			    TRAVELLER Digest 424

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Guys I dont want to mention this BUT by cs5025@wlv.ac.uk (L.T.Bryant)
  2) Some Questions by That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
  3) Porozlo RICE Paper reposting by Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
  4) Ah, Mertactor...how far you've strayed! by Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
  5) Ice Catapult by broussa@ConnectI.com (David C. Broussard)

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Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 11:59:41 +0100 (BST)
From: cs5025@wlv.ac.uk (L.T.Bryant)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Guys I dont want to mention this BUT
Message-ID: <m0svjLx-0002ctC@ccub.wlv.ac.uk>

Greetings again all.
	I  am reposting as after a long absance from my in box  i
have  startedgetting  the mailing list again,  dispite  the  fact
thati signed off in june.

	Could i please be removedfrom the list as i dont want  to
bounce the stuff back when they shut down my account.

		Yours with respect
Lawrence Bryant      cs5025@wlv.ac.uk
 
-- 
oh rose thou art sick
               the invisible worm that flys by night.....STEEL


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Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 12:59:29 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Some Questions
Message-ID: <199509211659.MAA05617@chopin.udel.edu>


Well, I've got two questions.  I posted the one last week, but that was
during the list problems, and I don't remember seeing it even make it
through.  So here goes.

FFS Question

    I create a vehicle with an armor value of 1.  I slope the front and
it's armor value is now a 1.5.  Does it get rounded up to 2 or down to
1 for purposes of creating a vehicle profile?

Rules Question

    I was looking through the starship operations charts in both the
TNE rulebook and the Referee's Screen last night.  In the screen it
says that it's updated the 100 diameter travel times to be more in line
with FFS.  However, the values seem to be off by a value of 10!  So are
they, or is the travel time from a large gas giant at .1 burn-g which
used to be ~60 hours now ~700 hours?

Thanks in advance...

        --Jerry

8) Jerry Alexandratos                %  "Nothing inhabits my    (8 
8) darkstar@strauss.udel.edu         %   thoughts, and oblivion (8
8) darkstar@canary.pearson.udel.edu  %   drives my desires."    (8

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

Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 10:30:30 -0700
From: Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM, lewis@chara.gsu.edu
Subject: Porozlo RICE Paper reposting
Message-ID: <061a1570@MailXFER.DMCWAVE.COM>

     Since the POROZLO was lost to many during the TML downtime last week 
     and since I noticed some format shortcomings in the system details at 
     the end, I'm reposting it. 
     
     The final installment of my Rhylanor Cluster RICE papers:
     
     NOTE:  For anyone who has obtained the Rhylanor paper, please note 
     that the settlement date of the planet should be changed from "ca. 
     250" to "ca. 150."
     
     
     Porozlo System
     
     Porozlo (Rhylanor:  Spinward Marches/2715) A867A74-B          Hi Tn    
     B201 RE M1 V M7 V G=1.02, Day=23:26:42.01, Year = 22d 20:16:41.12 
     Atmo=1.00, Weather Control
     Temp= +16.8 (7/lat +21 to -49) (season +10.2 to -17.0, 17 deg lat) 
     Daily temp range 38.00
     Agricultural, Ores, Compounds; Agroproducts, Non-metals; Parts, 
     Durables, Consumables, Weapons; Artforms
     Progressive/Advancing, Competitive/Neutral, Fragmented/Aloof Legal:  
     4-54444     Tech  B8-BBBAB-B9BB-CB-F
     
     Viewing the beautiful glowing orb of Porozlo from afar, who would 
     suspect that this Terran Normal world is the site of some of the most 
     vicious internecine warfare in the Regency?
     
     Porozlo's balkanization is the result of poor colonial planning.  Due 
     to its remarkable resemblance to Terra, Porozlo was a highly 
     sought-after system.  Colonization claims were filed by numerous 
     private and public interests, most of whom were of Solomani origin and 
     all of whom had legitimate claims.  Roughly three quarters of the 
     claims were made by colonists with corporate sponsors, the largest 
     made by Transstar, the Terran shipping megacorporation.  The remaining 
     25 percent were comprised of government-sponsored colonization 
     programs and population-relief projects.
     
     Because of the high demand for rights to the system and conflicting 
     legal claims, an impartial mediator was selected to resolve the 
     conflict.  The mediator determined that it was in the best interests 
     of all involved to distribute Porozlan land to as many of the 
     claimants as possible on a first-come, first-served basis.  Strict 
     head-count limits were imposed.  Not surprisingly, a solution that was 
     intended to make everyone happy made no one happy.  
     
