|
Classic Traveller was published by Game Designers' Workshop in 1977, and existed
as the only verison of Traveller until 1986's MegaTraveller. The original game system was generic in setting, requiring
you to create your whole universe (or copy someone else's), but later supplements described the Third Imperium
at its height. This system and its associated supplements are often referred to as Classic Traveller, because they
were the first...and actually remain the most popular after all these years.
Most of the game's rulebooks
and supplements were printed in the distinctive "Little Black Book" format of 8 1/2" by 5 1/2"
booklets. Rather than cover art each rule book, supplement, and adventure had a black cover with the title "Book
x", "Supplement y" or "Adventure z" each in a distinct color, numbered in the order in
which they were produced. Many of the original books contained no illustrations at all. The Traveller game system
was used as the basis for the Apple videogame, Space (by Edu-Games), resulting in a successful lawsuit.
The game system introduced a unique character generation system which helped it to stand out from other Roleplaying
games of the time. Players took their characters through a career development path (usually in the military) where
the character rolled for different assignments and gained extra skills, rank and retirement benefits, but suffered
the risk of possible injury and death. Leaving a character in service for longer before the game would lead to
more skills and beginning cash but could also mean that basic attributes (such as strength) would begin to degrade
with old age. Merchants and Scouts were popular character classes because of the possibility of getting a starship
upon retirement...during the character creation process!
When we played Traveller as kids, we only used Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3 of the
original boxed set. The additional books and supplements fleshed out the game mechanics and the Traveller universe,
but I'm still partial to those first three books and the universe and worlds we created on our own. My goal is
to begin and sporadically continue a Traveller Campaign...with the tone, the excitement, and all the fun we had when we originally played...
Questions, Comments? E-Mail Me.
|
