Last week, I discussed the classic Traveller from the 1970s and early 1980s. But as I mentioned, there have been numerous updates to Traveller over the intervening years, the most recent of which is the version shown above from Mongoose Publishing: the Mongoose 2nd Edition, 2022 update.
The basic game mechanics remain the same: roll 2d6 and add/subtract modifiers to achieve or exceed a target number, which is generally 8. And the Core Rulebook covers the same subjects as the three booklets of the classic game's box set: character creation and skills, combat, basic equipment and vehicles, spacecraft and starships (with rules covering both creating them and operating them), psionics, intersteller trade, and world creation. Pretty much everything you need for a basic game and setting is in the core rulebook. But the difference is that this version of the game is more developed and updated over the classic rules, with more options reflecting modern ideas of science fiction adventure. The layout is better set out and, unlike the classic set, there is a significant amount of good quality interior art.
Character creation is similar to the classic Traveller, using a life path with the career options available in the classic game, but with several additional careers taken from the Citizens of the Imperium supplement. In the classic game, you were limited to careers in the Navy, Marines, Army, Scouts, Merchants, and "Other". This version also includes careers as an "agent" (spy or law enforcement), a drifter or barbarian, a noble, a rogue (thief, gangster or pirate), a scholar or scientist. And even the basic careers have more variety. And, unlike the classic rules, you can't die in character creation.
The classic rule set did not include options for aliens (at least in the basic rules). The Core Rulebook here includes options for an alien character, including the two main alien spacefaring species of the Traveller setting, the Aslan and Vargr.
This version has more rules on environmental dangers beyond just a poison atmosphere, including more detailed rules on the effect of different gravities and radiation. It also has examples of alien animals, and random encounter tables.
The examples of equipment and weapons is much more expansive than the classic rules and includes whole categories of equipment not addressed in the classic rules, including items that would be familiar to a cyberpunk setting: body augmentation, more detailed rules on computers, drugs for enhancing combat, and personal sensors. There are more weapon options incorporating the weapons that players would now consider a must in a science fiction setting including handheld gauss weapons, lasers, stunner, and plasma rifles. And there are rules for vehicle combat and special vehicles, and a far greater selection of example vehicles. (And if you get the Central Supple Catalogue supplement, it has a far greater number of equipment examples plus rules on equipment availability).
The spacecraft rules or greatly expanded and includes examples of common spacecraft and starships a character might use or even own, including deck plans. Space combat rules are also greatly expanded.
The rules on trade and carrying passengers, for those acting as merchants (or smugglers) is more detailed and has more options. The same for world creation.
The only downside is that there is still no rules for robots, nor are robots or drones included in the basic equipment (although they include a robot repair kit). For that, you will have to get the Robot Handbook which details robots ranging from tiny nanobots up to "robot brains" used to control starships. It also covers creating robots, androids, cyborgs, cloning and using robots as characters.
In short, unless for purposes of nostalgia or economy, there is no reason to play classic Traveller over the Mongoose Traveller.
If you want a more detailed look at Mongoose Traveller, Seth Skorkowky did a 10 part review and tutorial going over the basic rules. Here is the link to the playlist. Below is the first video which is an introduction and overview of the game.
VIDEO: "Traveller: Part 1 - Introduction"
Seth Skorkowsky (13 min.)
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