TRAVELLER Is Back!

The brand new edition of the Traveller RPG from Mongoose Publishing has arrived. It's available as a PDF right now, and will be in stores in April. "A brand new edition of Traveller is now available - based on the original but tweaked, finessed and updated through a massive months-long beta playtest by you, the players! Every Traveller book is now printed in full colour and all core rulebooks and supplements are gorgeous hardbacks, fully updating this beloved game for the 21st Century. Traveller contains everything needed to play any science fiction campaign, from desperate battles across the stars against evil empires, through free traders operating on both sides of the law, to mercenary companies desperate to find their next ticket or face bankruptcy - Traveller gives you the tools to explore the universe in a way that suits you."

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There's range of supplements planned for the upcoming year, including:

• Traveller Referee Screen (Pdf available; print in April)
• High Guard (PDF in March; print in May)
• High and Dry (PDF in March; print in May)
• Central Supply Catalog (PDF in April; print in June)
• Vehicle Handbook (PDF in May; print in July)
• Marooned on Marduk (PDF in June; print in July)
• Traveller Starter Box Set (PDF in July; box in August)
• The Pirates of Drinax (PDF in August; print in September)

There's also one the item in September (PDF)/November (print) which Mongoose is not releasing the name of yet, plus a pair of Traveller 2300AD items.

Find the new core rulebook here.

SaveSave​

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

There's only one thing I want to know ... can your character still die in character creation?

 

[Bluenose]

There's only one thing I want to know ... can your character still die in character creation?

Not in the default character generation system, unless they changed it in the finished product. In which it follows the trend set by MegaTraveller bitd. Ending up crippled or with a criminal record is certainly possible.

 

[Kurzon]

In terms of game design history, it's one of the most innovative games ever made. While it wasn't the very first science fiction rpg (that would be Metamorphosis Alpha), it was the first RPG system to be skills based, while it also introduced ideas such as Tech levels, lifepath character generation, quasi science-based world design, animal design and starship design. At the time of it's original release (1977) it largely captured the burgeoning Star Wars gamer fanbase and managed to maintain it with strong sales up until the late 80s when an official Star Wars (WEG) came out. It still tends to appeal to fans who prefer their sci-fi "hard" and gritty in tone at least, and generally runs in the same manner as Josh Whedon's Firefly TV show. The original game (and Mongoose's Traveller to a degree) is broadly generic, so in this manner it's sometimes seen as the science fiction equivalent to D&D. The LBB design (Little Black Book) was also seen as very futuristic in its day, and has become something of an iconic cover design.

Both the game itself and the main game designer, Marc Miller are Origins Hall of Fame recipients, and it has been cited by Mike Pondsmith of Cyberpunk fame as one of the 100 Best Hobby games ever (the Green Ronin publication). Arcane Magazine ranked it at number 3 in the Best RPGs ever, and it retains a hugely stable and loyal following regardless.

The game itself has gone through many editions, and several systems. The current Mongoose version is regarded by many as the most approachable and flexible version of the game, suited to casual and long term gamer alike. The recent campaign, Pirates of Drinax, by Gareth Hanrahan, has been winning a lot of plaudits recently too.

Thank you! Makes much more sense now.

 

[TrippyHippy]

It is theoretically possible to die in Character generation if you sustain a bad enough injury. However, there are medical ways of dealing with this. You are more likely to go to prison....

 

[Doctor Futurity]

I'll definitely pick this up when it's in print, but concede it's got direct competition from Savage Worlds' Last Parsec/SC Companion and the OSR White Star RPG, which my group is currently enjoying a great deal. But I do love Traveller....

 

[Doctor Futurity]

Not in the default character generation system, unless they changed it in the finished product. In which it follows the trend set by MegaTraveller bitd. Ending up crippled or with a criminal record is certainly possible.

MGT allowed the "Iron Man" char gen rule as an option...wonder if 2nd edition MGT does the same?

 

[TrippyHippy]

MGT allowed the "Iron Man" char gen rule as an option...wonder if 2nd edition MGT does the same?

It'll be an optional rule, and withheld alongside other optional rules in the Traveller Companion.

 

[Deepfire]

After my experiences with Mongoose (there are about 3m of Mongoose books in my shelfs) I will definitely wait for a 2nd Edition/Printing of the "New Traveller".

 

[Bluenose]

MGT allowed the "Iron Man" char gen rule as an option...wonder if 2nd edition MGT does the same?

It isn't there in the playtest; I'm waiting to find out if the discount will apply to a print+pdf bundle before buying the finished item. I'd be a bit surprised if it wasn't there as an optional rule, but that's one thing they left out.

 

[Emerikol]

For me, traveller is innovative in bringing a world to life and offering ways to GMing that world effectively. Character generation fits into this as well. It's a very interesting world. I like the original imperial one the best.

For actual day to day gaming though, I am not a super big fan. Don't hate the rules but they could be better by today's standards.