Traveller-digest      Tuesday, December 3 1996      Volume 1996 : Number 714



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: MILIEU 0 vs. TNE
TEST
Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #713
Re: prisoners
Re: It's here!
Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #706
Traveller Computer Wargame
Alan's back!
The longest wait...
The longest wait...
MegaTraveller Auction #6
Nuclear Dampers
GDW Questionnaire for FFW
Re: It's here!
Re: Rebellion
RE: Rebellion
RE: Traveller Computer Wargame
Signed Hardback Arrives!
Re: How long has the Imperium had TL 12?
Emigration in Traveller
Re: Traveller Computer Wargame

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

Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 23:30:34 -0800
From: "Rich Ostorero" <stormhvn@inreach.com>
Subject: Re: MILIEU 0 vs. TNE

> 
> First, there is variety.  With the RC, the Regency, and the whole of the
Wilds 
> to draw from, you can craft a setting pretty much to your liking.  If you
like 
> military stuff, the RC may be the place for you.  If that feels too
cramped or 
> you are longing for "the good old days," well, you have all of the
Spinward 
> Marches to campaign in.  And if you want something totally new, who knows
what 
> is waiting out in the Wilds -- maybe even another Regency.

How about the HubWorlds or the Covenant of Suffren, two _excellent_
settings for someone uncomfortable with the moral overtones of the RC?
> 
> Second, characters had a purpose (at least in the RC).  I can understand
why 
> the undercurrent of violence would be disturbing, but it was violence in
a 
> good cause (e.g., toppling TEDs). 

Damed right! If the players want to sling around RAM grenades and plasma
bolts, and I want to entertain them, then why the heck not?

Then again, the moral overtones in the RC at least make the characters
_think_ about what they are doing! 

> How many people were involved in campaigns as mercenaries?

Lots! 
> 
> Third, TNE passed the novel test -- if this were a novel, would I be
happy 
> that I spent time reading it?  The answer was always yes.  I eagerly
awaited 
> each new release, because it was clear that the story was moving forward,
and 
> that that there would be inevitable conflict as the subplots came
together.  
> [Notice "conflict," not "violence."  Without conflict, there is no
drama.]  
> What was going to happen when the RC and the Imperium meet?  Both can be 
> considered the good guys, but each is likely to regard the other as
anathema.  
> What about the Zho's and the Empress Wave?  The Black Curtain?  The other

> pocket empires?  The Hiver plot(s)?  [I really hope they do a wrap-up
book.]

**sigh**
> 
> One last point -- am I the only one who did _not_ find the TNE setting to
be 
> dark and depressing? 

Hell no! 

> This wasn't T2K, despite claims to the contrary.  The 
> disaster by this point was long past, and the setting was one of new 
> challenges every day and new worlds to explore with every mission.

The "bright and hopeful" outlook of TNE was, as I've said before, the
perfect anodyne to three-plus years of remitting "darkness" in roleplaying
games. With the RC background's low population numbers, an individual's
contributions means so much more to the society of which he is a part. PCs
can (and will) have a tremendous impact on the course of Coalition history
- -- and _that_ is as exciting for me to GM as it is for my players to play
in!
> 
> I think it is funny that Tim Peter describes T4 in much the same way that
I 
> look upon TNE.  I, unfortunately for me (I guess), just don't see it in
T4.  I 
> don't see any evidence that the story is going anyplace we haven't
already 
> been for twenty years. 

The scene for that story hasn't even been set yet. Give IG time, until the
M0 sourcebook comes out, to start telling the story. I've hoped that IG
would use it's Web page to start laying the groundwork of the story behind
M0. . . but that hasn't happened. Has someone been detailed to develop M0
with the same strong and sure hand that Dave Nielsen did with TNE? 

Looking forward to developments, as always . . .

- --Rich Ostorero
stormhvn@inreach.com

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

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 09:31:59 +0100
From: Jerome DARMONT <darmont@libd1.univ-bpclermont.fr>
Subject: TEST

 This is a test. Please ignore. (I seem not to be able to post...)

