Traveller RPG is spelled with two Ls, but if you searched for Traveler RPG, you are probably looking for the same classic science-fiction tabletop roleplaying game.
Traveller or Traveler?
The quick answer is simple: the official name of the RPG is Traveller with two Ls.
The one-L spelling, traveler, is common in American English. The two-L spelling, traveller, is common in British English.
That is why people often search for both Traveler RPG and Traveller RPG. If you are looking for the tabletop roleplaying game about starships, trade, exploration, careers, patrons, and dangerous choices, the official spelling is Traveller.
New to the game? Start with the Traveller RPG Beginner Guide or download the free Intro to Traveller PDF.
Why Is the RPG Spelled Traveller?
A quick look at many Traveller books shows British-style spellings such as “armour” and “colour.” That makes it easy to assume the name simply comes from the current publisher’s location.
Mongoose Publishing, the current licensee and publisher for Traveller, is located in the United Kingdom. However, the spelling of Traveller goes back much earlier than that.
There is a story behind why this American-created science-fiction RPG uses the British double-L spelling.
In an interview I conducted with Marc Miller for the Mayday! 2019 event, he explained that Traveller was strongly inspired by the Dumarest saga, also known as Dumarest of Terra.
The Dumarest series was written by Edwin Charles Tubb, who was born in London, England. Marc adapted that British-style double-L spelling for Traveller, and the name carried forward.
That is how an American game created by an American designer ended up with a British-style spelling in its title.
Which Is Correct: Traveller or Traveler RPG?
If you are talking about the tabletop roleplaying game, the correct spelling is Traveller RPG.
You may still see people search for or write Traveler RPG, especially in the United States. That spelling usually means the same game, but it is not the official title.
You may also see “Travellers” when people are talking about the player characters in the game. That is different from the title of the game itself.
- Traveller - the official RPG title.
- Traveler - common American spelling of the ordinary word.
- Travellers - characters or people traveling in the setting.
What Is Traveller RPG?
Traveller is a classic science-fiction tabletop roleplaying game about people moving through dangerous space, taking jobs, building careers, dealing with patrons, making trade runs, exploring worlds, and trying to survive the consequences of their choices.
Unlike many class-based fantasy games, Traveller characters are shaped by a lifepath character creation system. Your character may serve in a career, gain skills, suffer mishaps, earn benefits, make contacts, and enter play with a history before the first session begins.
That is one reason Traveller has lasted so long. The game does not just ask what your character can do. It asks where they have been, what happened to them, who they know, and why they are now taking risks among the stars.
Where Should New Traveller Players Start?
If you found this page because you searched for Traveler RPG, Traveller RPG, or Traveller vs Traveler, these beginner resources are the best next step:
- Traveller RPG Beginner Guide - Start here if you want to understand what Traveller is and how the game works.
- Traveller Character Creation Guide - Learn how Traveller lifepath character creation works.
- Traveller Careers Explained - Understand why Traveller careers are not the same as classes.
- Traveller RPG Skills List - Browse short explanations of Traveller skills.
- Free Intro to Traveller PDF - Download a beginner-friendly introduction.
Interested in the Dumarest Saga?
If you want to learn more about one of the inspirations behind Traveller, the Dumarest saga is worth exploring.
Check it out here:
- The Saga of Dumarest of Terra in eBook format
- The Saga of Dumarest and other titles by E. C. Tubb in paperback format
These links are optional reading for fans who want to dig into the science-fiction influences behind Traveller.
Final Answer: Traveller Has Two Ls
The correct spelling of the RPG is Traveller with two Ls.
If you searched for Traveler RPG, you probably found the right game. The official title uses the British-style spelling, and the story behind that spelling reaches back to early science-fiction influences on the game.
Get More Traveller Beginner Help
Want more Traveller RPG beginner guides, character creation help, skills explanations, and sci-fi RPG resources?
Join the Traveller Character Creation list and I’ll send beginner resources, character creation tips, and CyborgPrime updates.
You can also join me and other Traveller fans on the CyborgPrime Discord server.
