What Version of Traveller Do You Play?
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RobertFisher
SOC-12
So, the way I look at it, with the current numbers:
40% CT/MT
40% T20
09% GT
11% all others
Interesting.
40% CT/MT
40% T20
09% GT
11% all others
Interesting.
What's most remarkable to me is that these percentages have held steady for pretty much the entire time the poll's been up (more than a month now). From when there were only 50-60 total votes to now, there've only ever been variations of 2-3% and IIRC the rankings (T20-CT-MT-GT-TNE-T4-Other) have never changed.
I've been quite surprised at the poor showing for GURPS:Traveller, since one would get the impression from SJG's JTAS site/boards that GT is far and away the most popular system, with CT a very distant second and everything else (including T20) statistically irrelevant. I kept assuming we'd see GT's numbers rise dramatically, and they have a little (it was hovering around 7% for a long time), but nowhere near as much as I'd have guessed. So either GT fans aren't even bothering to visit this site, or deep down inside most of them still prefer CT or MT after all. I wonder which is correct.
I've also been suprised (and a little gratified) by the relatively strong showing for MegaTraveller, considering that 1) it's been oop the longest of any system listed (remember that CT is currently in-print), and 2) every edition that's come out since (TNE, T4, GT, even the CT reprints!) has, to one extent or another, tried to use the fact that it's 'the anti-MT' as a selling point. If Marc Miller is still pretending MT never happened and planning to use T4 as the basis for T^5, I'd hope these results might give him pause.
I've been quite surprised at the poor showing for GURPS:Traveller, since one would get the impression from SJG's JTAS site/boards that GT is far and away the most popular system, with CT a very distant second and everything else (including T20) statistically irrelevant. I kept assuming we'd see GT's numbers rise dramatically, and they have a little (it was hovering around 7% for a long time), but nowhere near as much as I'd have guessed. So either GT fans aren't even bothering to visit this site, or deep down inside most of them still prefer CT or MT after all. I wonder which is correct.
I've also been suprised (and a little gratified) by the relatively strong showing for MegaTraveller, considering that 1) it's been oop the longest of any system listed (remember that CT is currently in-print), and 2) every edition that's come out since (TNE, T4, GT, even the CT reprints!) has, to one extent or another, tried to use the fact that it's 'the anti-MT' as a selling point. If Marc Miller is still pretending MT never happened and planning to use T4 as the basis for T^5, I'd hope these results might give him pause.
JeffryCrews
SOC-5
I bought a copy of Gurps traveller and was struck by one thing first hand. The book without three other books is useless. You cannot play GT without Gurps and compendium one and two. The games playability is also limited without the alien books and the other books for traveller all of which are hard to find unless you order direct. The cost for all of those books is astronomical and I would imagine it is keeping people from buying GT.
I also think that Gurps Traveller takes away the elegence of CT, and the drama of MT and TNE. Gurps system for character creation also annoys me and I suspect the idea of paying for characters with points annoys other Traveller players. Just not my cuppa tea boys.
I forsee the D-20 version crushing GT quickly.
I also think that Gurps Traveller takes away the elegence of CT, and the drama of MT and TNE. Gurps system for character creation also annoys me and I suspect the idea of paying for characters with points annoys other Traveller players. Just not my cuppa tea boys.
I forsee the D-20 version crushing GT quickly.
DaveShayne
SOC-12
Most likely they aren't visiting the site. CoTI and JTAS are very similar entities - webzines with discusion boards.
If you are playing GT you will tend to frequent the online mag run by the people who do GT if you are interested in T20 you will tend to follow the boards maintained by the folks involved in T20s production.
CT grognards seem to congregate around the TML and there is a TNE mailing list as well. Three guesses what the numbers would be if you asked their memberships which version of the rules they prefered.
Since I've been hanging around here since before T20 was ever announced I tend to think of this place more as general-purpose Traveller than T20-specific, but I suppose I can see how others, especially GT-fans, might tend to see it differently.
But really, what gives? Are you implying that there are actually people out there who DON'T follow ALL FOUR of the above-mentioned groups?! I guess it's my fallacy to assume that all fans must be as geekily obsessive (and have as much available message-reading time!) as me
JeffryCrews
SOC-5
Yeah I have Gurps lite, it is a poorly written booklet that is pretty useless. To play the game fully you need Gurps, Compendium I and Compendium II, plus as many traveller books as you want
daryen
SOC-14 1K
Well, if you don't want Basic and all of that, you could just buy GURPS Prime Directive by ADB, Inc.
