Looking for Classic Traveller black box

[chicagowiz]

I don't mind if it's a reproduction, considering that I'm getting my 1977 books POD'd from lulu... but I'd like to have the box for my bookshelf and to hold the several books I do have. If you have a spare and its at least going to hold things inside? Thank you!

[rayotus]

You can get a black 7x9ish box at Michael's or Hobby Lobby I think. I've gotten them before to put zines in. It's not the same but you could print out the front/back of the box and paste them on and it would hold your traveller books and such. Also, I am a fan of the new reprint by Far Future Enterprises of the first three books with small bits of errata inserted where needed. I got a print copy the other day and was transported by it. Rolled up a few characters and relived my junior high years.

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355200/Classic-Traveller-Facsimile-Edition

[chicagowiz]

May 16, 2023 8:27:23 GMT -6 rayotus said:

You can get a black 7x9ish box at Michael's or Hobby Lobby I think. I've gotten them before to put zines in. It's not the same but you could print out the front/back of the box and paste them on and it would hold your traveller books and such. Also, I am a fan of the new reprint by Far Future Enterprises of the first three books with small bits of errata inserted where needed. I got a print copy the other day and was transported by it. Rolled up a few characters and relived my junior high years.

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355200/Classic-Traveller-Facsimile-Edition

Thanks for the pointer about just getting a box and making my own!

I've got a coil bound version from Lulu coming as I type this. I've also ordered lulu reprints of 1977 Book 1 and 2, since I seem to have a 77 Book 3 with my 81 Books 1, 2.

The fascimile is nice. I'm probably going to end up sticking to the 1977 version, if nothing else for the fact that 81/Starter/Fascimile removed this bit... and it seems so important to remember that the 77 version is less about 3I and more about sci-fi.

Skills and the Referee: It is impossible for any table of information to cover all aspects of every potential situation, and the above listing is by no means complete in its coverage of the effects of skills. This is where the referee becomes an important part of the game process. The above listing of skills and game effects must necessarily be taken as a guide, and followed, altered, or ignored as the actual situation dictates.

In some game situations, actual die roll results must be concealed from the players, at times allowing them to misconstrue the reasons for their success or failure. In other situations, the referee may feel it necessary to create his own throws and DMs to govern action, and may or may not make such information generally available to the players.

In order to be consistent (and a consistent universe makes the game both fun and interesting), the referee has a responsibility to record the throws and DMs he creates, and to note (perhaps by penciling in) any throws he alters from those given in these books.

[ochrejelly]

May 16, 2023 9:57:37 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

May 16, 2023 8:27:23 GMT -6 rayotus said:

You can get a black 7x9ish box at Michael's or Hobby Lobby I think. I've gotten them before to put zines in. It's not the same but you could print out the front/back of the box and paste them on and it would hold your traveller books and such. Also, I am a fan of the new reprint by Far Future Enterprises of the first three books with small bits of errata inserted where needed. I got a print copy the other day and was transported by it. Rolled up a few characters and relived my junior high years.

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355200/Classic-Traveller-Facsimile-Edition

Thanks for the pointer about just getting a box and making my own!

I've got a coil bound version from Lulu coming as I type this. I've also ordered lulu reprints of 1977 Book 1 and 2, since I seem to have a 77 Book 3 with my 81 Books 1, 2.

The fascimile is nice. I'm probably going to end up sticking to the 1977 version, if nothing else for the fact that 81/Starter/Fascimile removed this bit... and it seems so important to remember that the 77 version is less about 3I and more about sci-fi.

Skills and the Referee: It is impossible for any table of information to cover all aspects of every potential situation, and the above listing is by no means complete in its coverage of the effects of skills. This is where the referee becomes an important part of the game process. The above listing of skills and game effects must necessarily be taken as a guide, and followed, altered, or ignored as the actual situation dictates.

In some game situations, actual die roll results must be concealed from the players, at times allowing them to misconstrue the reasons for their success or failure. In other situations, the referee may feel it necessary to create his own throws and DMs to govern action, and may or may not make such information generally available to the players.

In order to be consistent (and a consistent universe makes the game both fun and interesting), the referee has a responsibility to record the throws and DMs he creates, and to note (perhaps by penciling in) any throws he alters from those given in these books.

