Editing Traveller (role-playing game) (section)

==Reception==
In the April–May 1978 edition of ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' (Issue #6), [[Don Turnbull (game designer)|Don Turnbull]] gave a strong recommendation for the new game, saying, "Altogether, what is here is very satisfactory and much of it is stimulating. The presentation is exemplary, the detail impressive, the treatment exacting and the inventiveness inspired."<ref name="WD6">{{Cite journal |last=Turnbull |first=Don |author-link=Don Turnbull (game designer) |date=April–May 1978 |title=Traveller |journal=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] |publisher=[[Games Workshop]] |issue=6 |pages=16–18}}</ref>

In Issue 29 of the British wargaming magazine ''[[Perfidious Albion (magazine)|Perfidious Albion]]'', Charles Vasey commented, "The game depends a lot on the players and especially on the referee. You really have to think it all out and provisions must be made to prevent too large a reward. It is probably better fitted for a long campaign or a [[play by mail|PBM]]."<ref name=pa>{{cite magazine|last1=Vasey|first1=Charles| date= July 1978|title= Traveller|magazine=[[Perfidious Albion (magazine)|Perfidious Albion]]| issue=29|pages=8-9}}</ref>

In the September 1978 edition of ''Dragon'' (Issue 18), Tony Watson complimented the game on the high production value of its components, saying, "Physically, ''Traveller'' is first class, a tradition with Game Designer's Workshop. The box lid and covers of the three booklets are done in a simple but highly effective combination of red and white lettering on a black background. The interior layout and printing is also of the best quality; the printing is an entirely professional job." Watson liked that experience points were not emphasized in gameplay: "It is refreshing to see that the adventures and color of the game's play is reward enough and the players are not channeling their energy into the rather silly chase of ethereal experience points. Too often, this chase becomes more important than actual play itself!" He concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, "''Traveller'' is a unique SF game and probably the best of the role-playing variety. It offers a colorful but consistent future for players to adventure in."<ref name="dragon18">{{Cite journal |last=Watson |first=Tony |date=September 1978 |title=Reviews |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]] |issue=18 |pages=8}}</ref>

In the inaugural edition of ''[[Ares (magazine)|Ares]]'' (March 1980), [[David J. Ritchie|David Ritchie]] was enthusiastic about ''Traveller'', giving it an above average rating of 8 out of 9 and commenting, "This game starts off where ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' left off, but, if there is any justice, will end up being more popular than that venerable relic. For one thing, the ''Traveller'' rules are fairly consistent (moreso than is usual for such games)."<ref name="Ares">{{Cite journal |last=Ritchie |first=David |author-link=David J. Ritchie |date=March 1980 |title=A Galaxy of Games |journal=[[Ares (magazine)|Ares Magazine]] |publisher=Simulations Publications, Inc. |issue=1 |page=30}}</ref>

In the May–June 1980 edition of ''[[The Space Gamer]]'' (Issue No. 28), Forrest Johnson gave a good review, saying, "''Traveller'' is the best game of its type, recommended for the sophisticated science fiction gamer."<ref name="SG1">{{Cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Forrest |date=May–June 1980 |title=Capsule Reviews |journal=[[The Space Gamer]] |publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]] |issue=28 |pages=28}}</ref>

In the November 1980 edition of ''Ares'' (Issue #5), [[Eric Goldberg (game designer)|Eric Goldberg]] called ''Traveller'' "a most impressive achievement from a design standpoint... This mark of distinction is the main reason why I consider ''Traveller'' the finest commercially available role-playing game." Goldberg didn't consider it perfect, criticizing the game's lack of imaginary vision of technology of the future. Although he liked the "sophisticated and elegant" character generation system, he felt that "All too often, a player will have to spend an entire afternoon rolling dice before he gains a reasonable character." Goldberg concluded with a positive recommendation: "If you have at least a casual interest in science fiction and role-playing, you should definitely invest in a copy of ''Traveller''"<ref name="ares">{{Cite journal |last=Goldberg |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Goldberg (game designer) |date=November 1980 |title=Games |journal=[[Ares (magazine)|Ares]] |publisher=[[Simulations Publications, Inc.]] |issue=5 |pages=35–36}}</ref>

In the 1980 book ''[[The Complete Book of Wargames]]'', game designer [[Jon Freeman (game designer)|Jon Freeman]] commented, "''Traveller'' is the only serious attempt to provide a really comprehensive set of role-playing rules for science fiction: interstellar travel, exploration, trade, combat at all levels, and so on." Freeman warned potential players, "Considering the territory it seeks to cover, ''Traveller'' is necessarily complex, and it presumes on the part of the potential referee considerable familiarity with other role-playing games and the literature of science fiction." Freeman gave this game an Overall Evaluation of "Good", concluding, "For experienced players wishing a truly open-ended, science fiction, role-playing campaign, there is no real alternative."<ref name=cbw>{{cite book| last = Freeman| first = Jon| author-link = Jon Freeman (game designer)| title = The Complete Book of Wargames| publisher = Simon & Schuster| date = 1980| location = New York| pages = 281}}</ref>

In the October–November 1981 edition of ''White Dwarf'', Andy Slack reviewed the ''Deluxe Traveller Edition'', a compilation of the three original rules booklets, plus ''Book 0 - An Introduction to Traveller'', and an adventure, "The Imperial Fringe". Slack thought this edition was better laid out, and "typos have been rectified." Because he believed that this edition was not substantially different than the original set, he only rated this edition a 4 out of 10 for experienced players who already owned the original rule booklets; but for new players, he rated it a perfect 10 out of 10.<ref name="wd27">{{Cite journal |last=Slack |first=Andy |date=October–November 1981 |title=Open Box |journal=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] |publisher=[[Games Workshop]] |issue=27 |pages=11}}</ref>

