The Inside Scoop on Gaming

For those who waited for a good reason to get into either GURPS or Traveller, there's finally a good reason.

The GURPS Traveller 25th anniversary pack is an extremely great value for the price, and contains everything a GM needs to introduce both the system and the game to new players.

Included in the set, is GURPS Traveller (the "Core" setting rules), GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1, GURPS Traveller Planetary Survey: Kamsii (a smaller, 32 page booklet that is still full of information), a copy of GURPS Lite, A GMs Screeen, several Cardboard Heroes fold-out miniatures, and a hex map of Brubek's bar, which is useful to represent almost any modern bar in any setting. Most of these items have been reviewed elsewhere on this site in greater detail than I will go into here, but here is a quick overview of each product included in the packet.

First up is the GURPS Traveller core rules, 2nd edition. Like the original Traveller, the setting remains far-future Sci-fi, with more than the occasional wink and nod to Issac Asimov's Robots/Empire/Foundation universe. With the exception of the core system rules, which can be found in either the GURPS System core rulebooks or the attached GURPS Lite, GURPS Traveller can be used to run a basic Traveller campaign. It contains the obligatory "introduction to the setting", a section detailing several campaign possibilities, a large section containing a glossary of terms, a characcter creation section including about 35 templates for easy creation, a chapter on equipment, information on travel & economies, a character conversion guide, an appendix containing several ship designs, a second appendix containing modular starship design, and yet another appendix on space combat. Total page count is 175 pages, and, like most GURPS suppliments, is pretty meaty.

GURPS Traveller, Alien Races 1 is a more in-depth look at 6 of the alien races found in the Traveller universe, the Zhodani, Vargr, Drakarians, Clotho, and Sheol. The books discuss philosophy, society, law & government, and other details which makes this not just a good book for players of these types of characters but also good GM fodder for campaigns set on these worlds. There's an additional chapter on Psionics, which is useful for playing the Zhodani characters. Total page count is 143 pages.

The GURPS Traveler Planetary Survey 1: Kamsii, the Pleasure Planet is a smaller 32 page booklet which details the Traveller Universe's version of Disneyworld - a planet near the core worlds that caters to entertainment. Lots of detail about the planet, it's inhabitants (both guests and residents) and enough detail about the Kamsii corporation to make a GM's mouth water with plot possibilities. Presenting 4 different versions of the Kamsii corporation, Benevolent (everything *is* as good as it seems), Ruthlessly mercentile (Not evil, but does some pretty shady - although never illegal - stuff to protect it's image), Dark conspiratorial, and Dirty Grey (the planet is running out of money & is falling, slowly, into disrepair.) Oddly enough, with the many versions of Traveller out there, set in different time periods, having multiple versions of the corporation is more useful than it seems. Furthermore, Kamsii can be used as a template to create other "pleasure planets" (Think Disney & Six Flags) and goes that much further towards helping the GM create a campaign.

The set also contains a GURPS Traveller GM screen - It comes in two pieces, which can be taped together or attached to an existing GM screen. Of interesting note is that one section is fundimentally identical to the information in the "generic" GURPS GM screen, while the second section is dedicated to Traveller-specific charts and tables.

The next item is a set of Cardboard Heroes, cut out & fold out miniatures. It comes with about 14 "people" 2 aliens, and a bunch of props, including seats, tables, weapons, etc. It's 1 sided, and, for the cheap, or those who simply don't want to ruin stuff they might sell back on ebay, the set is zeroxable. Finally, the set contains a 4 page/sized Hex map of Brubek's - extremely useful if only for the cliched "You all meet in a bar" scenario setup. Although the Traveller setting is Sci-fi, the bar is generic enough to be used in almost any game with minimal changes. Well, almost any game, data terminals are not quite standard mideval fantasy fare. Nevertheless, it's a good choice of map, that will undoubtedly see alot of use.

The packet also comes with the lates issue of "Where we're going" the Steve Jackson Games trade newsletter. I mention this because the Traveller 25th Anniversary packet is, quite frankly, a trade tool. This is not a bad thing - $30 for a core rulebook, a major and minor suppliment, cardboard minis and a hex map is a very good deal. But the suppliments are carefully chosen to wet your whistle for more Traveller stuff. Alien Races 1 is included, but that only contains some of the major alien races of the setting. Kamsii is included, but there are more planetary surveys. And a hexmap of Brubeks is good - as well as the cardboard heroes, but there are more cardboard heroes and more hex maps to be sold. The reason I mention this is because the materials chosen *do* represent quality - essentially putting the best face forward of GURPS Traveller. And it succeeds.

Primarily for those new to Traveller, the 25th anniversary pack is a good deal for the money, and anyone even remotely interested in the long-established Traveller setting should choose this package as their entry port.

