Traveller is an Origins Award winning science fiction role-playing game published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) in 1977. It is a time when interstellar travel has become possible and Humaniti has met other starfaring races. Traveller: 2300 portrayed humans as technologically advanced, but having a level of civilization not very far above the present day. Later publishers introduced additional material along the Official Traveller Universe timeline. In 2008, Mongoose Publishing reintroduced GDW's popular look and indexing feature separating publications into familiar Books, Supplements, and Adventures. Far Future Enterprises (FFE), has republished GDW's Traveller publications.
Classic Traveller There were four editions of the Classic Traveller rules sets: Traveller [Boxed set: Books 1-3], by GDW (1977) Traveller Deluxe Edition [Boxed set:: Books 0, 1–3, Adventure 0, map], by GDW (1981) The Traveller Book [Compiles books 1–3, plus parts of book 0], by GDW (1982) The Traveller Adventure, by GDW (1983), A companion volume for The Traveller Book Traveller Starter Edition by Marc W. Miller, GDW (1983)
Books Basic Traveller comprised three black digest-sized books (1,2,3) that were not sold separately. The subsequent books presented additional rules on specific subjects, expanding on Traveller's basic concepts. They run 48 to 56 pages and require the basic rules sets. In addition to the core books, six more were published. FFE published all nine as a single volume in 2000. With the digest-sized format and color of the books, they became known as little black books. Book 1-Characters and Combat, by Marc W. Miller (1977) Book 2-Starships, by Marc W. Miller (1977) Book 3-Worlds and Adventures, by Marc W. Miller (1977) Book 4 Mercenary, by Frank Chadwick and Marc Miller (1978) Book 5 High Guard, by Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick, and John Harshman (1980) Book 0 An Introduction to Traveller, by Loren K. Wiseman (1981) Book 6 Scouts, by Marc Miller (1983) Book 7 Merchant Prince, by Marc W. Miller (1985) Book 8 Robots, by Sr. Joe D. Fugate and Timothy B. Brown (1986) The Classic Books 0-8, FFE (2000) Book 9 Pirates, by Rob Eaglestone (2025)
Supplements Supplements provide different types of data, including starships, starsystems, characters, and animals in pre-generated form. Thirteen were published, but Supplement 5 Lightning Class Cruisers was only available as part of the Azhanti High Lightning board game. These were in little black book format. FFE published all thirteen as a single volume in 2000.
Supplement 1-1001 Characters, by Marc Miller (1978) Supplement 2-Animal Encounters, by GDW (1979) Supplement 3-The Spinward Marches, by Marc Miller (1979) Supplement 4-Citizens of the Imperium, by Marc Miller (1979) Supplement 5 Lightning Class Cruisers, by GDW (1980) Supplement 6-76 Patrons, by Loren Wiseman (1980) Supplement 7-Traders and Gunboats, by Marc Miller (1980) Supplement 8-Library Data A-M, by Harshman, Miller, Wiseman, and Chadwick (1981) Supplement 9-Fighting Ships, by Chadwick, Miller, Brown, and Jaquays (1981) Supplement 10-The Solomani Rim, by John Harshman (1982) Supplement 11-Library Data N-Z, by John Harshman, Loren Wiseman and Marc Miller (1982) Supplement 12-Forms and Charts, by Marc Miller (1983) Supplement 13-Veterans, by Tim Brown (1983) Classic Traveller: Classic Supplements (2000)
Special Supplements Short presentations on specific topics, originally appearing in the Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society (JTAS). Four were produced. Special Supplement 1: Merchant Prince, by J. Andrew Keith, Marc Miller and Loren Wiseman (1982). JTAS #12 Special Supplement 2: Exotic Atmospheres, by J. Andrew Keith (1983). JTAS #17 Special Supplement 3: Missiles in Traveller, by Marc Miller (1984). JTAS #21 Special Supplement 4: The Lost Rules, by Don McKinney (2008).
Additionally, articles were compiled from the Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society in Best of the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, Volume 1 (1981), Best of the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, Volume 2 (1982), Best of the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, Volume 3 (1983), and Best of the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, Volume 4 (1984).
