The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
- MongooseMatt
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The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Well, we have been talking about the Traveller Companion for quite some time now - it was first mentioned in the Core Rulebook.
I can now safely (and proudly) say... the manuscript is with us, fresh from the fertile mind of Martin Dougherty!
I have already gone through a draft of this book, but now starts the 'real' work of harnessing (wrangling?) Martin's Traveller genius and beating it into shape (like a fine sword...). We are aiming to release this book in the first part of next year, and still very much in the 'I have had a great idea' phase of things, so there are likely to be all sorts of tweaks and additions. However, as things stand right now, this is how the Contents page is looking:
Characteristics
Alternate Traveller Creation
Allies, Contacts, Rivals and Enemies
Pre-Career Options
Additional Careers
Training and Experience
Broad Skills and Specialities
Alternate Play Styles
Combat
Gravity and Related Effects
Atmosphere and Vacuum
Diseases, Toxins and Chemicals
Starvation and Thirst
Effects of Temperature
Terrain, Conditions and Movement
Slower Than Light
The Jump Drive
Travelling in Normal Space
Starports and Spaceports
Mine Warfare
Gas Giant Operations
Missiles and Torpedoes
Starship Automation
Starship Weaponry
I should point out that Martin has already said 'I have too many ideas for this - I think we ought to do Traveller Companion II...'
I can now safely (and proudly) say... the manuscript is with us, fresh from the fertile mind of Martin Dougherty!
I have already gone through a draft of this book, but now starts the 'real' work of harnessing (wrangling?) Martin's Traveller genius and beating it into shape (like a fine sword...). We are aiming to release this book in the first part of next year, and still very much in the 'I have had a great idea' phase of things, so there are likely to be all sorts of tweaks and additions. However, as things stand right now, this is how the Contents page is looking:
Characteristics
Alternate Traveller Creation
Allies, Contacts, Rivals and Enemies
Pre-Career Options
Additional Careers
Training and Experience
Broad Skills and Specialities
Alternate Play Styles
Combat
Gravity and Related Effects
Atmosphere and Vacuum
Diseases, Toxins and Chemicals
Starvation and Thirst
Effects of Temperature
Terrain, Conditions and Movement
Slower Than Light
The Jump Drive
Travelling in Normal Space
Starports and Spaceports
Mine Warfare
Gas Giant Operations
Missiles and Torpedoes
Starship Automation
Starship Weaponry
I should point out that Martin has already said 'I have too many ideas for this - I think we ought to do Traveller Companion II...'
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
"I hunker in the corner facing the door. Anyone that opens the door gets a full clip."
- MongooseMatt
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Woot! \o/
"I hunker in the corner facing the door. Anyone that opens the door gets a full clip."
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
This looks completely awesome, but I also thought that rules for more aliens, or at least for the other major races, would show up in this book. Is there going to be a specific aliens book instead?
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- Banded Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
I have SO MANY IDEAS about aliens and creatures that they will require a complete book all of their own.
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- Greater Spotted Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Another point about sophont books is that earlier editions have covered the topic pretty well, so that there's less urgency to do a Mongoose edition than there would be for something new.
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Sure, for Vargr & Aslan and a few minor races, but I eagerly await MongTrav info on Hivers and Droyne.steve98052 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 11:45 pmAnother point about sophont books is that earlier editions have covered the topic pretty well, so that there's less urgency to do a Mongoose edition than there would be for something new.
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
WOOHOO!!!!!
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
I'd love to see a book with systems for creating sentient aliens and their cultures; for building non-sentient aliens and their ecosystems, covering animals, plants and things in between.M J Dougherty wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:43 pmI have SO MANY IDEAS about aliens and creatures that they will require a complete book all of their own.
Fire, Fusion and Steel for biology, basically.
J
"I hunker in the corner facing the door. Anyone that opens the door gets a full clip."
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- Greater Spotted Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
That's the point isn't it? The sophont series was never fully completed in the previous Mongoose edition. This means there is plenty of urgency for fans of Hivers, Drones, K'ree, etc.heron61 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 11:47 pmSure, for Vargr & Aslan and a few minor races, but I eagerly await MongTrav info on Hivers and Droyne.steve98052 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 11:45 pmAnother point about sophont books is that earlier editions have covered the topic pretty well, so that there's less urgency to do a Mongoose edition than there would be for something new.
Oh, and robots.
Outtasight!
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Well, there is a Mongoose robots book for the earlier edition, along with a third party one.
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Check out Flynn’s Guide to Alien Creation for 1e. Geared to sentient species but with minor mods and skipping a step or two here and there can be used to create entire alien food chains and ecosystems. Awesome.
Hopefully that could tide you over until Martin does his own awesomeness on this front

- Lord High Munchkin
- Greater Spotted Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Flynn’s Guide to Alien Creation is very good.
The desire for a "definitive, ultimate answer" is, in fact, classified by modern psychiatric medicine as a mental illness.
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- Greater Spotted Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Just because there are third party and old edition supplements available, doesn't mean this edition doesn't need them!
Outtasight!
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Agreed, but in the mean time...
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
And of course there's nothing on K'Kree and Hivers.heron61 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 11:47 pmSure, for Vargr & Aslan and a few minor races, but I eagerly await MongTrav info on Hivers and Droyne.steve98052 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 11:45 pmAnother point about sophont books is that earlier editions have covered the topic pretty well, so that there's less urgency to do a Mongoose edition than there would be for something new.
"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to go around pissed off all the time" Edward Furlong - American History X
Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
Did the Traveller Companion get bumped from the release schedule again? Didn’t see it when I checked just now.
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- Greater Spotted Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
It's not been listed for a while. Probably because the writers don't want to commit to a release timeline, and therefore rush it, rather than anything else. It'll come out in due course.
Outtasight!
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- Banded Mongoose
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Re: The Traveller Companion - It Exists!
At last! Been waiting for this since the core rulebook arrived.
Not bothered on the points based system for characters, as most groups are small I see no need for this myself, just speak to the GM and most players can sort something out. Plus I'm sure most groups have house rules for generating pcs when needed.
Once a rule book gets beyond a certain size it stops being a fun RPG and becomes a maths headache and goes back on the shelf. YTMV.
Either way the list looks good, very good and I will snap it up as I have every thing else. Aliens as a seperate book would be handy. And like others it's Hivers that I'm keen to see. Not sure if we need too many 'man in rubber suit' types like we have. Even if I have got the 'Prawns' from district 9 in our games, long lost cousins from the Reft sector?
Not bothered on the points based system for characters, as most groups are small I see no need for this myself, just speak to the GM and most players can sort something out. Plus I'm sure most groups have house rules for generating pcs when needed.
Once a rule book gets beyond a certain size it stops being a fun RPG and becomes a maths headache and goes back on the shelf. YTMV.
Either way the list looks good, very good and I will snap it up as I have every thing else. Aliens as a seperate book would be handy. And like others it's Hivers that I'm keen to see. Not sure if we need too many 'man in rubber suit' types like we have. Even if I have got the 'Prawns' from district 9 in our games, long lost cousins from the Reft sector?
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