Traveller uses a different character generation and advancement mechanism, whereby the player goes through a design process to determine the character's history, career experience, and so forth. Unlike D&D and derivative games, in Traveller, character skill and ability advancement is downplayed in favor of positional-advancement - gaining of wealth, gadgets, titles, and power.
The original Traveller gamebooks were distinctive half-size black pamphlets produced by [Game Designers Workshop]? (GDW), and many of these half-size pamphlets were printed. Later versions of the game system introduced full sized booklets and new political twists, as the emperor was assasinated and many sectors of the galaxy thrown into strife (in MegaTraveller?), or the universe is rediscovered and retamed (in [[Traveller: The New Era]]), or the Third Imperium is begun (in [Marc Miller's Traveller]?), or an alternate history is followed where the emperor is not assasinated (in [GURPS Traveller]?).
The spelling 'Traveller' is what was used on the books printed and distributed in the U.S., even though it is a spelling more commonly used in International English.
See also MegaTraveller?, [[Traveller: The New Era]], and [Marc Miller's Traveller]? for different versions of the core system.
GURPS and d20? versions of the game are also available
[farfuture.net] is the home of Traveller's creator [Marc Miller]?
Links: