       TRAVELLER Digest 51

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Missile Points by sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
  2) TNE Missiles by sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
  3) WHO IS NEW TO TRAV? by john.bogan@asb.com
  4) WORLD TAMER'S by john.bogan@asb.com
  5) TRAVELLER digest 49 by Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>
  6) TL A Shatte Interceptor Sloop by alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
  7) Totalitarion High Tech... by alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
  8)  by alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
  9) Some old TML digests missing... by alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>

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

Date: Sat, 24 Sep 1994 18:30:06 -0500
From: sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Missile Points
Message-ID: <199409242325.AA12357@metronet.com>

All,

I have only read thru the current years worth of TML's so if I am covering 
old ground with same old ideas you will let me know.;-)

On missiles from my reading here, on Genie and in the TNE materials, is that 
space is too vast for a contact missile to have a chance of locating let 
alone hitting a moving space vehicle. That is why they have the nuc pump 
laser warhead.

Point 1. If a missile is too dumb, to track a target over vast ranges, to 
hit a moving target, how can a missile carry the needed electronics to 
track, align and fire its warhead at moving target. If a nucpumper (nuclear 
detonation pumped laser) has 100 rod array that it carrys, it will have to 
track the target, bring the array to an extremely accurate bearing, I will 
let you math types figure this one. Example 100 rods need to be aligned to 
what degree of accuracy to hit a 100 meter long by 10 meter diameter target 
traveling at 3 g's acceleration at a range of 30,000 km. If a nucpumper 
fires its array like a shotgun it's chance of hitting that target is 
nonexistant under the above conditions. If nucpumper can perform the above 
fire control problem with a degree of accuracy to provide one to six hit, 
then it can close to target to employ a nuclear warhead(nucboomer) of a 
contact or area effect.

Point 2. If a missile can not carry the needed fuel to bring itself into 
nucboomer range then it chance of having the required fuel for nucpumpers is 
minimal except at extremely short ranges. All missiles do not have to use 
constant drive power to reach the target.

Point 3. If target of a missile has a point defense good enought to kill a 
single missile attack then will will have to saturate the defenses. Example 
try and get a single missile to hit a Aegis equipted warship at full battle 
stations, equipted with war shots, and no class type casreps. Agreed that is 
bad example for the missile, but if your target is fully ready for your 
attack a single missile has little chance of success.

We have the technology today to develope the systems to have a nucboomer a 
vaible weapon system.

Possible solutions have a bay mounted missile system with the capability of 
over 100 missiles that can be launced at one, ie like VLS systems.

My background is former US Navy Surface Missile Fire Controlman Second 
Class, dealing with surface missile systems, anti air gun systems, anti air 
missile systems and fire control systems for the weapons.

SinBad Sam

AI Virus Rights Advocate


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

Date: Sat, 24 Sep 1994 18:30:10 -0500
From: sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TNE Missiles
Message-ID: <199409242325.AA12362@metronet.com>

All,

I have only read the last year of TML so If I am rehashing old ideas and 
arguments you will let me know. ;-0


On missiles in TNE, from reading and disccussions on TML, Genie and 
elswhere, nuclear explosion pumped lasers(nucpumpers) are used because they 
are the only feasable ones. Maybe not

Point 1. A nuclear contact or area effect warhead (nucboomer) can not carry 
the needed electronics to track a moving target at vast distances but a 
nucpumper can. Lets examine this alittle closer, a nucpumper has to track a 
target, close to firing range 30,000km, deploy its rod array, align the 
array along the needed target bearing, and then detonate. If a nucpumper has 
100 hundred rods contained within, it have to bring it bear with a extreme 
degree of accuracy. Example the target is 100 meters long 10 meters wide 
moving at 3 g's acceleration to align 100 rods to have 1 to 6 hits, keep in 
mind that the missile is also moving. I will let the more math minded work 
on this one. If a nucpumper has the ability to perfrom this task with all 
the needed accessories (rods, alignement equipment, and deploying equipment) 
then a nucboomer can accomplish its mission very well and carry a larger 
warhead or more electronics because it does have the "accessories".

Point 2. If a nucpumper can carry the needed fuel to reach the firing point 
the nucboomer can use its extra space to carry more fuel to reach detonation 
range. Missiles do not have to constantly accelerate to reach firing point.

Point 3. A single missile in TNE has little chance of damaging a fully ready 
target, this is entirly realistic. Example could a lone Exocet have much of 
chance of hitting a Aegis equipted warship at full battle stations, full war 
loadout and no system casreps? No it would not. You would have to roll back 
and or saturate its defenses. Solution a bay mounted missile system capable 
of lauching 100 missiles per round like a VLS.

My background is former USS Navy Surface Missile Fire Control Technician 
Second Class, with direct experience with surface missile systems, anti air 
gun systems, anti air missiles systems, and the fire control electronics for 
same.

