The Legacy of Traveller
Think, for a minute, about the legacy of Traveller. Here we have a game that was one of the first few sci-fi/space RPGs released, in 1977, and it is still at the top of its RPG genre. Sure, there have been new editions[...]Read on >>
Browncoats inspiration
I’ve been a long time opponent of the accountant-heavy trader campaigns that present themselves as the default story arc for classic Traveller. It is possible to pull together a game that centers on transporting cargo [...]Read on >>
The many Spinward Marches
I am a fan of Traveller even though I only refereed the game only a handful of times. I bought products across many eras of Traveller. I bought products in just about every edition ever produced. James of Grognardia ha[...]Read on >>
Traveller…the skill based OD&D
James Maliszewski started an interesting conversation on his blog about the literary influences of Traveller. What struck me is how a fair number of people thought that the game’s overall setting has not aged well. To [...]Read on >>
You’re in a bar…
You can find charts in Mongoose’s Traveller for random patrons and allies (pages 75-81 in LBB) but what if you just need a quick idea of who the PCs are chatting up? Random Bar Mate 11 Criminal 12 Bureaucrat 13 [...]Read on >>
Love the game, hate the setting
I’m sure it will come as no surprise to those who read this blog that Traveller is my default Sci Fi game. It would not be a stretch to say that I’ve been playing it longer than any other game … Continue readin[...]Read on >>
Choosing a Sci-Fi RPG
July 31, 2010 from The Kyngdoms
Filed under: Dark Heresy, RPG, RPG Hub, Rogue Trader, Star Wars, Traveller
I’m thinking of picking up a sci-fi rpg. It would be something different from what we normally play and I think fun also. I’m certainly drawn to running something along those lines anyway. The question is, wh[...] Filed under: Dark Heresy, RPG, RPG Hub, Rogue Trader, Star Wars, Traveller
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Our story so far
As of the present, our group of Travellers are in Porozlo, on a desperate mission against the clock on behalf of his Imperial Majesty's secret service. The situation is alarming but not critical (although this is disputa[...]Read on >>
My intro to players for our current adventure
Here's the intro I wrote up for my players for our current Traveller adventure. I'm still trying to get an after-action report of our last session set up, so by way of introduction, let me present this er, intro.Since ev[...]Read on >>
Giving life to characters, places and things
One vital point we Players of the Game should never forget is that our type of RPGs require a healthy dollop of imagination. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that you can never have too much imagination in a role play[...]Read on >>
Combat Drop
I just received a recent request from one of my players for a Combat Drop-themed adventure. When I say this, I mean aerospace orbital insertions in a hot landing zone by power-armored marines. Since we are all in our Tra[...]Read on >>
Back to Gaming
It's been a very long time since I last posted in my blog. Work and real-worldly concerns finally caught up with me and I've had all I could to prevent me from updating my posts here. So far, things have eased up a littl[...]Read on >>
Happy Jacks RPG Podcast Season 03 Episode 07
July 17, 2010 from Happy Jacks RPG Podcast
Filed under: Podcast Episode, Podcasts, RPG Hub, Traveller, podcast
Season 03, Episode 07 Your hosts: Stu, Clockverk, Gammonstark, CA Dave and Hosier Rob. Listener feedback and Mongoose Traveller first impressions.[...] Filed under: Podcast Episode, Podcasts, RPG Hub, Traveller, podcast
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Star Merchant
This post over at Dungeons & Digressions reminded me that I wanted to look into an old text computer game I used to play quite a bit called Star Merchant. The BASIC program was available in a 1981 issue of Creative C[...]Read on >>
Old Charts: Jump Lines
Something it seems most people don't realize about the LBB of Traveller is they were revised at least once. I have both the early and later versions and there are two differences that jump out at you. 1. The layout is [...]Read on >>
From Traveller to Diaspora
Bye bye Traveller category – our gaming group has decided to give Diaspora a try We converted our Traveller characters. It went pretty smoothly. The free form aspects are a real boon.[...]Read on >>
