c/Traveller · by rosswinn@ttrpg.network · 132d

Why Traveller Can't Be A Modern RPG

https://inmytravelleruniverse.blogspot.com/2026/03/why-traveller-cant-be-modern-rpg.html

A topic for discussion.

3 points · 9 comments · view on lemmy.world

9 Comments

bignose@ttrpg.network · 3 pts · 127d (7 replies)

The development of the Third Imperium, or more recently Charted Space, literally began the concept of a setting arc in RPGs. When Traveller was first written in the 70s, the idea of a cohesive setting for an RPG hadn't been invented. The Third Imperium Was cobbled together after the release of Star Wars because everyone thought there should be a big "capital E" empire. Even the idea of different alien species was something that came up later on in the setting as it developed.

The article there does not go much into this, but I'm reminded that many people really disliked the later timeline development of the Traveller setting; and the Interstellar Wars timeline was welcome because it was set earlier, and the Mongoose reboot takes the timeline in a different direction. So I've gathered, anyway.

Can anyone point me to contemporary discussions of why the Traveller canonical timeline was so unpopular?

rosswinn@ttrpg.network · 2 pts · 126d (6 replies)

There are three major dislikes, and all of them came from MegaTraveller and The New Era. The Empress Wave, the Assassination of Strephon, and the Virus. All of these are catastrophic changes in the setting, they rob the players of agency, and remove huge chunks of continuity.

BryanRombough@dice.camp · 2 pts · 126d (3 replies)

@rosswinn @bignose I remember some Traveller grognards being exited for GURPS Traveller because: "No Rebellion!".

The rebellion and all subsequent events were universally hated by Traveller fans I met in the '90s.

bignose@ttrpg.network · 1 pts · 125d (1 reply)

Thank you. What rebellion are you referring to? Is that connected with the Assassination of Strephon?

BryanRombough@dice.camp · 2 pts · 125d

@bignose Yes.

There was a whole sourcebook about it: https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Rebellion/_Sourcebook

https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Rebellion

MegaTraveller Rebellion Sourcebook Game Designers Workshop

rosswinn@ttrpg.network · 1 pts · 126d

The everything from MT and TNE were definitely disliked. I thought the Hard Times setting was really fantastic.

bignose@ttrpg.network · 1 pts · 125d (1 reply)

Thank you, I was wondering whether the Empress Wave was included in the detested canon.

And thanks for characterising why: the “catastrophic change” makes for impressive reading, and feels like the kind of big deal that an epic saga will deal with; but, as you say, it robs the individual characters (who, in Traveller, tend not to be ultra-powerful but more quotidian) of agency, with a transformation of the setting they can't do anything about.

Do I gather correctly that the Interstellar Wars canon (ignoring the RPG system) is better accepted by the community?

rosswinn@ttrpg.network · 1 pts · 124d

There isn't really a consensus. There are as many "haters" as well as "lovers" of each timeline and ideas. I didn't much care for IW, but I know and respect people who do. For me, a little chaos in the Imperium was sorely needed.

BryanRombough@dice.camp · 1 pts · 126d

@rosswinn

❝ If memory serves there have been almost twenty versions from the original “little black books” (LBBs) to the latest Mongoose Publishing Second Edition full color volumes.

https://dice.camp/@deinol/116297013057119512