Where do I start?

[Rosenet]

Howdy! I'm new to these forums and Travller itself. I'm a long time role-player and I'm passingly familiar with Traveller from old Dragon magazines and seeing it in the stores, but I'm only now considering running a Traveller campaign. My group is burning out on D&D and we're interested in Sci-Fi. I mentioned a game along the lines of the TV show "Firefly" and Traveller was immediatly mentioned. I've started to do some research into Traveller and I'm overwhelmed. After 25 years there's a lot of Travller stuff to absorb. Where do I start?

To run a really good game it looks like I'd need a boatload of materials: T20 rulebook, an atlas, deckplans, some campaign source books, etc. Thats a heavy investment of time and money to bring myself up to speed and run a campaign.

I'm looking for a couple of things from the fine citizens of the Imperium. First, what's the bare minimum I need to run a solid T20 game? Secondly I'm not looking to re-invent the wheel with this campaign. I want to run a really good, classic free trader gamer. As that's one of the most popular campaign types I expect there's plenty of support material for that kind of game. What should I get to run this kind of game? Where can I find pre-published adventures to plagerize shamelessly?

Thanks in advance!

-Rosenet

 

[Flynn]

Good morning, my friend,

First, you'll need a rulebook. That's the core item. You've already got the dice and such, so that's not a problem.

Second, you'll need a small section of space. Everything I've read tends to suggest that you start Traveller out in a small area, and slowly build. At most, you'll probably cover only a subsector or two in the course of a longterm, localized campaign where you are learning the rules and such. You can either generate your own subsector, use one from the many maps that are on the net, or purchase a sector or subsector-specific publication. I'd recommend, to limit costs, either building your own, or using the QLI free download on the Linkworlds. (It comes complete with an epic adventure, an amber zone, three patron encounters, some ship encounters and lots of ideas, so that covers our next point as well.)

Third, you need adventures. You can buy the Classic Traveller reprints and translate (it's easier than it looks), use the Linkworlds download, or search the internet. In four hours of mad searching and downloading, I found something like 40 different adventures, all of which need to be translated to T20. If nothing else, you can steal the core idea, and wrap it around your chosen setting. (That's what I'm doing.)

You can easily start and run a fun game with just the core rulebook, the Linkworlds download, and some time spent searching for Traveller adventures on the internet.

And if you need any help, we're here to offer suggestions, if you wish.

Good luck, and happy travellin',
Flynn

 

[Ozric]

Might I recommend acquring the classic reprint containing all The Supplements? It's the second book in the line of reprints, and it's got loads of everything you could want--two entire sectors (the Spinward Marches and the Solomani Rim), deck plans out the wazzo, patron encounters, etc...

 

[lord irial]

As for deckplans, there are a lot of sites on the web with sci-fi deckplans, most of which seem to be Traveller compatible, though some don't actually give drive specifications and stuff. I can't send you the links now (being at work, as I am), but will attempt to post some up here on Sunday this weekend, the first chance I'll likely have this weekend.

Good luck with the game, btw.

 

[daryen]

Here is my suggestion:

- Get T20 as that is the rules you seem to be leaning towards, and since it seems to make the most sense.

- Download the Linkworlds Cluster campaign from this site. It is free and will do an *excellent* job in introducing you to Traveller in general, and the "official" Traveller universe (OTU).

- Check out some of the various Traveller websites. These will give you a tremendous overview of what Traveller is. Some examples:
http://www.downport.com/freelancetraveller/infocenter/faq.html
http://www.pemaquidsolutions.com/library/
http://www.seemann.ms/library/index.htm
http://www.travellercentral.com/ (click on Library Data on the left)
http://home.earthlink.net/~nimrodd/LibraryData.htm

Then, figure out what parts you like best and just do them. Do NOT try to be a completist unless you like to spend lots of money.

And while I do recommend both the GURPS Traveller line (of which I have some) and the Classic Traveller Reprints (of which I have almost all), getting a good set is fairly expensive. The above recommendation includes a single purchase, yet gives you a chance to see what you like, where you want to go and "when" you want to be.

Finally, if you want something close to Firefly, just use the base rules to "roll your own". You don't need to make a whole sector, just make a couple of subsectors and use them.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Erik Filean]

Originally posted by Rosenet:
To run a really good game it looks like I'd need a boatload of materials: T20 rulebook, an atlas, deckplans, some campaign source books, etc. Thats a heavy investment of time and money to bring myself up to speed and run a campaign.

I'm pretty much in the same boat you are, but a little web-surfing is going to go a long way on atlas and deckplan materials at little or no cost. Try some of the following:

Sector/Subsector Charts and Data:
http://zho.berka.com/
http://www.utzig.com/traveller/iai.shtml

Deckplans:
http://www.perkworks.com/traveller/CC2.html
http://www.dragonspace.com/trav/shipyard.htm

 

[lord irial]

Originally posted by lord irial:
As for deckplans, there are a lot of sites on the web with sci-fi deckplans, most of which seem to be Traveller compatible, though some don't actually give drive specifications and stuff.

