My top Ten Huh? I'll mostly echo what's been posted already:
1) FFE Reprint #2
the Classic Supplements - all of the LBB supplements are reprinted in there and it's a great value for the doller. So good, in fact, that the print run sold through. I believe it is being reprinted (any time now) and if you get lucky you may still be able to find it on the shelves of your FLGS - I had to look in about five stores last April but I did score one.
2) If you're going to be running the Spinward Marches or Solomani Rim as settings get the appropriate GURPS setting book -
Behind the Claw for the Marches has its share of problems (noted elsewhere on this forum) but it is still a very good addition, it is also out of print but copies can be had.
Rim of Fire is still available and is a cut above BtC as far as quality goes - so if you're thinking about the Solomani Rim that is a must have.
3)
the Traveller Adventure - if only as an example of what you can cook up
Really - you want this book. No, you can't have mine.
4)
the Imperial Encyclopedia for MegaTraveller is a good background and equipment guide. Essential if YTU is going to kill Strephon on schedule
5) FFE Reprint #3
the Classic Adventures - even if you don't use these directly - there are some great ideas. Of course anything you do use is going to have to be tweaked for T20, but that shouldn't be too hard....
6) Likewise, FFE Reprint #4
the Classic Short Adventures. Reprints 3 & 4 are still in print and available from a variety of sources.
7) FFE Reprint #6
JTAS 1-12 - JTAS is GREAT stuff if you're looking to recapture the Classic Traveller
feel regardless of rules set. The nice thing about the JTAS stuff is that they are sometimes a bit more obscure due the the periodical nature of the Journal. So even if you have some fiend in your group who's read all of the LBB adventures, the JTAS might provide some fresh directions. the down side is that a lot of the JTAS material gets recycled in later supplements and adventures (i.e. Broadsword, Annic Nova, Aslan, Vargr etc.) so you're going to get some duplication.
8) FFE Reprint #6
JTAS 13-24 for the rest of the story. These are both still in print.
9)
GT: Starports - I don't think this book is popular _enough_ Travellers spend a LOT of time in starports... this book is chock full of color for that part of your campaign.
10) This is sort of a wildcard catch all - buy the GURPS Traveller source book that is most relevent to the type of game you're going to be playing - If you're going to be dealing with Mercs then get the
StarMercs book - Merchants then get
Far Trader -
Ground Forces is an excellent book for military campaigns (esp. if coupled with
Starmercs) and
First In will cover you quite nicely for voyages of exploration or if you're going to be whipping off star systems from scratch. If you're going to be wrapping your campaign around contact with an alien major race then get the appropriate Alien source book (although you could just wait for the FFE Alien module reprints which are due "soon.") Some of these are in print some not.
A word of warning - The GURPS books are usually pretty good and well written but the quality can vary. The character information presented in them is (naturally) GURPS specific but should be pretty easy to convert or mine for ideas. They're almost uniformly gold mines for for ideas and background.
Also, keep in mind that GTU and OTU divirge on the rebellion so all of the GURPS stuff is going to disagree with the MT and TNE stuff after about the year 1116....
Last notes - I've had good luck getting OOP MT and GT stuff from
Gamer's Realm via mail order. This is not an endorsement, I don't work for them and your milage may vary. That said, I've phone ordered from them several times and the goods arrived in good condition and in reasonable time.
YTU = Your Traveller Universe
OTU = Official Traveller Universe
GTU = GURPS Traveller Universe
Hope that helps and good luck!
