How to answer "What's traveller like?"
- Thread starter iron warrior
- Start date
Unwittingly so, but yes, you are more than likely absolutely correct. Toss in a little Red Dwarf, the "rundown equipment" and totalitarian regime feel of classic SW and maybe some Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon and there you have it. Making my players run from orcs or orks is a hobby of mine. In Traveller it is easier than in D&D because the orks have better gear than rusty swords and makeshift armor. Well, they still have makeshift armor, but it is really thick and bolted on.
Just Asking
I know nothing at all about Traveller.
Been reading some stuff on this Site - but still not at all clear.
I am a G.M. of a Sci Fi Wargame on another Site.
Questions -
Is Traveller a stand-alone Software Suite ?? or several ??
Is Traveller an on-line Software Environment ?? or several ??
I do know that when the original G.M. was startung up his Sci Fi Wargame, back in October last year -
The general reaction to him suggesting he could base it on Traveller was "Groan - Oh No - Not Traveller". Of the twelve original potential PLyaers invovled at that time - only one of them thought Traveller was a good starting point.
We still have some eight of the original Players - making eleven in total ( I am G.M. AND a Player ).
We are set in the 2130's - with FTL Drives which are VERY FAST - 100,000 times the Speed of Light.
We also have an even faster one-way FTL Drive at 10,000,000 time the Speed of Light - but you cannot go both ways with it, it was developed from Alien Technology from some ancient remants we found. It uses pre-prepared Drive Cores - but if you try to carry "spares", the whole lot will implode.
We have gigantic Railguns, Plasma Weapons and Lasers - nothing else yet, although the biggest Railguns can fire compressed Plasma Shells.
There is a growing Confederation of Human and Friendly Alien Worlds - and we find ourselves irrevocably opposed to a Galaxy-Wide Empire of Hive type Aliens ( like Ants, with a central intelligence ) we call them Zetans, who either Enslave or Destroy every other species. We are more technologically advanced than them - BUT there are so many of them and they have vast superiority in resources and territory.
The Game I am running is NOT Sofware based at all - just comprising Posts on Threads, and in Social Groups.
So - just wondering if Traveller is of use to us - and if any of us could afford it, if we have to buy Software. I am a poor man - so this could be a problem.
I know nothing at all about Traveller.
Been reading some stuff on this Site - but still not at all clear.
I am a G.M. of a Sci Fi Wargame on another Site.
Questions -
Is Traveller a stand-alone Software Suite ?? or several ??
Is Traveller an on-line Software Environment ?? or several ??
I do know that when the original G.M. was startung up his Sci Fi Wargame, back in October last year -
The general reaction to him suggesting he could base it on Traveller was "Groan - Oh No - Not Traveller". Of the twelve original potential PLyaers invovled at that time - only one of them thought Traveller was a good starting point.
We still have some eight of the original Players - making eleven in total ( I am G.M. AND a Player ).
We are set in the 2130's - with FTL Drives which are VERY FAST - 100,000 times the Speed of Light.
We also have an even faster one-way FTL Drive at 10,000,000 time the Speed of Light - but you cannot go both ways with it, it was developed from Alien Technology from some ancient remants we found. It uses pre-prepared Drive Cores - but if you try to carry "spares", the whole lot will implode.
We have gigantic Railguns, Plasma Weapons and Lasers - nothing else yet, although the biggest Railguns can fire compressed Plasma Shells.
There is a growing Confederation of Human and Friendly Alien Worlds - and we find ourselves irrevocably opposed to a Galaxy-Wide Empire of Hive type Aliens ( like Ants, with a central intelligence ) we call them Zetans, who either Enslave or Destroy every other species. We are more technologically advanced than them - BUT there are so many of them and they have vast superiority in resources and territory.
The Game I am running is NOT Sofware based at all - just comprising Posts on Threads, and in Social Groups.
So - just wondering if Traveller is of use to us - and if any of us could afford it, if we have to buy Software. I am a poor man - so this could be a problem.
Hmmmm - Chaos and Order - Michael Moorcock ??
Just asking - do you mean Chaos versus Order, with the Balance ?
Or - CHAOS versus ORDER, with THE COSMIC BALANCE ??
As in Elric of Melnibone - Arioch, Balaar, Mabelode - etc.
The latter is really Science Fantasy - and one of my favourite Universes.
Was just wondering ??
Just asking - do you mean Chaos versus Order, with the Balance ?
Or - CHAOS versus ORDER, with THE COSMIC BALANCE ??
As in Elric of Melnibone - Arioch, Balaar, Mabelode - etc.
The latter is really Science Fantasy - and one of my favourite Universes.
Was just wondering ??
While there is software to support Traveller in various ways, it is an old-school RPG and/or setting* … access to a computer is not required. Like Dungeons and Dragons originally it was played around a table and required you purchase the core books and had a pair of ordinary dice (plus paper and pens/pencils). Over the years (it was first published in the 1970’s) it has expended enormously but 95% of this is optional extras. It has also had several versions with varying degrees of compatibility to each other.
From your post I gather that most of the setting would be of limited value to you. What might be useful are some of the game mechanics. Since the beginning Traveller supported the idea that GMs would build much of their game setting rather than wait for someone to publish something. In some ways in addition to getting a game you also got a game making kit. You might want to explore one of the starship design systems or starship combat rule sets, or planet creation systems, or rules for creating alien cultures, or the macro-economics of mini-empires. However be aware that the standard setting (and thus the supporting rules) posits a less advanced technology than you describe. Think of TV shows like Firefly or films like Outland and you’ll get the idea. Star Trek it ain’t!
Most of the older rules (which would be more of use to you) are available as collected PDFs on CDs and can be purchased relatively cheaply from the original game designer via his web site. Each rule system has its supporters and detractors … which would be best for you (if any) depends on a number of factors.
If this is an established game perhaps you could explain a little more on what you are looking for. It may be that there is nothing appropriate.
*= Originally Traveller was a set of rules without any background. A default background was hastily added as a backdrop to official adventures and this became the start of the official Traveller universe (or “OTU”). Over the years, in addition to a number of Traveller specific rule systems, the OTU has been ported into other non-Traveller rule systems … and yet people still say they are playing Traveller. This might make you think of Traveller as primarily the setting but recently, a game publisher called Mongoose bought the rights for a number of years and are using it to support a number of separate backgrounds in addition to the OTU. To them Traveller is a rule system.
