[Question_Assumptions]

<Gamer-Geek>Gauss Rifles are actually from Traveller and possibly from an earlier work of science fiction (Traveller drew inspiration from many sources). FASA, the company that created BattleTech and Mechwarrior (originally "BattleDroids" until George Lucas' lawyers asked them nicely to change the name), started out as a company that produced Traveller supplements. So I'm confident in saying that Traveller came before BattleTech but I'm not sure if there was an earlier science fiction source. Yes, BattleTech was originally a tabletop war game played with hex maps and miniatures or cardboard figures.</Gamer-Geek>

[Col Sanders]

Wow, I thought I was the only person alive who still remembered Traveller.

Even my hardcore (former) gamer friends around my age have never heard of it....

I remember spending all night on many Friday/Saturday mornings playing it with a small group of friends when I was a senior in high school. We used to use vodka for hit points...LOL - Pass out and you were dead...

Good times.

Col Sanders