Traveller-digest      Saturday, August 21 1999      Volume 1999 : Number 992



(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.
All rights reserved.

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: Traveller software
Re: Vilani Language
Re: Dear Loren W., RE: Hats Off to Jesse
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:28:09 -0700
re: Hudson-class Lander (GTL9)
Re: Dear Loren W., RE: Hats Off to Jesse
Re: Hard Science
Re: Where is Downport.com?
Re: Hal Clement...
Re: Flame bait 
Re: Experience System
Re: Pronunciation
Traveller items for auction on Ebay
Traveller items for auction on Ebay
Re: Poul Anderson...Hal Clement...links... 
Re: Hard Science 
Re: Asterisks
Re: Grav Deckplates
Re: Vilani Language
Re: Grav Deckplates
Re: Poul Anderson...Hal Clement...links...
Re: Orion Drive Modules

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 20:50:44 +0200
From: Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de>
Subject: Re: Traveller software

At 19:28 19.08.99 -0500, you wrote:

>I have:
>Space I Text Adventure
>Space II Text Adventure
>Trader (creates trade info)
>Traveller (an updated version of Trader)
>Word Gen (generates alien words)
>Bestiary (generates encounter tables)
>(I *don't* have the sector generator)
>
>Warning! A .zip file of the all the files takes up almost half a meg.  If
>you need a format other than Zip, I'll try to accommodate you.
> 
Why donīt you post it all on a website? Then you wonīt have to send it
again and again...
if you canīt Iīd like a copy, please. If you like, i can even post it to my
site ;-)
Volker
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Volker A. Greimann --- http://www.greimann.de --- volker@greimann.de

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:16:32 -0700
From: "Tom" <tbergman@brawleyonline.com>
Subject: Re: Vilani Language

In mail you write:

>>> Also, there's a moderate amount of evidence that *some* aspects of
>>> human language are "hardwired". If so, they obviously *can* be
>>> overriden, but it'd still tend to make the languages tend back towards
>>> something "more human" in such a time span.
>>
>> What aspects? For that matter, what evidence? This sounds interesting,
are
>> we talking onamatopeia (sp?), basic phoenetic elements, or what?
>

Leonard writes:
>Grammar.
<snip>
I have to disagree here.  If only to ask why there are so many different
grammars worldwide?  If grammar were "hardwired" wouldn't it be the ONE
thing that all languages and cultures on earth share?

Leonard writes:
>I also seem to recall that some sounds/expressions/whatever you want to
>call them *are* hardwired. Laughing, for instance.

Now this statement I must agree with.  I have seen and read numerous studies
on psychology, sociology and education that show how facial expressions and
body language (the sub-conscious type) are common in all cultures
world-wide.  Even dogs are known to attempt a smile in imitation of us.
There was a recent National Geographic special on Koko, the signing gorilla
with a kitten, that showed her common facial expressions, as well as
understanding of them in humans. My answer to the question is:

Facial Expressions.

Oriontwin
orion 0609 C36AA84-A hi- va+ vi+ so++ A633
tc+ tm+ tn t4+ tg-- ru+ he+ 3i!(+) c+ jt- st++ pi+ ta ge

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:09:03 -0400
From: Michael Peters <travelleri@home.com>
Subject: Re: Dear Loren W., RE: Hats Off to Jesse

Rob,

I'd think (and I don't know the Canadian exchange rate) $20-25(US) per
shirt to allow some profit to the printer and to Jesse! Still within the
range I've paid for souvenir shirts.

Mike

Robert Prior wrote:
> 
> >As Loren is busier than I am, you may want to send suggestions / requests
> >directly to him at lkw@io.com.  The more people that ask for stuff like this
> >(and I'm certainly one of them :) the more likely it is that they'll
> >consider doing it.  It can't be very cheap to do full color prints of
> >starships onto t-shirts :)
> >
> >Best,
> >Jesse
> 
> Well, I can do transfers at work. Kodak Pantone printer hooked up to a Mac
> (we usually print from Photoshop). IIRC, transfers were $5 in real money
> (not that overvalued US stuff :-) ).
> 
> T-shirts would have to be bought. MEC has a nice organic cotton for $11, so
> costs would be $16 Cdn + shipping. How does that look to folks?

