The Journal of the Travellers’ Aid Society is a cool little digest-sized magazine devoted to GDW’s sci-fi RPG Traveller. This is the earliest issue I’ve got, number 6, which I believe is Fall, 1980. I’m not sure though.

The reason I am not sure is the also the reason the Journal is so interesting. When it launched back in 1979, the decision was made to use dates from the calendar of the game’s Third Imperium setting. So this one was issued on the 273rd day of the 1106th year of the Imperium. For the first issue, this was just a bit of stage dressing, but then, in issue two, with the date moved forward 90 days, they included news items from the Imperium, which were included in every issue going forward. It is one of the earliest examples of a metaplot in RPGs!

The rest of the magazine is about what you’d expect: stuff to make your Traveller game more interesting. This issue has articles on the Imperium stock exchange, the scout service, and … space dolphins? Yup. Space dolphins. That one is by Roger E. Moore of Dragon Magazine fame, believe it or not. William H. Kieth on cover duty. That’s a scout service ship. I really love this cover illustration generally (Star Wars vibes, but also not) and specifically its use of a single color.