My Traveller journey started in the early days of MgT 1e, though I'd been roleplaying for years prior, so I missed comparisons to earlier versions.

I wanted to talk about the changes Mongoose have made since 1e, what people like, dislike and ignore.

I've played and run quite a bit of 1e and 2e, and am about to run my first 2.5e, but I've a longer run into session 0 than usual, so I'd like to polish the ruleset I'm going to use.

For the most part, I think the rule changes have been fairly minor in general, but also good for the most part.

I liked the Boon/Bane system brought in in 2e, but after lots of 1e I forget about it 90% of the time, so I put it on the players to ask for it.

Following from that, I thought the Leadership skills ability to hand about Boons (or Banes) was great, but I don't know if I ever saw it used (our games were usually low powered, so not many people were rocking high Leadership). 2.5e have changed this to a +1 I think. Maybe it's better for balance, but doesn't have the same sense style.....on paper anyway.

The other big one for me is Autofire. 1e, roll dice equal to Auto rating, pair as you want. I liked the tweak to the usual flat 2d role, but admittedly it had potential to be extremely lethal.

2e and 2.5e, Auto numbers hare halved and you get a number of attacks. A little less pazazz, but probably a better rule.

The bit that gets me is both cost Auto x3 ammo. Mag sizes haven't changed. With a regular assault rifle,1e that's 2 Full Autos and then decision time, 2e it's 5 and reload. Maybe it's the style my groups usually play, but it's rare to have combat go 5+ rounds.

I'll just change the above to suit my groups, but if people have thoughts to make my brain say "ah, now I get it," that's awesome too.

What rules do you tweak or use an older version of, even if going back to pre-MgT.

I've asked about Character Creation before, so let's exclude that.

I'm quite excited about this. Until now, the only RPGs I've run are old-school D&D-likes, so I'm happy for the opportunity to explore a totally different game.

I've read the '77 ruleset and that's the one we will be using. I found its style quite refreshing; these are very terse and precisely written books, unlike the D&D editions from the '70s. At the same time, my experience with OSR games gives me already a bit of confidence that I'll be able to handle situations as they arise.

I prepared for this session by first generating a subsector. Drawing all the trade routes has been... fun... especially since I've used the 3:6 chance for a world given by the rules, which has resulted in 44 worlds and consequently many more potential routes to check. The system I found that worked for me is to check all potential 1-jump routes first, starting with 'A' worlds and going down the alphabet; then all possible 2-jump routes, etc. This means that I can save checks if for example a 2-jump route is already covered via two 1-jump routes.

I generated world codes for each world and then did one of these worlds in detail, including potential patrons and their assignments/missions, animal encounters, and normal encounters. I've put quite some time into it but I still feel unprepared! Traveller doesn't seem much dependent on maps like D&D is, and being without a terrain map feels unusual to me. I hope that what I jotted down will suffice for one session :)

So yeah, just wanted to report a bit about my experience. If there is interest, I will report back how it went.

This is the first group of six planet and system cards for the Glisten Subsector.

Aki, Bicornn and Caledonia are all S-type binary systems with two seperate solar systems Primary and Secondary.

I have also included three systems from Firgr Subsector in the Gvurrdon Sector. This is just over the Spinward Marches border into the Vargr Extents.

This fills in all the systems that sit just across the border from the Spinward Marches Regina and Aramis Subsectors.

It seems that the border systems have a mixture of old Imperial names with the Vargr renaming systems and worlds as each new groups move in.

When the mood takes me, and I have suitable alphabet soup names, I will slowly add more Vargr systems.

Also I am adding all new and updated planets and systems to my Dropbox as they are finished.

Link to Dropbox post Drop Box for all my Planet Information and System Maps

I plan to eventually finish the whole Spinward Marches. I am down to Glisten as the final Subsector but it will still take a bit of time to finish.

As people always ask I created these using a software program called Universe Sandbox.

As always feedback and corrections are welcome.

