Major Race is a concept used to classify different Alien races in the Traveller series of role-playing games. There is some disagreement about what makes a Major Race and exactly which species are Major races. A Major Race is generally defined as one that developed jump drive technology (allowing interstellar travel) independently. While it is in general agreed there are 6 Major Races, how they are defined varies a little. All races that are not Major Races are Minor Races by default.

Even within the game this is understood to be a somewhat arbitrary distinction and something generally used for promoting the status of ones own race or diminishing another.

Commonly accepted Major Races

Seven of the eight Classic Traveller Alien modules (those produced by GDW) focused on this commonly accepted list of Major Races. The Vilani are the only Major Race that were not covered in the classic Alien modules. The eighth module of the series concerned the Darrians, a minor human race with its own interstellar state located in the Spinward Marches.

Aslan

Aslan are an aggressive, expansionist, bipedal species evolved from carnivore/pouncer stock, slightly larger than a human. Early Human observers saw in them a vague resemblance to the Terran lion, and they have been described as "feline" or "lion-like" ever since ("Aslan" is Turkish for "Lion").

Their status as a Major Race has been a matter of some debate. During the era of the Third Imperium there was little or no dispute that they were a Major Race. During the Rebellion period (a decade or so later), however, it was discovered that they had reverse-engineered their jump drive technology from a derelict Terran ship, and are thus alleged not to be a Major Race, in the strictest sense of the term. The debate is largely academic, as the Aslan are clearly a force to be reckoned with -- arguably second only to Humaniti in the breadth of their settlement and exploration range, as well as in the cultural impact that they have over these regions.

Aslan society has a strict code of honour and very strict gender roles. Males are warriors and land owners while females fill non-combatant roles and act as managers.

The Aslan control an interstellar state called the Aslan Hierate, bordering the Third Imperium on the Spinward-Rimward side. The 29 most powerful Aslan clans form the council (the Tlakhu) which rules the majority of the Hierate.

Droyne (Ancients)

The Droyne are a short-winged, pastoral, bipedal race of reptilian appearance. The presence of large, multifaceted eyes are also suggestive of terran insect life. Droyne are also unique among the Major Races in being capable of unassisted personal flight -- given a dense planetary atmosphere and/or light enough gravity.

Though the oldest of the jump capable races, the Droyne were the last to be recognized as such because they do not have any empires or large regions controlled by their race. Droyne are nonetheless scattered across known space, populating a few worlds exclusively, but also sharing some worlds with other races. The location of the Droyne homeworld is unknown even to them. It is speculated to be in the Spinward Marches sector of the Imperium, as this is where the greatest concentration of Droyne worlds are found.

The Droyne are a highly casted race, dividing themselves along six distinct sociobiological functions. The six castes are: Leader, Technician, Drone, Warrior, Worker, and Sport. Casting is a critical element of Droyne nature; while Droyne need not be casted in order to exist as viable (though extremely limited) individuals, Droyne society cannot function at all without the extensive presence of the castes. Casting involves the use of "coyns" - a set of 36 gold coins each with a separate symbol which are drawn apparently randomly when casting an adolescent Droyne. One of the mysteries of the Droyne is that six of the coyns feature symbols of the Major Races (Aslan, Droyne, Hivers, Humaniti, K'Kree, and Vargr).

Scholarship late in the Third Imperium confirmed that Droyne were the same race as the Ancients. An additional widespread and semi-sentient class of beings called Chirpers, originally thought to be a separate race, have been identified as Droyne that have lost the ability to caste, and have thus reverted back to a primitive form.

Hivers

The Hivers are race based on sixfold symmetry. Their biology is the most "primitive" of the Major Races. They lack a vocal apparatus, do not have distinct genders, and the majority of Hivers also lack a sense of smell. Of all the major races they both appear and think the most “alien” to most humans. Despite their name Hivers actually have a highly individualistic society. They avoid where possible direct violence and war, preferring instead to work behind the scenes via all forms of covert manipulation.

