Starting Traveller from scratch

S

sixbyseven

Mongoose
I'm a long-time roleplayer but completely new to Traveller (in fact almost new to SF roleplaying!) so I'm looking for a few suggestions.

Our RP group thought we'd like to try something new, so I bought the Mongoose core Traveller guide. So far so good, but all it contains is the rule set, player guide etc, and no universe (OTU?) info.

So not knowing much about the history of Traveller (but well aware that there is one) I was wondering what regular players would recommend as source material. I'm prepared to write my own campaigns - in fact prefer to - but some good intro material and background info about the universe would be pretty handy. I see that Mongoose have released a supplemental source book - The Spinward Marches, but no core sourcebook. I guess there is probably a good reason for this but where can I fill the void?

Thanks,

Sixbyseven
 
There isn't another core sourcebook - the Spinward Marches book is what you need to play in the default 3I setting and has all the info you need for it.

Either that, or you can use the rulebook to create your own SF setting.
 
Mongoose intentionally split the system from the setting so that way the system can be used for games like Babylon 5, Judge Dredd, Starship Troopers, and so on. And yes, they are all planned settings for the Traveller rules set. Plus they released the rules OGL so another company may come along and make their own setting for the rules.
 
Ok, I guess that makes sense. The thing I wanted, essentially, was the basis of a complete pre-made universe with all the hard stuff worked out, so that I could focus on campaign material myself.

I've ordered the 'Spinward' sourcebook, hopefully that should be enough. If it's not, how compatible is the Mongoose system with other Traveller editions? Is that going to be more trouble than it's worth, or just not satisfying? I don't have any pre-conceptions of how Traveller should run but I am hoping for a consistent, hard(ish) sci-fi setting...

Not that I have anything against the B5/Dredd/Trooper settings :)

Sixbyseven
 
Most of the Classic line adventure and background material adapts seamlessly with the Mongoose stuff. Some game mechanics and skill levels are a tad different (Mongoose tends to give slightly more skills IMO). Also CT animals and ships may need to be converted to the new system.

But Spinward Marches and the core book are all you need to begin. Type S (the first Mongoose adventure from Comstar) is not a bad launching point for a campaign and Signs and Portents has several free OTU adventures to get you going as well.
 
The Mongoose Spinward Marches book is systemless (except for the planet UWP codes). It has maps and details of some of the planets themselves and plot hooks. Its a pure fluff book. It does not contain stated out signature characters, new ships, and the like.
 
sixbyseven said:
I've ordered the 'Spinward' sourcebook, hopefully that should be enough. If it's not, how compatible is the Mongoose system with other Traveller editions? Is that going to be more trouble than it's worth, or just not satisfying? I don't have any pre-conceptions of how Traveller should run but I am hoping for a consistent, hard(ish) sci-fi setting...
Click to expand...

If that's what you want, then just stick to the Mongoose Spinward Marches book and do *not* get any other versions of Traveller - if you do, you'll end up with a lot of contradictory, inconsistent information about the setting. If you just stick to the Mongoose stuff then at least you'll have some degree of internal consistency (and SF hardness too - the worldgen is a LOT more realistic than most of the older versions).
 
I'm totally new to TRAVELLER too.
If you're interested you can get the CD-ROM of all Classic Traveller books for 35 USD from farfuture, which is a steal for what you're getting on the disk! This way I can use whatever setting books or modules I like, and it shouldn't be too hard to adapt to other versions, IMHO.
 
FailedSpotCheck said:
I'm totally new to TRAVELLER too.
If you're interested you can get the CD-ROM of all Classic Traveller books for 35 USD from farfuture, which is a steal for what you're getting on the disk! This way I can use whatever setting books or modules I like, and it shouldn't be too hard to adapt to other versions, IMHO.
Click to expand...

That's exactly the problem I was talking about though. While you do get a lot of stuff on the CDROM, it's not very well organised (it's most of the LBBs scanned and put on a CD, though it is text-searchable), and it's also a 30+ year old RPG.

