Is Traveller Relevant Anymore?

[mike wightman]

Yeah, that's not really what I meant to ask. It's not that I'm doubting whether the Traveller brand has any value. I more meant what is Traveller's place in the current RPG market. What does it have to offer that another space game doesn't?

MgT 2e offers a lot more up to date core science fiction (if that makes any sense) - even T5 is offering very transhumanist themes (buy Marc's novel too) while at the same times still offereing a game that can be used to make up a bespoke setting based on whatever you want. MgT will also soon be releasing a definitive guide to the MgT version of the 3I golden age setting.

Originally, the idea of a highly adaptable system was novel. Today there's dozens to choose from.

Yup, and I take stuff from any and all of them, but CT still offers a very simple core game that you can add to.

The OTU is amazing. I enjoy it. I love the fact that you can come to sites like this and discuss the economic or strategic implications of the universe, and extrapolate "real world" conditions from game rules and assumptions. I think that's awesome.

In many ways it is an albatross. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have wasted so much of my life losing arguments with Hans and Aramis if I wasn't a huge fan of the setting - I just think there is a lot more to the game than the setting.

But does the setting draw? Does it still appeal? Or is it too old, too dated? I'm a second generation gamer. I picked up Traveller from my dad. But it's been noted many times that the setting is difficult for new players to appreciate.

To a lot of people Traveller is the setting, to others it is the rules, and to others it is a combination. take what you want, play the game the way you want, modify the setting as you want - but have fun doing it.

Does Traveller remain relevant? Will it attract new people? Or in twenty or thirty years, will I be the only one here, surrounded by the posts of Absent Friends?

Nope, there will be new people posting.
They will still be arguing rules vs setting, economic models based on two lines from an obscure supplement, how jump drive works, why Aslan are not cat men etc.

 

[mike wightman]

Yeah, but almost every game has those now. I more mean, what would inspire someone to grab the Traveller Quick-Start over one of the other space games?

Recommendations via interweb forum... revues on gaming sites perhaps.

Traveller, like all games, means something. It's a set of assumptions and world views, given form with rules and a setting. But do they still hold relevance in today's RPG market?

It still sells, so yes.

 

[mike wightman]

It is in that wider sense I asked about Travellers relevance.

Consider the other early science fiction games
Starships and Spacemen
Space Opera
Star Frontiers

which of those have helped design a genre?

I am still waiting for someone to produce an OSR 'clone' of CT from all the OGL currently available thanks to T20, MGT. I live in hope that it will be MWM himself that does it - what an anniversary present for Traveller 40.

 

[flykiller]

Nope, there will be new people posting. They will still be arguing rules vs setting, economic models based on two lines from an obscure supplement, how jump drive works, why Aslan are not cat men etc.

"are you not entertained?"

 

[mike wightman]

When Traveller was new, it was innovative. Does it still innovate? Are Traveller materials fresh and new, or is the line stale and static?

There is a lot of new stuff in T5 and when you see it brought to life in Marc's novel you can appreciate it all the more.
MgT continues to add new rules an options.

For many years, Traveller did influence subsequent sci-fi games. But does it any longer? Do new sci-fi game writers look at Traveller, either for setting or mechanics, as a source of inspiration?

There has to be a reason the last Mindjammer kickstarter made it all the way to the stretch goal of a printed edition of the MgT conversion of the setting.

These metrics are not necessarily any different than you might use to judge the importance of anyone or anything in any other industry. Taken from that point of view, is Traveller still relevant?

If it wasn't I doubt if there would have been any mileage to Mindjammer book I just mentioned.

 

[mike wightman]

"are you not entertained?"

Yes, because every discussion usually brings some new ideas.

 

[estar]

I am still waiting for someone to produce an OSR 'clone' of CT from all the OGL currently available thanks to T20, MGT. I live in hope that it will be MWM himself that does it - what an anniversary present for Traveller 40.

It could happen but I don't consider it likely given the circumstances of the Traveller hobby and industry. It is a currently supported game which acts as disincentive on people trying to do rulesets. Compounded by the fact that the Traveller SRD is not complete in the way the d20 SRD was in relation to D&D 3.X.

Traveller is not unique in having this issue. Runequest isn't as big as some people would like it to be because of similar issues. And they even have a complete SRD to use for a clone ruleset. Interestingly, the two of the most respected RQ authors didn't get invited to participate in Chaosium's latest Runequest project. They have their own well-received variant ruleset as an alternative so it will be interesting to see how that plays out.

