Ordered the deluxe version straight from GDW if I recall.
What edition was your first encounter with Traveller?
- Thread starter creativehum
- Start date
The Traveller Book, 1985. This was soon followed by Books 4 & 5 (not sure which editions/printings). Then of course Books 6 & 7. Never found JTAS until after my 20 year RPG hiatus...
I had already been playing D&D for about a year (the red & blue Basic/Expert boxes) and had just begun moving into AD&D when I saw TTB. I was captivated by the image of the adventurer holding his laser rifle (carbine?) in an airlock tube, pointing offscreen with that worried but determined look on his face... what the heck were he and his companion looking at?!
http://www.waynesbooks.com/images/graphics/travellerbookcoll.jpg
The mini-game of char gen was captivating and the way it generated backstories seemed magical. The idea of shotguns and daggers alongside FTL ships and lasers was amazing.
I suppose the 3I setting was apparent in the rules but my first subsector was "way over there" and composed of 15 or 16 different worlds representing my fave sci-fi films - Blade Runner, Road Warrior, Dune, Outland, Brazil, etc etc. I remember mostly assigning UWP values to the worlds rather than rolling them up and devising an "economic rating" based on UWP values which changed the prices of everything on a given world. It ended up being kinda close to Book 7's cargo price adjustments but not nearly as well thought out. I was proud of myself tho, for thinking it up on my own before the "advanced" rules on trade became available to me.
I play MgT now, 2e. T5 is with me as a Bag of Holding - anything and everything I want to explore, I can start there and whittle it down to something I consider manageable.
That's the enduring draw of Traveller - it's a magic toolbox that allows you to create anything you, or anyone else for that matter, can dream of.
I had already been playing D&D for about a year (the red & blue Basic/Expert boxes) and had just begun moving into AD&D when I saw TTB. I was captivated by the image of the adventurer holding his laser rifle (carbine?) in an airlock tube, pointing offscreen with that worried but determined look on his face... what the heck were he and his companion looking at?!
http://www.waynesbooks.com/images/graphics/travellerbookcoll.jpg
The mini-game of char gen was captivating and the way it generated backstories seemed magical. The idea of shotguns and daggers alongside FTL ships and lasers was amazing.
I suppose the 3I setting was apparent in the rules but my first subsector was "way over there" and composed of 15 or 16 different worlds representing my fave sci-fi films - Blade Runner, Road Warrior, Dune, Outland, Brazil, etc etc. I remember mostly assigning UWP values to the worlds rather than rolling them up and devising an "economic rating" based on UWP values which changed the prices of everything on a given world. It ended up being kinda close to Book 7's cargo price adjustments but not nearly as well thought out. I was proud of myself tho, for thinking it up on my own before the "advanced" rules on trade became available to me.
I play MgT now, 2e. T5 is with me as a Bag of Holding - anything and everything I want to explore, I can start there and whittle it down to something I consider manageable.
That's the enduring draw of Traveller - it's a magic toolbox that allows you to create anything you, or anyone else for that matter, can dream of.
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LeperColony
Traveller Card Game Dev Team
The technically correct answer is CT (I put 81, could have been 77 though for all I know), as I was first introduced to Traveller with that version by my dad.
But TNE, which came out shortly afterwards (my dad used to do a lot of play-by-mail games back then, and I remember he enrolled us both in a Pocket Empires type-thing that was active back then. I seem to recall it appeared to me as something semi-official, so if anyone else remembers/knows what it was, I'd appreciate a reminder), is the version I really think of as my true introduction.
But TNE, which came out shortly afterwards (my dad used to do a lot of play-by-mail games back then, and I remember he enrolled us both in a Pocket Empires type-thing that was active back then. I seem to recall it appeared to me as something semi-official, so if anyone else remembers/knows what it was, I'd appreciate a reminder), is the version I really think of as my true introduction.
Technically it was either late 77 or 78 when I saw the basic three books at either a hobby store in San Francisco or down near Stanford University. Breezed through the books, saw the dry text and no frills production values (no cool pics), and dismissed it. Then my friend bought me Starter Traveller, and with the Shadows / Mithril map and slimmed rules, it suddenly became a another fantastic game during the big post-Star Wars scifi and gaming revolution.
My intro to Traveller was TNE in 1993. I found it at Erich Fuchs in a mall (long since closed, I miss it).
I think it was partly the coverand partly the back blurb that got me.
I never did figure out the mechanic, but I was 13 and wasnt good with thinking things through. I still love the setting but would use the CT or MGT mechanic.
I think it was partly the coverand partly the back blurb that got me.
I never did figure out the mechanic, but I was 13 and wasnt good with thinking things through. I still love the setting but would use the CT or MGT mechanic.
If that is the answer that I'm trying to answer, then I also have to say that I think what's drawn me to the game has changed over the years. Early on the twin mini-games of character creation and ship design supplied hours of solo play. The 3I provided a rich tapestry to play against, and the actual measurable progression of time with the TNS was a fantastic bit of verisimilitude. It's only as I've aged and gone through multiple iterations of the rules that I've tired of the 3I and trying to make sense of it for a game setting.