Adventures Adventures provided interesting and challenging situations through which more information about the setting would unfold. Fourteen were produced. These were in little black book format. FFE published all fourteen as a single volume in 2000. Adventure 1-The Kinunir, by Marc Miller (1979) Adventure 2-Research Station Gamma, by Marc Miller (1980) Adventure 3-Twilight's Peak, by Marc Miller (1980) Adventure 4-Leviathan, by Bob McWilliams (1980) Traveller Adventure 0: Introductory Adventure: The Imperial Fringe, by GDW (1981) Adventure 5-Trillion Credit Squadron, by Marc Miller and John Harshman (1981) Adventure 6-Expedition to Zhodane, by Marc Miller (1981) Adventure 7-Broadsword, by Loren Wiseman (1982) Adventure 8-Prison Planet, by Eric Wilson and Dave Emigh (1982) Adventure 9-Nomads of the World Ocean, by J. Andrew Keith and William H. Keith (1983) Adventure 10-Safari Ship, by Marc Miller (1984) Adventure 11-Murder on Arcturus Station, by J. Andrew Keith (1983) Adventure 12-Secret of the Ancients, by Marc Miller (1984) Adventure 13 Signal GK, by Marc Miller (1985) Classic Traveller: Classic Adventures (2000) Adventure 14 Travel Hazard, by Rob Eaglestone (2026)
Double Adventures These combined two short adventures in a single 48-page book. Eight titles were produced, two in 2001, with one of those only a single adventure. Their tête-bêche format was popularised by the Ace Double sci-fi novels of the 1950s. These were in little black book format. FFE published all eight, plus Special Supplements 1–3, as a single volume in 2001. Double Adventure 1 Shadows / Annic Nova, by GDW (1980) Double Adventure 2 Mission on Mithril/Across the Bright Face, by Marc Miller (1980) Double Adventure 3 Death Station / Argon Gambit, by Marc Miller and Frank Chadwick (1981) Double Adventure 4 Marooned / Marooned Alone, by Loren Wiseman (1981) Double Adventure 5 Chamax Plague / Horde, by J. Andrew Keith and William H. Keith Jr. (1981) Double Adventure 6 Night of Conquest / Divine Intervention, by Lawrence Schick, William H. Keith Jr. and J. Andrew Keith (1982) Double Adventure 7 A Plague of Perruques / Stranded on Arden, (2001) Short Adventure 8 Memory Alpha, (2001) Double Adventure 1-6+ The Classic Short Adventures, Far Future Enterprises, (2001)
Alien Modules Each introduced a new alien race to players and referees, complete with character generation, history and background, language material, and an adventure. Eight were produced. FFE published all eight in two volumes volume in 2001. Alien Module 1-Aslan, by GDW (1984) Alien Module 2-K'kree, by J. Andrew Keith and Loren Wiseman (1984) Alien Module 3-Vargr, by J. Andrew Keith and Marc Miller (1984) Alien Module 4-Zhodani, by J. Andrew Keith and Marc Miller (1985) Traveller Alien Module 5 Droyne, by J. Andrew Keith and Marc Miller (1985) Alien Module 6-Solomani, by Marc Miller and William H. Keith Jr. (1986) Alien Module 7-Hivers, by J. Andrew Keith, Marc W. Miller and Loren K. Wiseman (1986) Alien Module 8-Darrians, by Marc W. Miller (1987) The Alien Modules 1-4 FFE (2001) The Alien Modules 5-8 FFE (2001)
Modules Modules provided larger adventures and additional materials. Five were produced. M01 Tarsus: World Beyond the Frontier Take a SF Odyssey to Tarsus, [Box set: rules booklet, World Map of Tarsus, Subsector map of District 268, Detail Map of Tanglewald, Twelve character cards, 2 source books ], by GDW (1983) Marc Miller & loren K. Wismen M02 BeltStrike: Riches and Danger in the Bowman Belt [Box set], by J. Andrew Keith and John Harshman (1984) M03 The Spinward Marches Campaign: Adventures in a War-Ravaged Sector, by Marc Miller (1985) M04 Atlas of the Imperium, by GDW (1984) M05 Alien Realms (1986)
