High-technology: Cybernetics and non-sentient robots also show up in equipment lists, as do artifacts from ancient civilizations. Characters often have some sort of blade skill for close combat. Low-technology: Since primitive worlds exist near technological worlds, primitive weapons such as swords, shields, pikes, and bows are included. As a result, equipment lists are heavy on vehicles, sensor equipment, communicators, rations, personal armor, and weapons. Depending on the task (and the edition), a success may require rolling above or below the target number.Įquipment emphasizes wilderness exploration, hazardous environments, and combat. Situation and equipment used can provide a bonus or penalty to a roll. Target numbers are determined by the referee, who takes into account task difficulty, skill level, and a characteristic. Some systems use two or more six-sided dice, while others use a twenty-sided die. Some characters have extra-sensory perception, telekinesis, telepathy, and other psychic abilities, which are organized and standardized into "psionics".Įach edition of Traveller has its own mechanic for resolving character actions. There are also variant characteristics, such as charisma and caste, which replace a primary characteristic, to add nuance to alien characters. Other general characteristics also exist, such as psionics and sanity. These characteristics are generated by a roll of two six-sided dice. Death during character generation is possible in some editions, a mechanic that became infamous.Ĭharacters have six primary characteristics: strength, dexterity, endurance, intelligence, education, and social standing. A character can be civilian, military, or noble, a young cadet, or a tried-and-true veteran, each with strengths and weaknesses. Characters get skills and experience in a mini-game where the player makes career choices determining the character's life up to the point before adventuring begins.Ī character can be human, robot, alien, or of a genetically engineered species. Traveller uses a lifepath-style system for character generation. Normal-space travel is accomplished through relatively efficient and powerful gravitic drives. Space travel: Interstellar travel is through the use of the faster-than-light (FTL) jump drive, which moves a ship through "jump space" a few light-years at a time.Affairs are often managed by independent nobility, who make use of classic titles such as Baron, Duke and Archduke. Sociological: Interstellar society is socially stratified (high, mid, and low passage SOC (Social Status) is a primary character attribute).
Morals and mortality: People remain people and continue to show courage, wisdom, honesty and justice, along with cowardice, deceit, and criminal behavior.Decisions are made on the local level rather than by a remote authority. Communication is limited to the speed of travel. Limited communication: There is no faster-than-light information transfer – meaning no ansible, subspace radio or hyper-wave.Human-centric but cosmopolitan: The core rules focus on human characters, but there is support for using and playing aliens.The definitions create a diverse space (hence library data and anachronistic/ atavistic worlds), within limits. Diversity within Limits: Career options, ship design, subsector design, and decisions made during character generation limit and frame reality.Conflict resolution: Planets fight internal wars, and commerce is a major driving force of civilization.Retief's Peace, Keith Laumer, William H.Envoy to New Worlds, Keith Laumer, 1963.Dumarest of Terra saga, Edwin Charles Tubb, 1967-2008.Marc Miller lists a number of books that influenced Traveller and provided its key features: Characters are defined not by the need to increase native skill and ability but by achievements, discoveries, wealth, titles, and political power. 3.2.7 GURPS Traveller: Interstellar WarsĬharacters journey between star systems, engaging in exploration, ground and space battles, and interstellar trading.
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