Cost Effective

[Thanos]

One of the stumbling blocks getting my friends to agree to play Traveller is the cost of buying the core rule book. Aside from buying it used what other way would be the best to get the basics distributed with minimum cost?

I thought copy of PDF to flash drives but I'm not sure if you’re allowed to do that. Actually I'm pretty sure your not. What else is there, legally, that can be done?

 

[far-trader]

Direct them to, or use the material in the SRD to create a player handout?

http://www.travellersrd.com/

EDIT: I should add I'm not really sure what content there is and how complete the SRD is.

 

[aramis]

Direct them to, or use the material in the SRD to create a player handout?

http://www.travellersrd.com/

EDIT: I should add I'm not really sure what content there is and how complete the SRD is.

The SRD lacks most weapon damages, and the CGen tables.

 

[steventirey1985]

The SRD leaves out a lot, actually. Enough to make it almost useless. No armor/weapon stats. No careers except Scout. Characteristics are described, but no method of rolling them. No character generation. While it does list the skills, it doesn't include any of the skills uses, or how long they take. (It does include the rules about making the checks go faster/slower, but lack the info on how long they normally take.)

The SRD is designed in a way to almost require the core rulebook to create a character. I haven't noticed anything missing from the combat chapter, the spacecraft design chapter, or the spacecraft combat chapter. So once you get past character creation, the SRD could be useful.

 

[LeperColony]

If you are just interested in playing Traveller, but don't care about any particular edition, then you can just play a cheaper version. The classic Traveller stuff can be purchased pretty cheaply from various sources.

 

[aramis]

The SRD leaves out a lot, actually. Enough to make it almost useless. No armor/weapon stats. No careers except Scout. Characteristics are described, but no method of rolling them. No character generation. While it does list the skills, it doesn't include any of the skills uses, or how long they take. (It does include the rules about making the checks go faster/slower, but lack the info on how long they normally take.)

The SRD is designed in a way to almost require the core rulebook to create a character. I haven't noticed anything missing from the combat chapter, the spacecraft design chapter, or the spacecraft combat chapter. So once you get past character creation, the SRD could be useful.

No weapon damages for ship weapons. (They are in the HG SRD, tho')
Likewise, early SRD versions for the Merc SRD included the weapon damages from Merc.

 

[steventirey1985]

No weapon damages for ship weapons.

Thats in the core book SRD. Both the one online, and the one from the developers pack.

 

[aramis]

Thats in the core book SRD. Both the one online, and the one from the developers pack.

Not in the one I got.

 

[steventirey1985]

Not in the one I got.

Maybe you have an older version? I don't think its changed in a long time, though, if ever.

I just re-downloaded it to make sure, and the starship weapon damages are in there. Do a search of the Traveller SRD file for "Pulse Laser" and it should take you right to it.

Link, under Free Downloads.

Edit: Though I did just notice that missile damage is not in there. The other weapon damages are.

 

[aramis]

Maybe you have an older version? I don't think its changed in a long time, though, if ever.

I just re-downloaded it to make sure, and the starship weapon damages are in there. Do a search of the Traveller SRD file for "Pulse Laser" and it should take you right to it.

Link, under Free Downloads.

Edit: Though I did just notice that missile damage is not in there. The other weapon damages are.

I grabbed it the day it was posted.

 

[BytePro]

My players never buy rule books - I am the rulebook.

That's even more important when the core is ~200 pages and each specialty book another 100+ pages. Just way too many rules to get hung up on and have different interpretations of. The editing and grammatical errors don't help, not to mention the inconsistencies if one throws CSC in the mix!

It doesn't take much to list homeworld skills and make a list of the Skills and Ranks tables and the required rolls for each career. Then share your book for mishaps and events and mustering - that is great for teamwork and connections. It is not only useful, but also helps you ref if you make a list of skill checks and other rules that can come in handy.

 

[steventirey1985]

What about the Pocket Edition? Contains the same stuff as the core rulebook, at half the price (if you order directly from Mongoose. For some reason, its way more expensive then the core rulebook if you go through Amazon.com).

 

[BillDowns]

I recall getting the Core book for $27 at Amazon. Certainly less than the CT disc.

 

[Thanos]

I recall getting the Core book for $27 at Amazon. Certainly less than the CT disc.

I suppose they can try to find it used. I did for $8.00. Their just gun shy from the "Call of Cthulhu" fiasco.

 

[Dragoner]

I wonder if they cut out the hardcover it could be cheaper, I bought a ton of Rifts books all softcover, hell all my old CT books as well. Hook them with a cheap core book and make money selling the supplements and adventures.