 

[creativehum]

I have to wonder if Marc has ever considered pod version of the original LBB1-3 set.

One can get a 3-in-1 volume reprint of the 1981 Traveller Books 1-3 right here for $10.

Scroll down until you see:
FFE 0000
The Basic Books 1-3
$10

 

[whulorigan]

One can get a 3-in-1 volume reprint of the 1981 Traveller Books 1-3 right here for $10.

Scroll down until you see:
FFE 0000
The Basic Books 1-3
$10

I think that is T20 Basic Books 1-3 (at least that is what the cover-art seems to imply). I could be wrong of course.

For CT, you would need to get the FFE 0001: The Books 0-8 reprint.

 

[creativehum]

I think that is T20 Basic Books 1-3 (at least that is what the cover-art seems to imply). I could be wrong of course.

For CT, you would need to get the FFE 0001: The Books 0-8 reprint.

No, it is in fact LBBs 1-3 in digest format.
I own a copy. It's the 1981 rules.

FFE 0000
The Basic Books 1-3
$10

 

[whulorigan]

No, it's LBBs 1-3 in digest format.
I own a copy. It's the 1981 rules.

Excellent. I guess I shouldn't have assumed based on the image. That's going to be a future purchase.

 

[creativehum]

Excellent. I guess I shouldn't have assumed based on the image. That's going to be a future purchase.

It's cheap. It's compact.
Scribble in some notes from the errata and you're good to go!

 

[aramis]

Traveller still sells all 12 different editions... (CT 1E, CT 2E, MT, TNE, T4, T20, GT, MGT, MGT2, HT, GTIW, T5) in varying amounts.

CT and MGT get most of the blog-time devoted to Traveller. MGT2 will probably get more soon.

Traveller is, at its core, derived from Space Opera of the 50's, 60's and 70's, through a lens of the 70's, 80's and 90's, with some notes to transhumanism in each, more in TNE, MGT, MGT2, and T5 than the others, without actually becoming a Transhumanism focused game. (GT and GTIW don't need to - those who want Transhumanist GT can simply fold in G:Transhuman Space.)

As a retro-sci-fi game, CT remains relevant in an "evergreen" manner.

Further, Traveller mechanical influences are still being seen in new games - sometimes second hand, sometimes direct.

And, since Marc's had no issue selling Agent of the Imperium, the setting is relevant as literature.

 

[flykiller]

And, since Marc's had no issue selling Agent of the Imperium, the setting is relevant as literature.

how many copies?

 

[Baltech Budapest]

how many copies?

I think only Marc could answer that, but the original 970 Kickstarter backers bought at least one copy each (in some format), some bought more than one copy.
After that there are the ebook sales on DriveThru and Amazon. Once the KS project is fullfilled I'm sure the physical books will hit stores too.
But, based on the positive reviews the book has received then I think it's safe to say that the setting is relevant and something that appeals to a wider audience (not just Traveller players).
The reviews on Amazon are very encouraging: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ebooks-Agent-Imperium-Story-Traveller-Universe-ebook/dp/B019Y37LC8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464212098&sr=8-1&keywords=agent+of+the+imperium

 

[flykiller]

970?

I think it's safe to say that the setting is relevant and something that appeals to a wider audience (not just Traveller players).

I wonder how many would have sold if it appealed only to traveller players.

 

[mike wightman]

It's interesting that one of the Amazon reviewers had never heard of Traveller and thought the book was very good.

 

[Baltech Budapest]

970?



I wonder how many would have sold if it appealed only to traveller players.

I'm only surmising here, but I think the Kickstarter success of Agent Of The Imperium is due largely to Traveller players. I have no evidence to prove that and, as I said I'm only surmising.

 

[flykiller]

It's interesting that one of the Amazon reviewers had never heard of Traveller and thought the book was very good.

it's a good sign. I read through the reviews. three state they are unfamiliar with traveller, nine state they are familiar or more with it (most are very familiar with traveller and at least two say they know marc personally), and one is indeterminate.

 

[flykiller]

from elsewhere:

Dear Mr.Miller,
to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Traveller I would like you to seriously consider starting a kickstarter for a 40th anniversary edition of the 77 rules.

LBB1-3 first edition, reprinted to the highest possible standard in a metal box.