Subject: TRAVELLER digest 246
Date: 95-04-05 19:16:12 EDT
From: traveller@mpgn.com
Sender: traveller@mpgn.com
Reply-to: traveller@mpgn.com
To: traveller@mpgn.com (Multiple recipients of list)

			    TRAVELLER Digest 246

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Message from ALGUEIRO at BUEVM1	by BUEVM1@MPGN.COM
  2) Hiver&Ithklur nickname	by dberry@np1.com
  3) Re: Wormy Holes	by "Eric B. Smith" <doc@eznet.com>
  4) LAC-20 Gauss SMG	by pd82495@wapol.gov.au (Michael Bailey)
  5) Aliens of the Rim: A Dissenting View	by Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
  6) Re: Aliens of the Rim: A Dissenting View	by Zaidfeld <cs911408@red.ariel.cs.yorku.ca>
  7) Re: TRAVELLER digest 243	by aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
  8) Approach	by Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>

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Date: 4 Apr 1995 20:26:46
From: BUEVM1@MPGN.COM
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Message from ALGUEIRO at BUEVM1
Message-ID: <199504042327.TAA16104@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

 In USA for a residency until May 2. Any problems, contact my manager Ricardo
 Gambetta (GAMBETTA at BUEVM1)

 The mail you sent has been archived.

 This message was sent by the SAFE automatic machine: do not reply.

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

Date: Tue, 04 Apr 95 15:50:26 EST
From: dberry@np1.com
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Hiver&Ithklur nickname
Message-ID: <9504041550.D0723nE@np1.com>


       After giving this a great deal of thought, (about 30 seconds
worth) I belive I have come up with a nickname:  STARFISH & STRAIGHTMEN.

       Catchy.  I like it.

       But seriously, I appreciate what GDW was trying to do with the
Ithklur, create a species whose day-to-day behavoir was
imcomprehensible, indeed, almost hilarious, to the average human.  The
attempt breaks down due to the overabundance of 20th century references
in the book. (Baseball, Monty Python, etc.) given that 3700 years have
passed, shouldn't there have been other human cultural refences for the
Ithklur to latch on to?
       I really want to like the Ithklur, but it's going to take alot of
work before they are allowed in my game.

Douglas E. Berry - dberry@np1.com
"Evil Incarnate does not just *go away!*" -Iago the Parrot, Disney's
_Aladdin_

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

Date:          Tue, 4 Apr 1995 10:01:39 PDT
From: "Eric B. Smith" <doc@eznet.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Wormy Holes
Message-ID: <9504050247.AA02172@foothills>

In response to a response to a question about wormholes --

L. T. Bryant (cs5025@wlv.ac.uk) suggests:

>If as has been postulated the ship at velocity X and jump Y comes out 
>at F, then with a bit of experimenting the users of the hole could 
>pop out where they wanted...

I'm going to steal from a couple of texts I read a while back, one of 
which by s. Hawkins <sp?>.  

A wormhole, as I understand, requires two black holes collapsing to
singularities (Hawkins is now working on the idea that singularities 
may not exist) .  It would then be possible for the singularities to 
touch each other through super-luminary space (Okay, fancy would I 
threw in.  It really means FTL, but you could insert hyper-space, 
sub-space or whatever.) for an instant.  In the present thought, this 
wormhole will exist for only an instant and may actually attach to an 
unknown number of singularities at the same time for too brief a time 
for even light to reach the other end.

In this case, only an object at super-luminary (there's that word 
again) speeds could ever hope to reach the other end, wherever that 
may be.  (Probability anyone?)  Exact timing and (I assume) exact 
jump parameters would be necessary with only a slim chance of 
success.

Now for the good side...

Develop a way of placing a ship in jump-space using an external 
device (alternate drives anyone?) connected to a whopping big 
computer of simple timing device.  (Whew boy, shades of Babylon-5 and 
star gates.  I must REALLY be tired.)  This way, users could be more 
assured of getting where they want to go because the gate could be 
tweaked as more is learned about the system.  Then watch F. Lee Baily 
sit around and wait for the first mis-jump.

