Vargr has always been my favourite in the Traveller Universe. So it was with great anticipation that I ordered my very first MgT product. As I have no actual love for the MgT system and basically bought the book because my name appears on the credit page, I will try to give it a fair review.

 

First impressions

I opened the package soon as I got it from the clerk at the post office. The very touch of the book and the cover art made me want to get the other books. The  book is professionally bound in hardback and the cover art are just WOW, for lack of better word.

I leafed rapidly through the book while I still was at the post office and the layout and text was clear and easy to read and follow. The only thing that struck me while I was browsing though the book was that interior art. How could a book with that great cover art have less than mediocre art inside? This was a direct put off. If I had been gong to a store just to look for a supplement, I would never pick this book up just because of the interior art. Not all of it is bad, but much of it are.

Closer examinations

But the book is more than just art. It holds a lot of information. Much more than the CT module and the DGP V&V book combined. At 180 pages it has volumes of actual good stuff. It covers most things about the Vargr from physiology to psychology and history and much more.

There is also an in depth guide to Gvurrdon including sub sector listing and maps. Background information on all major powers and some minor ones, including a long list of corsair bands. Unlike previous Vargr modules, there is a long list of vargr equipment including illustrations for some of them. These illustrations are better than average for this book, and I felt they at least gave more information about how equipment may look like.

Character generation

Character generation are maybe the first thing many will try after getting this book. As I doesn't have the main rule book I can't go into detail. But I am familiar with the CT and MT way of doing it and I find the character generation here being pretty good and solid. Careers are divided into careers and specialization. Most of the careers are known from other books, but there are some race spesific careers.

All careers old and new are customized for Vargr and the Vargr way of life, making the character generation a little more different than the basic careers in the MRB.

Vargr way of life

A great deal of the book explains what makes vargr tick. It covers everything from dress code and behaviour. Unlike human societies Vargr will always contest for better social status, or in the Vargr mind set, better charisma. The mechanics here are, as I feel better explained here than in previous publications.

Gvurrdon sector

About 70 pages of this book handles this sector. Much more than all the other Traveller publications combined. I have covered Gvurrdon in my Gvurrdon campaign book, but the quality here is much better. The only thing they "stole" from my work was the UWP listings, World and Sub Sector names. Although some of the UWPs has been changed. No there is no TL 16 systems in Gvurrdon. The original CT module contained two. I added one (which was on the map, but not in the CT UWP list).

These changes may be to the better as it is next to impossible to imagine a TL 16 world in the extends that would not be under constant contesting, which likely would lower the TL due to all the wars.

However, there is one change, or rather in exlusion that I don't understand. Where is the Stellar data along with the data for gas giant, belt and population? Why has this been left out? I can't imagine this is an oversight. Is this the new standard for UWP listing?

Conclusion

Are this book worth the money? Yes, at least for those who starts up with Traveller for the first time. This is one good product which gives a lot for the money (apart from the dreadful art). Even those who are die-hard CT fans (or MT for that matter) will find this book quite interesting. Just the chapter for Gvurrdon alone should weigh heavy in this consideration.

Will I convert to MgT? No, I have other issues with the system. And that is something I may write in another article sometime. until then I think I'll lend something from this book