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerome DARMONT, LIMOS, Universite Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand II
darmont@libd1|2.univ-bpclermont.fr, oodbprjd@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
http://lmiindy7.univ-bpclermont.fr/~darmont/

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

Date: 03 Dec 1996 09:39:09 GMT
From: ajpursell@babylon.montreal.qc.ca (Alan Pursell)
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #713

Hey there,

gone south to get some sun and recover from the snow that just keeps on
coming... back next tuesday. 

see ya...

alan j

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

Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 20:50:05 PST
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Re: prisoners

In mail you write:

> Leonard writes:
>
>>Another method would be to infect prisoners with something like Chronic
>>Fatigue Syndrome. Not terribly infectious, but it'll render you
>>incapable of escaping, or even giving much trouble. At release, you
>>cure them.
>
> I love the idea but wouldn't that count as 'cruel and ususual' 
> punishment?

I could refer you to the section in "Starship Troopers" where "cruel
and unusual punishment" is discussed. Or I could just point out that
the Constitution of the United States of America is a historical
document of about as much interest as Hammurabi's Laws.

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

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

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 03:36:48 -0800
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: It's here!

At 07:21 PM 12/2/96 GMT0, you wrote:
>
>My singed hardback finally arrived this morning. Do I win the prize for 
>the longest wait?

well, depends.. what was it singing when it arrived?

+----------------------------------------------+
| Douglas E. Berry          dberry@hooked.net  |
|     Professional Driver - Traveller Guru     |
|        http://www.hooked.net/~dberry/        |
|**********************************************|
| "Life's a journey, not a destination."       |
|                                   -Aerosmith |
+----------------------------------------------+

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

Date: 2 Dec 96 08:13:49 -0500
From: "Jeff Kazmierski" <odysseus@novia.net>
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #706

	
>Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 10:45:02 +0000
>From: Mused <marz@hotstar.net>
>Subject: Re: ABC's of the ABC
>
>Jeff Kazmierski wrote:
>> Actually, the original article was aimed towards Traveller players, but
I
>> suppose it could be used for just about any game system.  The charts are
>in
>> d100 format.
>> 
>> I toyed briefly with the idea of converting it to a "d66" system, to
>better
>> suit "real" Traveller players, but the mechanics were easier with d100.
>
>Your article has an incredible similiarity to one published ages ago in
the
>Dragon
>Inspired?
>

Not so incredible.  The "original article" that I was referring to was
published in July 1981 in Dragon Magazine.  Mine is a modified version of
it, with a few additions and details the original left out (and a few silly
ideas removed).

Jeff

- ---------------------------------------------------------
                +
                |\        "Anybody got a Q-tip?"  
                | )      /       
                | )       _      
       _        | )      /@
        \ ______|/______/
_________\ @@@@@@@@@@@@/__________odysseus@novia.net

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

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 21:36:36 +0900
From: Armand Suarez <suarez@on.rim.or.jp>
Subject: Traveller Computer Wargame

All this talk of "what if" scenarios for the Rebellion made me decide to 
resurrect my plea for somebody to consider making a computer wargame for 
Traveller.  (I asked about it early this year, but no-one was interested.)

I think it would be great to have a computer wargame based on Fifth Frontier 
War with which we could simulate these "what if" scenarios for the end of 
the Rebellion, as well as any of the other interesting wars in Imperial 
history.  The playing area would have to be as big as the Imperium itself 
(depending on the scenario) and the game would have to allow players to edit 
and make their own units and scenarios.  I enjoyed the FFW game a lot, but I 
don't get any chances to play it anymore.  There aren't many games like this 
out there, so if Marc wanted he could soup up this concept enough to sell to 
the general public (and therefore promote interest in T4 of course).

The game could also include library data for the scenarios, pictures, and 
whatever neat graphics (videos etc.) that the software company/individual 
had the resources to make.

It would also be great to have computerized versions of Brilliant 
Lances/Battle Rider (or the T4 equivalent).  That would be really useful to 
people like me who don't have the time, space, and perseverance necessary to 
play the games as they are now (paper mode), especially with play by e-mail 
Traveller campaigns or with players who do not come from a wargaming 
background (and thus do not appreciate the detail and intricacy that makes 
these games last so long).  What do you all think?

Armand

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 08:47:41 -0500
From: rellio@po-box.mcgill.ca (Roderick Darroch Elliott)
Subject: Alan's back!

Kenneth Bearden wrote:

>
>Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 18:58:46 +0000
>From: "Kenneth Bearden" <dreamer@brokersys.com>
>Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #711
>
>On  2 Dec 96 at 17:45, Alan Pursell wrote:
>
>> Hey there,
>
>Hey, guess what everybody.  Alan has gone south until Tuesday!
>
>Errrrr.
>
>Kenneth.


