Setting
Revision as of 15:40, 9 February 2017 by Maksim-Smelchak (talk | contribs) (→Description (Specifications))
Each of the versions of Traveller had one official setting, and others which were developed (usually by different publishers) to a lesser degree.
- The designers set aside one sector (Foreven Sector) for no official development, so that referees could do what they wanted knowing that no future Official published product would later contradict what they had developed.
Description (Specifications)
Traveller began its 1977 existence as a universal game system with high ambitions to recreate any classic science fiction setting or theme. It was intended to empower referee-gamemasters to create what are now called ATU's or IMTU's. Traveller's first official setting, what is now called the OTU, started very modestly and grew gradually into the rich, highly detailed background that it is today.
Traveller Game Eras & Editions (1977-2017)
Traveller Game Settings (1977-2017)
Traveller Game Settings (1977-2017) Game Version Game Edition Pub. Date Primary Setting/s Remarks Traveller 01st Edition 1977 Primary Setting/s: Background (Campaign) Books: - The Spinward Marches Sector is a frontier region bordering the Zhodani Consulate, and site of the Frontier Wars. It also borders the Vargr Extents as well as some independent factions such as Darrian Confederation, Sword Worlds and unexplored space. This setting allowed for many different types of adventures.
- The Solomani Rim Sector was a more developed region of space where the world of Terra is placed.
MegaTraveller 02nd Edition 1986 Primary Setting/s: Late in its existence MT introduced the Diaspora Sector, a part of Imperial Space that lies between all of the major combatants of the MT civil war. Diaspora was introduced in the Hard Times sourcebook that described the general state of the Empire and gave rules to simulate the 11 years of war between 1117 and the then current setting of 1128. It also described Promise and the surrounding worlds in detail. Traveller: The New Era 03rd Edition 1992 Primary Setting/s: TNE starts in 1200 with an Empire in ruins. Set close to the Hard Time setting (Promise actually features heavily in the Storyline) the region was a badly damaged war-zone even before the Final War. The space close to the basic setting (Reformation Coalition) is well detailed and good maps exist. T4: Marc Miller's Traveller 04th Edition 1996 Primary Setting/s: Traveller 4th edition (also refered to as T4) establishes Milieu 0 where the Core Sector is used as its setting. Set around the time of the founding of the Third Imperium (0 to 200), the setting focused on the Sylean Federation and its attempts to conquer or absorb the worlds around it. Given the depths of the Long Night, the setting included the classic 4X (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) gaming style in an RPG. GURPS Traveller 05th edition 1998 Primary Setting/s: Set in an "alternate" Traveller Universe in which Emperor Strephon was not assassinated, thus the Rebellion and subsequent Final War never happened, G:T added a lot of material to the classic sectors of the Traveller Universe while advancing the timeline about 15-20 years from the Classic Traveller set. Three of the most relevant GURPS Traveller books are:
- Spinward Marches where the {Imperium}, Zhodani, Vargr and more alien races interact.
- Solomani Rim and its war-torn past.
- Sword Worlds Confederation and its history.
GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars 06th Edition 2002 Primary Setting/s: GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars covers the 200 years of war, peace, and overwhelming change as the ancient Vilani Imperium falls to the upstart Terrans. In this time of conflict, the opportunities for adventure are more exciting than ever before! Forge new trade routes within the {Imperium} itself. Defend the homeworld from invaders during the Siege of Terra. Make first contact with alien races. Help guide the Terran Confederation in its expansion from a single planet to a sector-spanning empire. Traveller D20 07th Edition 2006 Primary Setting/s: T20 introduced the Gateway Domain, one of the backyards of the Empire. A mix between {Imperial} worlds and various client states this is closer in basic feeling to the Spinward Marches while lacking the "big guys and old grudges" that are a common theme there. Set in the 900s (about 150 years before Classic Traveller) it has a lower technology level. Add in that the Solomani Rim War is close enough by to draw away troops and attract Raiders and the result is a rather gritty and dirty universe along the lines of Babylon 5 rather than the relatively clean Spinward Marches.
Traveller Hero 09th Edition 2006 n/a Traveller Hero does not have a milieu of its own but instead covers several previous milieus including Milieu 0, milieu 1000, milieu 1116, the Rebellion and The New Era. Mongoose Traveller 10th Edition 2008 Primary Setting/s: Mongoose Traveller returns to the "Classic" era and location, i.e., 1105 and the Spinward Marches. Although the Basic Rule Book has little setting background, the first supplement released was The Spinward Marches by Martin Dougherty. Mongoose has also announced that the Foreven Sector will be the third party development area. Because of the Traveller license, third party publishers who wish to write Traveller materials will need to either publish through the Mongoose imprints or write their material to fit in the Foreven Sector.
Traveller5 11th edition 2013 Primary Setting/s: The Galaxiad, set in 1900 in Charted Space and beyond.
History & Background (Dossier)
Traveller Version Terminology: Over the years, GDW employees as well as the associated Traveller community developed a number of terms and codes to signify what sort of Traveller universe they preferred.
These terms and codes include:
- OTU: "Official Traveller Universe." Traveller as published. due to the number of alternate timelines now available, this term now tends to refer to the original Third Imperium setting from the years (1100 to 1117).
- IMTU: "In My Traveller Universe". A reference to the particular customized game setting/rule mechanics used by any particular Traveller fan/player.
- ATU: Alternate Traveller Universe.
- IYTU: In Your Traveller Universe.
- Please see the pages for Traveller Mailing List, and Traveller Mailing List/FAQ for more information.
- Traveller Geek Code: There is a special code for a player's IMTU (In My Traveller Universe) called the "Traveller Geek Code". It's a way of describing how your own Traveller universe is constructed (...and how it might vary from the 'official' OTU universe).
- Please see External Link Traveller IMTU Geek Code for more information.
Major Traveller Publishers & Versions
Major Traveller Game Publishers & Versions (Editions) Pub. Date Edition Alt-Hrchy Game Primary Publisher 1977 01st Edition T1 Traveller or T1 Game Designers Workshop 1986 02nd Edition T2 MegaTraveller or T2 Game Designers Workshop 1992 03rd Edition T3 Traveller: The New Era or T3 Game Designers Workshop 1996 04th Edition T4a T4: Marc Miller's Traveller or T4 Imperium Games 1998 05th edition T4b GURPS Traveller or GT Steve Jackson Games 2002 06th Edition T4c GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars or GT:IT Steve Jackson Games 2006 07th Edition T4d Traveller D20 or T7 QuikLink Interactive 2006 08th Edition T4e Traveller: The New Era: 1248 or T8 Avenger Enterprises 2006 09th Edition T4f Traveller Hero or T9 ComStar Games 2008 10th Edition T4g Mongoose Traveller or T10 Mongoose Publishing 2013 11th edition T5 Traveller5 or T11 Far Future Enterprises
References & Contributors (Sources)
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 Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
- Author & Contributor: Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science