What is Traveller?

[the angle]

You can ask the same question about most RPGs. Is Call of Cthulhu inseparable from the Basic Roleplaying rules? Clearly the answer is no, because it's been published under half-a-dozen different sets of rules. Could you play in the Imperium setting without using the Traveller rules? Again, the answer is clearly yes, because there are numerous sets of rules available for doing exactly that. Just look at how many different, basically incompatible rules systems are supported on these forums, all carrying the official stamp of Traveller authenticity. So nothing about "the Traveller rules" is inextricably intertwined with "the Traveller setting."

Furthermore, "the Traveller setting" itself has gone through numerous iterations, from Milieu Zero to Interstellar Wars to the height of the Imperium to the rebellion and Hard Times and the ravages of Virus.

So I guess where all of that is going is that, for my dime, "Traveller" is both a rules set and a setting, and at the same time, it's neither. Personally, subjectively, in my world, Traveller will always be those three little black books in a little black box, divorced from any setting but the one I created using the world and sector generation rules.

Steve

 

[robject]

I'm with the angle and his apparent wishy-washiness. Traveller has this sort of schizophrenia due to being born when it was, and the ruleset being naturally constrained due to the desires of its creators. They must've thought feudalism was more amenable to role-playing; encourages initiative, implicitly empowers local action on behalf of Bigger Powers.

So Traveller is not just the Third Imperium/OTU setting, but the OTU is the showcase for the ruleset, and I can't imagine a ruleset that can't run on the OTUs settings being considered "Traveller".

The OTU is the litmus test. The Turing test.

I can imagine a system dialing itself back or conforming itself to Traveller's constraints being Traveller. I haven't played that sort of ruleset yet, though, so I don't know if it would "feel" like Traveller or not. I assume that if it can be made to walk like a duck and quack like a duck, then I don't care if it could also walk and quack like Nessie the Loch Ness Monster in some other completely separate venue.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Traveller is ...

... A registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises.

... Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far Future.

... A framework of rules for science-fiction based role-playing gaming.

... One of the most fully realized science-fiction RPG settings ever created.

... Shotguns in Space / Swords on Starships.


85 Reasons Classic Traveller is Great! == http://www.caddocourt.com/traveller/reasons.html

 

[mbrinkhues]

You can ask the same question about most RPGs. Is Call of Cthulhu inseparable from the Basic Roleplaying rules? Clearly the answer is no, because it's been published under half-a-dozen different sets of rules. Could you play in the Imperium setting without using the Traveller rules? Again, the answer is clearly yes, because there are numerous sets of rules available for doing exactly that. Just look at how many different, basically incompatible rules systems are supported on these forums, all carrying the official stamp of Traveller authenticity. So nothing about "the Traveller rules" is inextricably intertwined with "the Traveller setting."

Furthermore, "the Traveller setting" itself has gone through numerous iterations, from Milieu Zero to Interstellar Wars to the height of the Imperium to the rebellion and Hard Times and the ravages of Virus.

So I guess where all of that is going is that, for my dime, "Traveller" is both a rules set and a setting, and at the same time, it's neither. Personally, subjectively, in my world, Traveller will always be those three little black books in a little black box, divorced from any setting but the one I created using the world and sector generation rules.

Steve

IMHO it has not gone through iterations but the timeline has expanded. Similar to the Honorverse that latter added novels that played before "On Basilik Station" or "Sharps Shooters" that added novels that describe actions "in between" already established battles.

Same with Traveller. Interstellar Wars, T4/Millieu 0, Hard Times etc. are just parts of one continous timeline. With the exception of GT (No dead Imperator derivate) they all exist within the same universe just at different spots in time. In theory you could play a Trader in "Gateway/990" that is the great-grand.... son of your character from an ISW campaign

 

[Rover]

I started playing traveller way back in 1979-1980 and for me the game was never defined by the ruleset. I never did like the original rules, specifically the 2D6 mechanic. In the early eighties a friend of mine created a ruleset based on the original Top Secret game, which we palyed for years. Currently my preference is for T20, although it has been too long since I played a game.

It was never setting either. Although some games were played in the OTU some were in home brew. I enjoyed both.

As some others have pointed out, it is the tropes and constraints. Things like starting the game with aged, experienced characters, a level of grittiness, no FTL communications, no transporters, no blasters, no light sabers, I really like 1 week in jump space and all the other constraints of space travel including ship design. In terms of Setting I like the idea of Nobels and mega corps running the show in an empire set a 2D universe, ... For me a lot of what some may describe as color is what makes traveller.

My 0.02Cr

R

 

[captainjack]

I wonder what would have happened if it had been Traveller:1889 instead of Space:1889?

And seriously, I'm think my next adventure with MGT is going to be an 1889 adventure.

I'm guessing confusion and annoyance as with Traveller:2300; possibly more, possibly less if it had come after the T2300 public relations debacle.