Okay, I lied about not being able to get them here 'til Sunday. Try these: http://www.gamestruth.com/Hugh/deckplans/deckplan.htm

http://members.aol.com/gypsycomet/Shipyard.html

http://www.perkworks.com/traveller/CC2.html

http://www.defrog.com/images/RPG/index.htm

http://www.caddocourt.com/traveller/shipyard/

Hope that helps!

 

[Ranger]

If you want to work up some systems quickly, try this. It also has pretty much the entire CT Imperium in it's data files already.

http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm

Hope it helps,

Rob

 

[Maspy]

Originally posted by Rosenet:
Howdy! I'm new to these forums and Travller itself. I'm a long time role-player and I'm passingly familiar with Traveller from old Dragon magazines and seeing it in the stores, but I'm only now considering running a Traveller campaign. My group is burning out on D&D and we're interested in Sci-Fi. I mentioned a game along the lines of the TV show "Firefly" and Traveller was immediatly mentioned. I've started to do some research into Traveller and I'm overwhelmed. After 25 years there's a lot of Travller stuff to absorb. Where do I start?

To run a really good game it looks like I'd need a boatload of materials: T20 rulebook, an atlas, deckplans, some campaign source books, etc. Thats a heavy investment of time and money to bring myself up to speed and run a campaign.

I'm looking for a couple of things from the fine citizens of the Imperium. First, what's the bare minimum I need to run a solid T20 game? Secondly I'm not looking to re-invent the wheel with this campaign. I want to run a really good, classic free trader gamer. As that's one of the most popular campaign types I expect there's plenty of support material for that kind of game. What should I get to run this kind of game? Where can I find pre-published adventures to plagerize shamelessly?

Thanks in advance!

-Rosenet

The bare basics to run a solid T20 game are a set of the core rules and the T20 Handbook. The rest is up to you. Sorry to be so bare, but that is pretty much it. Traveller has always been pretty loose. There is an Official Traveller Universe, but there's no law you have to play in it. Though the Vilani tend to get a little cranky if you steer off the beaten path... Sticklers for rules, they are.

The crew here has already passed on some good web sites to get a feel for Travelling. Here is another real good one.

www.TravellerRPG.com

Lots of info, and the people in the discussion forum are the tops.

 

[plop101]

Well dang it! I've typed a nice reply twice only to accidently erase
the thing before I posted it up.
So I'll just be brief.

Since your just starting out, and I assume your own an austerity budget,
this is what you'll need:
The T20 Handbook.
A Core Rule Book [this you already have since you play D&D]
Paper for your computer printer.
Time to be on said computer.

Thats it.

The atlas, the deckplans, the campaign source materials, are all locatable on the web.
Atlas, there are several. Here's two:
http://www.rossmack.com/ab/rpg/traveller/ChartedSpace/
http://maps.grandsurvey.com/

Deckplans: http://hartwick.edu/~smithw/deckring.htm

Campaign source materials: Linkworlds stuff, available right here

Other links of usefullness:
http://traveller.mu.org/
http://www.travellercentral.com/
http://www.pcug.org.au/~davidjw/
http://www.freelancetraveller.com/
http://www.downport.com/

As for expanding, I'd echo the comments made by Daryen, except I'd flip the order; I'd go with Classic Traveller reprints first, then Gurps Traveller. Again, if your on an asterity budget, just get the CT Book reprints, the CT Adventure reprints, and the CT Double Adventure reprints. I would NOT get CT Supplements or the rest of the reprints unless you are, as Daryen says, being a completist.

 

[GypsyComet]

I think his reason for listing the Supplements Reprint is that this book has "76 Patrons" in it, a game starter if ever there was one. For a bit cheaper, you can also do "101 Patrons" from BITS, either directly from them (bits.org.uk) or from Steve Jackson Games' online store, depending on where in the world you are...

If you really want to get a one-stop on the Third Imperium setting, the basic GURPS:Traveller book does a very nice job of putting much of it in one spot, but the classic Adventures, Supplements, and issues of JTAS (all available in reprint volumes) are the original source for most of it.

Last I looked, there were sources for sector listings and library data on the Web, as well as archives of the classic TAS News items, that really breathed life into the setting way back when.

 

[Scarlett]

Nothing wrong with classic Traveller. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Disclaimer: I've not tried T20 (or even seen it) yet. But .. ct is cheaper anyhoo.

Good luck, sir!

p.s. I love the show Firefly. Gonna hafta pray for a miracle, though ... to keep it alive.