In other possibilities which I really don't want to think too much 
about right now:

	Alternate universes
	Hyperspace combat
	Worlds between the singularities (where's the missing matter?)
	How do I get back without a jump-gate?
	Illegal left-hand turns would be a REAL bear

And so on.  I think I've free thunk enough.

Happy world-building,

Eric
Eric B. Smith
doc@eznet.com

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.

Sea Fever

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

Date: Wed, 05 Apr 1995 11:39:30 -1600
From: pd82495@wapol.gov.au (Michael Bailey)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: LAC-20 Gauss SMG
Message-ID: <9504050333.AA11583@phq1002.wapol.gov.au>

LAC-20 Gauss SMG

Tech. Level  :  11
Ammunition   :  6x30mm Gauss 
Weapon Weight:  4.75 kg (loaded) 1.75kg (empty)
Weapon Price :  Cr 825
Magazine Wght:  3.00 kg (loaded) 2.68kg (empty)
Magazine Type:  20 rnds Box
Magazine Cost:  6 Cr
Damage       :  3 (Ball, HE, HEAP)
               -1 (Tranq, Rubber)
Penetration  :  1-Nil (Ball)
                2-2-2 (HEAP)
                Nil   (HE, Tranq, Rubber)
Range        :  52 m  (Ball)
                39 m  (HE/HEAP/Rubber)
                30 m  (Tranq)

Recoil       :  1/1, 2/5
Bulk         :  2

The LAC-20 is a cut-down and slightly modified version of the ALAR-20, used
as a sub-machinegun for operations in enclosed spaces or for internal
security missions.  The LAC-20 was developed by the Saxean Government
Armaments Works for internal security use by Saxean Army and Interior
Ministry Militia. The weapon is also popular with Saxean Military
Counterintelligence, the 'secret police' arm of the government.  Interior
Ministry troops commonly use rubber bullets for riot control applications.

SGAW plans to market the LAC-20 for export.  Markets should not be too hard
to find, especially amongst the more totalitarian worlds and nations in the
Commonwealth.   
Michael Bailey, Police Dept. of Western Australia:  pd82495@wapol.gov.au
                        Any opinions expressed above are strictly my own.
     "..when you list all the qualities that you despise and you realise, 
          you're describing yourself"    Marillion, 'the Rake's Progress'

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

Date: 05 Apr 1995 00:45:47 GMT
From: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Aliens of the Rim: A Dissenting View
Message-ID: <1627582430.7285094@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca>

I've just picked up Aliens of the Rim and, frankly, I don't think that it
deserves all the abuse heaped on it.

I don't understand Dave's sense of humour, but then I don't understand most
American comedy programs anyway.  Or maybe I'm just getting old.  Leaving
aside the in-jokes, what's left is a reasonable piece of work.

Artwork is OK-to-good, and certainly better than in several recent products. 

Writing and production is better than many GDW products.  I caught a couple
of typos, but back in the early days of Megatraveller this would have been an
amazingly well-done book.

Briefly (because it's past midnight), I'll comment on previous reviews. 
Tomorrow I'll send a more complete one of my own.

The multiple views of history are canonical.  Even back in Classic Traveller
times we had multiple views of alien races.  (The Zhodani modules was CT, not
MT.)  This just adds one more example to the list.  Dave and Loren have
managed to convey a deeper sense of the variety of social viewpoints in the
Federation than the previous module did (while also plugging a few weak spots
from that module).  

As to the Ithklur fascination with old Terran motifs, this is a literary
technique often used in science fiction.  If you can accept the vast
stability of the Imperial universe then this shouldn't be a problem.  

Regarding the "humans in rubber suits" issue: I didn't get this impression. 
Instead, I thought that Dave/Loren is saying that although you might _try_ to
play an alien you are still a human, and so everything you see/think/do is
filtered through your human viewpoint.  