Traveller and other games
I’ve got this sudden desire to run some Traveller. This desire is particularly odd since the last time I played Traveller was back when I was about 13, and that was only for one session in any case. Then I’ve[...]Read on >>
The second 76 Patrons Contest
It is now time for the second Summer Zhodani Base 76 Patrons Writing Contest. For those who thought last years prize was just for collectors, I have something for you that I hope everyone (and your kids) can enjoy. This [...]Read on >>
Give them a ship
Back in the early 80’s, when I first started to run Traveller games with the LBBs, I quickly discovered that I didn’t like the merchant campaign as presented. Not that I didn’t like the tramp freighter idea, I just[...]Read on >>
Traveller Rule 5: Life is Messy
As a GM, I tend to map out my adventures beforehand. I try to steer clear of railroading my players but I definitely prefer having a fleshed out game in hand before I sit down at the gaming table. I … Continue read[...]Read on >>
Updated Traveller Mapping
My SVG Mapper for Traveller got a bit better regarding *communication routes*. It uses a two-step process.[...]Read on >>
Adventure ideas (repost)
Since I think these ideas were quite good, I’ll repost them here. It is probably quite difficult to dig these up from the OTEATP group where I first posted them. These are just some of my thoughts about how to bui[...]Read on >>
Awesome Sci-Fi OD&D Supplement – Terminal Space!
May 18, 2010 from Planet Algol
Filed under: Inspiration, ODANDD, RPG Hub, Swords and Wizardry, Traveller
The Polish gentleman necro_cyber dropped me a line to let me know that his science fiction/science fantasy supplement for OD&D, Terminal Space, was available for download (the sidebar-widget pdf thing on the right-h[...] Filed under: Inspiration, ODANDD, RPG Hub, Swords and Wizardry, Traveller
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Traveller Rule 4: Monstrous Personalities
It’s always nice when someone does your work for you. Even as I was preparing to move back to a regular schedule of posting now that the semester is over, I discovered that Jeff had very nearly taken care of … Co[...]Read on >>
Traveller Bureaucracy
You're not required to do it, but the rules invite you to do it.[...]Read on >>
Traveller’s Other Combat System
James of Grognardia has a series of posts on miniatures and various RPGs. One of which is about Traveller. In it he talks about the personal combat system and the starship combat system. This brought to mine that like or[...]Read on >>
Lifepathing Diaspora: A System hack
A system hack for Diaspora that introduces Traveller-like lifepath character generation.[...]Read on >>
Mongoose Traveller Character Generation
Tomorrow night, we’ll be rolling up characters for Mongoose Traveller (thanks to the good folks in this post for their kind advice). We’re using the Core book and High Guard, as all players are characters on an Imper[...]Read on >>
Randall’s Essential Classic Traveller Supplements
As I said in another post, discovering the Traveller Starter Set is available for free yesterday convinced me to look around and see what other interesting Traveller goodies might be available. GDW is offering almost eve[...]Read on >>
Classic Traveller Paranoia Press PDFs Available
Discovering the Traveller Starter Set is available for free yesterday convinced me to look around and see what other interesting Traveller goodies might be available. I was surprised to see that the old -- and hard to fi[...]Read on >>
Classic Traveller Starter Set Now Free
I forgot to mention (until RetroRoleplaying reminded me) that the Classic Traveller Starter Set is currently available for free at RPGNow. Remember you need to view your order afterwards to get the charts that function[...]Read on >>
Classic Traveller Starter Set Free on RPGNow
The Classic Traveller Starter Set is available for free in PDF form from RPGNow. Go Here. Note that you will need to view the order in "My Account" to download the Charts booklet and Adventure Booklet.[...]Read on >>
Traveller Rule 3: Don’t Build Dungeons
I’ve been swamped with work related nonsense for the better part of a week now but during that time I’ve been thinking of various ways of approaching Rule 3. I realized that it’s one of those things that can best &[...]Read on >>
Science Fiction Sandbox Recipe (Repost)
