			    TRAVELLER Digest 441

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) RE: Diplomatic ship contract. by That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
  2) RE: Diplomat Ship Design. by "C. Pratt" <capratt@u.washington.edu>
  3) Re: TRAVELLER digest 440 by mhclark@iastate.edu
  4) Vincennes by Bri <bri@teleport.com>
  5) Sub based meson guns by David@rces.demon.co.uk (David A L Thomassen)
  6) Meson Guns again and again by David@rces.demon.co.uk (David A L Thomassen)

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Date: Sat, 7 Oct 1995 13:34:44 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: RE: Diplomatic ship contract. 
Message-ID: <199510071734.NAA18121@chopin.udel.edu>

In Reply to Your Message of Sat, 07 Oct 1995 04: 10:28 EDT
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 1995 13:34:44 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@chopin.udel.edu>

: 
: Some more information on the requirements for the diplomatic ship, since 
: there seems to be an actual desire to make it.
: 
: The ship will be used by a small group who specialize in first contact 
: situations (e.g. with TEDs), arbitration between waring factions, etc.  

[stuff deleted]

So, what's the TL that we're designing for?

       --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

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Date: Sat, 7 Oct 1995 12:24:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: "C. Pratt" <capratt@u.washington.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: RE: Diplomat Ship Design.
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91j.951007122254.15990B-100000@homer10.u.washington.edu>


N.B. The tech level for the ship will be up to 16, however, if a tech 
level 15 or 14 ship is built with ostensibly the same functions and a 
lower price tag that will be considered.  Likewise for the other 
direction (Im not quite sure how that would happen tho).


"Storm the Reality Studio. And retake the universe." -- William S. Burroughs
        Charles Pratt capratt@u.washington.edu -- when in doubt, sail.


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Date: Sat, 07 Oct 1995 15:59:58 CDT
From: mhclark@iastate.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 440
Message-ID: <9510072059.AA08961@las2.iastate.edu>

  Finally got my copy of the Regency Source Book, and I must say I'm 
rather pleased.  I'd have to say that it's one of the best New Era 
products so far - interesting history, nice subsector maps, and some 
great plot elements for the future.  The stuff about the Zhodani in the 
referee's section explains why some of the things discussed on this list 
aren't happening, though I must say it's getting to be "destroyed 
civilization of the month club" as far as Traveller is concerned.

  One of the things I found nice has already been mentioned on this list 
- the respect for Traveller's history.  There are lots of references to 
previous products (many of them footnoted, no less), even a couple I had 
forgotten.  I've been reading Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society from 
issue 1, and it was neat to see that that early material is covered.  For 
example, the description of the planet Victoria in Lanth subsector 
follows the world description in JTAS 2.  Since this is still one of my 
favorite worlds (blimps powered by oars!), it was nice to see it.  For 
those of you who came to Traveller too late to buy all that old stuff, 
the RSB will be invaluable.

  My only complaint is about cost.  The sourcebook is only 96 pages, and 
I paid $20 for it.  At the same time, I bought the latest release from 
Pagan Publishing, the Call of Cthulhu campaign Coming Full Circle.  That 
book is also perfectbound with a full color cover, yet is 160 pages long 
and sold for $18.  Seems like GDW is gouging a bit here, and if the 
product wasn't as good I'd be screaming.  As it is, I just have to sigh 
about greed and stuff.

  I got my copy of Challenge 77 in the same package with the sourcebook, 
and I had a chance to read the editorial everyone has been talking about.  I 
think it had some valid points - I am clearly one of those "collector" 
guys who loves Traveller for the history - but I am as offended as others 
have been by the attitude that "GDW Knows Best" and that we should stop 
complaining about the lack of information about alien homeworlds and 
stats.  Frankly, I liked that stuff, not because I ran adventures there, 
but because it gave me a feel for what the culture was like so I could 
run NPCs better.  Given the choice between that and the extremely 
offensive juvenile humor in Sneaks & Geeks, I'll take the traditional 
sourcebooks every time.  The defence of the infamous Santa Claus hat was 
just lame, an obvious case of post facto defensiveness about a truely 
awful blunder.

  Anyway, buy the Regency Sourcebook.  It's well written, answers some 
questions like "what is Longbow" and "how was Trin raped," and it has 
almost no stupid humor, though the poem on page 10 comes close.  Two 
thumbs up.

  Bet you guys thought I'd never write a positive review!

---
Mark H Clark
mhclark@iastate.edu

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Date: Sat, 7 Oct 1995 14:40:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bri <bri@teleport.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Vincennes
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.951007143902.20493A-100000@linda.teleport.com>

 Am I the only one wondering why the Regency dosen't let Vincennes<sp> go 
to TL-17? Think of the *incredible* power a few special antimatter 
cruisers could have -vs- normal fusion powerd ones.
 You could have 50t ships that have twin 750mj laser turrets on them.

bri


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Date: Sun, 08 Oct 1995 13:02:40 GMT
From: David@rces.demon.co.uk (David A L Thomassen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Sub based meson guns
Message-ID: <3400@rces.demon.co.uk>

Could somebody please send me the rules relation to
designing submarine propulsion units and hull
requirments for depth.
I am finishing a design for a SDB based meson gun boat
and what to rate it for use in the worlds oceans.  Two
TLs will be posted when I finish TL12 & TL15.

David@rces.demon.co.uk

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Date: Sun, 08 Oct 1995 13:08:15 GMT
From: David@rces.demon.co.uk (David A L Thomassen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Meson Guns again and again
Message-ID: <3401@rces.demon.co.uk>

Here goes for my 1p worth on Meson guns

Mesons have a half-life, this means that the decay
point for a meson cannot be determined only predicted
(basically this means that a gun will produce a line
of decay particles which can be easily traced).  

To stop this early (and late) decay I propose the use
of a tightly focused meson screen which acts as a
bucket to 'carry' the mesons to the target.  The screen
then reverses its' 'polarity' at the tagert causing 
all the mesons (hopefully) to decay in the target.
Interaction with the defending screan gives the hit or
miss problems and the bucket threory means you don't
iradiate your home in the process.

David@rces.demon.co.uk

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End of TRAVELLER Digest 441
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