Other Sources for Traveller Worlds

[Colin]

Many of the other SF games on the market contain detailed descriptions of other worlds that can be mined for Traveller. Blue Planet is an obvious one, but there are several others, in greater or lesser detail.

Terra Nova, for the Heavy Gear game, is minutely detailed, to the point of excess. There is so much to this that the various books can be mined to provide material for dozens of worlds. Also in the Heavy Gear universe are the other world books: Eden, Utopia, Capricia, Earth and Atlantis.

The various world books for Jovian Chronicles also have much to offer, from giant space habitats to Venusian arcologies, Nomad wanderers and Martian cities.

There's also Centuari Knights, for an ultra-high-tech setting, Dawning Star/Helios Rising, and the Trinity Universe.

Can anyone else think of books/settings they would recommend for Traveller?

(Disclaimer: I've written for two of the Jovian Chronicles World books. This is not an attempt to shill for them. It's not like I get royalties. From anyone.)

 

[mike wightman]

Alternity for one.

Then there was the old SPI game Universe.

 

[aramis]

Alternity for one.

Then there was the old SPI game Universe.

both of which, along with Space Opera, merely replicate much of the core rules... and neither was noted for detailed worlds.


Albedo, any edition, provides a wonderful Anthropomorphics TL9 setting, sans gravitics. The Command Review graphic novels (same setting) can be had pretty cheap.

Justifiers provides a number of moderately thought out worlds in its supplements. (Each supplement is an adventure sourcebook, setting book, and expansion, all in one. Great stuff; not overly thrilled with the system, but it worked...)

Both will require some adaptation for the races.

The Twilight Imperium Roleplaying Game has a few nicely detailed worlds.

Meton II's Mekton Empire supplement has nice description nutshells for dozens of worlds. Interestingly enough, they do NOT provide specific locations; you're supposed to place them yourself as you run, so that the players can't develop too much pre-knowledge.

 

[Supplement Four]

One thing Traveller does is focus on the main world. In my games (if my players spend a length of time there), I try to detail the entire system.

There are many other places in a system besides the main world. Moons, asteroid rings, and other planets provide excellent, off-the-beaten-path, places to adventure.

Corsairs may never trouble anyone at the main world, but if, for some reason, a vessel ever goes to orbit seven, watch out!

The High Colonies rpg takes place all in one system--the Terra system--and, the info it provides, is a good example of what a complete system might look like.

 

[Colin]

The Jovian Chronicles Nomads sourcebook is really good for that too, wiith a variety of asteroid-based habitats. The Mercury and Mars books were also very good for non-habitable worlds and worlds in the process of being terraformed.

:cough:2320AD:cough: had many fairly detailed worlds as well, all with maps. (What? It's not like I'm getting anything from their sales.)

 

[Spinward Scout]

Fading Suns, Serenity (of course), and Alternity's Star Drive setting could work in Traveller. Fading Suns and Serenity each have about 30 or so worlds. Tho not a lot of detail. Star Trek somewhat, as well as Star Wars could be mined for ideas.

 

[aramis]

Jovian Chronicles is just plain awesome setting material.

 

[Gadrin]

Sure, Star Trek TNG Sourcebook: Planets of the UFP -- A Guide to Federation Worlds.

128 pages, with multi-page writeups on 23 worlds including Earth, Andoria, Risa, Vulcan and Tellar.
Over 25 system and planetary maps, including homeworld maps of each UFP's founding members.

New technology, supporting cast members and adventure hooks.





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[Brian Blank]

Skyrealms of Jorune comes to mind for a truly alien world. Some of the old Space Opera Atlases could be mined for stuff too.

Tamriel from the Elder scrolls series would be workable, as might be some of the other fantasy worlds, after all the maps are already there, just add whatever you want to.

 

[Ran Targas]

GURPS Space has some excellent source material with enough details to answer most player's questions. I have a couple of the planet guides (can't remember the correct titles) and have find the format useful for my own write ups.

 

[mctesla]

GURPS:Transhuman Space and Cyberpunk 2020 can also be mined for ideas.

 

[Gadrin]

GURPS Space has some excellent source material with enough details to answer most player's questions. I have a couple of the planet guides (can't remember the correct titles) and have find the format useful for my own write ups.

You mean these ? GURPS Space Atlases

Yes, they're good and have the planetary level of detail you need for Traveller, plus a few adventure hooks and some company/background of the setting/area at the beginning.



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[Jame]

The old WEG Star Wars books have plenty of worlds if you don't mind that they're Space Opera, Star Wars style.