- -- 
Mike Peters
travelleri@home.com

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:28:09 -0700
From: "Tom" <tbergman@brawleyonline.com>
Subject: Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:28:09 -0700

Robert Prior wrote:

>T-shirts would have to be bought. MEC has a nice organic cotton for $11, so
>costs would be $16 Cdn + shipping. How does that look to folks?

That looks great!!  That would be about $10 US or so plus s&h.  I'd buy
some!

Oriontwin
orion 0609 C36AA84-A hi- va+ vi+ so++ A633
tc+ tm+ tn t4+ tg-- ru+ he+ 3i!(+) c+ jt- st++ pi+ ta ge

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:33:25 -0700
From: "Tom" <tbergman@brawleyonline.com>
Subject: re: Hudson-class Lander (GTL9)

Robert Prior writes:

>Hm. Maybe I should add exterior speakers, so the Marines can play "Will ye
>no come back again" to the fleeing enemy? :-)

How about Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries" as in _Appocalypse Now_?

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:47:32 -0700
From: "Tom" <tbergman@brawleyonline.com>
Subject: Re: Dear Loren W., RE: Hats Off to Jesse

Michael Peters writes:
> Rob,
>
> I'd think (and I don't know the Canadian exchange rate) $20-25(US) per
> shirt to allow some profit to the printer and to Jesse! Still within the
> range I've paid for souvenir shirts.
>
> Mike
>
> Robert Prior wrote:
> >
> > >As Loren is busier than I am, you may want to send suggestions /
requests
> > >directly to him at lkw@io.com.  The more people that ask for stuff like
this
> > >(and I'm certainly one of them :) the more likely it is that they'll
> > >consider doing it.  It can't be very cheap to do full color prints of
> > >starships onto t-shirts :)
> > >
> > >Best,
> > >Jesse
> >
> > Well, I can do transfers at work. Kodak Pantone printer hooked up to a
Mac
> > (we usually print from Photoshop). IIRC, transfers were $5 in real money
> > (not that overvalued US stuff :-) ).
> >
> > T-shirts would have to be bought. MEC has a nice organic cotton for $11,
so
> > costs would be $16 Cdn + shipping. How does that look to folks?
>

This would make it about $15 US each.  That's still a good deal!  Especially
for Jesse's level of artwork!

Oriontwin
orion 0609 C36AA84-A hi- va+ vi+ so++ A633
tc+ tm+ tn t4+ tg-- ru+ he+ 3i!(+) c+ jt- st++ pi+ ta ge

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:44:05 -0400
From: "Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com>
Subject: Re: Hard Science

>For example, just consider what would have happened if during the Cold
>ar either side had come up with a way to transmt bombs to any point
>hey chose ("receiverless teleportation") or to snatch missiles and
>ther items from anyplace they chose ("transmitterless teleportation").
>
>nstant, *very* one sided war.

Just such a thing was done in a book by F. Paul Wilson called "Healer".
There was an entire race or lizards controlled by an insane god-like mutant
member of their race.  They were clear accross the galaxy from the Terran
Federation and they'd open up what looked like wormholes, at random, and
have their jump-harness assisted troops go thru, shoot up the immediate
place, then retreat.


___________________________________________________________
 J-Man
 ICQ# 2843475
 New Hampshire - U.S.A.
 Email : j-man@iname.com
 Home Page : http://www.geocities.com/~jman037/
___________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:46:39 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Where is Downport.com?

At 09:16 PM 8/17/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Unfortunately, that does not work for Traveller Downport.  Most of
the links
>and graphics use the full URL.  That is why the method I mentioned
is
>necessary.

	That's odd. Is there a particular reason that's necessary? Usually,
relative links are recommended ... for exactly this reason among
others
- -- ------------------------------------------------------------ --
   Dave Golden                  http://www.pcisys.net/~goldendj 

   Fight Spam! Join CAUCE! == http://www.cauce.org/

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:46:38 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Hal Clement...

