Traveller was one of the first widely accepted SF RPGs. Since its release in 1977, it has gone through a number of changes including a GURPS Traveller release. The original boxed set of 3 books is now referred to as ‘classic Traveller’.
A simple character combat system is provided in Book 1 of the set. In it, characters may close or open range with their adversaries, and evade or launch attacks. The system was expanded upon several times, first with Snapshot, a boxed game presenting combat between characters aboard starships.
This was followed by Azhanti High Lightning. The rulebook offered a simplified Snapshot combat system as well as a large number of deck plans mapping out the interior of an enormous starship.
There are numerous supplements produced by any number of publishers including some attractive maps of ship interiors and buildings. FASA, for example released a set of maps detailing the interior of a luxury hotel.
Finally, GDW introduced Striker, a boxed 3 book set, Book 1 covering the basics, Book 2 covering advanced rules, and Book 3, covering vehicle design. With each figure still representing a single character or creature, a standard infantry unit contains 4 figures mounted on a one inch square base.
The rules are designed for larger battles. They impose rules for leadership, morale, and unit combat readiness. They also provide a rich source for designing vehicles if one has the time and energy.
Book 2 of Traveller introduces starships and offers a combat system more complex than the character combat system. Movement is through vectors, ship’s abilities are modified not just by character abilities, but by software packages which may be loaded or unloaded each turn. The size of the ship’s computer will limit what software may be active and in this way limit the choices available to the player.
The rules were used to create a board game, Mayday. There is really not too much different here from the rules in the RPG but the game is easier to use in that a ship’s movement is tracked by 3 markers, one showing the ship’s position on the previous move, another showing the ship’s current position, and another used to determine where the ship will move.
A fifth book in the rule book series was added to cover battles between large fleets of ships. The first version of the rules with somewhat murky rules is on the right. The second version with rewritten and more understandable rules is on the left.
The fleet rules are closer in design to the character combat rules. Opposing fleets lie at long or short range in relation to each other. Fleets may close range or they may break off. Additionally, there are two lines of battle, The second line, the reserve, is screened by the first.
There are also rules for pursuit, planets, and more, and rules for boarding, the game being a post-Star Wars production.
For players wishing to avoid designing their own ships, GDW offered this handy supplement listing ships of the Imperial fleet.