Difference between revisions of "Traveller:Ethos"

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{{Policies}}
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The [[Traveller Ethos]] is the idea that ''almost anything goes.''
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The [[Traveller:Ethos]] is the idea that ''almost anything goes.'' This ethos was perhaps best stated concisely back in 1980 by Loren Wiseman in JTAS No. 6:
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* When trying to understand a Traveller idea or concept, [[MWM]] will invariably pick the least rulebound, least restraining option available, under most conditions.
 
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* The [[Emperor]] will not be fenced in unless absolutely forced to do so.
 
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* Some things may only be found as [[Niikiik Luur]] at the [[Galidumlar Dadaga]].
 
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* Please also see [[Traveller RPG Wiki]].
 
  
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== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
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<blockquote>
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Traveller is a generic, universal [[RPG]] system. It can be used to simulate almost anything.
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I would like to take some space here to deal with a question we are often asked… How much can I, as a referee, modify the rules, and how closely must I stick to the published Traveller Imperium?
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* 1. It's loose and free because too much codification leads to simulationist gatekeeping.
 
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* 2. Traveller has a near fanatically nonconformist group of very passionate and all-too-often cranky [[grognard]] fans. The first generation of Traveller fans is aging and probably averages somewhere near or over 50yo in age.
 
  
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----
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First of all… [the OTU] is to help the referee… Referees who do not wish to use our materials or who wish to use only parts of it are free to do so, adapting anything to fit as is necessary…. Referees are free to make any changes to the rules they may with, but with a few caveats:
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At the same time, it is:
 
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* 3. Traveller is a specific [[setting]], the [[OTU]], with a very generalized yet firm set of [[canon]], with definite boundaries and conventions including specific [[game mechanic]]s and formulas for determining specific game results although many of the mechanics conflict and contradict each other. The story supersedes the [[game mechanic]]s. 
 
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* 4. It's ok to try and make sense of the generalities of the [[OTU]]. Just be aware that some other fans will almost invariably and very passionately disagree with you. And the [[publication]]s are chocked full of conflicts and contradictions. Fans tend to be even more conflicted.
 
  
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----
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* First: Bear in mind that the rules are interlinked to a great degree….
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But that setting is Swiss cheese, it has more holes than cheese:  
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* Second: Be careful not to destroy the balance of play….
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* 5. Ask a question and in most cases, there is no definitive answer, not even a subjective one. And it's near impossible to find an answer because there are nearly 40 years and 2,000 [[publication]]s to consult, more than any fan can reasonably research with only a dozen or so books to reference. Thus, the [[setting]] is constantly being re-invented and reinterpreted.
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* Third: Do not modify the basic tenet of Traveller—that the speed of communication is limited to the speed of travel….
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* 6. A large part of the fun is in actually playing the game and searching out the mysteries and inconsistencies! It makes for great adventure!
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</blockquote>
  
 +
== Description ==
 
=== Wiki Mission Statement ===
 
=== Wiki Mission Statement ===
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The [[Traveller]] [[setting]] is Swiss cheese, it has more holes than cheese. Please also see: [[Setting]] and [[Theme]]
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Part of the mission of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is:
 +
# To navigate Traveller's definitions.
 +
# To document alternate, even non-canonical, interpretations.
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# To build out [[Library Data]] articles, and aggregate over 40 years and nearly 2,000 [[publication]]s worth of materials with the highest level of quality possible.
  
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However, part of the mission of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is to explore and fill in as many of the holes in the swiss cheese as possible, trying to navigate the impossible line in-between under-definition and over-definition, acknowledging that:
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=== Wiki Copyright Policy Goals ===
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# The level of detail or lack of detail in any specific interpretation of the [[OTU]], in an [[ATU]] or [[IMTU]], is entirely subjective and highly open to interpretation. A fan can choose at anytime what to use in his or her own games. It's simply impossible to please all of the people even some of the time. And yet part of the mission of the wiki is to please as many fans as possible.
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'''GET PERMISSION:''' The goal of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is to never outright or wholesale copy from any published Traveller materials but to use illustrative and clever images, excerpts, and quotes from published Traveller [[canon]], with permission, to build a system reference here at the wiki as well as a [[setting]] reference for the [[Official Traveller Universe]]. So, go out and buy the original publications from [[Far Future Enterprises]], [[Mongoose Publishing]], or an officially licensed Traveller [[publisher]].  
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# Another part of the mission is to build out the [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] articles here at the wiki and aggregate over 40 years and nearly 2,000 [[publication]]s worth of materials with the highest level of quality possible meeting the vaunted goal of [[Classic Traveller]] to make possible the ''Galactic Encyclopedia,'' which is also known as the [[Imperial Encyclopediopolis]].
 