        But guess what!  It's Tuesday!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back,
Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!
Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome
Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!
Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome
Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan!  Welcome Back, Alan! :).

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 16:32:51 GMT
From: Carlos Alos-Ferrer <alos@merlin.fae.ua.es>
Subject: The longest wait...

>My singed hardback finally arrived this morning. Do I win the prize for 
>the longest wait?

        Nope. Still waiting here (Spain). I am starting to have doubts about
the existence of T4... you all are part of a BIG conspiracy, aren't you?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carlos Alos-Ferrer                          E-mail: Alos@merlin.fae.ua.es
Dpt. Fundamentos del Analisis Economico     Phn: (34) 6 5903400, Ext. 3226
Universidad de Alicante                          (34) 6 5903614
03071-Alicante (Spain)                      Fax: (34) 6 5903685
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 16:32:51 GMT
From: Carlos Alos-Ferrer <alos@merlin.fae.ua.es>
Subject: The longest wait...

>My singed hardback finally arrived this morning. Do I win the prize for 
>the longest wait?

        Nope. Still waiting here (Spain). I am starting to have doubts about
the existence of T4... you all are part of a BIG conspiracy, aren't you?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carlos Alos-Ferrer                          E-mail: Alos@merlin.fae.ua.es
Dpt. Fundamentos del Analisis Economico     Phn: (34) 6 5903400, Ext. 3226
Universidad de Alicante                          (34) 6 5903614
03071-Alicante (Spain)                      Fax: (34) 6 5903685
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 16:38:58 GMT
From: sdollar@goodnet.com (Stuart L. Dollar)
Subject: MegaTraveller Auction #6

Hey gang!  I have the following Traveller/MegaTraveller books
available:

I have the following items available for auction.
(Condition:  5-Mint to 1-Poor)

GDW:
MegaTraveller:  Astrogators' Guide to the Diaspora Sector
Sector Map, UWP stats (MT & Hard Times Era) for Diaspora Sector
Condition: 3  (Wear on Spine) 
Minimum Bid: $3

MegaTraveller:  Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium
Condition: 4  (Slight Wear on Spine)
Current high bids:
$14 lynchblo@waikato.ac.nz
$13 hbill@primenet.com

MegaTraveller: Referee's Companion
Condition: 3 (Slight Wear on Spine, Bend on Front Cover) 
Minimum Bid: $8

MegaTraveller: Rebellion Sourcebook
Condition: 4 (Slight Wear on Spine)
$12 hbill@primenet.com

DGP:
Travellers' Digest #19:
Contains 2 Adventures, UWP Stats, Library Data & Sector Maps for Deneb
& Riftspan Reaches Sectors
Condition: 4 (Some Wear on Cover)
$5 earthshaker@datatek.com
$4 truestar@pipeline.com

The following are the auction rules:

1) Open bids will be accepted until Midnight MST on Saturday December
7, 1996.  

2)  Two (2) highest bidders as of above deadline will be contacted
individually on Sunday December 8th, and asked to submit a final bid.
They will have until December 10, 1996 Midnight (Tuesday) to submit
this final bid.

3)  Bids will be accepted in minimum increments of $1.  Please note
minimum bids being taken for all items.  Bids of $XX more than highest
bidder will be accepted only during the open bidding period, and will
only be effective for the current day's bidding.

4) Auction updates will be posted daily.

5) All costs do not include freight.

6)  IMPORTANT:  Save bandwidth, please send all bids by e-mail to:
sdollar@goodnet.com.

Stu

Stuart L. Dollar                         sdollar@goodnet.com
Official USENet Spokesperson for Imperium Games
- ------------------------------------------------------------
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."  -Thomas Jefferson

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

Date: Wed, 04 Dec 1996 03:13:15 -0800
From: Harry <paharris@postoffice.newnham.utas.edu.au>
Subject: Nuclear Dampers

I have a question and a thought.

Has anyone worked out the ranges of the Nuclear Dampers in FFS (and by
default T4), I probably could, but am too lazy.

Also, in the TNE adventure 'The Guilded Lily', one of the ways of
stopping a starship from harming a starport was to aim nuclear dampers
at it's powerplant and shut it down. This makes a lot of sense, since
dampers affect the forces involved in nuclear reactions.