Since GPD is "Powered by GURPS", it includes the pieces of Basic and the Compendiums that it needs. I found very few items that were mentioned in GT that were not explained in GPD.
And for GT, if you are trying to start up, you could get the 25th Anniversary Set, which includes GT, Aliens 1, Survey 1 and the Referee Screen. I found the Screen pretty worthless, but others were fun. You would only need to get Aliens 2 to fully adventure in the Spinward Marches. (Behind the Claw, while OK, is not strictly necessary unless you want their "tweeks" on things.)
Since GPD is "Powered by GURPS", it includes the pieces of Basic and the Compendiums that it needs. I found very few items that were mentioned in GT that were not explained in GPD.
And for GT, if you are trying to start up, you could get the 25th Anniversary Set, which includes GT, Aliens 1, Survey 1 and the Referee Screen. I found the Screen pretty worthless, but others were fun. You would only need to get Aliens 2 to fully adventure in the Spinward Marches. (Behind the Claw, while OK, is not strictly necessary unless you want their "tweeks" on things.)
For what it is worth? I've always hated the fact that what you generate in CT for a character is all that character will get when it comes to skills. I LOVE the random generation of stats and skills - and wish that GURPS TRAVELLER had something like it. But with regards to TRAVELLER play and GURPS, I went so far as to use GURPS when it first came out *with* CT ship combat rules etc. Even as early as 1987, I was enjoying the fusion of GURPS and TRAVELLER.
I have compared Gurps Lite with Gurps Basic and have to disagree with you as to it being "useless". The book does state that it provides the absolute basics for roleplaying in Gurps. It also states that with all the freeware games out there using the Gurps system that it is possible to play Gurps forever without spending a penny. Very shortly (as soon as I bother to unpack it), I'll be disposing of my copy of Gurps basic. I won't need it because Gurps lite fulfills my roleplaying needs.
I like "lite" rulesets or as White Wolf calls them, introductory kits, because nine out of ten times you can play a full game with them without any of the additional clutter that the full rulebook has. Granted, these "lite" rulesets leave out some advanced stuff, but they do what they are designed to do, act as in introduction to the full game. The best of them though go beyond being just an introduction.
Oh, and there's one other big benefit of "lite" rulesets: They don't take up much space in a suitcase or backpack.
Sidebar: I was one of the lucky ones who got a printed copy of Gurps lite for free. The local gaming store had several copies so I snagged one.
Spacehand Arioch
SOC-8
The version of Traveller that I played the most was MegaTraveller.
When it first came out I was reluctant to change from CT to MT. I did not have any CT starship building supplements and when MT can out it allowed me to do that. Plus I liked the idea of the rebellion. Our group was very anti-imperial.
As I do not know much of GT, T4 or T20, I still like MT because of all the MT books I have.
When it first came out I was reluctant to change from CT to MT. I did not have any CT starship building supplements and when MT can out it allowed me to do that. Plus I liked the idea of the rebellion. Our group was very anti-imperial.
As I do not know much of GT, T4 or T20, I still like MT because of all the MT books I have.
tigger1tom
SOC-6
I am an oddball. I bought and own almost everything put out for CT, and have only actually played it once or twice. I loved it so much I've held on to it almost 20 years now. MegaTraveller intrigued the devil out of me because I always hated the Imperium, being anti-establishment and all, but I'm only now getting around to acquiring it. I will be picking up TNE, T20, and the new one when it is finally released, I'll probably stay away from GURPS though. Long live Traveller in whatever form it is in!!
That's really not that odd. Lots of CT fans are similar.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Interesting poll to necro.
Twelve years ago CT was still most popular, TNE still popular, a fair amount of interest in T4 but my goodness people don't like MT or GT
A fair number showing interest in T20 as well, but hardly surprising since this board was originally set up to support it
Twelve years ago CT was still most popular, TNE still popular, a fair amount of interest in T4 but my goodness people don't like MT or GT
A fair number showing interest in T20 as well, but hardly surprising since this board was originally set up to support it
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