     The majority of the lots were distributed among an astrographically 
     isolated Solomani group in Daibei Sector.  These Solomani were 
     primarily descended from colonists who had originally come from 
     Terra's Eastern and Southern European and North African regions during 
     The Rule of Man.  A large portion of the lots were distributed among 
     ethnically diverse Solomani groups from throughout the rimward portion 
     of the Imperium and the remaining lots (about 5 percent in all) were 
     given to a handful of Vilani interests and Core-based colonists of 
     mixed descent.
     
     The Imperium's attempt at generosity resulted in the system's 
     perpetual state of conflict.  After establishing footholds on the 
     planet in 161-163, many colonial settlements quickly adopted 
     isolationism as their credo and began to form their own individual 
     governments on the planet.
     
     After permits were distributed to the second wave of colonists from 
     Daibei and nearby Diaspora sectors, the colonial administration 
     encouraged an even distribution of ethnic populations among the 
     nations of Porozlo to foster a more homogeneous political environment. 
     Unfortunately, hundreds of micro-immigrations nullified the 
     Imperium's efforts in the subsequent decade.
     
     Remarkably, the only ethnic group that did not geographically polarize 
     itself was the Vilani.  Vilani minorities can be found in most of 
     Porozlo's nations.  They are frequently the educated elite, holding 
     jobs as physicians, attorneys, bankers and corporate executives.  Not 
     preoccupied by the ethnic conflict of the planet's other settlers, the 
     Vilani have formed their own functional niche in Porozlan society.  
     Conscious of their minority status (and the historical peril of those 
     who have held such status), the Vilani settlers have been careful not 
     to isolate themselves, so as not to incur the wrath of another 
     Porozlan ethnic group or nationality.  In fact, the dispersed Vilani 
     minority are arguably the greatest philanthropists on the planet, 
     contributing a disproportionate 22 percent of the planet's charitable 
     donations in an average year, while they comprise only eight percent 
     of Porozlo's current population.  The Vilani minority speaks Galanglic 
     in the business community but continues to speak a Vilani dialect in 
     the home and at cultural functions in order to preserve their 
     heritage. 
     
     Porozlo's resources were scattered enough that over the centuries, 
     further political fragmentation occurred along economic lines.  The 
     final result was a world with upward of 80 independent nations.  
     Porozlo became a textbook case on how to create a balkanized world.  
     Though Porozlo's population was as diverse as any in the Imperium, for 
     the most part the world avoided major wars until a dramatic event in 
     its history.
     
     The Porozlan fragmentation and a growing awareness of the planet's 
     limited resources gave birth to a grassroots political movement, which 
     eventually became known as the Private Ownership (PO) bloc.  The PO 
     bloc came into being during a firestorm of debate about foreign 
     investment and exploitation of Porozlo's resources.  The status quo 
     had been more or less pro-free trade.
     
     For two decades after the birth of the PO bloc, the majority of 
     Porozlan nations underwent revolutions of one sort or another.  It was 
     during this extremely xenophobic period that the planet became 
     registered by the Travellers' Aid Society as an amber zone to warn 
     travellers of the danger posed by distrustful Porozlans.
     
     After 20 years of PO revolution, the pendulum began to swing the other 
     way.  Those who supported foreign investment and development united 
     under the banner of the Free Trade (FT) bloc in reaction to radical PO 
     movements.  This political schism was to become the defining event in 
     Porozlo's history.  Historians debate the original date of the 
     Porozlan Schism, but most place the date on either 1016, when the 
     first domestically governed megacorporate labor union (thought to be 
     the precursor of the PO bloc) formed in the nation of Stepozhevac, or 
     on 1084 when the FT bloc came into being.
     
     PO movements spread like wildfire, affecting each and every national 
     government on Porozlo.  As the PO/FT division deepened, democratic 
     governments' elected officials became almost exclusively drawn from 
     either the PO or FT bloc.  Many of the planet's more dictatorial 
     governments resisted at first, but as public sentiment grew, even 
     nations led by autocratic dictators began to align themselves under 
     one banner or the other.
     
     The conflict has raged on for over a century now, with the balance of 
     power frequently shifting between the two parties.  During the last 80 
     years, the balance has settled, with the PO dominating about 30 
     percent of the planet's countries and just under half its population.  
     The FT bloc dominates the more technologically developed and 
     industrialized nations.  Several underdeveloped countries have fled to 
     the FT wing in recent years.  Under the guidance of Chairman Augwynne 
     Sorsi, the nation of Nemso has sponsored a ground-breaking new 
     organization, called the Free-Trade Advisory Council (FTAC), to help 
     these nations "get on their feet."  Using programs like the FTAC, the 
     Free Trade bloc has successfully swayed public sentiment to their side 
     in the interstellar region.
     
