"Traveller - Mongoose or T5 for newbie?" Topic

As it says really, the latest from Mongoose or the 3-book T5 set from FFE? Or can they be combined?

I like Mongoose. Full disclosure, I write for them. It largely backwards compatible with previous version (not really TNE or T20, perhaps).

T5 has a reputation as being extremely comprehensive – a system for everything, something of toolkit, rather than being a complete game.

Mongoose has a much fuller release schedule than T5, releasing regular products. T5, as Marc's passion project has a much slower release schedule.

Thanks, does the latest Mongoose 2022 rule book have the usual plethora of typos? I know their previous work suffered quite a bit.

I'm not a fan of Mongoose's bad editing and often un-playtested sub-systems.

The original "little black books" from GDW still work well and are quite flexible. Just don't worry about "Oh, my gosh, there's no skill for this exact task!"

You can also pick up The Traveller Book, which combines the original 3 books and tweaks some of the rules. Starship combat, in particular, gets abstracted.

I'm too old to muck about with insanely complicated rules for an RPG. That what space combat games are for!

T5 is has a rule for everything, the key is only using what you need. Classic is still well supported and is still my 'default' version

Like emckinney I disliked the number of mistakes in what is a pricey product, and also the ship plans put me off. They weren't always complete or accurate and I just prefer 2d 'flat' style to their 3D style.

Thanks all, I've gone for T5 while it's still available.

Never made the switch from my original 1981 boxed set, so I don't know anything firsthand about either Mongoose Traveller or T5.
But the original Traveller, aka Classic Traveller is readily available from DriveThruRPG.com, so you're good to go with that, too.

Get the original! At $35 USD for the CD it is way cheaper than either T5 (which I like) or Mongose. Go to Far Future Enterprises to get it.

I like Mongoose and the original little black books.

T5 is, let's say, a bit too comprehensive for me.