			    TRAVELLER Digest 453

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) A couple of thoughts on crew levels by lhowie@lrmi.com (Les Howie)
  2) Thanx! by "Ronald J. Bailey" <ab871@seorf.ohiou.edu>
  3) Re: Unstreamlined Ship Landings? by merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
  4) Re: Striker II and Battle Rider  by eackerma@vt.edu (Eric Ackerman)
  5) OOPS by 34zbtxq@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu (Susan M. Shock)
  6) RE: High Tech Ship Designing  by That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
  7) Traveller WWW sites by "Goeran Damberg" <DAT255@utb.shv.hb.se>
  8) Unstreamlined speed? by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  9) Missouri Archives by Joseph Heck <ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu>
 10) Imperiallines J-6 Frontier Transport by Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
 11) Longbow (SPOILERS) by Ted Kim (Random Dude) <tek@ficus.cs.ucla.edu>
 12) Ariis/Verge 2439 Information by Gsvenson@aol.com
 13) GEnie's Traveller area by James Kundert <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>
 14) MFD error on Zho PC by merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
 15) Zho small ship tactics by merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
 16) HELP by pmcnae@ozemail.com.au (Peter McNae)

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 10:04:51 -0300
From: lhowie@lrmi.com (Les Howie)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: A couple of thoughts on crew levels
Message-ID: <9510171304.AA01527@ lrmi.com>

It seems to me that one of the problems with crew levels in FF&S is that
they try to use one set of formulae for both military and civilian ships.
This is slightly off.

Military ships are crewed and equipped to perform extensive repair during
operation.  Military equipment is gerally operated at the edge of its
performance envelope, and so needs much more maintenance than civil ship.  I
would suggest that mantenance and engineering crews on civilian ships should
be lower than the military counterparts by a factor of ten -- with
corresponding degradation in field repair capability.

Likewise, stewards are included on military ships at a fairly high rate (I
do not have my FF&S with me right now, so I cannot look it up).  This is
silly.  I would suggest one cook or cook's mate per 100 crew of any rank.
Crewman would have mess responsibilities as a secondary duty according to
the traditions of their service -- but a full time "mess steward"? Naaa.
Officer's steward would likewise be drawn from regular crew, and would have
military responsibilities as well.

I've already expressed some feeling about the number of officers, especially
hanging about the bridge.  Officer ratios should be far lower on civilian
ships  -- crewman will mostly do their jobs, and there is no need for
tactical planning or couragious inspiration on a civilan cruise.

An interesting read for ship designers is C.S.Forsters "The Ship".  It
describes a single action by a British light cruiser in the Med in WWII.  It
gives a lot of insight into the structure and roles of crewmen in that
combination of technology and culture.  WARNING: A high level of tolerance
for British wartime propaganda is required for safe reading.  
Les Howie
Senior Software Developer
Atlantic LRMI


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 09:37:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Ronald J. Bailey" <ab871@seorf.ohiou.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Thanx!
Message-ID: <199510171337.JAA11489@ra.cs.ohiou.edu>

Thanks for letting me know about your site, Goeran.   Could anyone give
a list of related sites, just for reference?
 -- 
Ronald J. Bailey       ab871@seorf.ohiou.edu
Southeastern Ohio Regional FreeNet
"YES! This pain will definitely be with me a while."
                                     -The Brain



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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 07:47:14 -0600 (MDT)
From: merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Unstreamlined Ship Landings?
Message-ID: <9510171347.AA04570@Rt66.com>

 
>          So where's the flaw in this image (except that it blows GDW cannon
>          out of the water)?
>
>          Wes
>          wesley.esser@haledorr.com

Good question.  I have to admit that in CT I always thought that mdrives
were a reaction type drive.  The thruster plate crap was a real surprise
to me (look at the starport blast burms in JTAS).  I had assumed that
ships actually had to reenter the hard way.  I wish that contra grav
costs (volume, mass, and MCr) went up absurdly above a certain size.  Oh
well.

You could make aerodynamic arguments (wind, storms, etc.) against
it---it's possible, but only under the right weather conditions.