In the inaugural edition of ''[[Games International]]'' (October 1988), Jake Thornton  gave ''MegaTraveller'' an above-average rating of 4 out of 5, saying, "Although there are some typos and omissions, overall, ''MegaTraveller'' is a success. If you like your SF on a grand, starspanning scale [...] then ''MegaTraveller'' is the system for you."<ref name="gi">{{Cite magazine |last=Thornton |first=Jake |date=October 1988 |title=Role Games |issue=1 |pages=42–44 |journal=[[Games International]]}}</ref>

In his 1990 book ''[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]]'', game critic [[Rick Swan]] called this science fiction role-playing game "the standard by which all others are measured ... a brilliant design of remarkable scope ... and a milestone in the hobby." Swan felt this game's popularity stemmed from two reasons: "First, many of the ''Traveller'' concepts are so inventive and revolutionary that they continue to ripple through the RPG industry ... Second, the sheer volume of ''Traveller'' material ... ensures that the game will continue to attract attention." Swan concluded by giving the game his top rating of 4 out of 4.<ref name=swan>{{cite book | last =Swan  | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]] | publisher =St. Martin's Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =221–223}}</ref>

Chris W. McCubbin reviewed ''Traveller: The New Era'' for ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' #2 (July/Aug. 1993) and concluded that, despite some complaints he had about the new version, "''Traveller''{{'s}} still around and that's good. I hope it always will be."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Traveller: The New Era |url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=373 |website=sjgames.com}}</ref>

In the August 1997 edition of ''Dragon'' (Issue 238), [[Rick Swan]] reviewed the fourth edition of ''Traveller'', and called it "a masterful effort... the best science-fiction RPG I've ever played." On the downside, Swan thought that "The inclusion of anachronistic weapons like swords and crossbows can turn combat into a bad episode of ''[[Star Trek]]''." He also pointed out that character growth in the game is very slow: "PCs acquire new skills and abilities about as fast as a tree trunk acquires new growth rings." He also wanted to see more setting information. But he concluded that the fourth edition of ''Traveller'' was close to perfect, giving it a top rating of 6 out of 6 and saying, "Time-tested and buffed to a sheen, ''Traveller'' will endure as long there's enough plastic to manufacture six-sided dice."<ref name="dragon238">{{Cite journal |last=Swan |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Swan |date=August 1997 |title=Roleplaying Reviews |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]] |issue=238 |pages=108–109}}</ref>

In a 1996 reader poll by ''Arcane'' magazine to determine the 50 most popular roleplaying games of all time, ''Traveller'' (as either ''Traveller'', ''MegaTraveller'', or ''Traveller: The New Era'') was ranked 3rd. The magazine's editor Paul Pettengale commented: "Although originally intended as a generic science fiction system, ''Traveller'' quickly became linked with the Imperium campaign background developed by GDW... This background offers a great degree of freedom for individual referees to run campaigns of their own devising, while providing enough basic groundwork to build from, and has proved to be immensely successful. Everything from political intrigue to action-packed mercenary actions, trading or scientific exploration is possible, and a lot more besides.... ''Traveller'' [is] one of the true classics of the roleplaying hobby".<ref name="Arcane14">{{Cite journal |last=Pettengale |first=Paul |date=Christmas 1996 |title=Arcane Presents the Top 50 Roleplaying Games 1996 |journal=Arcane |issue=14 |pages=25–35}}</ref>

Scott Taylor for ''[[Black Gate (magazine)|Black Gate]]'' in 2013 rated ''Traveller'' as #2 in the top ten role-playing games of all time, saying "Packaged in a plain black jacket with some simple bars of color, there is nothing inherently fancy about Traveller, and yet it has remained a viable source of entertainment to gamers through ten editions and six gaming companies that have controlled its license."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2013/06/10/art-of-the-genre-the-top-10-role-playing-games-of-all-time/ | title=Art of the Genre: The Top 10 Role-Playing Games of All-Time – Black Gate | date=10 June 2013 }}</ref>

In a review of the Mongoose version of ''Traveller'' in ''[[Black Gate (magazine)|Black Gate]]'', M Harold Page compared it to what came before and said "The new ''Mongoose Traveller Core Rule Book'' is a worthy successor to this tradition."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2017/04/06/modular-the-new-mongoose-traveller-1-first-impressions/ | title=Modular: The New Mongoose Traveller #1 — First Impressions – Black Gate | date=6 April 2017 }}</ref>

In his 2023 book ''Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground'', RPG historian Stu Horvath noted, "''Traveller'' is the first RPG that feels like a distinct game, free of ''[[D&D]]''{{'}}s direct influence on its design ... The original ''Traveller'' still stands as one of the most significant traditional sci-fi RPGs, thanks in part, to its proximity to the dawn of the hobby, but also to both its scope and the crisp simplicity of its systems. Any game since that involves complex technology ... builds on a foundation established by ''Traveller''."<ref name=mahg>{{cite book| last = Horvath| first = Stu| title = Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground| publisher = MIT Press| date = 2023| location = Cambridge, Massachusetts| pages = 16–20| isbn =9780262048224 }}</ref>