  
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=== Wiki Copyright Policy Goals ===
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There is no rigid standard for quantity, which might range from a few paragraphs to a few pages. The most crucial factor is to have the permission of the author/publisher/owner and to keep good communication. Do NOT proceed if you do NOT have consent. Ask. Ask again. When in doubt, hold out and do NOT proceed.
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'''GET PERMISSION:''' The goal of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is to never outright or wholesale copy from any published Traveller materials, but to use illustrative and clever images, excerpts, and quotes from published Traveller [[canon]], with permission, to build a system reference here at the wiki as well as a [[setting]] reference for the [[Official Traveller Universe]]. So, go out and buy the original publications from [[Far Future Enterprises]] or an officially licensed Traveller [[publisher]]. There is no hard standard as to quantity, which might range from a few paragraphs to a few pages. The most important factor is to have the permission of the author / publisher / owner and to keep good communication. Do NOT proceed if you do NOT have permission. When in doubt, hold out and do not proceed.
 
  
 
=== Wiki Setting Goals ===
 
=== Wiki Setting Goals ===
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'''STORY OVER GAME MECHANICS:''' Another goal of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is to avoid [[dice modifier]]s, [[flux]], or [[game mechanic]]s specific to any one edition or version of [[Traveller]]. The goal is to tell a story and link together a multidecade tradition of science fiction [[RPG]] gaming, not dictate rules, insist on one interpretation of the [[OTU]] story, or tell any [[referee]] how to play their game. The wiki exists to support game play, be an electronic aide to [[referee]]s, help organize research for [[Marc Miller]] and [[FFE]], make research easier for other future writers & [[publisher]]s, help players to learn the game, and in general to promote the fine art of science fiction roleplaying. It's there to support, assist, and inspire the community, not to dictate the boundaries of the [[OTU]], but to share Marc's [[OTU]] preferences and provide suggestive guidelines to better understand what has come before.
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'''STORY OVER GAME MECHANICS:''' The goals of the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] is:
 +
* promote Traveller and help people learn the game,
 +
* to support gameplay,
 +
* to tell a story,
 +
* link together a multi-decade tradition of science fiction [[RPG]] gaming,
 +
* be an electronic aide to [[referee]]s,  
 +
* organize research for [[Marc Miller]] and [[FFE]],
 +
* organize research for writers & [[publisher]]s,  
 +
* to avoid [[game mechanic]]s specific to any one edition or version of [[Traveller]],
 +
* not dictate rules, insist on one interpretation of the [[OTU]] story, or tell any [[referee]] how to play their game.  
 +
* to promote the fine art of science fiction roleplaying.  
 +
 
 +
It's there to support, assist, and inspire the community, help the publisher understand the boundaries of the [[OTU]], and provide guidelines for what has come before.
  
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== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
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If [[game mechanic]] material is included on an article page, please place it on a '''Metadata subpage.''' There is a subjective line between what is setting game story content and game mechanics. The general principle is to leave game statistics in the sourcebooks.
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As of 2019 [[CE]], Traveller has over forty years of publications including nearly 2,000 published products with more coming out every year. Keeping track of what is and isn't "official" or [[canon]] just about amounts to a fool's errand. Fans have literally been arguing over these matters for DECADES. Groups like [[HIWG]] and the [[TML]] made a fine art of discussing and arguing over [[Traveller]]. In as much as a central source for canon designation exists ...or can exist, the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] serves that function. The bottom line is that [[Traveller]] is a [[Universe|very big universe]] and [[Charted Space]] has almost unimaginably large bounds. There is room for '''''almost anything''''' within the [[OTU]].  
 
