Certifications for Starship Crew

HOTLOLZ EPIK PRODUCTIONS, LIC is seeking an experienced and qualified individual to serve as an onboard Engineer for the armed packet IMV Starjammer, registered out of Kline (MAGY 3012). The proposed Engineer must have, at a minimum, an Assistant Engineer’s License and be capable of performing as engineer, watch stander, and ship’s crew as required. This is a Full-Time position that may require travel to both Imperial and Solomani Confederation systems, working in space and/or portside environments with occasional multi-week assignments. —1102 posting, Stanko Downport Hiring Hall (Concourse B).

After my recent look at doctors in Traveller, I’ve been thinking about the qualifications for other characters. In Classic Traveller, the six iconic starship crew positions of pilot, navigator, engineer, medic, steward, and gunner all have minimum skill requirements. A minimum level of 1 in the associated skill is required to qualify for all positions except steward, for which Steward-0 suffices (The Traveller Book 55, 59, 60, 61).

These requirements were not carried over to MegaTraveller with the exception of the medic: “Any character with at least Medical-1 is a medic and is eligible to be hired as a medic on a starship crew” (Player’s Manual 23). I’m not sure why only the medic retained a minimum skill level, though MegaTraveller generally shifts away from the CT model of specific crew positions in favor of broader categories. Instead of specifying “one pilot and one navigator,” a MegaTraveller ship might simply call for “two bridge crew.”

Mongoose Traveller largely reverts back to the familiar CT crew designations, but does not stipulate minimum skill levels to qualify for the various crew positions. I can understand why the MgT designers might have shied away from setting minimum levels: skill acquisition using traditional Traveller career paths is fairly random, and one could easily wind up with a group of travellers that lack the requisite skills to operate their own starship.

That said, this is much less of an issue in MgT than in prior editions, given background skills, a more flexible lifepath system, connections, and skill packages. If a group has a missing skill or two, that is more likely to pose an interesting complication for the game, rather than a roadblock. The PCs might need to bring on an NPC engineer, or one PC may need to work on her Pilot skills.

Further, MgT2 High Guard notes that the salary “values on the Crew Requirements table shows a monthly average for skill level 1 crew” (20). This strongly implies that the minimum qualifying skill level for crew positions is 1, the same as CT.

Crew Certifications for Mongoose Traveller

Qualified Operator Certificate. Issued to individuals who pass a series of standardized tests concerning the operation of certain vehicles or equipment. Most worlds accept this certification in lieu of a locally obtained license, if one is required.

Although using skill levels to establish starship crew qualifications is nice and simple, GURPS Traveller: Far Trader introduces an interesting system of licenses and certificates, documents which provide assurance that a crewmember “has the right skills for the assigned job” (82). This idea may have been inspired by the blank “Qualified Operator’s Certificate” included in CT Supplement 12, Forms and Charts.

Below are some common certifications that might be held by Travellers. Most have an Automatic Certification line: any Traveller meeting this minimum skill level can be assumed to automatically hold that certification, if desired. If the Traveller did not have the appropriate skill at the qualifying level, there are also Qualifying Exams that allow that Traveller the opportunity to undergo skill checks to “test into” certification.

The Travellers’ Aid Society issues most of these certifications in the Third Imperium, and Lloyd’s Register presumably issues comparable documents within the Solomani Confederation.

Certifications add a modest amount of complexity to the game but also provide interesting details that help bind the characters to the setting and maybe even produce potential adventure hooks. Perhaps more importantly, certifications offer far greater flexibility in filling out a starship crew.

Edit: Reddit poster arctellionweston pointed out that Traveller⁵ has a similar certificate system that assesses skill competency as Qualified, Competent, Experienced, and Master based on the results of a skill check (Characters and Combat 100–101). This could be pretty easily combined with the following system.

Qualified Operator’s Certificates

Computer Operator’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Electronics (computers) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Electronics (computers) check (1D hours, EDU or INT).

Drive Tech’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Engineer 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Engineer (M-drive or J-drive) check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

The holder is certified to perform maintenance and repair activities on J-drives and M-drives, but is not qualified to serve as a ship’s engineer. A potential prerequisite for obtaining an Assistant Engineer’s License.

Life Support Tech’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Engineer 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Engineer (life support) check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

The holder is certified to perform maintenance and repair activities on life support systems, but is not qualified to serve as a ship’s engineer. A potential prerequisite for obtaining an Assistant Engineer’s License.

Low Berth Technician’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Medic 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Medic check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

Mechanic’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Mechanic 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Mechanic check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

Separate certificates are available for every vehicle specialty associated with the Drive, Flyer, and Pilot skills, as well as robots. The holder is certified to perform maintenance and repair activities on the relevant equipment. An individual can hold a total number of Mechanic certificates equal to three plus their INT modifier, with a minimum of one certificate.

Rad Tech’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Engineer 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Engineer (power plant) check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

The holder is certified to perform maintenance and repair activities on a ship’s power plant, but is not qualified to serve as a ship’s engineer. A potential prerequisite for obtaining an Assistant Engineer’s License.

Sensor Operator’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Electronics (sensors) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Electronics (comms) check (1D hours, EDU) and Average (8+) Electronics (sensors) check (1D hours, EDU or INT).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s sensop. A prerequisite for obtaining a Limited or Unlimited Mate’s License.

Turret Gunnery Certificate

Automatic Certification: Gunner (turret) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Gunner (turret) check (1D hours, DEX).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s gunnery officer.

