Traveller blogs
A few random Traveller blogs I enjoy. I might rotate these every now and then, but I try to list ones that feature interesting content and that are updated on a regular basis.
utility websites
The Traveller Map
An amazing, canonical, interactive atlas of Charted Space. Views are adjustable and almost infinitely printable, although the learning curve to do anything but poke around on the map is significant. This datasource is constantly under review and hands-down the best overall reference on systems and worlds for the Third Imperium setting
The Traveller World Builder
Another awesome software resource, the TWB applies the T5 world design ruleset and generates maps for any world, from any of the canon worlds on the Traveller Map to a world you input the UWP for. The builder can also build out the entire system, providing a link to map each world and moon. Definitely a must-visit.
The Traveller Wiki
In its own words, the Traveller Wiki is “… the AAB Imperial Encyclopedia, a Traveller Starship Library and game resource database where you can contribute to the 40 years of Traveller history.” It’s is a living reference document that undergoes constant revision and update by Traveller scholars and fans. It is the definitive resource for researching items of interest about Traveller or the Third Imperium.
Far Future Enterprises
This is Marc Miller’s company, ( newer site here ) the producer of the currently-active Traveller5 and copy write holder of a staggering amount of historical Traveller material. The look is unapologetically old-school and the process to buy can feel a little clunky, but everything Traveller except the DGP content or Mongoose’s current works are on offer here. You can use PayPal to purchase CDs, but if you drop a note to FFE and ask nicely they’ll be happy to send you your purchases on a thumb drive… just on the off-chance you don’t happen to have access to a functional CD-ROM drive.
periodicals
Imperiallines
Imperiallines is the current live online “‘zine” supporting Marc Miller’s Traveller5. In the last few years it has produced 2 issues( #6 and #& ) on an as-we-can schedule. The content is 100% canon, either coming directly from Marc or approved by him. It’s only available for a fee; I get mine at DriveThruRPG.
Freelance Traveller
This is an excellent bi-monthly-ish online periodical featuring non-canon fan content. Editing, layout, and copy are all well done and range over a wide variety of types including Patron and Amber Zone adventures, gear write ups, reviews of supplements or conventions, and much more. FT is free to the masses easy to submit to.
CT Journal of the Travellers Aid Society ( JTAS )
The very first periodical-based source of canon material supplementing the game, JTAS was published to add depth and increase the fanbase for Classic Traveller. Much content and thinking from the articles during the run have been incorporated into subsequent versions of the game. You can purchase a set from #1-34 from DriveThruRPG or from the FFE website on the “Journal of the Travellers’ Aid Society” CD.
Traveller Chronicle
This was the ongoing magazine produced by DGP in the late 80s/early 90s when MegaTraveller was active, and the content focuses exclusively on the Rebellion and Hard Times settings. You can get issues from DriveThruRPG or directly from Far Future Enterprises as art of the offerings on the “Apocrypha 3” CD.
Dragon Magazine
Particularly in the earlier years of its run, Dragon Magazine hosted many articles about Traveller. An index to those articles, authors, and page numbers can be found here, while PDF issues of Dragon Magazine are ( as of this writing ) available for free online at Annarchive ( you’ll have to find/search for this yourself; I’m not certain about the legality of this repository. )
Signal-GK
Currently hosted on the Traveller Wiki, the description from there – “…was a fanzine put together by Jae Campbell and J. Duncan Law-Green and published in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The primary objective was the mapping of the Dagudashaag and generation of the complete library data. Each author was allowed to cover different eras with their articles, with the hope that the reader could adapt to their own preferences.” Complete editions of issues 1-13 are available for free.
GURPS JTAS
Steve Jackson Games resurrected the idea of the Journal of the Travellers’ Aid Society as an ongoing source of all things GT while they had an active license. This content is currently no longer offered by GURPS in any form ( sniffsniff ), but you can grab it from FFE under “GURPS #2 CD-ROM”
Mongoose JTAS
The latest incarnation of the Journal of the TAS is produced by Mongoose Publishing to compliment and extend their 2nd edition Traveller game. There are currently 6 issues that were successfully kickstarted and sold as a set, but at present you can only buy them one at a time on the Mongoose website. Here’s a link to Issue #1
X-BOAT
Robert Eaglestone successfully Kickstarted this fanzine “with most of the material suggested by fans who love Traveller. It’s about discussion, example, and bold ideas.” It is T5 centric, though the material could generally be used in any version. Though the publishing schedule is a bit long Mr. Eaglestone is clearly committed to delivering quality content. The first two issues are available on DTRPG; here’s a link to the first one.
communities
Citizens of the Imperium
Official forum for the Traveller brand, Citizens of the Imperium supports conversation about all versions but shows a distinct favor towards older versions, CT most of all. Lively discussions, profoundly pedantic and out in the weeds about most any detail. Moderation is active and opinionated. Definitely not a safe space and possibly off-putting to a new gamer, definitely fertile ground for the opinionated grognard. The forum itself has a very old school look and feel which reportedly is not a bug, but rather a feature. CotI is the place to connect with the “inner circle” of Traveller. CotI features robust repositories of fan-created images, fiction, and game aids as well as play-Traveller-by-post support.
Mongoose Traveller
Mongoose Publishing hosts its own forum to discuss both of its editions ( 1st and 2nd ) of Traveller. Threads are not organized beyond most-recent-topic-as-highest, moderation is almost non-existent. Movers and shakers for the Mongoose versions frequent the board, and getting most questions answered by people in the know is easy.
GURPS Traveller
GURPS hosts a subforum on its boards for Traveller, despite its own license for the game no longer being active. Threads are organized simply, as in the Mongoose forums – most recent at the top. Certainly the focus is on the GURPS version of the game and conversation there is done almost universally by fans. The tone is friendly, but the board is not as active as the other communities listed here – in the last month there have only been active conversations in 5 of the topics.
Reddit – Traveller subReddit
Most frequented by Redditors who also happen to be gamers, this community is moderately active and almost always cordial and helpful. Discussion about recent versions of Traveller is slightly more common, but discussion of any topic relevant to Traveller is encouraged. The Traveller subReddit occasionally hosts design contests for ships, etc.
Facebook – Traveller-RPG
The FB closed ( you have to ask to be admitted ) Traveller group is an active, eclectic range of commentary questions, and random thoughts about the game in all its versions. Memes and posts about outside content that could be relevant to a Traveller game are common. Occasional version warring happens here, but moderators are active and work to maintain a friendly space. The FB group is not a great place to easily connect with Traveller movers and shakers – those in the inner circle or that regularly produce content – although a few of those people monitor the group on occasion. In my experience the FB group is most easily-approached, value-for-your-time Traveller online community. Quality of responses can vary considerably, but there will be no shortage of responses.