At 01:38 PM 8/19/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Jory Earl wrote:
>> 
>  Takes
>> a pretty grim Merc to blow away a cute, adorable little fuzzy
critter.  :)
>
>Only if they haven't had to endure close quarters with them for any
>length of time ;-)

	How many here online would willingly and joyfully introduce Mr. Ewok
to Mr. Fusion Blast ...? *I* would ...
- -- ------------------------------------------------------------ --
   Dave Golden                  http://www.pcisys.net/~goldendj 

   Fight Spam! Join CAUCE! == http://www.cauce.org/

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:46:35 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Flame bait 

At 10:51 PM 8/20/99 -0400, you wrote:
>> On 08/20/99 at 02:01 AM,  "Keven R. Pittsinger"
<jamstar@accesstoledo.com> said:
>> 
>> >> Funny, on Cottman IV that's actually a family name... there's a
whole family
>> >> of Hasturs up in those hills...
>>  
>> >> Course no one's supposed to go to that planet, word has it
they've got more
>> >> telepaths than your average Zhodani consulate hanging around
over there...
>> 
>> Yeah, but only the redheads and mostly the women. ;-p
>
>Bound to be hell on your social life if you think about it.  They
know *exactly* what you're up to.  <grin>

	Hi, ther*SMACK*But I jus*SMACK*but*SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK*
- -- ------------------------------------------------------------ --
   Dave Golden                  http://www.pcisys.net/~goldendj 

   Fight Spam! Join CAUCE! == http://www.cauce.org/

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 17:59:03 -0300
From: Michel Vaillancourt <misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca>
Subject: Re: Experience System

At 10:15 PM 20/08/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Ethan points out :
>---
>The only problem with this is that it's as easy to go from Pistol-33
>to Pistol-34 as it is to go from Pistol-1 to Pistol-2. Traveller's
>lack of a skill level ceiling makes it difficult to judge which
>of these two things should be harder.
>
>One way is to say that skills should be harder to improve as the levels
>get higher, as you need more and more knowledge/experience as you go up.
>Electronics-6 could be an order of magnitude more knowledge/experience
>than Electronics-5.
>---
>
>You have a darn good point there.  I never really sat and thought about
>that, but in real life the more you delve into a field, the more esoteric it
>becomes.  Stands to reason any good skill system should at least attempt to
>mirror this.

        For those of you who have never looked at R.Talsorian Games'
_Cyberpunk 20202_, the EXP system there is pretty nice.  To increase a skill
costs 10x the current level of the skill in XP.  So, if I am going from
Pilot-1 to Pilot-2, it's 10XP.  From Pilot-2 to Pilot-3 is 20XP.  Some
skills have difficulty modifiers associated to keep things in balance...
Fixed Wing Pilot is x1, where Vectored Thrust is x3...  so to progress from
VT-Pilot 2 to VT-Pilot 3 costs you 60XP instead of 20XP.

        Its nice, easy to remember and quick.

        --Michel
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	Michel R. Vaillancourt	misha@atlantic-online.ns.ca
				ICQ # 31172292
	"Reality Error in Progress....
			....Do Not Adjust Your Penguin"	
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	Into Cyberpunk?  Check Out:
		"http://www.atlantic-online.ns.ca/cp2020"
	Into Traveller?  Check Out:
		"http://www.atlantic-online.ns.ca/traveller"
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	***REMEMBER - Always virus-check your emails ***
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:29:50 -0600
From: cos 90 <cos90@powersurfr.com>
Subject: Re: Pronunciation

>I don't know, but I suspect the Astronomy article will have been
>written by an American. The pronunciation was actually changed - very
>amusingly to the British, I assure you - during the fly-by, due to
>pressure from a group going by the name of the 'Moral Majority'
>(whatever that is) which felt that it was an inappropriate
>pronunciation for prime time television reports. If you check the
>dictionary (not Webster's) you will find that "your anus" is the
>correct pronunciation.