Sinbad Sam

AI Virus Rights Advocate


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

Date: Sat, 24 Sep 94 21:51:35 
From: john.bogan@asb.com
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: WHO IS NEW TO TRAV?
Message-ID: <9409242151.A7840wk@asb.com>


In recent discussions one person has mentioned they were not
familiar with past editions of Traveller.

Out of curiosity, could those on this list who
"came on board" with the New Era and are not familiar
with previous editions (i.e. the Imperium and Rebellion)
email me (and/or cc this list)?

I'd be interested in knowing how many new players are
on the list. (I suspect GDW would also)

I'll post a tally in a few days to a week.

John Bogan
john.bogan@asb.com


--------------------------------
 "The Imperium never died.  It COULDN'T die because it was 
never alive, except as a metaphor.
 " But the "demise" of that metaphor meant the end of interstellar
trade and communications that billions of real, living beings
depended on for their very lives.
 " And THAT is why I tend to think violent thoughts about those
who say the complete destruction uf the Imperium was "proper" or
"proportionate."
      ----  Alfons Ozaky, Captain of the BONECUTTER, remnant.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 94 01:21:53 
From: john.bogan@asb.com
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: WORLD TAMER'S
Message-ID: <9409250121.A9247wk@asb.com>


Just to add to Joe Heck's first look at WTH:

The planetary detail shows the incorporation of GDW's experience
with 2300.  Additions from the Megatraveller/Traveller materials
will be familiar to 2300 AD fans.

The only new design sequence is black powder weapons.  Still no
watercraft.

The colonial economic rules seem pretty detailed.  It'll be
interesting to apply them to developed worlds and see at what
point they break down.

The three ships were first published in _The Traveller Adventure_
(I understand GDW still has copys of this for just $10.
Get it.  A little dated, but still perhaps the finest Traveller
product published):
the 3000 ton Tukera freighter,
the 5000 ton Hercules-class freighter, operated by Tukera and
         its subsector-level subsidiaries, ususaaly named in an
         anagram of Tukera (the companies, that is.  The ships
         are named for things that evoke "big")
the 2000 ton Imperiallines transport (not the courier)

John Bogan



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

Date: 25 Sep 94 11:54:12 EDT
From: Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>
To: "INTERNET:traveller@mpgn.com" <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: TRAVELLER digest 49
Message-ID: <940925155412_100326.446_BHB44-1@CompuServe.COM>

>> You forgot "Space: 1889". This is  quite the
opposite; it is a soceity making great strides through
an age of enlightenment! <<

I thought Space: 1889 was discontinued ?


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

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 1994 12:48:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TL A Shatte Interceptor Sloop
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.1.9409251208.E793-d100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


Hi folks:

A) I FORGOT to bring my new hydroponic rles!  AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
   
However, I'll bring them in tomorrow (even though I Should Really Be
Studying!)   These 'tentative' rules cover a bit on what to expect with
food synthesis at the varoius tech levels, size/weight/price, and 'mobile'
units.
 
B) My little ole' fighter.

This design is based on the cover of 'Fighting ships of the Shattered
Imperium' (yes, I _did_ buy this book based on it's cover.  Bad mistake!)

Shatte Interceptor   (Variant A/B)             Tech Level A.

This is a non-jump system interceptor, designed for anti-pirate operations.

Varient A,B is meant as a team: 3 A's with a heavier B, which has an
active sensor array.  Weaponry is two standard turrents with
reloaders and cradles for one volley of five missiles * 2. 
(Making for 30 missiles total).  Sublight is via fusion drive.  


Disp 100    Length 42      Config  Needle SL       Volume 1400     TL  A

Price 206.891 MCr(A)       Mass 1533.74/1323.74    Hull Armour  40
      264.435    (B)            1779.04/1541.62    Targer size   Small
Maint         53 (A)    61 (B)

Max G's      2
G-hours     loaded 825.5 G-hours (A)   unloaded  949.6 G-hours
                   621.6         (B)             713.1

Power Plant    0 MW (A ... uses the Fusion drive for power)
             172 MW (B ... power needed for sensors)

Computers      2 * TL A  St.(3 * TL A St. for Varient B.  Needed to
               handle the Engineering load)
Commo          Radio (30,000)  Laser (30,000)
Avionics       TL 8+, NO terrain-following capasity
Sensors        fixed P-EMS  (30,000) * 2
           (B) A-EMS  (30,000), A-EMS Jammer (30,000)

Missile Barbette * 2 
Missile Reloader, Cradle for 10 missiles 

MFD's (TL A): 2 MFD's for Varient A 
              1  '     '     '  ' B
Extended L.S. 
Crew:  4 (A)  Electrical = 1, Maneuver = 1, Gunner = 2 
         (B)  Electrical = 2, Maneuver = 1, Gunner = 1