Given the arguments I've had with people (some here, some elsewhere)
concerning human cultures I think this is optimistic: most people don't
really understand other human cultures.  

The game rules are useful and mercifully brief.  Character generation is
fully covered.  Suggestions for roleplaying are useful.  I particularly liked
the NPC motivations.

Well worth the money I paid.

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

Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 13:43:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Zaidfeld <cs911408@red.ariel.cs.yorku.ca>
To: TNE Mailing List <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: Re: Aliens of the Rim: A Dissenting View
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950405133840.1427A-100000@blue>


On Wed, 5 Apr 1995, Rob Prior wrote:

> I've just picked up Aliens of the Rim and, frankly, I don't think that it
> deserves all the abuse heaped on it.

It's good to see a different point of view being expressed...

> Artwork is OK-to-good, and certainly better than in several recent
products. 

Is the cover computer designed (Like World Tamers) or drawing?

Waiting for your complete review :)

                -Shalom Zaidfeld
----
Toronto, CANADA
Internet: cs911408@ariel.cs.yorku.ca
	"The Virus was not a mistake..."
			-anonymous Hiver Envoy, 1289


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

Date: Wed, 5 Apr 95 18:44 BST-1
From: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 243
Message-ID: <memo.494323@cix.compulink.co.uk>

In-Reply-To: <199504032004.QAA21859@Ambassador.MPGN.COM>


In message <199504032004.QAA21859@Ambassador.MPGN.COM>, traveller@mpgn.com
said:
  > From: Tommy Grav <tommyg@ifi.uio.no> 
  > Subject: The Neworld Sector 
  >  
  > I'm currently working on a Traveller campaign 
  > in the Neworld sector, Rimward from the former Solomani Confederation,
  > but I cant't seem to come up with anything conseerning that Sector.
  > I have just the T:TNE and FF&S, but hav looked through some of the
  > Travellersites available with WWW and lurked around here for some
  > time. Nothing can be found about Neworld. What is the offisial status
  > of this sector, what are its aliens and most of all what can be found
  > rimward of this sector? 
  > Any help is appreciated! 

You need _Solomani & Aslan_. It's got a dot map and descriptions of some
of the states.

  > From: "Robert S. Dean"  <rsdean@cbda7.apgea.army.mil> To:
  > Subject: Old Timers 8-P 
  > >  
  > > Egads! I could have SWORN I'd started late in the Carter
  > > administration! :-[ 
  >  
  > Late in the Carter Administration?  Traveller was released in the
  > summer of '77, and Carter was inaugurated in January of that year.
  >  I'd say that _I've_ been playing since _early_ in the Carter
  > Administration. (-: 

I'm an early Thatcher person, myself.


---
Andrew Boulton

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

Date: 05 Apr 95 16:23:59 EDT
From: Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>
To: <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: Approach
Message-ID: <950405202359_100326.446_BHG133-1@CompuServe.COM>

>>  Don't you think that it's time to get back to the 
problems at hand   and start talking about the game rather 
than busy ourselves in   flaming GDW, other contributors 
and Ideas that may, with a little   thought, have some 
merit to the Traveller Universe <<

Given my history, you're gonna be surprised, but I agree 
with this. Perhaps the Big Corp gaming approach of TSR and 
similar have destroyed forever the free exchange of ideas. 
Time was, people used to say "in my world" and a house rule 
or history was accepted as locally canonical. Nowadays, it 
seems, we seem determined to locate and cling to one 
canonical reality. How we have fallen. 

Right! I will, now and forever, forswear ranting about 
Virus. I'm just going to suggest and design. So there.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
| Hugh Foster [100326,446]                                      |
|                                                               |
| Don't forget to swing hard, in case you hit the ball.         |
-----------------------------------------------------------------



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End of TRAVELLER Digest 246
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