GURPS Traveller 25th Aniversary Version
GURPS Traveller 25th Aniversary Version Capsule Review by Funksaw on 06/07/02 Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty) If you haven't picked up GURPS Traveller yet, this is the set to buy. Tons of value for the buck. Product: GURPS Traveller 25th Aniversary Version Author: Loren Wiseman, David L. Pulver, Steve Jackson Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Line: GURPS Traveller Cost: $29.95 Page count: n/a Year published: 2002 ISBN: SKU: Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Funksaw on 06/07/02 Genre tags: Science Fiction Far Future Space	For those who waited for a good reason to get into either GURPS or Traveller, there's finally a good reason. The GURPS Traveller 25th anniversary pack is an extremely great value for the price, and contains everything a GM needs to introduce both the system and the game to new players. Included in the set, is GURPS Traveller (the "Core" setting rules), GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1, GURPS Traveller Planetary Survey: Kamsii (a smaller, 32 page booklet that is still full of information), a copy of GURPS Lite, A GMs Screeen, several Cardboard Heroes fold-out miniatures, and a hex map of Brubek's bar, which is useful to represent almost any modern bar in any setting. Most of these items have been reviewed elsewhere on this site in greater detail than I will go into here, but here is a quick overview of each product included in the packet. First up is the GURPS Traveller core rules, 2nd edition. Like the original Traveller, the setting remains far-future Sci-fi, with more than the occasional wink and nod to Issac Asimov's Robots/Empire/Foundation universe. With the exception of the core system rules, which can be found in either the GURPS System core rulebooks or the attached GURPS Lite, GURPS Traveller can be used to run a basic Traveller campaign. It contains the obligatory "introduction to the setting", a section detailing several campaign possibilities, a large section containing a glossary of terms, a characcter creation section including about 35 templates for easy creation, a chapter on equipment, information on travel & economies, a character conversion guide, an appendix containing several ship designs, a second appendix containing modular starship design, and yet another appendix on space combat. Total page count is 175 pages, and, like most GURPS suppliments, is pretty meaty. GURPS Traveller, Alien Races 1 is a more in-depth look at 6 of the alien races found in the Traveller universe, the Zhodani, Vargr, Drakarians, Clotho, and Sheol. The books discuss philosophy, society, law & government, and other details which makes this not just a good book for players of these types of characters but also good GM fodder for campaigns set on these worlds. There's an additional chapter on Psionics, which is useful for playing the Zhodani characters. Total page count is 143 pages. The GURPS Traveler Planetary Survey 1: Kamsii, the Pleasure Planet is a smaller 32 page booklet which details the Traveller Universe's version of Disneyworld - a planet near the core worlds that caters to entertainment. Lots of detail about the planet, it's inhabitants (both guests and residents) and enough detail about the Kamsii corporation to make a GM's mouth water with plot possibilities. Presenting 4 different versions of the Kamsii corporation, Benevolent (everything is as good as it seems), Ruthlessly mercentile (Not evil, but does some pretty shady - although never illegal - stuff to protect it's image), Dark conspiratorial, and Dirty Grey (the planet is running out of money & is falling, slowly, into disrepair.) Oddly enough, with the many versions of Traveller out there, set in different time periods, having multiple versions of the corporation is more useful than it seems. Furthermore, Kamsii can be used as a template to create other "pleasure planets" (Think Disney & Six Flags) and goes that much further towards helping the GM create a campaign. The set also contains a GURPS Traveller GM screen - It comes in two pieces, which can be taped together or attached to an existing GM screen. Of interesting note is that one section is fundimentally identical to the information in the "generic" GURPS GM screen, while the second section is dedicated to Traveller-specific charts and tables. The next item is a set of Cardboard Heroes, cut out & fold out miniatures. It comes with about 14 "people" 2 aliens, and a bunch of props, including seats, tables, weapons, etc. It's 1 sided, and, for the cheap, or those who simply don't want to ruin stuff they might sell back on ebay, the set is zeroxable. Finally, the set contains a 4 page/sized Hex map of Brubek's - extremely useful if only for the cliched "You all meet in a bar" scenario setup. Although the Traveller setting is Sci-fi, the bar is generic enough to be used in almost any game with minimal changes. Well, almost any game, data terminals are not quite standard mideval fantasy fare. Nevertheless, it's a good choice of map, that will undoubtedly see alot of use. The packet also comes with the lates issue of "Where we're going" the Steve Jackson Games trade newsletter. I mention this because the Traveller 25th Anniversary packet is, quite frankly, a trade tool. This is not a bad thing - $30 for a core rulebook, a major and minor suppliment, cardboard minis and a hex map is a very good deal. But the suppliments are carefully chosen to wet your whistle for more Traveller stuff. Alien Races 1 is included, but that only contains some of the major alien races of the setting. Kamsii is included, but there are more planetary surveys. And a hexmap of Brubeks is good - as well as the cardboard heroes, but there are more cardboard heroes and more hex maps to be sold. The reason I mention this is because the materials chosen do represent quality - essentially putting the best face forward of GURPS Traveller. And it succeeds. Primarily for those new to Traveller, the 25th anniversary pack is a good deal for the money, and anyone even remotely interested in the long-established Traveller setting should choose this package as their entry port.

GURPS Traveller 25th Aniversary Version