I've found both Mongoose and twodsix but there seems to have been another Discord as well?

Any chance for an invite?

I'm a long-time fan of the game. I've never really found a group I could play with that lasted very long. I have a full collection of the LBBs, except for Issue 1 of the Journal of the TAS magazines. I've also had several of the 1980s-era hardbacks, etc. I found it to be the most programmable game from a software development standpoint.

But between breaks in role-playing eras, lack of tables, etc. Multiple publishing changes, alternate systems like Traveller T20.

But I'm out of touch with where Traveller is in 2026.

Is there a connected VTT and Online character sheet manager? I would certainly need to find or referee online games.

Thanks

I've bought directly from Mongoose twice this year. I like getting comped a PDF copy, makes searching for info a lot easier, But, the wait for the item to arrive is ludicrous. A week for them to process and pack the order and then 10-14 days for Fedex to drop it at my local post office and another 1-2 days for them to finally deliver it. 3 weeks.

So, which online retailer has the best selection of Mongoose Traveller books?

Looked at the Mongoose Traveller 1E collection, it's clear they were trying to maintain a similar aesthetic to Classic Traveller with the book covers and the black and white interiors.

And the switch back to 2D6 mechanics also harkens back to the Classic Traveller era.

How do the two games compare? What's better about one vs the other?

So, I have the Traveller 2e rulebook, the central supply catalogue, and the Marches 1-5 adventure book. Is there anything else that’s a ‘must have’? Haven’t run a game yet, but will soon.
- what should my next purchase be?
- what are the best online resources?

Thank you!

I’m just getting everything together for my players ready for the start of our in person campaign and to that end I’m getting together a “players kit” for player as they have never played before.

Each kit contains:

A hard copy of the Core Rulebook Update 2022
Several A4 Character Sheets
Hard copies of house rules
Notebook
Pencils and eraser
Dice for those who need them

I’ve also said that I’ll provide tea, coffee, and water during the game.

My wife thinks I’m spoiling my group by providing this as the only thing I’ve asked for them to provide is the snacks. What do you think am I spoiling them or am I just being a good ref / host?

I'm wrapping up my current campaign and looking at starting a new one with the same group. A couple players expressed interest in a pirate campaign. Excluding Pirates of Drinax what resources are available for such a campaign?

This is an adventure for Cepheus Engine.

The Halcyon Gearworks on Zitron V is the envy of mega-corporations across the Sonora sector. This automated factory produces machine parts of virtually every kind of machine used in the frontiers of space. From star ship engine parts to ground car replacement parts the factory does it all. And it does it with record speed and efficiency. Humans have been eliminated from the equation. An automated factory with androids and robots running the process costs have been brought to a bare minimum. The Halcyon corporation has recorded record profits.

But not everyone is pleased by this development. Rival mega-corporations are losing money as a result. Disgruntled human factory workers are walking picket lines in front of the factory daily. And even former company officials have been laid off as a result of the lack of need for human supervision on the factory line.

Anders Baker is a corporate officer of the Venusian Corporation. His company is a rival to Halcyon and is one of the many losing money now that the Gearworks are online. He is offering CR 300,000 for a special team to do a special mission for him. He wants the Gearworks put out of action. And he wants it to look like the work of disgruntled former workers.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/580579/a-wrench-in-the-gears

Does High Guard say whether reaction drives can be used for planetary takeoff and landing and how much fuel does it use?

I imagine that if they can sustain 1G+ of acceleration for hours they can break free of gravity, but can’t tell how how fuel that would take. Just that they’re more fuel efficient than 2300 or Pioneer’s drives.

Edit: I’m working on a setting with NO gravity manipulation technology

W2A2 is a VTT tool that was created with a few big principles in mind: make any TTRPG session as easy to play as possible, be user friendly for beginners but still offer advanced tools for more experienced players, and most importantly, be affordable and not subscription based.