USL designs could be considered less an intrinsic quality of the hull
form (hell, there are only 2 catch-alls that can't be streamlined) than
a purposeful design choice.  In other words when you choose "Open Frame"
you are planning on having sensors, etc. hang off the ship all over the
place such that it'd be dangerous to have 'em in wind.  That or the
shape won't let the ship put down (how do you land a spiky
framework?)---I guess they could hover, though.  Choosing to USL a
Needle, say is a choice to make it too fragile to land.  That'd be my
take.  It's possible, but bracing, etc. requires using a SL form (and
worrying about surface feature placement) to land.  Open and Close
Structures are any shapes that are intrinsically too fragile for landing
by definition.

-Merrick

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 10:22:18 -0400
From: eackerma@vt.edu (Eric Ackerman)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Striker II and Battle Rider 
Message-ID: <199510171422.KAA01881@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

I have been out of the hobby for a while and am returning to find that I
have missed a whole generation of Traveller. I played extensively with
Traveller-of- the-Little-Black-Books, and return to find it replaced with
the New Era. No matter! Tempus Fugit. What I am interested in doing now is
acquiring a set of compatible rules for large scale spaceship combat and SF
ground combat that would allow me to conduct military campaigns on a scale
larger that skirmish (one-to-one) level.

With my experience with, and fondness for, Traveller (or what I remember of
it), I thought about getting Striker II and Battle Rider. To this end, I am
interested in gathering people's opinions of (and experience with)these two
games. I've some experience with Command Decision II (CDII) upon which
Striker II is based. My experience with CDII is mixed. It is full of good
concepts unevenly developed: the rule is either clearly expressed and plays
cleanly, or is vague, ambiguous, and muddled.

In any case, any and all input will be appreciated.

Eric

PS Does anyone know anything about a GDW product known as Imperium 2nd Ed.?
I vaguely remember a boardgame of that name, but...?


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 10:29:55 -0400
From: 34zbtxq@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu (Susan M. Shock)
To: Traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: OOPS
Message-ID: <199510171429.KAA01935@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

  I apologize for the presence of two messages on the same subject in the recent
TML. I'm still getting used to this damn mail program...
  On the other hand, I'm now relatively certain that the RSB does NOT make any
reference to where these Hivers live in the Regency. So...how about some ideas
about how they got there and where they are? Are they related to the Imperial
History Club of Manchus mentioned in SURVIVAL MARGIN? (They were heading in a
corespinward direction; after they finished in Diaspora sector maybe they kept
going?)


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 11:03:33 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: RE: High Tech Ship Designing 
Message-ID: <199510171503.LAA07938@chopin.udel.edu>

In Reply to Your Message of Mon, 16 Oct 1995 05: 03:03 EDT
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 11:03:33 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@chopin.udel.edu>

: ASWFH@Orion.Alaska.EDU wrote:

[stuff deleted]
: I feel it's about time for GDW to wake up and smell the coffee: we want the
: WHOLE RANGE of material, not just "dark traveller".

Well, I think that the RSB is definitely a step in the right direction.
They've introduced TL14-16 ships in the sourcebook and are probably
hard at work on other things.  Even the RCES had to wait until it's
third sourcebook before we got a volume of goodies.

: Also, I expected to see a correction or two to the carreer list, and an
: addition or two... NONE of these were there. What do I feel is wrong?
:         1) Merchants cannot get steward except as a hobby.

Uhm, does the steward skill exist any more?  I don't think so.  I'm
pretty sure that steward is more of a job than anything else.  For
this job the prerequisite skill would probably be Liason.  You can get
that under either the Exploration or Interaction clusters, either of
which is available to enlisted and commissioned merchants.

:         2) the Scout carreer does not accurately reflect the IISS (Has the
:            RISS changed so much?)

As a fan of the IISS, I have to ask "how so?"

:         3) There is no carreer for Serving Nobles... Wealthy Traveller isn't
:            quite right for them, although for terminal nobles and titular 
:            nobles it works.

Being a noble was never a career.  Nobles and their advisors have
always had another career.  For example, how many Dukes and Archdukes
were in the Navy.  How many were bereaucrats?  Their advisors are
likely to come from the same walks of life, or had a career in what
their function is (Norris' proctologist was a Doctor, Craig's
strategists were probably Navy, Brzk's maid was a kennel owner, etc...)

:         4) there was no RQS CGen. Do they Use Navy, Scout, or something
:            unique?

In the RSB they state that RQS characters can be generated using
either the Scout or Navy career.  This is consistent with the
description of the RQS, which basically enscripts members of either the
RNS and/or RISS for missions.