I suppose we could go with how the ancient Greeks pronounced the
name. (And why is it that the planet is named for a Greek god when
all the others are named for Roman ones?). But then we'd have to
pronounce the Jovian moon Io as "EE-oh" rather than the more usual
"EYE-oh"...

The alternative pronunciation "YER'n-us" that some people have
been suggesting doesn't quite work. It sounds so... so... renal.


     Glenn St-Germain § Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 
cos90@powersurfr.com § http://plaza.powersurfr.com/glenn
        "There is no longer any normal to be"
                                 -- Gary Numan

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:07:55 -0700
From: "moran" <silente@gte.net>
Subject: Traveller items for auction on Ebay

More stuff to be added soon.  Check the following URL:

http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=silente

Thanks
Jason
silente@gte.net

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 12:07:55 -0700
From: "moran" <silente@gte.net>
Subject: Traveller items for auction on Ebay

More stuff to be added soon.  Check the following URL:

http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=silente

Thanks
Jason
silente@gte.net

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 18:26:08 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Poul Anderson...Hal Clement...links... 

> 4 Lords of the Diamond series is great stuff.  How much handwaving would you
> need to do to run a classic traveller scenario based on that?

Surprisingly little.  Just the nanites, mostly.  Brain taping should come in 
around TL15 or so, since full body cloning comes in at about TL13, 14.  
Remember, the 'prisoners' weren't cloned, they were brainwiped and had the 
agent's memories and skills and such downloaded onto the blank brains.  <grin>

Standard jump drives would work well here, of course, with a 'mcguffin' that 
the nanites *kill* anybody 'infected' with them when they get a certain 
distance from the star (somewhere *within* the 100 diameter limit, of 
course...)

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 18:21:44 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Hard Science 

> 
> >For example, just consider what would have happened if during the Cold
> >ar either side had come up with a way to transmt bombs to any point
> >hey chose ("receiverless teleportation") or to snatch missiles and
> >ther items from anyplace they chose ("transmitterless teleportation").
> >
> >nstant, *very* one sided war.
> 
> Just such a thing was done in a book by F. Paul Wilson called "Healer".
> There was an entire race or lizards controlled by an insane god-like mutant
> member of their race.  They were clear accross the galaxy from the Terran
> Federation and they'd open up what looked like wormholes, at random, and
> have their jump-harness assisted troops go thru, shoot up the immediate
> place, then retreat.

Ah, but Kali's troops didn't have an easy time.  AAMOF, it was Kali herself that openned up the wormhole, and she could only open up 1 at a time.  <grin>

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:41:23 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: Asterisks

In mail you write:

>  
>> I could use _underlines_, but that requires using the shift key, and is
>> a lot more awkward to type.
>  
> Um, don't take this as a flame, but on all my computers "*" requires
> a shift key.

Take a look over on the numeric keypad. :-)

In any case, underline is more of a reach. And before you jump on me
about "clear over on the keypad" let me point out that I'm a two-finger
typist.

> Italics would be the standard print way to do so I guess, but it
> would be impolite to use other than the plain ole ascii you use.

Well, given that you *can't* do italics without HTML or the like, I'd
agree.

- -- 
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:45:46 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: Grav Deckplates

In mail you write:

> Leonard's answer to this is that the grav effect is generated between pairs
> of deck plates, so they don't have to "project" anything. I think this is
> an excellent ruling because it also explains why you can't use deck plates
> as a tractor beam or grav gun, and why Traveller starships have parallel
> decks stacked up like earthbound buildings instead of allowing crew to walk
> all over the entire interior of the ship including the walls and ceilings.

Well, with good sensors and switching, you migght pull that off for
*one* person in an area. I can even see a limited form of it being used
with multiple people in medium sized (but *very* well padded) rooms in
amusement parks. Try playing multi-person "tag" in a room like that.
"Down" would be determined by whichever direction placed the majority
of the players on a more or less level surface. :-)

I can also see a race using spherical ships with the "decks" being
concentric spheres. It'd still work with my "between plates" model. So
would "nested cylinders". But they'd be be a royal pain to deal with if
the grav plates were knocked out. 