It occurs to me that this could be quite a powerful weapon. If you want
to keep a ship intact, and board it, shut down it's powerplant with your
nuclear dampers (and hope it doesn't have missiles).
Piracy is now a much more viable option. Since civilian ships don't seem
to have missiles in T4.
The Imperium now also has a MASSIVE advantage.
 
"OK number one, just how powerful are our batteries again?"

What kind of defence would there be against that?

Harry the Signatureless

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 11:40:40 -0500
From: 34zbtxq@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu (Susan M. Shock)
Subject: GDW Questionnaire for FFW

>Speaking of individual characters, does anyone have the questionare IG was
using
>to create individual UPP's? Do they plan on doing more with it?

There was no questionnaire, you just sent in your name and they sent you a
randomly generated character with your name on it. I know because mine had a
C Strength and there's now way I'm that strong!
                                        Allen

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:11:41 +0100 (MET)
From: Thomas Biskup <tb@saranxis.ruhr.de>
Subject: Re: It's here!

On Mon, 2 Dec 1996, Andrew Boulton wrote:
> My singed hardback finally arrived this morning. Do I win the prize for 
> the longest wait?

Definitely not.  Guess what... I'm still waiting (and after one brief
response of "we'll investigate" from sweetpea there nothing but silence).
Guess what I think about their special offer hardcover ;-( ?

Thomas "No longer expects his hardcover to ever show up" Biskup

- --
Thomas Biskup                               email to: tb@saranxis.ruhr.de
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Would you choose one life over one thousand?
 I refuse to let arithmetic decide questions like that."
                          -- Data and Picard, "Justice", stardate 41255.6

 

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 96 18:11 GMT0
From: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
Subject: Re: Rebellion

In-Reply-To: <199612020605.WAA27450@inreach.inreach.com>

<< > Just a little question - does everyone here really hate Dulinor?

I never really simpathized with Dulinor, but I've never really  hated him,
either. >>

He was an idiot (or careless, or just unlucky - either way, it's a capital 
offence). Ignoring the fact that I don't agree that Strephon was a bad 
Emperor, if you try a stunt like that, you have to be 100% successful, or 
at least have enough backup (political as well as military) to deal with 
the situation if anything goes wrong. Otherwise, you're almost guaranteed 
to make things 1000 times worse. Dulinor failed on all counts: he didn't 
kill all heirs (hell, he didn't even kill the right Strephon!); he didn't 
have enough forces to hold even the Palace, let alone the planet; and he 
didn't have enough friends in the Moot to provide support.

    ---------=========oooooooooOOOOOOOOooooooooo=========---------
Andrew M J Boulton                  http://www.compulink.co.uk/~fubar/
 "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste"

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 13:01:09 -0600
From: "K.C. Komosky" <kc@mb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Rebellion

><< > Just a little question - does everyone here really hate Dulinor?

>I never really simpathized with Dulinor, but I've never really  hated him,
>either. >>
>
>He was an idiot (or careless, or just unlucky - either way, it's a capital 
>offence). Ignoring the fact that I don't agree that Strephon was a bad
>Emperor, if you try a stunt like that, you have to be 100% successful, or
>at least have enough backup (political as well as military) to deal with
>the situation if anything goes wrong. Otherwise, you're almost guaranteed
>to make things 1000 times worse. Dulinor failed on all counts: he didn't
>kill all heirs (hell, he didn't even kill the right Strephon!); he didn't
>have enough forces to hold even the Palace, let alone the planet; and he
>didn't have enough friends in the Moot to provide support.

Well, in defense of Dulinor (and I'll ignore the issue of Strephon's 
suitability for leadership too)

He certainly fell in the VERY unlucky category. If I remember correctly 
(and I may not, its been a long time since I read the Rebellion Sourcebook) 
Dulinor's troops on Capitol were only just discovered by a complete fluke, 
and Lucan only just barely survived. Dulinor's original plan was NOT to 
flee back to Dlan after killing Strephon.

Dulinor's original plan for the coup would have worked out quite nicely, 
with a minimal disruption to the Imperium. When it didn't, he relied on his 
Plan B - unfortunately that was The Rebellion

And for all the talk of alternate Rebellion endings, everyone should 
remember that if not for the Virus, all indications were that Dulinor would 
have "won" the Rebellion (although talk about pyhrric victories...). My 
personal conjecture on that topic is:


	Dulinor's Coronation fleet FINALLY takes Capitol, and kills Lucan. Dulinor 
promptly declares the Rebellion over (ignoring Margaret, Vland, Daibei et 
al), and tries to start rebuilding the Empire he controls (Ilelish, 
Zarushagar, Dagudashaag, Core, Gushmege) according to his original theories 
of more democracy.