The Hivers control an interstellar state called the Hive Federation located to Trailing and Rimward of the Third Imperium.

Humaniti

Humaniti is the spelling used for Humanity in the Traveller Universe. When humans first reached out to travel to the stars most were very surprised to find they were already there. Three sub-species of humans independently developed jump drive technology and are therefore classified as Major Races in their own right. Less advanced humans, from stone age primitives to industrial societies, also exist on many planets, and are classed as Minor races.

Solomani

The Solomani name derives from “Men of the Sol system”. It is generally acknowledged that Terra is the original homeworld of Humaniti and that they were spread amongst the stars hundreds of thousands of years ago by the Ancients. This, and the ease of which the Solomani defeated the Vilani in the Interstellar Wars are cited by the Solomani Movement as arguments for the supremacy of pureblood Solomani. In truth very few human gene pools have diverged more, and with much intermingling of Solomani and Vilani peoples during the Rule of Man it is almost impossible to distinguish between Solomani and Vilani (and some of the minor human races).

The Solomani control a sphere-shaped region of space called the Solomani Confederation directly to Rimward of the Third Imperium.

Vilani

The Vilani developed on Vland. They were the first race of Humaniti to invent the jump drive, and created the First Imperium thousands of years before most other Major Races had developed space travel.

Vilani are nearly indistinguishable from Terran humans, except that they tend to live longer. The Third Imperium is dominated by humans of mixed Solomani/Vilani descent.

Zhodani

The Zhodani are humans who developed on Zhdant. They are known for their high level of psychic ability and its formal integration into their society. The Zhodani are biologically nearly identical to Terran humans.

They control an interstellar state called the Zhodani Consulate to Spinward and Coreward of the Third Imperium. The Zhodani have fought several limited wars with the Imperium and the Imperial prejudice against psionic ability is linked to fear of the Zhodani.

K’kree

K’kree are a massive herbivore race having 2 arms and 4 legs reminding humans somewhat of Centaurs (another nickname for their race). They are the largest and strongest of the Major Races but also arguably the least intelligent.

They are militant, xenophobic, and extremely distrustful of meat-eating species, and have often engaged in genocide of carnivorous species found in areas they control. K'kree are also claustrophobic and gregarious to the point that they suffer extreme psychological distress when separated from other K'kree for any length of time. Their society is patriarchal, and each K'kree herd is dominated by a single male.

The K'kree rule an interstellar state called the Two Thousand Worlds to Coreward/Trailing of the Third Imperium.

Vargr

Vargr are bi-pedal canines slightly smaller than a human. This species resembles Terran wolves because they are. Imperial scientists theorize that wolves taken from Terra were genetically manipulated by the Ancients into a bipedal form in an attempt to create suitable servants.

Vargr society is centered around strong leaders and tends to fragment when extending beyond the reach of a leader's personal charisma. They have a somewhat deserved reputation as pirates and corsairs within the Third Imperium (the earlier Imperiums simply referred to them as "barbarians").

The Vargr Extents, consisting of thousands of individual Vargr states, are to Coreward of the Third Imperium.

Other claimants of Major Race status

Various races have claimed to be Major Races based on their Interstellar travel ability. Some races were later proved to have not developed jump technology themselves but rather found and/or reverse engineered jump drives from Ancients sites or lost modern ships of other races. Other were discounted because their interstellar travel depended on non-jump technologies such as generation ships or sleeper ships using suspended animation.

Suerrat

The Suerrat are humans who claim to be a Major Race as they independently developed interstellar travel. However this was based on generational ships, not jump technology, so the claim is not accepted by other races who classify them as a Minor Race of Humaniti.

References

• Keith, J. Andrew (1984). Aslan. Game Designers' Workshop. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Miller, Marc W (1985). Droyne. Game Designers' Workshop. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Miller, Marc W (1986). Solamani. Game Designers' Workshop. ISBN 0-943580-07-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)