Traveller - A Friendly Primer In The Third Imperium

THE IMPERIUM
The Traveller universe is set in a huge fictional empire
called the Imperium, spanning immense distances of one
spiral arm of the galaxy. Ruled by an Emperor (Strephon),
and a heirachy of nobles below that, individual worlds are
allowed their own governments and laws, as long as they
obey the code of the Imperium, most of which applies to
interstellar crimes and weapons of mass destruction.
The Imperium comprises many thousand star systems, and
all progress at their own pace as regards development,
culture and technology, though interstellar trade is a major
influence on most.

The Imperium and surrounding states

TIME PERIOD
Traveller is set in the 57th Century. Man has spread to the stars, both from Earth and from other planets to which he was
transplanted 300,000 years ago by the mysterious Ancients. Dates are expressed in the dating system of the Third
(current) Imperium; it's 1110 by that reckoning. The Imperial Calendar uses day numbers, so Jan 4th is 004/1110. The
Fifth Frontier War between the Imperium and the Zhodani has just ended and a flood of demobilized service personnel
are foot-loose and fancy free.

TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATIONS

Star travel is by means of Jump drives, devices which can throw a starship between one
and six parsecs (3.26 light years) in around a week. There is no faster method of
communication between star systems; regular communication is carried by starships,
particularly the XBoat network run by the Scouts. This means that there is far less
central control of decisions and far more autonomy for local planetary authorities to
make them. It also means that the unscrupulous can commit crimes and escape justice X-Boat
by getting far enough away. Depending on how keen the pursuit is!
OTHER CIVILIZATIONS
Surrounding the Imperium are several other star empires. The races that control these are among the Major Races -
those that discovered Jump Drive on their own rather than being sold it by other races.

The Ancients ruled most of the The Aslan are catlike humanoids,
galaxy for tens of thousands of averaging 6.6-7 feet tall, with a
years, mastering technology great emphasis on honour and
unmatched since. 300,000 years family ties. Male and female roles
ago they destroyed themselves Ancients are sharply divided, with all
utterly in a terrible war. Now all leadership and direct combat
that remains of them is scattered ruins of unimaginable scale activities falling to males while
and very, vary rare artifacts, often of immense power, females handle trade, money,
incomprehensible function and lethal dangers. diplomacy and anything involving Aslan
much in the way of introspection or
forethought.

The Vargr are genetically uplifted The K'kree are hexapodal herbivores -
Terran wolves, placed in a far sometimes referred to by humans as
distant star system by the Ancients "centaurs", fanatically -and aggressively
hundreds of thousands of years ago. - vegetarian and conservative. Their
They live in a fluid, chaotic society society is based on a herd structure, and
with a baroque, buccaneering the only time one K'Kree is encountered
approach to life, and success among is if one is lost, injured, dying or insane.
Vargr is driven by relative They are also very claustrophobic and
charisma. Vargr have a regrettable Vargr K'Kree starships are usually enormous. K'Kree
tendency to flourish in mercenary and space pirate fields of
endeavour.

Hivers are intelligent, six-legged The Zhodani are another transplanted

starfish with the best computer and human race, who have developed and
robotics tech in the galaxy. Averse utilized psionics as an integral part of their
to physical violence, they have a society. The Zhodani and the Imperium have
psychohistorical technique called warred frequently, mainly in the sector in
"manipulation" which they use to which the characters are situated. Zhodani
influence events.

Hiver
The Solomani (men of Sol) are the The Droyne are a remnant race, small
humans who remained on Earth. winged psionic humanoids with a very
Their militaristic and rather structured caste system. Rather
totalitarian empire touches the secretive, persistent theories insist that
Imperium, and they have fought - the Droyne are the descendants of the
and lost - wars with the Imperium Ancients. The modern Droyne show no
in the past. They believe sign of anything awesome, travelling in
themselves the only "true" humans. small clans on the edge of society and Droyne
Solomani
One of their specialities is genetic seldom gathering in large enough numbers to control an
uplift, and they have raised several species of animals to entire world.
sentience.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology is rated by tech levels, according to the following table. Most player characters will have originated from
worlds rated 9-15.

TL Rough Equivalent
0 Stone Age; primitive.
1 Bronze, iron. Bronze age-Middle ages.
2 Printing press. First firearms. c.1400-1700.
3 Basic science, industrial revolution. c.1700-1860.
4 Internal combustion. c.1860-1900.
5 Mass production. c.1900-1939. Powered Armour
6 Nuclear power. c.1940-1969.
7 Miniaturised electronics. c.1970-1979.
8 Quality computers. c.1980-1989.
9 Anti-gravity. Jump-1. c.1990-2000.
A Interstellar community.
B Lower average Imperial. Jump-2.
C Average Imperial. Jump-3. First robots.
D Above average Imperial. Jump-4.
E Above average Imperial. Jump-5.
F Technical Imperial maximum. Jump-6.
G Darrian. Advanced meson beams, AI robots, experimental matter transport
H Artificial intelligence, anti-matter, improved matter transport
J Personal disintegrators.
K Plastic metals.
L Comprehensible only as technological magic. Ancient Tech Level.
Note this list uses hexadecimal numbering. This is common in Traveller so as to allow larger numbers to be expressed in
a single symbol.

TRAVELLERS
Many people of many races roam the stars. Such travellers may be traders, plying single
ships from system to system, or mercenaries, fighting for one planetary faction or
another, or scouts, forever looking beyond the next hill.
One definition states: "A Tourist journeys to distant and interesting places and frequently
gets into trouble. A Traveller journeys to distant and interesting places and frequently gets
into trouble - and gets themselves out again."
Player characters are typically experienced individuals who have served in the armed
forces of either a world or the Imperium itself, have acquired skills and benefits, and have
for one reason or another set out to travel the galaxy and find adventure and employment
in more interesting places. They can also be interstellar traders who have come from a Travellers
merchant background, or criminals, or gamblers, or explorers... or pretty much anything. Unlike many other RPGs,
Traveller characters typically start off with a significant level of skill.