     Wars are frequent on the soil of Porozlo, with an average of six going 
     on at any one time.  The perpetual state of conflict on Porozlo 
     spurred the TAS to deny the Porozlo United Council's request for amber 
     zone nullification in late 1148. 
     
     While most Porozlan wars are of the brushfire variety, many escalate 
     to full-scale conflict with occasional threats of biological and 
     nuclear weapon use made by opposing countries.  The presence of 
     neutral Rhylanor curbs the use of such weapons, however.  The 
     Rhylanori senate's unequivocal position is non-intervention unless the 
     war escalates to the point where such weapons are used.  One Rhylanori 
     senator, who requested anonymity, brashly stated, "If the Porozlans 
     start nuking each other in our backyard, we're going to bring the sky 
     down on their heads."
     
     The frequency of international conflict on Porozlo has made the planet 
     a nexus for mercenary activity.  "Warworld" is the name many regional 
     mercenary units use for the besieged planet.  Because of its adverse 
     political environment, Porozlo has acquired the distinction of being a 
     "mercenary magnet" over the past three centuries.
     
     While several offworld peace initiatives and summits have been 
     sponsored by neighbors Rhylanor and Zivije, most of them have ended 
     with the representative Porozlan national delegates walking away from 
     the table in frustration.  The divisiveness between the nations of 
     Porozlo has thus far proven irresolvable.
     
     Despite the pervasiveness of warfare on Porozlo, the planet as a whole 
     is rather economically successful.  Nemso, the richest and most 
     dominant nation on Porozlo, has the population and resources of many 
     entire systems in the subsector.  The Free Trade party has dominated 
     the nation's parliament since the 1107 overthrow of King Syzygy, the 
     former hereditary monarch.  Many other nations, most notably Morovic, 
     New Dalmatia, Zenerabi, M'Dwailei and Hauvania, have also prospered 
     under the auspices of the Free Trade party.
     
     Although the FT nations have been models of economic success, the 
     downside of foreign industrial exploitation is also evident in their 
     cities.  Visible signs of blight and homelessness are much more 
     prevalent in FT cities than they are in the more socially democratic 
     PO cities and countries.
     
     The main PO nations of Porozlo, including Almarac (the most populous 
     nation on Porozlo with six billion inhabitants), Anisinta, Turin, 
     Digliotti and Vyben, tend to be more militant.  Local militias, 
     created for the purpose of defending their homesteads from "invading 
     offworlders," are common in PO nations.  While PO nations are not 
     nearly as prosperous as the FT nations, it can accurately be said that 
     for the most part, their citizens live on a more economically 
     egalitarian scale.  The majority of their citizens could be classified 
     as lower middle class.
     
     Porozlo is home to a multitude of fascinating cultures and traditions. 
     The artistic community flourishes in most nations on Porozlo.  
     Political and cultural strife on a planet often fosters an active 
     artistic community and Porozlo is no exception to this rule.  Porozlan 
     poets, painters and sculptors are revered for the level of emotion 
     that their works elicit and for the quality of their craftsmanship.
     
     Porozlo remains a glorious example of a Terran Normal world.  The 
     breathable air, lush landscape, majestic mountain ranges and rich blue 
     oceans make Porozlo a top tourist attraction for travellers who are 
     smart enough to look beyond the political instability of the planet.  
     Tourists tend to choose the more politically stable countries for 
     their visits, far away from the raging fields of war.
     
     All but one of Porozlo's A-quality starports are located in 
     FT-controlled nations, with the most traffic at Nemso Down Starport.  
     Nemso maintains the planet's sole orbital facility as well, Nemso 
     Orbital.  Among PO nations, only Almarac maintains an A-level starport 
     facility at great expense to the populace.  In order to uphold the 
     virtues of the PO bloc, Almarac spares no expense to make its primary 
     port a jewel among common stones.  Though the facility is arguably the 
     most modern of all Porozlo's starport facilities, traffic at Almarac 
     Starport is somewhat sparse.
     
     Free traders should be warned that legal cargo in one Porozlan nation 
     is contraband in another.  Be wary of the trade laws in each nation 
     you intend to visit.  More than one trader has had his ship impounded 
     for carrying goods from an FT nation into a PO nation and vice versa.
     