But, initially it also let me play a game that was very close to some of my favorite books/authors of that time - Andre Norton (Solar Queen and Forerunner series), E.C. Tubb (Dumarest), H. Beam Piper (Space Viking), and even David Drake (Hammer's Slammers). It was, for the era, Hard SciFi, and that was also a draw for some reason.
D.
That "Yes!" moment came years after I'd been introduced, years after I'd collected the MT books. I stumbled onto GURPS Traveller and was mesmerized by the depth and tone of the source material.
A short time later I branched my game group into two more manageable groups; in one we continued d20 Modern riff on the TV show "Jericho" and in the other... adventure in the Lorenverse.
Haven't looked back since.
A short time later I branched my game group into two more manageable groups; in one we continued d20 Modern riff on the TV show "Jericho" and in the other... adventure in the Lorenverse.
Haven't looked back since.
1. What edition was your first encounter with Traveller?
CT '77, just a couple of months before CT '81 came out.
2. When did it happen?
Fall '80 - Had discovered the LWB (D&D), when my partner in crime told me he saw a SF RPG. Scooped up the LBB, then added the '81 versions of Bk 4 & 5.
3. What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
It was an SF role-playing game - that was enough for me.
4. What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
World creation - I could have anything.
CT '77, just a couple of months before CT '81 came out.
2. When did it happen?
Fall '80 - Had discovered the LWB (D&D), when my partner in crime told me he saw a SF RPG. Scooped up the LBB, then added the '81 versions of Bk 4 & 5.
3. What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
It was an SF role-playing game - that was enough for me.
4. What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
World creation - I could have anything.
I ran into Traveler in high school in '79 where I whipped up a belter character I never played. I was always more of a sci fi fan than fantasy and that formed the basis of its appeal for me at the time. I got my first set for Christmas 1980 and followed it up with Deluxe the following Christmas. More than anything else High Guard, Traders and Gunboats and JTAS solidified my love for the game.
Classic '77.
In '79, I had just discovered my first game store in Harvard Square as well as the infamous Satan worshipping AD&D there. On a later trip, I noticed the black box labeled "Traveller', read the back and realized my love of scifi also had an RPG! Big difference that kept me excited was Traveller was made to let you build worlds and ships (and robots) as a matter of fact and that meant building universes almost like a solo mini game. I was hooked forever.
In '79, I had just discovered my first game store in Harvard Square as well as the infamous Satan worshipping AD&D there. On a later trip, I noticed the black box labeled "Traveller', read the back and realized my love of scifi also had an RPG! Big difference that kept me excited was Traveller was made to let you build worlds and ships (and robots) as a matter of fact and that meant building universes almost like a solo mini game. I was hooked forever.
Barsanuphius
SOC-12
:ssb:
- What edition was your first encounter with Traveller?
:ssb:My first encounter with Traveller is in the mid 1990's. I was in a poor state of life, I was in a boys rescue shelter run by the Salvation Army. I met and made a life long friend, Dexter H., he was one of the counselors. He introduce me and about five of us to Traveller as we had weekly Trav sessions. It was a good experience in forming team play and encourage our imaginations. We'd play on his evening/nightly shifts once a week. It was T:New Era. He got the Shelter to by the game. It was the most fun I had with the other guys at the shelter. Not only a life long friendship was born but also a life long love for Traveller.
- When did it happen? :ssb:Mid 1990's I was a teen, 17/18 y-o.
- What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
:ssb:The cover art, The Universe of Traveller, and the fact in our first combat, My character almost died. He was in a dress uniform with no DR. He was recovered with a cybernetic arm!...perfect for a ship's engineer!
And no he did not have a bad Scottish accent...I did a bad Russo-german accent to represent his home world. His Homeworld was apart of the Promise world federation group, what ever it was called. I am not sure what world it was, but I think it was Gorky (GorkyDiaspora 2929
A200542-F), as for why the accent, Russianish, (Gorky Park in Moscow). :frankie:
- What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
:ssb:It was the New Era idea of exploration..discovery...and danger. My character almost died two more times later. He should have died but Character Gen took so long that Dexter had mercy on us. We spent many in game hours in sick bay! I did get radiation sickness once and my eyes would glow there after. Whoa-hoo! it was a good time.
Later I did t4 again, exploration, discovery, danger, and diplomacy... two best ideas that kinda more like TOS Trek idea. Thanks Marc.
baktegon
SOC-12
What edition was your first encounter with Traveller?
Mongoose Traveller 2E. (I had heard of 1E but didn't actually play Traveller with it, have only played with 2E)
When did it happen?
2016
What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
I have a friend who played CT and we were looking to start playing a new RPG after our D&D campaign finished. I wanted to play a sci-fi game and my friend suggested we try Traveller. His description was interesting so I picked up the newest version, which was Mongoose 1E at the time. Of course not two months later, 2E was release so I decided to use that, and started referring a campaign.
