Straybow
SOC-14 1K
Regarding abbreviations, see also The Sharakkannik Collection - IMTU Code.
Hey, guys. New to Traveller. Looks like my kinda thing.
- Thread starter Mad Dog Smith
- Start date
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
Who knows if Traveller had any emphasis on Firefly, but, in the first episode, there is a comment to the tune of, "Hold on Travelers, off we go..." I don't remember the exact quote. It is early in that first episode, and it sure is fun.
I'll second the motion for Classic Traveller. Simple is good. The Traveller Book is a great starting point, since it includes some adventure material, the Regina subsector, etc.: all well-worn territory for most of us but perfect for a new group.
I haven't personally fooled with Mongoose; T5, to me, is best used as a source to steal ideas from.
I haven't personally fooled with Mongoose; T5, to me, is best used as a source to steal ideas from.
Mad Dog Smith
SOC-1
Wow! Thanks guys. A lot of ideas to read over here.
So I guess what I'll do is either buy the MOngoose 2nd edition or classic traveller ...
But what would a noob like me need to get started? The classic traveller (also called the traveller book?) was said by someone here to have everything I need to start plus a couple of missions?
And if I go with MOngoose Traveller 2 is there anything else I need to play other than the book and some dice?
I'm probably gonna mess around with D&D first because my brother has all three books and some dice. However, i got an amazon gift card that's burning a hole in my account so ...
So I guess what I'll do is either buy the MOngoose 2nd edition or classic traveller ...
But what would a noob like me need to get started? The classic traveller (also called the traveller book?) was said by someone here to have everything I need to start plus a couple of missions?
And if I go with MOngoose Traveller 2 is there anything else I need to play other than the book and some dice?
I'm probably gonna mess around with D&D first because my brother has all three books and some dice. However, i got an amazon gift card that's burning a hole in my account so ...
Thank you Aramis, Imperium was my favorite game. After all these years I equated Imperium = Traveller
So does Marc - hence it being on the CT CD...
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
Spartan159 says it all.
A note about Traveller missions...
GDW took a very old school approach on writing adventures. If you are used to D&D adventures, where every foe comes with stats, and a fully detailed environment is presented for you, then you might think that many GDW Traveller adventures are more like what D&D calls "adventure seeds".
Many times, in a Traveller adventure, what you will get are some tools to help you create your own adventure.
Take Research Station Gamma, for example. You get the map of the base. You get some info about the world it is on. There's these neat submarines and some description of an alien race. And, there are some robots in the base.
But, there's really no story there. The Ref is free to populate the Research Station as he sees fit. He can certainly add to the few robots that are mentioned.
It's up to the Ref to detail a fine story and work the adventure into his campaign.
Advice should take this into account.
You're right, The Traveller Book is also available from Amazon. Currently for the low price of $97.99. Without the PDF mind you.
Personally, I think The Traveller Book is THE way to get to know Traveller ... everything you need to play in one hardbound book (and the $20 offer is a great deal). However, that really does not help him with his Amazon Gift Card and might make Mongoose Traveller a better first choice if it is available on Amazon for a reasonable price (which $98 is not
). The issue for me is ignorance ... I don't know enough about Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition to know what he needs to play. I could have recommended just the Mongoose Traveller 1st Ed Core book all by itself, but I don't think that is available in print.FFE and Mongoose should really take notice that there is a need for a product like The Traveller Book at somewhere around a $20-30 price point available through Amazon as a bridge to introduce new players without the need for hard decisions, less well known sources or multiple books.
It is what introduced me to the game and there still seems to be a need.
But they are the experts, I am just a guy with an opinion. :coffeesip:
Honestly, I'd recommend getting into atpollard's PbP game to get the feel of it and go from there.
Pony up the extra $15 and get the FFE CD, as it, too, has the Traveller Book.
TTB is a fine start, get it, use it, milk it, but for the extra $15, the CD is just invaluable. What you get for that extra $15 is a steal.
