Which CT Rules Set do you use?

[T2300]

Out of the varied rulesets available for CT (77,81,Starter, etc.), which set do you prefer? Reason(s)? Looking to choose which set to use and need some input.

Thanks!

 

[Matt123]

They are all pretty much the same with the AFAIK the only exception being High Guard changing to HG v2 in '81.

MM's CT cd rom has them all (except HG v1 for some reason).

 

[aramis]

They are all pretty much the same with the AFAIK the only exception being High Guard changing to HG v2 in '81.

MM's CT cd rom has them all (except HG v1 for some reason).

Not true.

CT LBB's printed pre 1981 have substantial rules differences from post 1981; the most obvious is that Jump Drives in pre-1981 do not require power plants. CT 1st ed is NOT on the CD-Rom.

CT LBBs printed post 1981 have the 2nd edition of the rules; there are subtle changes to damage and healing wording, unsubtle changes to personal combat damages, the Jump Drive change to ship design, and no route generation table.

The Traveller Book likewise has further wording changes to healing, combat, and some differences in the rules for space combat.

Starter Traveller makes changes to ship combat, using range bands instead of a miniatures approach. There are a couple of very minor wording tweaks elsewhere in the book.

Book 5 has two significant versions: 1979 and 1981. the 1979 HG 1E has a very similar design system to 2E, but substantially different combat rules, and different rules for generating the USP. HG 1E is not on the CDRom

 

[E.D.Quibell]

The Traveller Book.

Because it was my first ever Traveller Book.

Best regards,

Ewan

 

[The Oz]

I use a mismash of them all, and more besides.

 

[Icosahedron]

I'd say it depends on your players. You're unlikely to get a group of players who are entirely new to Traveller (and if you do, you might be better going the Mongoose route) so they will be used to one version or another and a change may cause confusion. Having said that, most CT players have houseruled the basics beyond recognition anyhow, so in some respects it doesn't matter - whatever you can get hold of cheaply, which probably means the CTCD.
Personally, I use the '77 version, because that's what was on sale when I started.

 

[saundby]

1977 version, because that's all I had until a few years ago when I got the CT CD. It's also easier to houserule for my Doc Smith style ships (Skylark/Triplanetary type.)

 

[aramis]

I'd say it depends on your players. You're unlikely to get a group of players who are entirely new to Traveller (and if you do, you might be better going the Mongoose route) so they will be used to one version or another and a change may cause confusion. Having said that, most CT players have houseruled the basics beyond recognition anyhow, so in some respects it doesn't matter - whatever you can get hold of cheaply, which probably means the CTCD.

I have to say, I agree mostly with Icosahedron here. If you've got access to dead tree, go with whatever dead tree you have, noting that MGT is currently still in print...

Me, I use either MGT or MT, depending on mood and tone desired. I've not used CT in play since the mid 90's (a couple sessions of 1-shots), and not for serious play since the 80's. If I were going to, I'd use Starter, because it's the most current of the 4 editions.

 

[Matt123]

I didn't realise there was so many changes between '77 & '81. I would have started around '82 (?), which makes me the new boy on the block

Rules differences aside, The Traveller Book and The Traveller Adventure are what hooked me originally.

 

[Jame]

I think I use Starter the most. Though I'd use weapons from Bk4 and I ALWAYS modify weapon damages (dagger becomes 1d+2, foil 1d+4, sword becomes 3d, cutlass 2d+4, rifle/autorifle/assaultrifle/ACR become 4d, gauss becomes 5d).

 

[aramis]

I didn't realise there was so many changes between '77 & '81. I would have started around '82 (?), which makes me the new boy on the block

Rules differences aside, The Traveller Book and The Traveller Adventure are what hooked me originally.

I started later than you... September '83.
I started with TTB and CT LBB 2E. Having both from the start, I was able to figure out the differences for those two right off.

I borrowed a starter set in '86... and to be honest, if I'd still been running it regularly at that point, I'd have bought one myself... but I was running T2K 1E and GURPS.

 

[ffilz]

Not true.

CT LBB's printed pre 1981 have substantial rules differences from post 1981; the most obvious is that Jump Drives in pre-1981 do not require power plants. CT 1st ed is NOT on the CD-Rom.

CT LBBs printed post 1981 have the 2nd edition of the rules; there are subtle changes to damage and healing wording, unsubtle changes to personal combat damages, the Jump Drive change to ship design, and no route generation table.

The Traveller Book likewise has further wording changes to healing, combat, and some differences in the rules for space combat.

Starter Traveller makes changes to ship combat, using range bands instead of a miniatures approach. There are a couple of very minor wording tweaks elsewhere in the book.

Book 5 has two significant versions: 1979 and 1981. the 1979 HG 1E has a very similar design system to 2E, but substantially different combat rules, and different rules for generating the USP. HG 1E is not on the CDRom

The updated CDROM now has the 1977 LBB and the 1979 HG. It also has "The Lost Rules" which seems to lay out all the differences between the various editions (plus calls out a few rules from supplements).

Frank

 

[ShapeShifter]

The reprints of the LBBs (post-81, I suppose they are). I like the 'openness' and flexibility of the 3 core booklets, and cherrypick ideas from the other literature (including JTAS) with extreme discretion.

 

[Vargas]

I guess my pick would be the '81 rules because they're the ones I learned on.

 

[Dragoner]

I learned on the '81 LBB's as well, the boxed set, still have it all.

 

[snapshotbygdw]

Started with 77 first editions, fell in love with them, been married 34 years never strayed.......(though recently got caught eyeing up a mongoose bimbo, boy did I get it!)

 

[Icosahedron]

LOL. I admire your tenacity. I shacked up with the first one I met, but I've been flirting with every passing hopeful since - looking for The One. Still shacked up with my first, though, probably more from habit than anything. At least she's more adaptable than these sophisticated younger types...

 

[saundby]

The updated CDROM now has the 1977 LBB and the 1979 HG. It also has "The Lost Rules" which seems to lay out all the differences between the various editions (plus calls out a few rules from supplements).

Frank

That's great! I'm looking forward to being able to retire my old '77 books from active play before they fall apart at the crease. I ordered the updated CD last week, checking my mailbox daily now.

 

[AlegisDownport]

I started with Starter Traveller back in 86-87-'ish, simply because that was the only version that was on sale in my local Games Workshop at the time. I always wanted Deluxe Traveller and the LBB's from '83 onwards, but couldn't afford them.

Now, nearly 30 years later I'm rediscovering the LBB's and have been shopping...

So, in answer to your question - the 1981 version with supplements (which is what I've been buying) but with references to ST as it has some clearer rules (Starship rules for example) on my CT CDROM.

 

[Rawlins]

I bought the Traveller Book in 1985 and then books 4-8 plus the various Alien Modules. That is the only edition of Classic Traveller that I owned until I picked up the FFE hardcopy reprints.