Starter Traveller

[RobertFisher]

As much as I loved my Starter Traveller set, I always regretted that I didn't have the LBBs. So, once I got the reprints & some of the LBBs, my Starter Traveller booklets have set untouched on the shelf between the Megatraveller & Spacemaster books.

Well, I pulled it out last night, & am I pretty impressed.

I had thought there wasn't anything new in it until Sigg pointed out the pulse/beam laser thing. Flipping through it last night, I saw a couple of other things that I didn't think I'd seen elsewhere.

& I recall there being something missing from it from B1-3 that I wished had been there, but I can't remember what.

So, before I start a compare & contrast project, has anyone made a list of differences between Starter Traveller & the LBBs?

 

[RobertFisher]

As much as I loved my Starter Traveller set, I always regretted that I didn't have the LBBs. So, once I got the reprints & some of the LBBs, my Starter Traveller booklets have set untouched on the shelf between the Megatraveller & Spacemaster books.

Well, I pulled it out last night, & am I pretty impressed.

I had thought there wasn't anything new in it until Sigg pointed out the pulse/beam laser thing. Flipping through it last night, I saw a couple of other things that I didn't think I'd seen elsewhere.

& I recall there being something missing from it from B1-3 that I wished had been there, but I can't remember what.

So, before I start a compare & contrast project, has anyone made a list of differences between Starter Traveller & the LBBs?

 

[mike wightman]

It's one of those tasks I would like to find the time for - compare 1st edition CT with 2nd edition, then compare with the Traveller Book, and finally with Starter Traveller.

Then there's the question of any errata making its way into different printings of the above

Somebody, somewhere has probably done this already...

 

[mike wightman]

It's one of those tasks I would like to find the time for - compare 1st edition CT with 2nd edition, then compare with the Traveller Book, and finally with Starter Traveller.

Then there's the question of any errata making its way into different printings of the above

Somebody, somewhere has probably done this already...

 

[Vargas]

First edition had a table for determining trade routes between systems which was later omitted from 2nd Ed.

 

[Vargas]

First edition had a table for determining trade routes between systems which was later omitted from 2nd Ed.

 

[Flynn]

I'm familiar with the XBoat route random generation table, but not a trade route system. Do you think you could reproduce the basics of it here? Or at least describe the particulars of it?

Thanks in advance,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

I'm familiar with the XBoat route random generation table, but not a trade route system. Do you think you could reproduce the basics of it here? Or at least describe the particulars of it?

Thanks in advance,
Flynn

 

[Ranger]

It's a very basic table. You have a Starport to Starport column and a set of distances (1-4). Roll a die and equal or beat the number in the column to have a trade route.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;"> 1 2 3 4
A-A 1 2 4 5
A-B 1 3 4 6</pre>[/QUOTE]etc...

 

[Ranger]

It's a very basic table. You have a Starport to Starport column and a set of distances (1-4). Roll a die and equal or beat the number in the column to have a trade route.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;"> 1 2 3 4
A-A 1 2 4 5
A-B 1 3 4 6</pre>[/QUOTE]etc...

 

[aramis]

Ranger: put it in {code}{/code} tags... (I've been wanting to see that very table for YEARS...)

One of the nice things about Starter Traveller was that it came with two adventures... I wish I'd bought it when i saw it...

Another nice feature was the Rules Book and Tables book mode...

 

[aramis]

Ranger: put it in {code}{/code} tags... (I've been wanting to see that very table for YEARS...)

One of the nice things about Starter Traveller was that it came with two adventures... I wish I'd bought it when i saw it...

Another nice feature was the Rules Book and Tables book mode...

 

[Ranger]

Thanks for the tip Aramis. Now, next question, would the "powers that be" think it a violation of copywrite if I reproduced the entire table here?

 

[Ranger]

Thanks for the tip Aramis. Now, next question, would the "powers that be" think it a violation of copywrite if I reproduced the entire table here?