: Also, they mention the X-Web, but give no real data.

What about the entire section labelled "The XWeb?"  Are you looking for
anything specific?

       --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:          Tue, 17 Oct 1995 16:38:12 MET-1MEST
From: "Goeran Damberg" <DAT255@utb.shv.hb.se>
To: "Ronald J. Bailey" <ab871@seorf.ohiou.edu>, traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Traveller WWW sites
Message-ID: <2570BDF19AA@utb.shv.hb.se>


> Thanks for letting me know about your site, Goeran.   Could anyone give
> a list of related sites, just for reference?
>  -- 
> Ronald J. Bailey       ab871@seorf.ohiou.edu
> Southeastern Ohio Regional FreeNet
> "YES! This pain will definitely be with me a while."
>                                      -The Brain
> 
> 
>

Here's a list of Traveller WWW sites that I know of:

The Traveller WWW Pages
http://www.missouri.edu/~ccjoe/traveller/

Dave's Traveller Site
http://www2.csn.net/~goldendj/traveller/Traveller.htm

The MegaTraveller/Traveller Page
http://www.cnct.com/home/peterb/traveller/

Kfan Uzangou
http://www.oslonett.no/home/myhre/ku/

Traveller Mailing List FAQ
http://spirit.com.au/~jamesd/

The Traveller Chronicle
http://eeyore.lv-hrc.nevada.edu/~indy/traveller.html



I think that I have missed one or two of the sites that are devoted 
to Traveller, but you can probably find a link to them on one of 
these...


goeran, the internet explorer :)
          --------------------------------------------------
                            Goeran Damberg
              <dat255@utb.shv.hb.se> <goeran@enter.hb.se>
                 http://enterprise.shv.hb.se/~goeran/
          --------------------------------------------------
          
          

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 12:37:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Unstreamlined speed?
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951017123432.27915A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


From: Wesley.Esser@hd62.haledorr.com

>          If all of the above is true, then why can't an unstreamlined ship
>          land on a planetary surface?  Both the landing and takeoff speeds
>          could be kept below 300 kph (the max speed for an unstreamlined
>          vehicle in orbit).  

Is the top speed for unstreamlined vessels 300 kph, or 400?
(Please point out it's pg. number in FF&S: I couldn't find it, so I used 
the old MegaT figure from memory)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 13:34:51 -0500 (CDT)
From: Joseph Heck <ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (TML Submissions)
Subject: Missouri Archives
Message-ID: <199510171834.NAA35254@gold.missouri.edu>

Howdy,

the missouri archives (originally on ghost.cc.missouri.edu) has been moved
to a different machine. They're now available at deneb.cc.missouri.edu
/pub/Traveller - and should stay for a while (usual exceptions for 
insanity, etc).
-- 
 joe                          (314) 882-5000
 ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu    University of Missouri - Columbia  
 "with a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and
 impenetrable fog!" -- Calvin
 <A HREF="http://www.missouri.edu/~ccjoe">ccjoe</A>

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 11:27:39 -0700
From: Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Imperiallines J-6 Frontier Transport
Message-ID: <083f9f10@MailXFER.DMCWAVE.COM>

The following is my conversion of the Frontier Transport, presented in the 
World Tamer's Handbook, into the Jump-6 version used in the Rebellion 
Sourcebook adventure, "Nail Mission," or at least some facsimile thereof, 
in TNE stats.  The basic purpose of the top-secret J-6 transport was 
missions of utmost importance to the Imperium.  J-6 transports were used to 
carry the news of the Rebellion, for instance, across the galaxy to the 
edges of the Imperium as fast as possible.  Several of these ships survive 
today in the service of the Regency Navy.


