The Inside Scoop on Gaming

While GURPS Traveller has already been reviewed on this site, I thought I would add a few observations about who exactly should or should not buy this book. The book itself is about 177 pages long and is divided neatly into two halves. The first half is dedicated to setting out the Traveller setting, the second half to adapting the setting to the GURPS system. Both halves of the book are well written and well edited and I have no major complaints or problems with the presentation (a sharp contrast with the error-prone, but otherwise excellent Traveller 4th edition).

As to who should buy this book, anyone who is new to Traveller will find the first half of the book an excellent introduction to the setting. Anyone who does indeed want to play the Traveller setting with the GURPS rules will find that the book delivers on its stated purpose and will find the second half of the book useful. But, be warned that no one can play anything with this book alone, despite the $27 price. You will also need GURPS Basic, GURPS Space and probably GURPS Ultra-Tech and GURPS Vehicles.

As to who should not buy this book, unless you have money to burn, old Traveller hands do not need this book. If you've played Traveller for any length of time, you will already have 95% of the library data included, as entertainingly written as it may be. If you plan to keep using one of the older editions of Traveller (or the new one promised at the end of '99) then the second half of the book will be of little interest. I do believe that some of the upcoming source books like STARMERCS may be of real interest to Traveller hands of all stripes, this first book is not of much use.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

GURPS Traveller
Author: Loren K. Wiseman Category: game Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Cost: $27 Page count: 177 ISBN: 1-55634-356-6 Capsule Review by David L. Nelson on 12/30/98. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future Space	While GURPS Traveller has already been reviewed on this site, I thought I would add a few observations about who exactly should or should not buy this book. The book itself is about 177 pages long and is divided neatly into two halves. The first half is dedicated to setting out the Traveller setting, the second half to adapting the setting to the GURPS system. Both halves of the book are well written and well edited and I have no major complaints or problems with the presentation (a sharp contrast with the error-prone, but otherwise excellent Traveller 4th edition). As to who should buy this book, anyone who is new to Traveller will find the first half of the book an excellent introduction to the setting. Anyone who does indeed want to play the Traveller setting with the GURPS rules will find that the book delivers on its stated purpose and will find the second half of the book useful. But, be warned that no one can play anything with this book alone, despite the $27 price. You will also need GURPS Basic, GURPS Space and probably GURPS Ultra-Tech and GURPS Vehicles. As to who should not buy this book, unless you have money to burn, old Traveller hands do not need this book. If you've played Traveller for any length of time, you will already have 95% of the library data included, as entertainingly written as it may be. If you plan to keep using one of the older editions of Traveller (or the new one promised at the end of '99) then the second half of the book will be of little interest. I do believe that some of the upcoming source books like STARMERCS may be of real interest to Traveller hands of all stripes, this first book is not of much use. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)