	One of his first acts is to open negotiations with the Solomani, who have 
been bogged down for years. He gives them Solomani Rim and Old Expanses, 
and formally recognizes the Solomani Confederation in exchange for a true 
peace.

	Dulinor then opens trade negotiations with Vland and Margaret, both of 
whom are more interested in trade than war anyways. He leaves Daibei alone 
as a buffer with the Aslan (since the Aslan probably wouldn't abide by a 
Peace of Ftahlar with Dulinor as one of the signatories).

	Lastly, he sends the remnants of his fleets to stop any further Vargr and 
K'kree incursions (although he can't take back any territory).

	And presumably after his reforms successfully take hold, in future 
generations the Reformed Imperium will be politically and economically 
strong enough for Dulinor's heirs to re-integrate the wayward pieces.

p.s. is there anyone who believes that democratic reforms in the Third 
Imperium are NOT a good idea?

K.C. Komosky
kc@mb.sympatico.ca

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 12:34:28 -0600
From: "K.C. Komosky" <kc@mb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Traveller Computer Wargame

>All this talk of "what if" scenarios for the Rebellion made me decide to
>resurrect my plea for somebody to consider making a computer wargame for
>Traveller.  (I asked about it early this year, but no-one was interested.)

You know what they say - if you want something done, you have to do it 
yourself. So crack open a book on BASIC (or better yet, C/C++ or even Java) 
and give it a try yourself if you really want to.

>I think it would be great to have a computer wargame based on Fifth 
Frontier
>War with which we could simulate these "what if" scenarios for the end of
>the Rebellion, as well as any of the other interesting wars in Imperial
>history.  The playing area would have to be as big as the Imperium itself
>(depending on the scenario) and the game would have to allow players to 
edit
>and make their own units and scenarios.  I enjoyed the FFW game a lot, but 
I
>don't get any chances to play it anymore.  There aren't many games like 
this
>out there, so if Marc wanted he could soup up this concept enough to sell 
to
>the general public (and therefore promote interest in T4 of course).

I seem to remember reading that GDW had released, or planned to release, a 
board game based on the 5th Interstellar War. Does such a thing exist (and 
if so, does anyone know where I could get a copy)?

K.C. Komosky
kc@mb.sympatico.ca

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 18:22:02 +0000
From: "Stuart C. Squibb" <scs@vectis.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Signed Hardback Arrives!

Just a quick note to announce that my signed hardback arrived this 
morning, having come via surface mail. It's postmarked 24th October.

If there's anyone else waiting for their hardback, there's still 
still hope!

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Stuart C. Squibb	| Home: scs@vectis.demon.co.uk
Isle of Wight, England  | Work: S.C.Squibb@iwha.swest.nhs.uk
- ------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 20:15:34 +0100 (MET)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
Subject: Re: How long has the Imperium had TL 12?

According to _Rebellion Sourcebook_ Sylea was TL 10 in -1776, reached TL 11
in -650 and TL 12 in -150.


      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
- ------------
        "The referee should determine the nature of subsequent
         events based on the individual situation."
                                _76 Patrons_, p. 8

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

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 21:12:24 +0100 (MET)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
Subject: Emigration in Traveller

Rich Ostorero writes:
>There's also, as I understand, _massive_ population pressure on the two 
>main Core worlds of Sylea and Ordun. The kind of population pressure that 
>can only be relieved by a combination of an Exodus and/or prisoner 
>transportation a la Great Britain, the US and Australia.

Oh dear, I hope not. If Sylea and Ordun is under that kind of pressure then
they are in deep, deep ordure.

The problem is that the economics of "exporting" people are such that they
can't possible relieve population pressure unless the people are sent to a
world fairly close to the home world.

As far as I can see, there are three ways for a settler to get to another
world:

The first is travelling on ships that are already going the same way,  ie.
trade  ships.  This is a relatively cheap way to travel if one is going by 
low berth.  The cost is Cr1000 per person per parsec.  Note, however, that 
the  cost of any supplies needed at the other end is not included in this.  
Note also that this method is limited by the availability of passenger
space.