What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
2E definitely makes a nice first impression, with it's art and presentation. After reading more of the rules, I liked the skill systems for task resolution, and how Traveller as a whole presents the players more options in how to do things than D&D for example (which doesn't have a lot of rules for doing non-combat tasks).
We finished our first campaign last month, after about 9 months. Planning a second campaign in June.
Mongoose Traveller 2E. (I had heard of 1E but didn't actually play Traveller with it, have only played with 2E)
When did it happen?
2016
What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
I have a friend who played CT and we were looking to start playing a new RPG after our D&D campaign finished. I wanted to play a sci-fi game and my friend suggested we try Traveller. His description was interesting so I picked up the newest version, which was Mongoose 1E at the time. Of course not two months later, 2E was release so I decided to use that, and started referring a campaign.
What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
2E definitely makes a nice first impression, with it's art and presentation. After reading more of the rules, I liked the skill systems for task resolution, and how Traveller as a whole presents the players more options in how to do things than D&D for example (which doesn't have a lot of rules for doing non-combat tasks).
We finished our first campaign last month, after about 9 months. Planning a second campaign in June.
CT '77. I'm thinking it was between Xmas and New Year's of '77, but it might've been '78. It's been so long that I've forgotten. There wasn't much choice back in those days. The alternatives were Metamorphosis Alpha, Gamma World, and John Carter, Warlord of Mars. A buddy of mine had all three. I can't remember if I bought Traveller before or after playing GW and JC. They all pretty much sucked compared to Traveller. With those games you were confined to one "world." Traveller was wide open. Designing our own worlds was fun. Nobody knew about the Imperium back then.
ShawnDriscoll
SOC-14 1K
The blue book was my Traveller Programming Book, with program listings for the SINCLAIR ZX81.
Anyway:
I was in a body cast at the time (for 6 months in 1980), and read about Traveller in an RPG newsletter. The reviews for it were better than Space Opera's. Wanted to read the books to pass the time, so ordered a box from GDW. Did not grasp it all at first because I was not a sci-fi reader. I had no skill whatsoever at being a referee. So I just played around with the generators in the game. Put them on mainframes and such later.
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This thread makes a very interesting read!
For myself, believe it was '81 - as first played then.
No XP, no levels, and simple, mostly adhoc rolls was a hit with our burned out D&D selves... Storytelling and roleplaying took center stage.
I fell in love with the elegance - the clean look, mechanics and handy digest size.
For myself, believe it was '81 - as first played then.
No XP, no levels, and simple, mostly adhoc rolls was a hit with our burned out D&D selves... Storytelling and roleplaying took center stage.
I fell in love with the elegance - the clean look, mechanics and handy digest size.
RockyMountainNavy
SOC-12
First Traveller
First war game was XMas '79 and Traveller followed soon after. I still have the LBBs in my study and they are the '77 editions.
I was not an RPG player but when I saw the cover I just knew I had to have this. Opened up a whole new era of gaming for my friends and I. Some went on into D&D but I stayed loyal to Traveller.
First war game was XMas '79 and Traveller followed soon after. I still have the LBBs in my study and they are the '77 editions.
I was not an RPG player but when I saw the cover I just knew I had to have this. Opened up a whole new era of gaming for my friends and I. Some went on into D&D but I stayed loyal to Traveller.
Ullarsskald1957
SOC-12
What edition was your first encounter with Traveller?
LBB's 1977 edition, which I still use.
When did it happen?
Spring 1978, one of the members of the Tactics Club at Norwich University (the military college in Vermont) brought it to our attention as a change of pace from playing Original DnD (still have my Little Brown Books). We had just finished a mega session the week before with S&T's "Terrible Swift Sword," and the diversion back to an RPG was welcomed.
What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
1st impression was JD's enthusiasm for Traveller. He rarely got excited about anything.
What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
I think the chance of dying in character creation lent to the appeal, especially as we were all ROTC cadets...also, the open ended nature of universe creation.
LBB's 1977 edition, which I still use.
When did it happen?
Spring 1978, one of the members of the Tactics Club at Norwich University (the military college in Vermont) brought it to our attention as a change of pace from playing Original DnD (still have my Little Brown Books). We had just finished a mega session the week before with S&T's "Terrible Swift Sword," and the diversion back to an RPG was welcomed.
What formed the first impression? (The cover? Text within the game? Someone describing the game to you? Playing the game?)
1st impression was JD's enthusiasm for Traveller. He rarely got excited about anything.
What drew you to the game in that first impression? What was that first impression.
I think the chance of dying in character creation lent to the appeal, especially as we were all ROTC cadets...also, the open ended nature of universe creation.
GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
If the Type C in your LBBs has always had Cutters, then your guess would be correct.
For me it was the "books 0-8 in one floppy volume" CT reprint. Extremely simple layout, described by one of my friends as a "VCR user's manual", but I was hooked. Later moved to MGT1 and now to CE. I also have a signed copy of the "three books in one" reprint which IMHO has better layout.
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