Absolutely why I prefer the 77 version. I don’t know what your budget is, but I see copies of the 77 box set go for around $50ish fairly often on ebay.

[rhialto]

You can get plain custom game boxes here: looks like a CT-sized one is ~$12 for one copy. Then print up your own covers? I've used Lulu quite a bit the last couple of years to print up home-use versions of lots of old games, and have enjoyed doing my own covers to distinguish them (my Frazetta-nspired BSG cover CT Facsimile being one of them). There are occasionally folks selling just CT boxes on eBay, too.

Also a big fan of the '77 vibe, but some '81 rules updates (weapon wound values in whole dice, for example). 

[chicagowiz]

Thank you ochrejelly and rhialto!

[robertsconley]

May 17, 2023 7:10:40 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

Thank you ochrejelly and rhialto!

Check out game crafters

www.thegamecrafter.com/make/products/MediumStoutBoxTopAndSide

You can get it custom printed on demand. It will probably run between $15 to $20 after everything is added up. But you can have a pretty close facsimile of the original.

[robertsconley]

So I looked to see what it would take to make a Classic Traveller Box at Gamecrafter and came up with this using the 3D preview. The cost for one is $21.83 with shipping included. ($13.26 + $7.90 shipping + tax).





If folks are interested I will export the images I created so folks can print their own if they want.

Note I found images of the side text. I believe only two out of the four sides had text.

[chicagowiz]

May 22, 2023 20:10:21 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

May 17, 2023 7:10:40 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

Thank you ochrejelly and rhialto!

Check out game crafters

www.thegamecrafter.com/make/products/MediumStoutBoxTopAndSide

You can get it custom printed on demand. It will probably run between $15 to $20 after everything is added up. But you can have a pretty close facsimile of the original.

I did look at this based on some recommendations above, but unfortunately, it's not big enough:

Interior Dimensions - 5.63 x 8.59 x 2 in, 143 x 218 x 51 mm

My 1977 era Book 3 has a width of 5.75, so it won't fit without a slight bending... so it's a no-go unfortunately

[robertsconley]

May 23, 2023 17:27:43 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

Interior Dimensions - 5.63 x 8.59 x 2 in, 143 x 218 x 51 mm

My 1977 era Book 3 has a width of 5.75, so it won't fit without a slight bending... so it's a no-go unfortunately

WTF!? Well, that stinks that GDW didn't use actual digest size as TSR did for OD&D.

[chicagowiz]

May 24, 2023 8:04:01 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

WTF!? Well, that stinks that GDW didn't use actual digest size as TSR did for OD&D.

Ha! d**n sci-fi nerds!

I did end up doing a custom box size - ye gods, the shipping is 2x the cost of the box.

[robertsconley]

May 24, 2023 9:14:25 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

May 24, 2023 8:04:01 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

WTF!? Well, that stinks that GDW didn't use actual digest size as TSR did for OD&D.

Ha! d**n sci-fi nerds!

I did end up doing a custom box size - ye gods, the shipping is 2x the cost of the box.

From where if you don't mind me asking?

[chicagowiz]

May 24, 2023 9:20:46 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

From where if you don't mind me asking?

boardgamesmaker.com - I could get a custom box at the precise dimensions I wanted.

[robertsconley]

May 24, 2023 9:27:34 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

May 24, 2023 9:20:46 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

From where if you don't mind me asking?

boardgamesmaker.com - I could get a custom box at the precise dimensions I wanted.

What dimensions did you request?

Actually could you post the specs you used? I may get one myself.

[chicagowiz]

May 24, 2023 10:26:46 GMT -6 robertsconley said:

What dimensions did you request?
Actually could you post the specs you used? I may get one myself.

I have 1 true 1977-printed book (Book 3) that is 8x.5.75. I have my 1977 Book 1 and 2 POD printed through a private Lulu print - they are 8x5.9ish.

I had the box made tall so that if I get other books or materials, or I wanted to put dice in the box, I could.