 

[JWMcFarlin]

For the life of me I can't remember the differences, but the starter traveller set was pretty compact and self-sufficient. It was what I had when I was 12. I wish I could get my hands on a set (maybe a reprint) at a reasonable cost to give to a nephew of mine who is showing an interest in role-playing games.

John

 

[JWMcFarlin]

For the life of me I can't remember the differences, but the starter traveller set was pretty compact and self-sufficient. It was what I had when I was 12. I wish I could get my hands on a set (maybe a reprint) at a reasonable cost to give to a nephew of mine who is showing an interest in role-playing games.

John

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by JWMcFarlin:
For the life of me I can't remember the differences, but the starter traveller set was pretty compact and self-sufficient. It was what I had when I was 12. I wish I could get my hands on a set (maybe a reprint) at a reasonable cost to give to a nephew of mine who is showing an interest in role-playing games.

I got my copy from ebay this year for pretty cheap. It's good but 1) boxed (boxes tend to get damaged over the years) 2) all the tables are seperate from the rules so you really need to be flipping through two books for most anything. The Traveller book doesn't have as many adventures in it but IIRC has more background info and the tables are in the same book. I believe they are fairly much the same text wise.

If I find the two book setup too annoying I may sell my copy soon in which case I'll post it to the thread "Casey's Auctions" in the trading section of CotI.

It doesn't have an adventure or setting, but the QLI reprint of CT 2nd Edition books 1-3 in about LBB size is pretty handy, not too $$, and in print. Link.

Casey

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by JWMcFarlin:
For the life of me I can't remember the differences, but the starter traveller set was pretty compact and self-sufficient. It was what I had when I was 12. I wish I could get my hands on a set (maybe a reprint) at a reasonable cost to give to a nephew of mine who is showing an interest in role-playing games.

I got my copy from ebay this year for pretty cheap. It's good but 1) boxed (boxes tend to get damaged over the years) 2) all the tables are seperate from the rules so you really need to be flipping through two books for most anything. The Traveller book doesn't have as many adventures in it but IIRC has more background info and the tables are in the same book. I believe they are fairly much the same text wise.

If I find the two book setup too annoying I may sell my copy soon in which case I'll post it to the thread "Casey's Auctions" in the trading section of CotI.

It doesn't have an adventure or setting, but the QLI reprint of CT 2nd Edition books 1-3 in about LBB size is pretty handy, not too $$, and in print. Link.

Casey

 

[RobertFisher]

I've always liked the two booklet format of Starter Traveller.

There's almost no "flipping back & forth" with the tables booklet. Like the table sections in the LBBs, the table booklet is laid out in two page spreads pertaining to one area of play. The larger format allows more stuff on each two page spread than the LBBs did, so there's even less flipping around.

When I am looking at the rules booklet, it's nice to have the table booklet nearby open to the proper section. If I want to look at the associated tables while reading, it's a simple move of the eyes instead of flipping back & forth in one booklet.

During play, the table booklet is pretty much all you need. If you do want to look up a rule, though, you can leave the table booklet open to the section relevant to the current action while doing so instead of having to find the tables again after reading the rule.

The most important thing I'm going to be looking at when comparing Starter Traveller to the LBBs is any difference in the tables booklet, because the tables booklet is just too handy during play.

 

[RobertFisher]

I've always liked the two booklet format of Starter Traveller.

There's almost no "flipping back & forth" with the tables booklet. Like the table sections in the LBBs, the table booklet is laid out in two page spreads pertaining to one area of play. The larger format allows more stuff on each two page spread than the LBBs did, so there's even less flipping around.

When I am looking at the rules booklet, it's nice to have the table booklet nearby open to the proper section. If I want to look at the associated tables while reading, it's a simple move of the eyes instead of flipping back & forth in one booklet.

During play, the table booklet is pretty much all you need. If you do want to look up a rule, though, you can leave the table booklet open to the section relevant to the current action while doing so instead of having to find the tables again after reading the rule.

The most important thing I'm going to be looking at when comparing Starter Traveller to the LBBs is any difference in the tables booklet, because the tables booklet is just too handy during play.