  
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[[Don McKinney]], who served as the central lynch pin of the Traveller community for many years volunteering countless hours, wrote it most aptly as thus:
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== History ==
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"So, the moral is, don't throw rocks at other Traveller settings. We're all in the same tent,
+
As of 2019 [[CE]], Traveller has over forty years of publications, including nearly 2,000 published products, with more coming out every year. Keeping track of what is and isn't "official" or [[canon]] just about amounts to a fool's errand. Fans have been arguing over these matters for DECADES. Groups like [[HIWG]] and the [[TML]] made a fine art of discussing and arguing over [[Traveller]]. In as much as a central source for canon designation exists or can exist, the [[Traveller RPG Wiki]] serves that function. The bottom line is that [[Traveller]] is a [[Universe| vast universe]] and [[Charted Space]] has almost unimaginably large bounds. There is room for '''''almost anything''''' in Traveller.
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...even if we imagine we're not."
 
  
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=== Scope of Canon by Publisher ===
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[[Don McKinney]], while developing tools for determining canon entries for the [[OTU]] Traveller Timeline, wrote it most aptly as thus:
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This is a rough graphical overview of Traveller [[canon]] in ASCI chart form:
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<blockquote>
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<pre>                     LITERARY TRAVELLER CANON
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So, the moral is, don't throw rocks at other Traveller settings. We're all in the same tent, even if we imagine we're not.
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| Scopes    |<---- Scope of Classic Traveller ---->|<----  Later Trav  ---->|
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</blockquote>
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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| Canon    |        Primary Canon                |      Not Primary      |
 
−
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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| Timeline  |        -5 bya to 1115 TI            |      1116 to 1902+ TI |
 
−
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
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| 2010's CE |        Traveller 5 (T5)            |      Galaxiad (1900)  | 
 
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| 2010's CE |        New Traveller (MGT-2)        |                        |     
 
−
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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| 2010's CE |        Mongoose Traveller (MGT-2)  |          |    |      |       
 
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|          |            MGT-2 = New Traveller    |          |    |      |       
 
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| 2000's CE |        Mongoose Traveller (MGT-1)  |  GURPS  | TNE | 1248 |                                     
 
−
---------------------------------------------------|          |  T  |  S  |
 
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| 2000's CE |        Traveller D20 (T20)          |          |  N  |  E  |       
 
−
---------------------------------------------------|          |  E  |  C  |         
 
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|          |                                                  |    |  O  |       
 
−
| 2000's CE |        GURPS: Traveller (GT)                    | TNE |  N  |
 
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| 1990's CE |        Lorenverse / Imperium Eternal            |    |  D  |
 
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|          |---------------------------------------          |    |  A  |
 
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| 1990's CE |  Marc Miller's Traveller (T4)      |          | TNE |  R  |
 
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|          |---------------------------------------          |    |  Y  |
 
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| 1990's CE |  Clay Bush Writing Corpus / HIWG    |          | TNE | HIWG |
 
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---------------------------------------------------|          |------------|
 
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| 1990's CE |              |                |    |          |            |
 
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| 1980's CE |  Classic    |  MegaTraveller  |    |  GURPS  |  C    GO  |
 
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| 1970's CE |  Traveller  |      (MT)      |    |          |  T    JG  |
 
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|          |  (CT)        -------------------    |          |        PP  |
 
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------- </pre>
 
  
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That final, open-ended column to the far right, labelled "Later Trav," represents secondary sources, including 1248, [[HIWG]], [[Paranoia Press]], [[Group One]], [[Judges Guild]], et al. Things from which good ideas can come.
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=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
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* [[HIWG]]: [[History of the Imperium Working Group]]
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Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
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* GO: [[Group One]]  
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''[[Wiki Mechanic]]s:''
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* JG: [[Judges Guild]]
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{{:Referral-Tree-Wiki-Mechanics}}
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* PP: [[Paranoia Press]]
 
  
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== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
 
 
{{Metadata}}
 
{{Metadata}}
 
{{Advanced}}
 
{{Advanced}}
 
{{Sources
 
{{Sources
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|S1= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
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|[[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
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|S2= Author & Contributor: [[Robert Eaglestone]]
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|Author & Contributor: [[Robert Eaglestone]]
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|S3= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]  
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|Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]  
 