Here's the specs:
Matte Lamination Smooth Finish 1.3mm Thick 4C Printing) Custom Size Game Box Game Box
Outer Dimensions - L: 9.28inch, W:6.53inch, H:3.1inch
Inner Dimensions - L: 9inch, W:6.25inch, H:3inch

For the graphics, I have images of the front/back of the 1977 box. They warned me that the print on the box back might look fuzzy, but it's the best image I had, so I went with it. If you have crisp image, you should be fine. I used GIMP to create a Photoshop PSD image using their template. I imported the PDF template into GIMP and just made separate layers for the top lid and bottom box. So we'll see how it goes!

[robertsconley]

May 24, 2023 10:35:29 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

They warned me that the print on the box back might look fuzzy, but it's the best image I had, so I went with it. If you have crisp image, you should be fine.

I recreated the original (link below). I plan to share the front once I get the side panels done. Also, I got a good enough shot of the 1981 back panel graphic so I can recreate that one as well.

drive.google.com/file/d/1JaaDkmrYf4RZr6fHWBOf-ht2_e7TbujT/view?usp=sharing

[Baron]

I should get a box made too. I have a lot of little books, and they could use a nice spacious home.

[skars]

May 16, 2023 8:27:23 GMT -6 rayotus said:

You can get a black 7x9ish box at Michael's or Hobby Lobby I think. I've gotten them before to put zines in. It's not the same but you could print out the front/back of the box and paste them on and it would hold your traveller books and such. Also, I am a fan of the new reprint by Far Future Enterprises of the first three books with small bits of errata inserted where needed. I got a print copy the other day and was transported by it. Rolled up a few characters and relived my junior high years.

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355200/Classic-Traveller-Facsimile-Edition

I really dig this facsimile edition, my lulu printed edition arrived. I own multiple copies of the rules over the years still in their boxes and just grabbed this based on your post; it looks like a fantastic way to get new gamers exposed to the classic rules. Thanks Ray

[ochrejelly]

I wish they had worked a little more on getting the errata text to fit in to the book. It looks a little janky.

[rhialto]

Jun 5, 2023 18:02:19 GMT -6 ochrejelly said:

I wish they had worked a little more on getting the errata text to fit in to the book. It looks a little janky.

Yes, it's "facsimile + marginalia and end notes": serviceable, but not a "Revised Classic Traveller" longed for. 

[robertsconley]

Jun 4, 2023 22:50:42 GMT -6 skars said:

I own multiple copies of the rules over the years still in their boxes and just grabbed this based on your post; it looks like a fantastic way to get new gamers exposed to the classic rules. Thanks Ray

This should help the cause as well.

Classic Traveller References
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Orti9S3UUuFxL79h9fOlJyW37esDolhG?usp=sharing

[doublejig2]

In 1983, I exchanged my Traveller box set for 3 Escher prints. It was a good trade for both parties but I miss the black booklets (like Bushido).

[ochrejelly]

Jun 6, 2023 4:13:56 GMT -6 rhialto said:

Jun 5, 2023 18:02:19 GMT -6 ochrejelly said:

I wish they had worked a little more on getting the errata text to fit in to the book. It looks a little janky.

Yes, it's "facsimile + marginalia and end notes": serviceable, but not a "Revised Classic Traveller" longed for. 

Marc Miller told me he was thinking about doing a proper printing of the facsimile edition. Whether that ever happens or if that means it will be properly typeset remains to be seen.

[rhialto]

Jun 6, 2023 22:16:26 GMT -6 ochrejelly said:

Jun 6, 2023 4:13:56 GMT -6 rhialto said:

Yes, it's "facsimile + marginalia and end notes": serviceable, but not a "Revised Classic Traveller" longed for. 

Marc Miller told me he was thinking about doing a proper printing of the facsimile edition. Whether that ever happens or if that means it will be properly typeset remains to be seen.

Well, the revisions I have in mind are a distillation of the "Does Classic Traveller need an update?" thread over on CotI, so more than just integrating the existing errata into the facsimile edition. And that thread has design decisions which someone would have to adjudicate. I'm at the point of compiling my own revisions, adding my few house rules for emulating heroic and epic space-opera characters, and just printing up my own version. Call it my personal "Rhialto of Terra" quest. 

[ochrejelly]

Ahhh, cool