Characteristics
Universal Physical Characteristics
Strength (STR)
Description: A Traveller’s physical strength, fitness and forcefulness.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9.
Dexterity (DEX)
Description: Physical co-ordination and agility, reflexes.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9.
Endurance (END)
Description: A Traveller’s stamina, determination and ability to sustain damage.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9.
Universal Mental Characteristics
Intellect (INT)
Description: A Traveller’s intelligence and quickness of mind.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9.
Education (EDU)
Description: A measure of a Traveller’s learning and experience.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9.
Universal Societal Characteristic
Social Standing (SOC)
Description: A Traveller’s place in society.
Note: More detailed description and application options are available in Traveller Companion.
Availability: Imperial and generic polity humanoid characters.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 8, 9; Core Rulebook (2022), page 9, 11; Traveller Companion, pages 8-10.
Universal Psionic Characteristic
Psionic Strength (PSI)
Description: Powers psionic Talents of the character.
Availability: Imperial and generic polity characters get access to this characteristic through a life event or with Referee permission. Some polities, like Zhodani and Droyne, allow everyone to start with this characteristic.
Default score: 2D minus 1 for every Term served (at the time of the roll).
Reference: Core Rulebook (2020), page 196; Core Rulebook (2022), page 228; Aliens of Charted Space 1, page 253; Aliens of Charted Space 2, page 165.
Generic Extra Characteristics
Wealth (WLT)
Description: If the referee does not want to track every Credit and cost of item, they can use the abstract wealth.
Default score: equal to SOC at the beginning of the game.
Reference: Traveller Companion, pages 3-4.
Luck (LCK)
Description: Luck represents a Traveller’s general good and bad fortunes, and governs situations that are essentially beyond a Traveller’s control.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Traveller Companion, pages 4-5.
Morale (MRL)
Description: Morale represents a mix of courage, motivation, determination and sense of purpose. It functions in a similar manner to END, though in a psychological manner rather than physical.
Default score: 2D, increased by 1 for each successful Term.
Reference: Traveller Companion, pages 5-6.
Sanity (STY)
Description: Sanity is a useful characteristic to have in games with a supernatural element or those that involve a lot of cybernetics.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Traveller Companion, pages 7-8.
Species/Culture-specific Characteristics
Territory (TER)
Description: Territory is unique to the Aslan culture. It measures the amount of land owned by male (usually Aslan, but other species assimilated into Aslan society can own land).
Availability: This characteristic is an extra for any character, regardless of their species, assimilated within Aslan society.
Default score: 0
Reference: Aliens of the Charted Space Volume 1, page 15.
Charisma (CHA)
Description: At the heart of Vargr psychology is the concept of charisma, which Vargr define as an individual’s prestige and force of personality that attracts other Vargr.
Availability: Vargr from the Extents (Vargr culture) do not have a SOC characteristic – instead, they use Charisma (CHA).
Default score: 1D+2
Reference: Aliens of the Charted Space Volume 1, page 179.
Resolve (RES)
Description: The Resolve (RES) characteristic is a measure of the Hiver’s will, intellect and desire to get its own way.
Availability: Replaces SOC for Hiver characters.
Default score: 1D+6
Reference: Aliens of the Charted Space Volume 2, page 255.
Alternative Characteristics
Alternative characteristics are intended to replace universal characteristics to adapt the game to a particular style or environment. It is covered in detail on page 10 of the Traveller Companion. Below are just two official examples of applying alternative characteristics.
Charm (CHA)
Description: Social Standing is less important than a Traveller’s innate ability to charm and influence people. In this case, SOC can be replaced by a Charm that applies almost anywhere the Traveller goes.
Availability: Replaces or supplements SOC as a core characteristic.
Note: Availability to characters that normally don't start with SOC up to the Referee.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Traveller Companion, page 10.
Grace (GRA)
Description: A creature that evolved in an aquatic or extremely low gravity environment might be assigned a characteristic named Grace rather than Dexterity.
Availability: Replaces DEX as a core characteristic.
Note: Traveller from a more conventional environment uses half his relevant characteristic as its equivalent.
Default score: 2D
Reference: Traveller Companion, page 10.
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