     Industry is alive and well on Porozlo.  Boisterous international 
     competition for interstellar markets has fostered a progressive 
     planetary culture.  In just the last 20 years, Porozlo has advanced 
     from TL-10 to 11 in the Regency technological profile system.
     
     
     Porozlo System Details
     
     Orbit      Name    UPP     Remarks
     Primary    Corusca M1 V
     0  Porozlo A867A74-B       Hi Tn
          50      Jelorba G546467-B       Fa Mi
     1  (Empty Orbit)
     2* Glint   M7 V
     0       Czaczezhnia     Small GG        Size 60
     1       Ring System     YR00000-0
     2       Ring System     YR00000-0
          5       Glyph   Y300000-0       Va
          7       Tybalt  Y100000-0       Va
          13      Aamed   Y200000-0       Va
          55      Padenton        YS00000-0       Va 
     3  Brazhorno       Y1A0102-B       Re
          13      Alec    YS00000-0       Va
          40      Cela    GS00207-A       Va
     4  Milano  Y600000-0       Va
     5  Borges  F410663-A       Co
          8       Blanca  Y100000-0       Va
          35      Sinai   HS00107-B       Re Va
     6  Calyph Orga     G500636-B       Re Va
     7          Mandrigora      H643437-B       Mi
     
     * Companion star.

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Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 10:48:55 -0700
From: Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Ah, Mertactor...how far you've strayed!
Message-ID: <061a5a70@MailXFER.DMCWAVE.COM>

     >>The _Spinward Marches Campaign_ contains maps showing the political
     boundaries (but not settled/not settled areas) of the marches before
     and after the first four frontier wars. Mertactor is plainly marked as
     outside the Imperium in 589 and in the Imperium (isolated from the 
     rest of the Imperium, marked by a circle) in 604.<<
     
     Good point.  It's really tough working with systems that have so much 
     history behind them.  That's part of the reason I've opted to do more 
     RICE papers on systems in Deneb Sector.  Less has been published on 
     them.  The fact that my own campaign happens in Deneb and not the 
     Marches is another major factor, though.
     
     I would recommend one of two things:
     
     1)  Discard my statement about the Fourth Frontier War.
     
     or
     
     2)  Hedge it by saying that Mertactor accepted only rudimentary 
     membership privileges.  Perhaps they denied the Imperium's request to 
     place a scout base there because of certain resentments.  From 605 to 
     1084, Mertactor might've been somewhat like Puerto Rico is to the 
     United States.  A possession, but the citizenry has no voting rights.
     
     --Chris

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Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 20:58:46 -0500
From: broussa@ConnectI.com (David C. Broussard)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Ice Catapult
Message-ID: <9509220158.AA02161@ConnectI.com>

This idea has a lot of merit, but I would definately drop FF&S' mass driver
rules, they are FULL of holes.  Have you looked at the short range on your
80 cm Ice cannon?

Suggestions from the peanut gallery (I designed something like this for a
shadowrun game).

First of all, will it ONLY shoot rocks or will vehicles ever be involved?  I
ask this because: 1. you can vary the accelleration, and 2. you would
probably have to increase the diameter for manned flights to accomodate the
lasrgets diameter ship you want to launch.

For manned flights, anything higher than 3Gs uncompensated for any
apprecaible period of time would not be pleasent at all.  For rocks
(iceballs) 10Gs might work better.  Then simply figure out the length of the
accelerator and some math will get you the velocity.  If you want 3Gs for 5
minutes you get a velocity of 10m/s * 300s = 3km/s.  Now I don't think this
would be enough for escape velocity, but the vehicle could mount
ramjets/rockets.

Getting an accellerator that is that lenght is a major problem.  I am trying
to remember the formula for figuring out the lenght, I will post it when I
remeber it.  But I seem to remember many KM for the length.  The problem
there is keeping it straight and level.

As for power usage, I have no Idea. but it would be immense (however, since
you are on a planet, it shouldn't be a prob.

The size I used was eliptical 40M wide and 8M tall for 350 KM running from
Gibralter to Malta (underwater).  Lastly you would want to use recoverable
launch vehicles as they would get rather expensive.  Anyway hope this helps.

DCB
David C. Broussard (broussa@connecti.com)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The opinions represented herein are the sole responsibility of
the proclaimer, and should not be interpreted as dogma, doctrine
philosophy, or anything else other than blabber.  However, if you
REALLY like it, then gimme a dollar!
-----------------------------------------------------------------


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End of TRAVELLER Digest 424
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