Okay, so my birthday is coming up at the end of February, and I have not quite decided which gaming products I want yet. I'm also getting a few other things (a subscription to a magazine and some books), so my limit is about $80 (more if I contributed some of my xmas money to this). I'd like advice on which of the following items to get, I've included some pros and cons for each one. Your help is appreciated.

Item #1: EABA and supplements
Pros
- a universal game system is something I've wanted for a while
-There are cool settings for it
-the stuff supplement can be used for other systems as well
Cons
-Not sure how much I'd actually play this
-I'd have to print it myself

Item #2: Pathfinder
Pros
-I know this would get played a lot, since I'm in two D&D 3.5 campaigns right now and my group would switch to PF in an instant
-The books look nice (Seriously, they do! )
-I know and love D&D, so I'm pretty much guarenteed to like this
Cons
-Makes my 3.5 books obsolete
-More expensive than some of the other items
-Not much different from what I already have

Item #3: Traveller Supplements
Pros
-These would get used a lot, since I'm currently running a traveller campaign and playing in another campaign
-I only have a couple supplements for Traveller right now, so some more options would be useful
-Traveller is probably my favorite RPG, so naturally more stuff for it would be cool
Cons
-I don't really feel like I need more supplements to run a good traveller game or have fun playing it
-The books are about the same price as Pathfinder manuals bought on Amazon, which means I would get less material than buying Pathfinder

Item #4: Campaign Cartographer
Pros
-I'd use it lots for my traveller campaign
-The maps look awesome
-I want more 2d map tiles for traveller, as I haven't started building Titan yet
Cons
-It's expensive
-There are a lot of add-ons
-I don't have piles of free time to spend learning how to use it


Your feedback is appreciated! I gotta make a decision on this soon - I'm almost 16, after all
Thanks.

My vote is Pathfinder. The reason being is I don't know anything about EABA and very little of Traveler. Both have Cons listed that seem greater than the other two. This then comes down to software vs. game system. I say game system and borrow maps from various supplements and online resources.

PS
I made this a poll for you.

And Pathfinder will only make some of your 3.5 obsolete - though the Advanced Players Guide adds equivalents to many of the 3.5 base classes.

I would be leery of converting Reserve feats, much as I like them they are likely unbalancing when added to the Pathfinder spellcasters.

The Auld Grump, who has just finished flocking a troll's back....

Traveller!

Can't imagine getting stuff for other games when Traveller goodness can be had...

I have to go pathfinder here...
It seems like the book that you will get the most use out of.

Actually, I can suggest some cheats - try the , and see if you like what is shown.

Get the $10 - It'll be handy in any event. (Though I suspect that you will end up getting the book anyway - it's a very nice book. So colorful, so well written, so well balanced for hitting unruly players over the head....)

Consider the , cheaper, and may allow another purchase as well.

The Auld Grump

I think you should get GURPS then you can add GURPS Traveller to it! Then you would have your universal system that also goes well with your Traveller! Then get Campaign Cartographer to do the Traveller maps

Before you buy Traveller supplements or choose between any of the other options, check out Marc Miller's .
E.g. for $35 you can get the entire suite of original Classic Traveller books, supplements, adventures and add-on games on CD ROM.

p.s. it pays to check www.FarFuture.net (Marc's official site) occasionally, as every few months Marc releases a bit of Traveller material as a free download.

p.p.s. Marc also has hard copy reprint bundles at reduced prices on his site.

Don't know enough about EABA to give you a steer either way.

Pathfinder is good. Its what I've been GMing now for the last 18 months or so, and is a logical progression from 3.5. It doesn't excite any great love for me, but then it's not GURPS...

Traveller is good no matter what flavour you play (pretty certain I've played most). I can still remember getting the little black books 1st time round and killing many a character during creation!

CC3 is good, but I must admit it's installed on a machine that I don't use anymore! (must do something about that). I used to be really good at properly mapping things out - these days it's a scribble 4 the players if they're lucky!