Traveller Question

[Razuur]

Eagerly awaiting the book I preordered, so I thought I would ask a couple of questions about the Traveller universe itself.

What is the technology like in Traveller?

I assume it is space operatic...?

Does it have star fighters, ships with FTL, etc?

Are the guns slug throwers or lasers/blasters.

Are there things like shields?

FTL drives?

Just curious, and Thanks!

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Technology spans all eras, from pre-space travel to FTL. There are distinct Tech Levels (TL) used to describe worlds, equipment, vehicles, etc. So, for example (and I don't have the book, so I'm sure this is wrong) a TL6 world might have just achieved space travel and have fairly powerful slug weapons. At TL9 world would have beam weapons and FTL capability.

It doesn't feel like a space opera style to me -- Star Wars being what I consider to define the space opera genre. Traveller seems to take itself a little more seriously, and tries to be consistent and plausible. There are still elements of whiz-bang sci fi, but it's not as out there as Star Wars or Star Trek. For example, in Traveller they have guns for use in ship-board combat that were designed to minimize the chances of a hull breach. That kind of detail gives it a more realistic feel (to me, anyway).


Of course, it's a good system, and there is no reason why a group couldn't play it like a space opera. It also contains psionics rules, which you could always adapt to be 'magic' or 'The Force' or whatever.

From what I've heard, ships run the gamut from fighters to huge capital ships, with good rules for designing, running, and acquiring them.

 

[Razuur]

That sounds really cool.

Space Opera to me is Babylon 5.

Star wars is more Sci Fi Fantasy.

Thanks for the answer. Now I REALLY can't wait for the book to come!


Razuur