- -- 
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:36:45 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: Vilani Language

In mail you write:

> In mail you write:
>
>>>> Also, there's a moderate amount of evidence that *some* aspects of
>>>> human language are "hardwired". If so, they obviously *can* be
>>>> overriden, but it'd still tend to make the languages tend back towards
>>>> something "more human" in such a time span.
>>>
>>> What aspects? For that matter, what evidence? This sounds interesting,
> are
>>> we talking onamatopeia (sp?), basic phoenetic elements, or what?
>>
>
> Leonard writes:
>>Grammar.
> <snip>
> I have to disagree here.  If only to ask why there are so many different
> grammars worldwide?  If grammar were "hardwired" wouldn't it be the ONE
> thing that all languages and cultures on earth share?

Please re-read the paragraph you quoted. I said "hardwired", I also
said that they can be overriden.

In other words, they are "merely" a default setting. In the absence of
an established grammar, humans seem to "invent" the *same* grammar over
and over. But they can learn other grammars just as easily.

*How* we got from this to the diverse grammars in the world no one
knows. I'd suspect that some cases may have stemmed from attempts to
create a "secret language" that eventually took over.

- -- 
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 15:51:16 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: Grav Deckplates

In mail you write:

> Grav compensation must also not be dependent on the distance from
> the plate, otherwise a 6G counter-acceleration on me while I was
> 50 meters from the plate would squish the person standing next to
> the plate, what with the usual distance squared laws.

It's possible (in theory) to create a *real* gravity field with
"parallel" "field lines". It's the solution for an "infinite" flat
plate. And the strength of the field *doesn't* drop with distance.

You see, the inverse square law is a consequence of *geometry. Of the
way the "area" to be covered by the field changes with distance. If the
field doesn't spread, there's no decrement with distance. 

> Richard again:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Leonard's answer to this is that the grav effect is generated between pairs
> of deck plates, so they don't have to "project" anything. I think this is
> an excellent ruling because it also explains why you can't use deck plates
> as a tractor beam or grav gun, and why Traveller starships have parallel
> decks stacked up like earthbound buildings instead of allowing crew to walk
> all over the entire interior of the ship including the walls and ceilings.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> I like this idea as well, I think I may make us of it. It makes the
> classic yacht with a transparent ceiling for the ballroom a little more
> difficult, though.

Not necessarily. The "grid" for the field elements ("grav plates" ) may
be of something that can be transparent. Or, it may be possible to use
very fine wires, closely space. They'd double as an electrostatic
shield against high energy charged particles, so as to reduce the
radiation dosage to anyone in the ballroom. 

So if you looked *really* closely, you'd see a faint hint of a grid of
nearly invisible wires running thru the "glass". 

This has a third advantage. It prevents radio signals from going thru
the "glass". Anybody trying to signal to another ship will have to use
a visible or IR laser. 

> Speaking of stacked decks:
>
> What if grav plates work best if you apply them in large sheets? That
> is, the larger the area of each deck, the better they work?

> That would explain a lot of the ship designs in the OTU with deck
> layouts paralell to thrust, when perpendicular ("stacked like
> earthbound buildings") often makes more sense from an acceleration
> point of view.

Interesting thought. Except that then the most efficient layout for
spherical ships is concentric spheres. 

I'd guess that they simply trust grav plates the way we trust
elevators. 

Hmmm. Now *there's* a thought. We have to go to considerable lengths to
get people to *not* use elevators during fires and similar emergencies.

So maybe in Traveller, they have to have special locks and warning
signs to keep people out of the "pit trap" corridors during emergencies
where there's a chance that the gravity might fail.

I can think of a couple of consequences. First, the "ceiling" of all
such corridors has one (or even *two* if the corridor is wide enough)
set(s) of ladder rungs, such that you can climb the length of the
corridor when the g-comp and grav plates are off. 

Other possible safety features are nets that snap across the corridor
at intervals, so as to catch anyone stupid enough to have walked in
from a cross-corridor. 

Likewise, the sternward wall of cross-corridors would have a surface
suitable for using as a floor. And cabins would have ladders or the
like to allow getting to the door under thrust, but with g-comp out. 