The CDs are definitely the way to go if you want digital. If you are one of those people that want to hold a book ... [shrug].
There's also the Amazon card issue... which Makes MGT definitely the go-to choice.
Of course, there's also Liftoff! - which 13mann graciously still has the drafts up for...
@Mad Dog Smith — note the passion in the playerbase? we all love the game, many of us have favored editions. Most of us, to some degree or another, houserule even our favorite editions.
My houserules are so extensive that they're damned near a whole new edition... Many of the grognards on the board have been tinkering with Traveller rules for decades. If they get overbearing, just remember: the Referee gets to pick and choose what constitutes the rules and truths of the setting he's running. Traveller's a bit old-school that way.
Just today, I ordered the physical version of Mongoose 1st edition rulebook from Amazon. And a bunch of supporting materials. The more I dig into it, the more I am coming to prefer 1st edition to the 2nd edition stuff.
And I'm already a huge fan of the Mongoose "Third Imperium" setting sourcebooks. Not quite as sweet as a lot of the GT stuff, but in the ballpark. Great for standing up the new game now that I'm done, er, travelling.
And I'm already a huge fan of the Mongoose "Third Imperium" setting sourcebooks. Not quite as sweet as a lot of the GT stuff, but in the ballpark. Great for standing up the new game now that I'm done, er, travelling.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
My recommendation would be purchase The Traveller Book from DriveThruRPG in PDF format, and print as needed. You can also find it in hard copy on abebooks.com starting at $16.99 plus shipping.
Ullarsskald1957
SOC-12
I still use my 1977 edition LBB's with all the other Books, Supplements and Adventures I bought between 1978 and 1984. I've folded stuff in from DnD, Arduin Grimoire, Chivalry and Sorcery, Warp War and Space Opera as part of my house rules. (Still have my 1975 edition DnD Little Brown Books that I use.) I also have a couple thousand Science Fiction and Fantasy novels from which to draw material.
I have books from many other editions, including 1st Ed Mongoose Traveller Core, Mercenary and High Guard books I purchased last week from Amazon sources.
As you can tell from the preceding, I've stayed with CT all these years. I do use the other editions as source material.
As others suggested, play a few games first, DnD is a good way to get into the role playing mindset, without a lot of technology to gum up the learning curve. See if you can find a Traveller game.
It's a bug that will bite you hard and keep you thinking of it...even after a decades long sabbatical like I had.
*Edit: Judges Guild, FASA, Paranoid Press and other after market accessory publishers, too.
I have books from many other editions, including 1st Ed Mongoose Traveller Core, Mercenary and High Guard books I purchased last week from Amazon sources.
As you can tell from the preceding, I've stayed with CT all these years. I do use the other editions as source material.
As others suggested, play a few games first, DnD is a good way to get into the role playing mindset, without a lot of technology to gum up the learning curve. See if you can find a Traveller game.
It's a bug that will bite you hard and keep you thinking of it...even after a decades long sabbatical like I had.
*Edit: Judges Guild, FASA, Paranoid Press and other after market accessory publishers, too.
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Mongoose Traveller 1e is the one you want: it's complete and offers more career options than GDW's The Traveller Book. I personally prefer Classic Traveller, but I feel you need the various supplements (like Book 4 to 7, Snapshot, Mayday) to make it interesting. These are collected in the FFE CD, but as far as I know this disc is not available through Amazon. The only failing of the Mongoose book is the lack of adventures, but there are numerous sites on the web where you can download Traveller adventures (e.g. Freelance Traveller).
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I completely disagree. I started the game with Starter Traveller, and I played for a couple of years with just that before I added any other Traveller supplements or adventures.
The Traveller Book is really all one needs, besides additional adventures, if you don't want to make your own scenarios.
Plus, it's easy and a very complete rule set.
Simple to play. Easy to learn. Complete. I think the Traveller book is probably the best place to start.