Boardgames GDW was a boardgame publisher long before it published Traveller, and as a result it published eight Traveller boardgames. FFE published all eight as a single volume in 2000. G0 Imperium [Boxed set: Rules booklet, 2 combat charts, terran/imperial counters, board/map], by Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick and John Harshman (1977) G2 Snapshot-Close Combat Aboard Starships in the Far Future [Boxed set: Rules Booklet, Map, Dice Modifier Sheet, counters], by Marc Miller, Paul R. Banner and Frank Chadwick (1979) G3 Azhanti High Lightning-Close Combat Aboard Starships in the Far Future [Boxed set: Rules Booklet, Supplement 5, 14 maps, Dice Modifier Sheet, counters], by Frank Chadwick and Marc Miller (1980) G6 Dark Nebula [Boxed set: rules, 8 maps, counters], by Marc Miller (1980) G1 Mayday [Boxed set: Rules booklet, 4 maps, counters] (1980) G4 Fifth Frontier War: Battles for the Spinward Marches [Boxed set: rules, maps, charts, 3 counter sheets] by Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick, John M. Astell and Paul R. Banner (1981) G5 Invasion: Earth The Final Battle of the Solomani Rim War [Boxed set: rules booklet, 480 die-cut counters, map, and charts], by Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick and John Astell (1981) G7 Striker : Rules for 15mm Traveller Miniatures [Boxed set: rules booklet 1, 2, 3, sequence tables, useful tables 1 & 2] by Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick and John Harshman (1981) The Classic Games 1-6+ FFE (2004)
Specials GDW produced a variety of support materials for Traveller. Understanding Traveller [Short overview booklet], by GDW (1981)
Fanzines Alien Star (1981)
Traveller: 2300 (2nd edition renamed to 2300 AD) Traveller: 2300 (version 1.0) [BOX SET: Player's manual, Referee's manual, Near Star List, The Tricolor's Shadow, forms], by Marc Miller, Tim Brown, Lester Smith, and Frank Chadwick (1987) GDW 2300 AD (Traveller: 2300, version 2.0) [BOX SET: Adventurer's Guide, Director's Guide, Near Star Map, Playaids], by Marc Miller, Tim Brown, Lester Smith, and Frank Chadwick (1988) GDW Star Cruiser [BOX SET: Naval Architect's Manual, Data Form Booklet, Rule and Scenario Booklet, 2 maps, Counter sheet (180 counters), 2 Combat charts], by Frank Chadwick
Sourcebooks Aurore Sourcebook (K) Colonial Atlas Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook (E) Equipment Guide Ground Vehicle Invasion (K) Kafer Sourcebook (K) Nyotekundu Sourcebook Ships of the French Arm
Adventures Bayern Beanstalk Deathwatch Program (E) Energy Curve Kafer Dawn (K) Mission Arcturus (K) Ranger Rotten to the Core (E) (E)-Earth (cyberpunk subgenre) (K)-Kafer War
MegaTraveller Megatraveller [BOX SET: Player's Manual , Referee's Manual , Imperial Encyclopedia , Map of Spinward Marches], by GDW (1987) Referee's Companion (1987) Rebellion Source Book (1988) COACC: Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command (1989) Fighting Ships of the Shattered imperium (1990) Knightfall (1990) Hard Times (1991) Assignment Vigilante (1992) Astrogators' Guide to the Diaspora Sector (1992) Arrival Vengeance (1992) Gazelle Class Close Escort (1991) by SGS Imperial Design Starship Deck Plans in 25mm Scale System Defense Boat and Jump Shuttle (1990) by SGS Imperial Design Starship Deck Plans in 25mm Scale Empress Marva (1990) by SGS Imperial Design Starship Deck Plans in 25mm Scale Subsidized Merchant (1990) by SGS Imperial Design Starship Deck Plans in 25mm Scale Lab Ship (1991) by SGS Imperial Design Starship Deck Plans in 25mm Scale
Digest Group Publications Grand Census (1987) Grand Survey (1987) 101 Robots (1987) 101 Vehicles (1988) The Early Adventures (1988) Starship Operator's Manual (1988) Referee's Gaming Kit (1989) World Builders' Handbook (1989) Alien - Vilani & Vargr (1990) The Flaming Eye Campaign Sourcebook (1990) Alien - Solomani & Aslan (1991)
Traveller: The New Era Traveller: The New Era Core Rules, by GDW (1993) TNE Deluxe, [BOX SET: Rulebook; Fire Fusion & Steel, upgrade booklet, green player cards, map subsector data cards], by GDW (1993) Upgrade Booklet for Fire, Fusion, and Steel [0302/E1] Battle Rider (1993)