Imperiallines J-6 Frontier Transport

GENERAL DATA
Displacement:  2000 tons        Hull Armor:  28 
Length:  90 meters              Volume:  28,000 m3 
Price:  MCr981.479              Target Size:  M 
Configuration:  Wedge/SL        Tech Level:  15 Mass (Loaded/Empty):  
13,320.8/8313.89 tonnes

ENGINEERING DATA
Power Plant:  2470 MW Fusion Power Plant (274 MW/hit), 1 year 
duration
Jump Performance:  6 (9800 m3 fuel)
G-Rating:  2G (1000 MW/G), Contra-Grav Lifters (600 MW) 
G-Turns:  48 (87.2 using jump fuel), 250 m3 each
Maint:  135

ELECTRONICS
Computer:  3 x TL-15 Mod Std Computers (0.55 MW each)
Commo:  300,000km radio (10 hexes; 10 MW), 1000AU maserx2 (infinite; 0.6 
MW) (only one powered)
Avionics:  TL-10 Flight Avionics
Sensors:  Passive EMS Folding Array 180,000km (6 hexes; 0.2 MW)
Active EMS 240,000km (8 hexes; 13 MW) 
ECM/ECCM:  EM Masking (28 MW)
Controls:  13 x workstation

ARMAMENT
Offensive:  10 turret hardpoints socket fitted (Loc:  2, 3, 4, 5, 
10,10; Arcs:  1-3; Loc:  16, 17, 18, 19; Arcs:  All; 4.2 MW ea., 0-1 crew 
ea.)
Master Fire Directors:  2xBeam MFD (6 Diff. Mods; 10 hexes; 3.12 MW 
ea.)
                     Short       Medium      Long        Extreme
150-Mj Laser Turret  10:1/10-31  20:1/10-31  40:1/10-31  80:1/10-31

ACCOMMODATIONS
Life Support:  Extended (5.6 MW), Grav Compensators (6G; 140 MW) 
Crew:  44 (17xEngineering, 1xElectronics, 2xManeuver, 12xGunnery, 
3xMaintenance, 3xSmall Craft Flight Crew, 6xCommand, 1xSteward).
Crew Accommodations:  10xSmall Stateroom (single/double-occupancy; 
0.0005 MW ea.), 21xLarge Stateroom (single/double-occupancy; 0.001 MW ea.)
Cargo:  1771.6 m3, five large cargo hatches
Small Craft and Launch Facilities:  1x95-ton shuttle with internal 
hangar (minimal) and launch port
Air Locks:  20

NOTES
The Frontier Transport was originally built as a multi-purpose cargo vessel 
used for trade in undeveloped areas.  The design was a proprietary design 
belonging to Imperiallines, that primarily served worlds situated off the 
main trade routes.

This variant of the Frontier Transport was built for exclusive use by 
Imperial officials in the days of the Third Imperium.  Equipped for Jump-6, 
the ship was used to carry equipment, personnel and information over great 
distances in a short period of time.  Many Regency governments maintain 
secret use of these ships and contain them in clandestine orbital 
facilities.

Some ships dispense with some or all of the 10 gunners, as the turrets can 
be controlled from the two MFDs, which also allows one of the command crew 
to be dispensed with.  This allows the required complement to be reduced to 
as low as 33, although without crew, the turrets cannot be fired under 
local control if something happens to the MFDs.

Fuel scoops.  Fuel purification machinery (19.75 MW), 24 hours to refine 
21,800 m3 (1557.4 tons).

DAMAGE TABLES
Area (1D20)  Surface Hits   Internal Explosion              Systems 
1            Ant            1-6: Elec, 7-20: Hold           JD-40H  EMM-3H
2            1-13: Ant      1: LT, 2-12: Qtrs, 13-20: Hold  PP-9H   
3            1-3: AL        1: LT, 2-12: Qtrs, 13-20: Hold  CG-4H   
4-5          1-2: Ant       1: LT, 2-20: Hold               ELS-4H  
6-7          1-10: CH       Hold                            LT-1H   
8-9          1-5: EMMR      Hold                            LSR-1H  
10                          1-3: LT, 4-20: Hold             LS-9H   
11-15                       Hold                            AG-6H   
16           1-12: LP,      1: LT, 2-20: Hold               MFD-(2h)        
             13-14: CH                                       PEMS Ant-(2h)
17           1-14: CH       1: LT, 2-11: Eng, 12-20: Hold   MD-2H   
18                          1: LT, 2-14: Eng, 15-20: Hold   FPP-16H 
19                          1: LT, 2-13: Eng, 14-20: Hold   SSR-(2h)       
20                          Eng                             Hangar-27H
                                                            All others-(1h)
 

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 13:49:27 -0700
From: Ted Kim (Random Dude) <tek@ficus.cs.ucla.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Longbow (SPOILERS)
Message-ID: <199510172049.NAA12973@penzance.cs.ucla.edu>

If you care about SPOILERS in the RSB, don't read this!