Originally posted at Bard of Valiant Unless you’re running a Traveller game, a scifi sandbox can be a little difficult to pull off since many of these games end up in very familiar settings. So try this for a diffe[...]Read on >>
Mutant Future goes Travelling
My Mutant Future campaign just took off in a ship out of the Traveller Book, a great score that I picked up at Smith Family Book Store the other day. I already owned reprinted versions of the original LBBs, but the[...]Read on >>
Traveller Rule 2: Story
I spoke before about “story” being the key to an exciting Traveller campaign. In my opinion, if you neglect to provide enough material for heroics and character development your game will quickly spiral into the mund[...]Read on >>
Traveller Product Ideas
The following products are ones I’d love to see for Mongoose Traveller. (Yes, I know my tastes are probably weird and off-base, but I like what I like and want what I want. At least I’m not suggesting any products th[...]Read on >>
Skill Package: Washed Up
One of the interesting new features with Mongoose Traveller is their use of skill packages at the end of character generation (p. 37). By selecting a particular package, the PCs begin to create a basic sense of who they [...]Read on >>
Finding A Starship
I was looking for a ship to pass as the 600 d-ton science vessel I'm creating for our upcoming Mongoose Traveller game, and I was simply not having any luck. Either I didn't like the layout, or it didn't meet the requir[...]Read on >>
Traveller Communication Lines
I'm now looking at some sort of algorithm that will "simplify" the network. Take a look at the sample subsector. I'd like this algorithm to delete the connection between Bemaat and Atcevein and the connection between Esg[...]Read on >>
Traveller Rule 1: Adventure
Show of hands – how many of you have seen a documentary featuring the life of an average truck driver that you would consider “epic?” As a young GM, I found myself running up against this very problem. Not [...]Read on >>
For Those Of You Playing Along At Home
The question’s been raised as to precisely which books I’ll be using for our upcoming Traveller campaign. The following are what’s being counted on as of now.Traveller Core Rulebook OR Pocket Rulebook (Mongoose Pub[...]Read on >>
My Traveller Character Generation Rules
To my mind, there are few purer joys in gaming than creating Traveller characters.Below is my draft for my Traveller character generation rules for our upcoming Imperial Navy campaign. I think doing it this way should cr[...]Read on >>
5 Traveller Rules
The first rule is: design games like adventures. It might sound simplistic but novice and long-time Game Masters alike have stared across the table wondering why their players seem bored. This is actually quite common as[...]Read on >>
Enter Traveller
I can count on one hand the number of Total Party Kills I've had as a Game Master over the years. Friday night, I almost added one to that number.I won't go into all the gory details, save it to say the group rolled two[...]Read on >>
VasaLoppet – The Space Race
The big long-distance ski-race Vasaloppet is on today. It is run from Sälen to Mora (9o km). This has inspired me to think about a long distance space race. We are all familiar with the planet Mora in the Spinward March[...]Read on >>
Traveller Subsector Coding Hell
I started thinking that maybe I should start looking at automatically drawing communications and trade routes. I started writing some code that calculates the distance between two hexes. And I started wasting hours.[...]Read on >>
Structure is Essential to Design
Since beginning Free Spacer, I have found one process more useful than any other; Organisation or Structure. The structure of the work has a much greater effect on my ability to write or design it then I would have ever [...]Read on >>
My Life And Roleplaying: Changing The Rules…
When Rachel and I were packing up a year or so ago, ahead of our big move, we came across some of my old family board games.Inside one of the boxes was a hand-written sheet of 'house rules' for the game that Gublin and I[...]Read on >>
Traveller and games Before the Long Night
Traveller was one of the first role playing games I ever learned. For the longest time, science fiction role playing to me was synonymous to Traveller. Due to the unavailability of published game material where we lived,[...]Read on >>