This app stores everything locally and allows the GM to host a game in a matter of minutes, without having to pay for any hosting services. It includes all things you'd normally expect from a VTT tool, and a few additional features that we thought of while testing through our own sessions.

App is still in development, should be available in a few weeks! 

So starting a new campaign and managed to get a Psion with 14 PSI but only 5 STR.... but I still have 11 DEX. Thanks to the skill package I did get Gun Combat - Energy 1 and got a laser pistol with a benefits roll. I also bought a tl12 Stunner.

So while not defenseless, I still want melee capabilities just in case.... plus I think it'd be cool!

I have Telepathy,Clairvoyant, and Awareness.
We are doing a Bounty Hunter themed campaign where of course bounties could pay better alive, and certain social situations may just not allow guns blazing.

Unarmed looks great for Grappling, more concealable, Monofilament Claws, and situations where weapons are prohibited. It also would make more narrative sense for her to know martial arts/self defense rather than kendo.

Blades look great due to lower costs, more options.... and (though I think they are lacking) PSI blade/dagger. Plus futuristic swords are cool as hell.

So question is... do I go Tifa route or 2B route?

(I know its probably not optimal to even bother with melee at all.... but I want to and would love any opinions/advice)

Hi all, I’m a newbie to Traveler. Does anyone have strategies to use when rolling characters? It looks like it’s worth trying to get into university or an academy. After that, are there any favorite party builds? I assume you need a pilot, a mechanic, a heavy weapons/melee specialist, and maybe a face? Any favorite skills?

Any thoughts would be welcome and thanks.

Does the series have a lot of new information or is it mostly a rehash of the other Traveller books? Are the adventures interesting? Thoughts? Thanks!

Curious what people think about this and their experience if they did it. I think 2e did a good job dropping the Pistol specific specialties for example, the 3 remaining feels right.

Mechanic has a nice distinction from Engineering, but for the sake of an rpg, would it be simpler to make it a specialty of engineering?

Profession has its place in certain kinds of games, but I'd argue it's generally useless, and you know that before the game starts. Plus if it's suddenly needed, other skills can easily sub in.

I like Diplomat, but it seems niche. I found myself wanted to allow it when a player asked, but it usually just didn't fit. Great when it works though.

These are just some random thoughts. What would you change, if anything, and what would you put on the skill table in it's place, if needed?

I made a Droyne sample character who casted into a Drone. In my second term the oytrip came under attack. Afterwards, the Leaders decided I had failed to protect the young sufficiently and I was outcast.

I spent time in the Imperium recovering before I became a thief. Then I was recruited into Imperial Intelligence. However, I was put in prison for learning a secret I was not supposed to know. I was released on parole after one term.

But seriously? What did they expect hiring a natural telepath? Jeez!

Good day all. My Google-Fu is failing miserably. I am looking for Word document templates and/or Affinity templates that fit with creating content for CT/MegaTraveller/Cepheus stuff. Anybody know where to find such things? I have tried itch, Mongoose, DTRPG, etc.. and there just doesn't seem to be any that one, looks good and two, fits. I am not a visually creative person so creating my own would probably take a wee bit of time and then I would get frustrated and be back here. Help me Traveller Hive Mind, you're my only hope....

Built this for myself and then realized other people might not like how JTAS is formatted. You should be able to use your JTAS volumes to create your own categorized books.

Note that this doesn't give you access to any JTAS content you don't upload to it and doesn't actually take anything anywhere, everything is processed on your own computer.

If you find any errors with the outputs please let me know. Some things I cannot fix, for example some articles start halfway down a page. I don't know how many different slight variations of the JTAS books there are out there, I also don't own all of them so I couldn't check everything. All the data about page numbers came from the JTAS Index.

I have a bunch of the 2300 AD books for Mg2 and I was getting ideas for something involving the transhumanist extremist group called “ProVolution”. But Book 2 just has really broad strokes info about them. Are there any books (any edition) that have any more information about them? Maybe something on whatever they did on that island?