Why isn't the Regency using Longbow technology to look the other way?
Perhaps, they didn't have the resources to build another one, but just
think of the possibilities.  Maybe they know what is really happening
in Black Curtain area or have detailed knowledge about the deep
Wilds. Maybe they have been spying on the on Hivers and their allies.

Just a thought,

-ted

Ted Kim                     Email: tek@ficus.cs.ucla.edu
UCLA Computer Science Dept. WWW:   http://www.cs.ucla.edu/ficus-members/tek/
3564F Boelter Hall          Phone: (310) 825-7307
Los Angeles, CA 90095       FAX:   (310) 825-2273

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 17:11:27 -0400
From: Gsvenson@aol.com
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Ariis/Verge 2439 Information
Message-ID: <951017171126_46982960@mail02.mail.aol.com>

Hi all,
I am working up a pocket empire centered on Ariis/Verge 2439. I wanted to
produce material similar to the RICE papers I have seen posted for Ariis. I
also want to stay consistant with previously published materials.  I have
only been involved with Traveller for the last few years and am not aware of
alot of the material published for Classic Traveller (other than that alot of
it exists).

Has anything been published about Ariis or is the system referenced in any
other books or articles? Any information or references would be greatly
appreciated, even a "no, there isn't any published material on Ariis" would
be appreciated.

Thanks,
Greg Svenson
gsvenson@aol.com


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 95 21:07:54 PDT
From: James Kundert <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: GEnie's Traveller area
Message-ID: <9510180407.AA10437@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>

Is still alive, though a bit quiet at the moment...

James Kundert <j.kundert@genie.geis.com>
              <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>

There was a young lady named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster, much faster than Light.
She departed one day in a relative way,
And returned on the previous Night.
   --Albert & the Heart of Gold

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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 22:37:43 -0600 (MDT)
From: merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (traveller)
Subject: MFD error on Zho PC
Message-ID: <9510180437.AA01920@Rt66.com>


Oops!

MFDs are TL14 (as noted), but should be 5 DiffMods, not 4 (I used the
TL13 PF as a template for the post to the TML).

-Merrick


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

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 22:54:51 -0600 (MDT)
From: merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (traveller)
Subject: Zho small ship tactics
Message-ID: <9510180454.AA02722@Rt66.com>


Hi,

I posted FFS designs for old CT ships, but I thought it would help to
talk about the way I would expect them to be used in combat.

Assumptions:

Zho ships won't have as much power to play with.

Zho ships can never deal with Imperials at equally long maximum ranges
due to fire control differences.

Grav focused lasers (GFLs) only become range effective for small focal
arrays at TL15+ (unless they are xray lasers).


Because they know about the first two, the Zhos might decide to use
small xray GFLs.  But why bother since the max range will waste a lot of
the long effective range?  The answer is to go with small, non-GFLs,
also in the xray band.  The result is a laser that has good damage at
medium range, and excellent damage at short range. (the only ranges that
they'll be shooting in anyway)

I see the PF and PCs fighting in the following way given their weapons:

Be quiet, and hope to bushwhack the enemy (good idea for everyone).

Use missiles to even the odds.  Imperial missile will be better, but not
that much.  It has the added benefit of keeping the initiative from him
(he'll react to the missiles, even if you are forced to do the
same---"if I can't have the initiative no one can!").
 
If you must trade direct fire weapons go for the clinch.  At close range
you will at worst be even.  At best you'll have a 700MJ laser to his
150MJ one (which he'll wanna keep since he can lose his range advantage
and have the 700+ ones, or keep a little one and wear you down at range,
and at range _you can't hit him_).

Use fighters to solve the range problem.  Fighters can close without
being locked, and avoid the whole problem.

Just running off at the mouth....


-Merrick

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

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 18:40:20 +1000
From: pmcnae@ozemail.com.au (Peter McNae)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: HELP
Message-ID: <199510180840.SAA01949@oznet02.ozemail.com.au>

How do I unsubscribe?

==================================================================
Peter McNae, Sydney, Australia
Internet: pmcnae@ozemail.com.au or pmcnae@msn.com
"Now it's green button to send, and red button to destroy the world. Whoops!"


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

End of TRAVELLER Digest 453
***************************
