EDIT: As I'm not getting the responses I was hoping for, if anyone wants to start a Third Imperium sandbox game of Mongoose Traveller, I'd love to join that as an alternative.

I want to travel the stars. I want to watch the double sunrise of Alpha and Proxima Centauri, work as a mercenary in the vast factory tunnels of Sirius I, study under the monks of Beta Hydri IV, and then catch the next transport to Eta Cassiopeia to hunt the giant snow beasts in the icy wastes of Mawson's Grave. The problem is, I don't have more than 50 credits to my name. But I think with some like-minded people, a little semi-honest work, and some serious luck, we can leave this tame old Earth and see some of the sights. Anyone up for it?

So I'm after a game where the group are penniless drifters doing their best to see the sights of the galaxy despite not having a ship or really much of anything besides an old laser pistol, a guitar, and a severely impaired work ethic. The system shouldn't be too complex (no freeform, please), but I'm not fussed about setting. Getting up in the world, and especially getting a ship or seriously outfitted with high-tech equipment, weapons, and armour goes against the spirit of what I'm after, though, as would living and working in one place for too long.
This message was last edited by the user at 07:28, Mon 16 Mar 2015.

Would you consider a Rifts Megaverse iteration of this?

Depends what you have in mind.  I've not played it before, but from the Wikipedia article, it seems to be very Earth-centric, with a focus on technology, transhumanism, and becoming powerful, none of which interest me much.  I'm more after a fairly low-tech, low power game, with plenty of travel.

If you're ok with tweaking the game, however, I'd certainly give it serious consideration, though.

It sounds like Mongoose Traveller fits your bill well. You might also enjoy Eclipse Phase (Excellant game and now open source) or if your feeling like harder sci-fi GURPS Transhuman Space might work.

I've played a little Traveller, and have just read about the other two.  I did consider Traveller, as it's definitely the closest by far, setting-wise, to what I'm after, out of what's been suggested so far.  But it seems like characters tend to start a little wealthier than what I have in mind.  If that can be sorted out, and if the system will support a shipless game, then Traveller suits me just fine.

Sounds like the premise of the game Orbit by Psychobilly Games. It's only available in print and was pretty tough to find even back in 2003 when it was first published.

In reply to SummitOfLies (msg # 1):

Stars Without Number works for this. Old school d20-based system, the core rules of which are free. The game is designed for sandbox exploration/wandering/adventures like you described.

Orbit looks a little sillier than what I was going for, sorry. Most of the other suggestions look very interesting, but is anyone actually able and willing to run something?

Traveller I think is a bit serious for this but if you want hard scifi it is the way to go. If you want a more hitch hikers guide the I suggest the system made to RP red dwarf. Nothings says a good laugh like space crazy.

The setting itself can be serious, it just shouldn't be grimdark.  I kind of like the idea of the characters not taking the world seriously, even though the world is a (somewhat) serious place.

Hard scifi is fine (assuming reasonably fast interstellar travel is possible), but isn't a requirement.  As much as I love HHGTTG, it's a bit silly for this particular game.

I'm currently running a Bulldogs campaign (FATE-based soft sci-fi) which could fit one or two more players, if you don't mind joining an existing game.  I can fill you in on any rules or setting details you need, although for the record the Fate Core book is available as a pay-what-you-want download (which I strongly recommend regardless of whether or not you're interested in my game).  Rmail me if you want to ask me more about it first.

Thanks, but it's not really quite what I'm after, mainly as I find it difficult to join games that are well underway.  I think the next best thing might be a fairly standard sandbox Mongoose Traveller game, if anyone is interested in starting one.  Setting would be the Third Imperium, with the players to be the usual mix of military/civilian dropouts starting out in their own ship.
This message was last edited by the user at 07:04, Mon 16 Mar 2015.

In reply to SummitOfLies (msg # 3):

Rifts is a multiverse style setting, typically focused on Earth but not necessarily. It could be played at a comparatively low-tech level (compared to other folk) and it could be played at an absolutely low-tech level (possibly with magic as the leveller)... However I suspect the dimensional travel angle isn't what you're after!

Interdimensional travel is certainly fascinating, but you're right, at this time I'm just after interstellar travel.

Ok so I have read through this and I think I can run what you are looking for. I would like to have about 4 players for this. I will send an RMail once I have things set up.

The system will be mongoose traveller.

I'm always up for a good mongoose traveller game.

I'm currently running two Traveller games, but wouldn't mind playing in one.

Sounds good to me.