The whole point of the MGT version was to update Traveller and make it appeal to the more modern gamer. As such IMO it's a lot better to get the MGT corebook and the Spinward Marches book - at least at first - and once you're more familiar with the setting as presented there then it may be worth looking at older versions of the game. But if you try and get into both at the same time then you're just going to end up having problems (and drowning in a lot of info from the CDROM that you don't need too).

So I'd say spare yourself the confusion of converting systems and so on and just stick with MGT for now. I don't really think there's much that's initially useful in the CT books that isn't out already for MGT or isn't on its way for it.
 
sixbyseven said:
I've ordered the 'Spinward' sourcebook, hopefully that should be enough. If it's not, how compatible is the Mongoose system with other Traveller editions? Is that going to be more trouble than it's worth, or just not satisfying?
Click to expand...

I'm a fan of the GURPS rules but most of the material in the GURPS books can be used in MGT games too. I've got the MGT books too. :)

The GURPS Traveller alien books are pretty handy and contain lots of information and not a lot of pages on the rules. One of the downsides is that they're out of print.

As the other posters have mentioned there's lots of information on the Third Imperium in the Spinward Marches book. That's a good starting point. There's lots of information on the Internet too. Like the Traveller Wiki http://traveller.wikia.com/ The Traveller Map site great too for data on sectors in the Third Imperium

I would pick up the Traders and Gunboats book too when it comes out next month. That might be handy to have some more ship stats.

Mike
 
I'm in the same boat. I sort of heard about Traveller on and off over the past couple years since I started real table top gaming but just picked up the latest Mongoose version (and fell in love with it immediately) but have no interest at all in any of this Imperium or March baggage :shock:

So basically, I haven't done this in years but I just decided to make my own universe 'top down' and work on it in manageable chunks while I GM a D&D game over the next half dozen months... generate a Sub Sector and planets... my own names for various things... my own 'standard' ship designs...
 
Woas said:
So basically, I haven't done this in years but I just decided to make my own universe 'top down' and work on it in manageable chunks while I GM a D&D game over the next half dozen months... generate a Sub Sector and planets... my own names for various things... my own 'standard' ship designs...
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what Traveller's for (especially the Mongoose edition) :)
 
Woas said:
So basically, I haven't done this in years but I just decided to make my own universe 'top down' and work on it in manageable chunks while I GM a D&D game over the next half dozen months... generate a Sub Sector and planets... my own names for various things... my own 'standard' ship designs...
Click to expand...

Awesome!

You know, that sort of material could make a good article in S&P. Or, if you're ambitious, even a separate publication.
 
pasuuli said:
Awesome!

You know, that sort of material could make a good article in S&P. Or, if you're ambitious, even a separate publication.
Click to expand...

I'm making a wiki! I'm excited! :p When its more than just mostly blank pages (a lot of my stuff is on memo pads and needs to be transcripted to the web) I will make sure to link it.
 
Wikis rock; I will certainly set one up for myself to use as my Traveller GM bible.

Heh heh - last time I did any real GM-ing, wiki's and indeed the web were unheard of, and the internet itself was barely a gleam in Al Gore's eye...

I definitely appreciate the feedback on this thread though, it's been very helpful. Now, if only my books would arrive...

Sixbyseven
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Sigtrygg
What's up with Traveller IP
2 3
Replies
52
Views
3K
MongooseMatt
MongooseMatt
S
Is Cepheus Universal where we are heading?
Replies
13
Views
2K
Prime_Evil
P
MongooseKain
RIFTBREAKER #1: the new Traveller comic book is available now!
Replies
12
Views
1K
Micky
Micky
E
Questioning common wisdom: Traveller isn't about combat.
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
Anstett
Anstett
MadBeardMan
Traveller on Roll20 - Looking for beta testers
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Jongar
Jongar
Back
Top