The  second way is to build a dedicated people transportation ship and use
that  to  "export"  settlers to another world.  If the ship returns to the
home  world  and  collect a new batch of emigrants as soon as the previous 
one  has  been  delivered,  the  cost per settler can be quite low.  For a 
jump-1  ship going to a world one parsec away the cost will be about Cr750 
per  settler  (even  less  if  drop  tanks can be used at both ends of the 
jump, but drop tanks are not invented until late in the 11th Century). The 
price rises the longer the target world is away,  slightly if it can still 
be reached in one jump, drastically if it is several jumps away.  (In none 
of  these  cases  are the cost of supplies and the transportation of those 
supplies accounted for).  The  drawback to this type of transportation is 
that it requires a large initial investment for the ship and also a steady 
supply of a large number of emigrants to be worth it (A single 5000T 
Jump-1 transport  (QSDS design),  for example,  can carry 80,000 emigrants  
per year). Note that in the beginning such ships will be running empty on 
the return trip, but once the colony is established and begins to produce 
raw materials,  some of the cost can be offset by carrying them back the 
other way.  As the colony grows, ships will begin to carry manufactured 
goods out from the home world too, so Type 2 colonization will often turn 
into Type 1 in time.

Now, if Sylea or Ordun want to actually transport some of their people to 
some place in, say, a neighbouring sector, they have to go something like 
20+ parsecs. I used the QSDS to design a 5000 T Jump-3 colony ship capable 
of carrying 680 colonists in low berths plus their supplies (1.5 T per
colonist) which cost roughly MCr450. Assuming an average time for a jump 
of slightly more than 8 days, a ship can make 3 round trips per year and 
deliver 2040 emigrants. 

Assuming the world uses 10% of its naval taxes on transportation, such a 
ship takes the taxes of 900,000 people to support. This comes to 0.22 
percent of the population per year (But note that the cost of the supplies
are not accounted for in this figure). As you begin to ship your people
farther out the percentage drops further. Eventually the emigration turns
into the third type, which consists of building a colony ship and sending 
it off into the wild blue yonder with a single load of settlers. This type 
of colonization is by far the most expensive; the colony ship mentioned
above comes to roughly Cr660,000 per colonist. Once you've accounted for 
weapons (or armed escorts) the ship will cost more and carry less.  
A typical Aslan _ihatei_ squadron, for example, consisting  of  two IHATEI 
Class transports and two WEAKHTO Class cruisers (plus two scout ships not
accounted for in the price), will cost MCr45,900 and carry 20,000 colonists 
and 760 crew, which comes to MCr2.2 per individual  (Megatraveller design and 
prices;  things will propably have changed somewhat with T4, but I haven't
done the calculations).

[Note  that  the price of such a squadron is equivalent to the naval taxes 
 of  91.8 million Aslans.  Assuming that a typical Aslan clan will use 90% 
 of  its  naval budget on defending the clan holding and 10% on outfitting 
 its  _ihatei_,  a  clan  can outfit one squadron per year per 100 million 
 members. This would account for 0.02% of the population per year...]
 


      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
- ------------
        "The referee should determine the nature of subsequent
         events based on the individual situation."
                                _76 Patrons_, p. 8

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

Date: Tue,  3 Dec 1996 15:29:32 -0500
From: "Christopher Weuve" <caw@intercon.com>
Subject: Re: Traveller Computer Wargame

K.C.Komosky asked:
> I seem to remember reading that GDW had released, or planned to release, 
> a board game based on the 5th Interstellar War. Does such a thing 
> exist (and if so, does anyone know where I could get a copy)? 

GDW released three strategic-level Traveller-based wargames.  they are:
1) _Imperium_:  Actually predates Traveller by a year, later reissued with an 
Imperial backgound history booklet.  Terran Confederation versus the First 
Imperium.

2) _Dark Nebula_: Modified _Imperium_ system.  Don't remember the combatants. 

3) _Fifth Frontier War_: Very heavily modified _Imperium_ system, about the 
(oddly enough <grin>) Fifth Frontier War.

My guess is that you are remembering an announcement regarding FFW.

Christopher Weuve  [caw@intercon.com]
Through sheer random chance, my employer may 
someday agree with something I say.

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

End of Traveller-digest V1996 #714
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