Wheeled Vehicle Driver’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Drive (wheel) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Drive (wheel) check (1D hours, DEX).

Pilot’s Licenses

Grav Vehicle Pilot’s License

Automatic Certification: Flyer (grav) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Flyer (grav) check (1D hours, DEX).

Winged Craft Pilot’s License

Automatic Certification: Flyer (wing) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Flyer (wing) check (1D hours, DEX).

Small Craft Pilot’s License

Automatic Certification: Pilot (small craft) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Pilot (small craft) check (1D hours, DEX).

Spacecraft Pilot’s License

Automatic Certification: Pilot (spacecraft) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Pilot (spacecraft) check (1D hours, DEX).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s pilot.

Bridge Officer Licenses

Limited Mate’s License

Prerequisites: Sensor Operator’s Certificate.

Automatic Certification: Astrogation 0, Pilot (any) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Astrogation check (1D hours, EDU), Average (8+) Pilot (any) check (1D hours, DEX).

Entitles the holder to serve as the executive officer for a ship of less than 1,000 tons. A licensed mate can fulfill the crew requirements of an astrogator, pilot, or sensop. A prerequisite for obtaining a Limited Master’s License.

Unlimited Mate’s License

Prerequisites: Sensor Operator’s Certificate.

Automatic Certification: Astrogation 1, Pilot (spacecraft or capital ships) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Astrogation check (1D hours, EDU), Difficult (10+) Pilot (spacecraft or capital ships) check (1D hours, DEX).

Entitles the holder to serve as the executive officer for a ship of any size. A licensed mate can fulfill the crew requirements of an astrogator, pilot, or sensop. A prerequisite for obtaining an Unlimited Master’s License.

Limited Master’s License

Prerequisites: Limited Mate’s License.

Automatic Certification: Admin 0, Leadership 0 or Tactics 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Admin check (1D days, EDU) and Routine (6+) Leadership check (1D days, SOC) or Routine (6+) Tactics (naval) check (1D days, INT).

Entitles the holder to serve as the master of a ship of less than 1,000 tons. A licensed master can fulfill the crew requirements of an astrogator, pilot, sensop, or executive officer.

Unlimited Master’s License

Prerequisites: Unlimited Mate’s License.

Automatic Certification: Admin 1, Leadership 1 or Tactics (naval) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Admin check (1D days, EDU) and Average (8+) Leadership check (1D days, SOC) or Average (8+) Tactics (naval) check (1D days, INT).

Entitles the holder to serve as the master of a ship of any size. A licensed master can fulfill the crew requirements of an astrogator, pilot, sensop, or executive officer.

Engineering Licenses

Assistant Engineer’s License

Prerequisites: Drive Tech’s Certificate or Life Support Tech’s Certificate or Rad Tech’s Certificate.

Automatic Certification: Engineer (any) 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Engineer (any) check (1D hours, EDU).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s engineer.

Chief Engineer’s License

Prerequisites: Assistant Engineer’s License.

Automatic Certification: Engineer (any) 2 or 1 skill level in any 2 Engineer specialties.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Engineer (any) check (1D days, EDU).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s chief engineer.

Medical Officer Licenses

Certified Medical Technician (CMT)

Automatic Certification: Medic 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Medic check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

Entitles the holder to serve as ship’s medical officer.

Medical Doctor (M.D.)

Automatic Certification: Medic 3.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Medic check (1D days, EDU).

An M.D. can practice medicine, including writing prescriptions, handling most ailments, and dealing with other doctors on a professional level. These licenses are issued by accredited medical schools.

Surgeon’s License

Prerequisites: Medical Doctor.

Automatic Certification: DEX 8.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Medic check (1D days, DEX).

A surgeon draws +10% salary. A Surgeon’s License is issued by an accredited medical school.

Cargo Handler Licenses

Cargomaster’s Certificate

Automatic Certification: Profession (spacer) 1 or Admin 1.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Profession (spacer) check (1D hours, INT) or Routine (6+) Admin check (1D hours, INT).

Entitles the holder to serve as a ship’s freightmaster.

Basic Hazardous Material Handler’s Endorsement

Prerequisites: Cargomaster’s Certificate.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Profession (spacer) check (1D hours, INT or EDU) or Average (8+) Admin check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

Advanced Hazardous Material Handler’s Certificate

Prerequisites: Basic Hazardous Material Handler’s Endorsement.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Profession (spacer) check (1D hours, EDU) or Difficult (10+) Admin check (1D hours, EDU).

Other Licenses

Local Broker’s License

Automatic Certification: Broker 0.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Broker check (1D hours, INT or EDU).

A local broker’s license is specific to a single world. An individual may hold a maximum number of Local Broker’s Licenses equal to one plus their INT modifier, with a minimum of one license.

Broker’s License

Automatic Certification: Broker 1.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Broker check (1D hours, EDU).

A broker’s license is specific to a single subsector.

Subsector Doctor of Law

Automatic Certification: Advocate 1.

Qualifying Exam: Routine (6+) Advocate check (1D hours, EDU).

A member of a Subsector Bar Association and licensed to practice law within a single subsector.

Sector Doctor of Law

Automatic Certification: Advocate 2.

Qualifying Exam: Average (8+) Advocate check (1D hours, EDU).

A member of a Sector Bar Association and licensed to practice law within a single sector.

Imperial Doctor of Law

Automatic Certification: Advocate 3.

Qualifying Exam: Difficult (10+) Advocate check (1D hours, EDU).

A member of the Imperial Bar Association and licensed to practice law throughout the Imperium.

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