Mongoose SRD
Mongoose, back in 2008 released the first version of their Traveller RPG and a version of a Traveller SRD with an Open Gaming License. This covered their First Edition game. Later they updated it 2nd Edition. At some point (I am not sure when really) they also created the High Guard System Reference Document and Mercenary System Reference Document. This covers an awful lot of Traveller.
My understanding is there is a Compatibility License though I did not find any details on it, but that is fine.
Much like the d20 SRD there are a few different copies out there. These are the ones I have referenced the most often.
Back in 2016 Jason Kemp released the Cepheus SRD which emulated Traveller. Personally, from a game design point of view, I rather like it. He took the Mongoose Traveller SRD and then did something I really like, he took other SRDs to get the desired effect. Here are the various SRDs from his Section 15 of the OGL of the Cepheus Engine RPG:
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
High Guard System Reference Document Copyright ©2008, Mongoose Publishing. Mercenary System Reference Document Copyright © 2008, Mongoose Publishing.
Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002- 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.
Swords & Wizardry Core Rules, Copyright 2008, Matthew J. Finch
System Reference Document, Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
T20 - The Traveller’s Handbook Copyright 2002, Quiklink Interactive, Inc. Traveller is a trademark of Far Future Enterprises and is used under license.
Traveller System Reference Document Copyright © 2008, Mongoose Publishing. Traveller is © 2008 Mongoose Publishing. Traveller and related logos, character, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Far Future Enterprises unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd Authorized User.
Cepheus Engine System Reference Document, Copyright ©2016 Samardan Press; Author Jason “Flynn” Kemp
He also used the T20 and Modern d20 OGC for this. Very clever.
This was released as the Cepheus Engine RPG in 2017. It is a complete RPG, but still mostly an SRD in an RPG cover. That is fine since it's goal is not to be a game but to be a resource to make material for other games. To continue my rather awkward D&D analogy this is all 100% OSRIC; both in form and function.
In 2021 Stellagama Publishing released the Cepheus Deluxe RPG. Which is an RPG based on the Cepheus Engine. Extending the analogy further to point of self-referencing, this is the Swords & Wizardry of Traveller. At least in function.
Of these, I have the Cepheus Deluxe in POD and it compares favorably to the OSR offerings for the D&D clones. It also compares well to the Classic Traveller line.
1 comment:
Cepeheus is an interesting brew of mechanics, and seems to be pretty popular with various designers. Haven't actually used it for anything directly related to Traveller, but I did get an opportunity to play in a few sessions of a homebrew scifi setting using it.
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