5 out of 5 rating for Traveller Core Rulebook
Taken in it’s historical context, Traveller is one of the most innovative games ever made - with a series of simple and elegant tabular-based game systems that allow you to generate characters, starships, worlds, star systems, aliens and encounters to intergalactic levels of diversity. Unfortunately, the core idea of the game had become more and more complex through 30+ years of new editions to the point of inaccessibility (Check out Traveller 5th if you don’t believe me!).
The advantage of the Mongoose Edition is that it’s accessible and, as a result, hugely playable. The default game, set in a vast interstellar Imperium, has experienced characters mortgaging a starship and then getting into adventure scenarios in order to collectively pay it off in the hope that someday they’ll score big, while avoiding the machinations of some shady mega-corporations, criminals and/or Imperium forces. It’s the same basic premise as TVs Firefly, but inherently much more flexible because it’s not fixated on the Western aspect (cultures, albeit 'Humaniti’ dominated for the main, are much more diverse and potentially exotic).
The Mongoose edition opens up career options somewhat, while also opening the number of alternative settings available - including Judge Dredd, 2300AD (hard sci-fi), Hammers Slammers, Strontium Dog and other 3rd party published settings like The Clement Sector or Orbital (both very recommended). In short, it’s the science-fiction equivalent to D&D and, despite the layout and design being a little basic for a top bracket game, offers multiple lifetimes of varied gameplay experiences in the most efficient and concise manner imaginable. One of the top 3 games I’ve ever played or owned.