One Airlock
No Accomo, Cargo.  (Nice and Cramped, as in the picture. Not
                              enough space to stand up.  Imagine just
                              'sitting' there for a week!)
14 Decoy dispensers: 100  anti-ladar
                      50  anti active EMS
                      50  anti passive EMS
Combat move  153/6        Travel move    3300/240

Refuel (all have fuel scoops)  31.6 hr (A)
                               28.0    (B)

Damage Areas:    Variant A      Varient B     
             1 - Elect             1       - Elect   
           2,3 - 1 - 5  Elect      2,3,4,5 - Hold
                 6 - 20 Hold       6,7     - 1 - 10 Hold
       4,5,6,7 - Hold                       11 - 20 Eng
           8,9 - 1 - 15 Eng        8,9     - 1 - 15 Eng
                16 - 20 Wpns                16 - 20 Wpns
         10,11 - Wpns             10,11    - Wpns
         12,13 - Eng              12,13    - Eng
         14,15 - Wpns             14,15    - Wpns
         16,17 - 1 - 10 Qtrs      16,17    - 1 - 10 Qtrs
                11 - 20 Wpns                11 - 20 Wpns
         18,19 - 1 - 15 Eng       18,19    - 1 - 15 Eng
                16 - 20 Elect               16 - 20 Elect (at both A,B: 
 (Airlock)      20 - Eng          20       - Eng           1 - 3 Radio Ant
                                       (Airlock)            4 - P-EMS Ant
                                                            5 - P-EMS Ant
                                                            6 - Laser Ant)

Damage Systems: 
   Elect    Radio 1h    Ant 1h            Eng   [var. B: Power Plant 2H ]
            Laser 1h        1h                 Fusion Drive   4H
        2 * P-EMS 1h        1h                 CG             1H
       17 * Decoy launcher  1h                 HEPlaR         1h
        2 * MFD   1H        1h            Wpns 
[varient B 1 * MFD  1H      1h                  Barbette # 1  2H
            A-EMS 1H        1h                           # 2  2H
        A-EMS jam 1H        1h ]

    Quart   L.S   4H
          E.L.S.  2H
        Airlock   1h


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

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 1994 14:19:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Totalitarion High Tech...
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.1.9409251414.A2077-b100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


Ethan Henry made a comment that many of my ideas for the truly high-tech
society is simply "Totalitarianism with more toys".

In a number of instances, I'll agree.  So, Ethan, how can the common
High-teck citizen fight back against this State with all these goodies
(not to mention other nifty things a la nanotech spy-eyes)

And DON'T be discouraged... the computer revolution has given Government
much more data on everything, but it has ALSO given your average-joe
citizen more access to everything, too (a la the Internet, for example..)

(Just ask the Soviet Union.)

Probably the most interesting variations involve making this technology
intergrated (via biotech) into pepole.  I.E. instead of great massive
clone banks, make every woman capable of designing her own child. (Please,
Someone, the IMPLICATIONS of this!)

Or, from another angle, explore the 'diversification' of the human race
into cybernetic, airborne, origional, long-life, etc. branches. (A la the
Humanx Commenwealth)

I have always been intergued with the 'genetically perfect rulers' of
Margret Weiss' novels.  Especially, regardless of genetic tinkering, you
can't 'filter out' greed, envy, love, compassion, etc  (Though you CAN
make them more difficult, or more stranger, I feel)

Cynthia spoke of a galaxy (far, far away...) where barbarian tribes can
make home-made blasters.  THAT's what I expect from a seriously high-tech
people. (analogous with Amazon tribesmen with camcorders)

Well, you have heard my hackneyed ideas of the Seriously High-Tech
Society.  What about YOURS?

Alvin Plummer
(Jolt Cola: "Twice the Caffine, and All the Sugar!")


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

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 1994 16:04:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.1.9409251626.A3488-d102000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>

--0-1516099659-780523542:#3488
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Just some interesting stuff from TML-NOT!.....

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From: Eric Edward Moore <deathmaster+@cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: TML Nightly - NOT!

On the subject of free trader style trade, it seems to me that free
traders might wind up being more market driven, and be "chartered" a
lot.  "I'll pay you 350 kCr to take this load of 3 tons of Lark's
Vomit to Efate (a 12 Parsec trip)".  This is the sort of silliness
megacorporations are allways trying to avoid and makes for better
adventure possibilities.  It also better represents the "fallen
between the cracks" sort of commerce you would see.  

Actually, who knows what small carriers do on this planet?  My guess
is lots of that sort of thing, and trips to places where they are the
main source of imports.

Anybody know anone in this sort of buisness?