And there might be "ornamental" partial bulkheads extending out into
the "pit" corridors. Which become ledges, just big enough to walk on
when g-comp is out. Doors tend to be placed so that you have either no
drop or a very short drop to such a ledge.

I *like* this! It's giving me all sorts of neat "details" for cabins
and corridors. They're dictated by safety regs, but most folks would
never even notice them or think that they were decorative. 

Hmmm. I know my artistic skills aren't up to it. I wonder if my (unused
for 25 years!) model building skills are? Now *that* would be a
project. Build a detailed model at fairly large scale and then use a
digital camera to take photos of shipboard life. Boy, now I wish I
still had all those old Major Matt Mason figures (6" tall "astronauts"
that were poseable). 

- -- 
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 19:40:15 -0400
From: Michael Peters <travelleri@home.com>
Subject: Re: Poul Anderson...Hal Clement...links...

Ya know I'd forgotten that the four agents were brain wiped prisoners
with new memories. Darn, I'll have to dig those books out. I can see an
adventure based on them.

Mike

"Keven R. Pittsinger" wrote:
> 
> > 4 Lords of the Diamond series is great stuff.  How much handwaving would you
> > need to do to run a classic traveller scenario based on that?
> 
> Surprisingly little.  Just the nanites, mostly.  Brain taping should come in
> around TL15 or so, since full body cloning comes in at about TL13, 14.
> Remember, the 'prisoners' weren't cloned, they were brainwiped and had the
> agent's memories and skills and such downloaded onto the blank brains.  <grin>
> 
> Standard jump drives would work well here, of course, with a 'mcguffin' that
> the nanites *kill* anybody 'infected' with them when they get a certain
> distance from the star (somewhere *within* the 100 diameter limit, of
> course...)
> 
> Keven
> 
> --
> tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                                                      Science-Fiction Adventure
>                                                      In Reavers' Deep

- -- 
Mike Peters
travelleri@home.com

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:16:03 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: Orion Drive Modules

In mail you write:

> Orion engines are rarely encountered in the Traveller universe, because of
> the early advent of reactionless thrusters. However, they can provide
> low-tech planets with a nasty surprise for intruders: the bombs themselves
> are dangerous at close range, while they can also be used to trigger
> nuclear-pumped x-ray lasers. The effective thrust of an Orion drive is
> dependent on two factors: the yield of the propellant bombs, and the pulse
> rate (the number of bombs exploded per second).

They also need cooling for the baseplate. And in the process they
provide *enormous* amounts of high temp steam for generating power, use
as thrusters, or direct use in "catapults" for launching ordinance. 

> thrust = 200 tons x yield x pulse rate
> An Orion drive consists of a baseplate module, plus a variable number of
> shock absorber and bomb delivery modules.

> Baseplate Module
> Every Orion drive requires one of these.
> Volume: 2 spaces
> Mass: 50 stons
> Cost: 0.1 MCr x Sqrt(BPS)

Shouldn't the volume/area depend on the yeild of the bomb *and* the
size of the ship? Also, they don't *have* to be hemispherical. Merely
curved appropriate to the bomb yield. And for *really* big ships (such
as an old Orion powered *starship* design I once saw) they become
spherical thrust chambers with exhaust nozzles. These *greatly*
increase the thrust given by a bomb, but require truly *huge* ships. 

Oh yeah, an Orion ship has *greatly* increased resistance to most
weapons if it is positioned so that they hit the baseplate. :-)

If you are sufficiently crazy (or desperate) you could even build Orion
drives to boost large ground installations into space. Picture an Orion
drive "ship" a kilometer or more across, which has a payload consisting
of an old research installation's particle accelerator ring upgraded to
a weapon. (along with a nuclear reactor for power).

A 500 meter radius, circular CPAW with (probably) at least 8 "firing
ports" around the circumference. 

"Low tech" worlds are *full* of nasty suprises for would-be conquerors.
There are all sorts of things that *could* have been built but never
were because the need wasn't there. An invasion can change that. 

- -- 
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort

------------------------------

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #992
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