up about Traveller using only two dice. This can be rather troublesome to players when generating their character, since no one wants a strength value of 2, or an intelligence value of 2, or anything with a value of 2 in it.

But what if a 2D6 dieroll could be converted to a bell curve shape like a 3D6 produces? Things that make you go "hmmmm."

Using this dataset of 16 numbers [-5, -4, -3, -2, -2, -1, -1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5], a Traveller player could roll a 3D6 and subtract 2 from it. So a roll of 3 would be pointing to -5 in the dataset. And a roll of 18 would be pointing to 5 in the dataset. The number that is being pointed to is the amount the player adds to the number 7. So -5 + 7 = 2. And 5 + 7 = 12.

This would just be used when rolling for characteristics during character generation. It would not be used for skill rolls.

An Alternate Die Roll for Traveller Character Generation

An alternate method to rolling attributes for a Traveller character (similar to Method I used in AD&D) is to roll 3D6 and remove the lowest die from the roll for each attribute. This reduces the chance of rolling a 2 for an attribute.

Traveller RPG Die Roll Results Chart

In Classic Traveller, a character's task is resolved by rolling two 6-sided dice (2D6). Typically, a roll of 8 or higher means the character was successful. Here is the results chart for 2D6.

Game Mapping For RPGs

Playing with Hex - World Creator Version 0.93beta. It's not too bad. I have to save often because my dual monitor setup, I think, causes it to crash at times.

I've been BINGing for free hexmap software to use for GURPS. There are lots of programs for RPGs that use square grid maps. Traveller is one of those RPGs that uses squares (for building and spaceship interiors). But GURPS uses a hex grid map instead (it uses hexes for everything).

At first I was going to buy a mapping program. I looked at Campaign Cartographer 3. But the artwork for the hexes, and the GUI for it, didn't convince me.

Another program I found was DrawHexGrid 3.4, which just draws (you guessed it) hex grids. It has an option of numbering each hex, with the TrueType font you select (cool!). I will be trying out the line drawing thickness settings in it to see how well hex grid overlays can be made for my terrain images.