 -Love, Kisses, and a Neutron Bomb
  -Eric the Finn


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Date: Fri, 04 Dec 92 18:20:22 -0600
From: "Steve Higginbotham" <p00206@psilink.com>
Subject: drop-tanks and micro-jumps...


>>That sounds reasonable. I think I'll switch to that interpretation. Does
>>that mean that a micro-jump should only cost 5% fuel?

>That's certainly how it works when *I* do it...

[...]
>    ---Steve

==========

>Date: Fri, 04 Dec 92 18:03:09 -0600
>From: "Steve Higginbotham" <p00206@psilink.com>
>Subject: Re: Traffic and Jump Capability

>Derek Wildstar:
>>Steve Higginbotham <p00206@psilink.com> writes:
>>> I've gone YEARS without even a hint of piracy, and not cared at all.
>>
>>I like to use pirates, so it's important to me. 

>Whatever.  I like the IDEA of pirates.  But if I can't think of a way to 
>make them profitable, I won't use them.  And the only pirates that are 
>profitable are guys like Piper's "Space Viking" (who had an 8,000,000T 
>(Traveller ton) ship, plus a couple of thousand soldiers, plus a WORLD 
>(or three) for support purposes.

>>Use drop tanks so that you jump with full fuel tanks.  Then make an
>>immediate
>>jump again, so that you cover two parsecs in about two weeks.  Although this
>>costs slightly more (the cost of the drop tanks), it is a workable solution.
>>Cargo capacity isn't impaired.

>This requires an extra week, which cuts into the profitability of a Free 
>Trader pretty significantly.  You can only make 25 trips per year 
>normally, and stretching some of them into three week hops will hurt the 
>bottom line no end.

[...]

>>For an unscheduled tramp freighter, being tied to drop tank availability is
>>rather restrictive, don't you think?  If the drop tanks are unavailable for
>>some reason, then the J-2 ship becomes a more expensive version of the J-1
>>ship.

>Personally, I think that drop tanks should be available EVERYWHERE!  It 
>took less than 10 turns for everyone in my TCS game to see the need for 
>stockpiling drop tanks in multi-million ton quantities.  I doubt 
>seriously that you will see many worlds in or around the Imperium 
>without a drop tank supply (at least, not if market pressures are 
>allowed to come to bear on the problem), any more than you'll see 
>merchants refueling at gas giants, or buying refined fuel at the 
>starport - GDW may think that that is normal, but anyone trying to make 
>a living will learn better REAL QUICK!

Umm, can you tell me WHY gas giant refuelling is non-viable?

>>I have always assumed that the jump governor was there!  I assumed that any
>>jump (even a sub-parsec "microjump") would take 5% fuel to initiate the
>>jump, plus 5% fuel per parsec traveled.

>So have I, and I see you use the same system for micro-jumps that I do - 
>5% fuel.  I also allow ships to be built with only interplanetary range 
>jump-drives:  1% of the ship's displacement is required, and this allows 
>you to jump 20,000 AU or so...

[...]
>     ---Steve

==========

>Although I didn't design the trade and commerce system, I'd guess that
>the theory is that scheduled common carriers are capable of meeting 99%+
>of the population's needs.  The more people there are, the more
>probably that someone needs to ship something by a tramp freighter.

>You do have a point, though.  A tramp freighter's best pickings should
>be on worlds which are almost, but not quite, large enough to be
>attractive to the big carriers (and not so small that they can't fill a
>hold with cargo bound all in the same direction).

>On the other hand, an independent trade speculator's best purchases are
>going to be on a popoulous world with a great variety of products in
>mass production.  The trader would be looking for overstock, excess
>production runs, and recently-discontinued items to buy cheaply.  And
>haul all of these goodies back to the kind of world described in the
>paragraph above.

>I think this is going to have to be a referee-generated thing; I can't
>think of a good rule of thumb that covers most (let alone all) of the
>cases (I'm open to suggestions here, folks).  I think that the traffic
>generator is OK, but some thought needs to be put into freight hauling
>and cargo speculation with a tramp freighter.

>It seems to me that the most profitable way to operate would be on a
>series of shuttle runs, back and forth, from these large-enough but
>unprofitable for the large scheduled carriers, to the centers of trade,
>industry, and government.

>wildstar@moeng2.morgan.edu
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                                                 Science-Fiction Adventure
>                                                         in the Far Future

Alvin Plummer
("We will not loot this world, we will PLUNDER it!"   Vargr Captain)

--0-1516099659-780523542:#3488--


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

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 1994 16:14:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: alvin plummera <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Some old TML digests missing...
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.1.9409251638.A3567-8100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


Does anyone know where the 1993, 1994 copies of the TML Digests are?

Alvin Plummer
(Say, George, I don't mean to interrupt, but there's a glowing red dot on
oyur forehead)


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

End of TRAVELLER Digest 51
**************************