}}
 
}}
  
  
 
{{MET|Community Resource}}
 
{{MET|Community Resource}}

Latest revision as of 03:34, 16 February 2022

Traveller Wiki Policies
Who we are
About • What is Traveller? • Ethos
How you can help
Article Organization • Manual of Style • Projects
Site Policies
Copyright • Privacy Policy • Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
Traveller Background
Canon • Setting • Versions of Traveller
Guidelines
Colours • Date Organization • Dossier • Images • Referral Tree • Specifications • Sources •
Wiki Technical
Namespaces • Subpages • Template list

The Traveller:Ethos is the idea that almost anything goes. This ethos was perhaps best stated concisely back in 1980 by Loren Wiseman in JTAS No. 6:

I would like to take some space here to deal with a question we are often asked… How much can I, as a referee, modify the rules, and how closely must I stick to the published Traveller Imperium?

First of all… [the OTU] is to help the referee… Referees who do not wish to use our materials or who wish to use only parts of it are free to do so, adapting anything to fit as is necessary…. Referees are free to make any changes to the rules they may with, but with a few caveats:

  • First: Bear in mind that the rules are interlinked to a great degree….
  • Second: Be careful not to destroy the balance of play….
  • Third: Do not modify the basic tenet of Traveller—that the speed of communication is limited to the speed of travel….

Description[edit]

Wiki Mission Statement[edit]

Part of the mission of the Traveller RPG Wiki is:

  1. To navigate Traveller's definitions.
  2. To document alternate, even non-canonical, interpretations.
  3. To build out Library Data articles, and aggregate over 40 years and nearly 2,000 publications worth of materials with the highest level of quality possible.

Wiki Copyright Policy Goals[edit]

GET PERMISSION: The goal of the Traveller RPG Wiki is to never outright or wholesale copy from any published Traveller materials but to use illustrative and clever images, excerpts, and quotes from published Traveller canon, with permission, to build a system reference here at the wiki as well as a setting reference for the Official Traveller Universe. So, go out and buy the original publications from Far Future Enterprises, Mongoose Publishing, or an officially licensed Traveller publisher.

There is no rigid standard for quantity, which might range from a few paragraphs to a few pages. The most crucial factor is to have the permission of the author/publisher/owner and to keep good communication. Do NOT proceed if you do NOT have consent. Ask. Ask again. When in doubt, hold out and do NOT proceed.

Wiki Setting Goals[edit]

STORY OVER GAME MECHANICS: The goals of the Traveller RPG Wiki is:

  • promote Traveller and help people learn the game,
  • to support gameplay,
  • to tell a story,
  • link together a multi-decade tradition of science fiction RPG gaming,
  • be an electronic aide to referees,
  • organize research for Marc Miller and FFE,
  • organize research for writers & publishers,
  • to avoid game mechanics specific to any one edition or version of Traveller,
  • not dictate rules, insist on one interpretation of the OTU story, or tell any referee how to play their game.
  • to promote the fine art of science fiction roleplaying.

It's there to support, assist, and inspire the community, help the publisher understand the boundaries of the OTU, and provide guidelines for what has come before.

If game mechanic material is included on an article page, please place it on a Metadata subpage. There is a subjective line between what is setting game story content and game mechanics. The general principle is to leave game statistics in the sourcebooks.

History[edit]

As of 2019 CE, Traveller has over forty years of publications, including nearly 2,000 published products, with more coming out every year. Keeping track of what is and isn't "official" or canon just about amounts to a fool's errand. Fans have been arguing over these matters for DECADES. Groups like HIWG and the TML made a fine art of discussing and arguing over Traveller. In as much as a central source for canon designation exists or can exist, the Traveller RPG Wiki serves that function. The bottom line is that Traveller is a vast universe and Charted Space has almost unimaginably large bounds. There is room for almost anything in Traveller.

Don McKinney, while developing tools for determining canon entries for the OTU Traveller Timeline, wrote it most aptly as thus:

So, the moral is, don't throw rocks at other Traveller settings. We're all in the same tent, even if we imagine we're not.

Library Data Referral Tree[edit]

Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Wiki Mechanics: Wiki Mechanics:


This article has metadata.
This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
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