Traveller Universe got its own webpage at StuffOnline and is distributed through BITS UK.

The software comes with an extensive database over the third Imperium sectors complete with UWPs, x-boat routes and everything else we are used to from (sub)sector maps and listings. The UWPs seems to have been taken from a period around 1105.

Navigation between sectors, subsectors and worlds are easy and works pretty rapid. The database itself is run on Borland Interbase, a open source product. The database itself is a SQL database so for those who a techy inclined will be able to construct their own queries. However, from what I have learned Interbase will have to go in favour of MS SQL server in later releases.

The sector view window gives and overview of system placement and colors systems after political alignment. In addition there is possible to list alternate names to the sector. Clicking on a subsector brings the subsector up in its own window.

From the subsector virew we can clearly see the systems, and the system icon indicates wether it is a garden worlds, asteroid belt or other type of world. Clicking on a world in eithrer the UWP listing or in the map itself you are brought to the worlds window.

It is here Traveller Universe really shows its strength. All the world information is available at the referees and the players fingertips. An added strength to the software is that both players and referees may store details about the world for later reference in case something significant has happened on this world that may have impact on later sessions when the world is re-visited.

For those who prefer using Gurps Traveller rules there is even information available for them.

Through a selection in one of the menus, there is possible to generate a jump-6 map around the selected world.

However, even for its usefulness, Traveller Universe shows its first short coming. It is not possible to click on any of these worlds on the map to navigate there automatically. So unless you are real lucky with your placement you may end up with having to open 4 seperate subsector windows to navigate beween to find a suitable world to travel to with your current cargo.

There is also possible to import your own sector files from either Heaven and Earth, Galactic or general SEC files found on the internet. Universe comes with a small, but quite powerful administrator front end that makes it possible to generate new databases either filled or empty. However, a empty database comes with everything, but the systems. These have to be imported from external files.

This is a second major short coming. There is not possbible to populate a empty (sub)sector by hand inside the software without imprting a sector file first. However, the sector file could contain one world and then the rest could be placed by hand. I haven't tried this myself, but from what I understand this is possible,.

For those of you who would like to make your own campaign map with your own background with way different political entities will be in for a surprise. A empty database comes with everything. That is base codes and all the polities (canon and non-canon) ready assigned to letter codes. This brings up a problem with assigning new codes. In other words you are pretty much trapped OTU unless you got the skills to re-write most of the content of the database back end.

There is a wishlist of features I would like to see in this product in later releases.

• The possibility to have several UWPs stored about one system, preferably with campaign dates when the change of the UWP will be implimented. This would make it easy for those who plays through a Hard Times like campaign where the UWP will fluctuate due to major events.
• Seperate campaign information from the stellar database. In case a referee is running two or more campaigns. As it is today both referee and players may store information in the database at the world level. However, as this information ties in with the world. Running another group using the same database may result in confusion or unwanted spreading of information between groups.
• The possibility to open a totally empty database and put in everything by hand. Even alliance codes and base codes. Sometimes even have seperate tables for different government type tables. As it is today TNE campaign will be very difficult to run as some of the TNE government types are not present in the current database. And it cannot be included.
• The possibility to place other objects on the map than just worlds. What about that deeps space asteroid used for refueling?
• Alliance names tied directly to worlds rather than to two letter codes. Today you may find that the code you need to use is taken by something else. The two letter codes are just the prefered code used in sector listings.

All in all I find Traveller Universe a very usefull tool. It was written a long time ago (relatively speaking) and needs some updates to address certain concerns. However, the few problems I have listed above should not defeer you from investing in the software unless you really need to play in a non-OTU campaign.