			    TRAVELLER Digest 476

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Jump Grids... by "M.A. Trickett" <mat3@leicester.ac.uk>
  2) And the latest score is Grids 6, Coils 5 by A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
  3) TL 8 Banshee Light Attack Jet/Interceptor by lewis@chara.gsu.edu
  4) The Traveller Chronicle by aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
  5) Andor, Candory and Red Zones. by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  6) Request for UPP data for Maygar sector by Merrold Kenneth Young <mky1@axe.humboldt.edu>
  7) Influencing GDW by Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
  8) Re: TRAVELLER digest 475 by library@dss.gov.au (DSS Library)
  9) Aerobraking by merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
 10) thanks by Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
 11) Dark Traveller by Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
 12) Immortal Imperium by Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
 13) Re: Influencing GDW by PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
 14) Traveller's Digest Index by Shannon Appel <appel@erzo.ORG>

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

Date:          Wed, 8 Nov 1995 15:06:54 +0100 (BST)
From: "M.A. Trickett" <mat3@leicester.ac.uk>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Jump Grids...
Message-ID: <13438921E67@daisy.le.ac.uk>

I'm kind of new to this thing and having only played MT breifly 
before moving onto TNE my knowledge upon the subject is limited.  Try 
not to shoot me down in flames :)

In my understanding the lanthanum (barium, whatever) grid was 
essentially a "conductor" along which you channelled energy from your 
jump drives - the pattern of the energy when combined with tech-level 
and the *amount* of energy  altered the 'weave' of j-space that you 
entered.  While in j-space there was a 'jump-field' which extends 
approximately 1 meter from the grid.  Anything outside of this 
j-field was then subject to the laws of j-space... could be 
practically anything, and you only have to read up on the "privileged 
communication channels," or possibly even Greg Bear's "Moving Mars" 
to get some novel possibilities.

However, the gist is that the grid maintained a field around the 
ship which protected it from the altering physical laws (reduced 
linear measurements, changes of physical constants, photons acquiring 
mass [nasty], that sort of thing).  Since the field is maintained 
through the journey I always presumed that there was some form of 
constant energy input from the main power plant, or possibly the 
effects of energising the grid left some form of residual 'charge' 
which maintained the field.  If this is the case then why not simply 
extend the grid over a foreign object.  Modular transports would have 
a "standard" j-grid and each module would have it's own j-grid which 
'attaches' to the other... maybe there's even a change in the shape 
(more swirls or something instead of the 'regular' _grid_).  The ship 
is therefore able to operate independently *and* with other 
attachments.  

As for GDW "getting rid of" the lanthanum hull network, is it really 
that important?  As long as you follow through upon the implications 
of this then everything is fine.  Personally I like the 
hull-network... it kind of looks pretty in the mind when you imagine 
a ship going into j-space.  Also, the "physics" of it seems more 
consistent (the grid contains the 'matrix' of matter that is the 
ship?).  What is the problem, though, of getting rid of it.  So, you 
no longer get pretty lights?  You do, however, get rid of the 
problems of 'superficial' damage to the hull rendering several 
thousand tons of mega-credit ship impotent when it can't enter 
j-space... "ooops, sorry, we can't repair the network - dead duck, 
anyone?"  To close (almost), doesn't it all depend upon the desires 
of the GM?  Wasn't that the whole point to FF&S?  

Finally, could someone tell me where they actually mentioned that the 
hull grid was no longer in existence... am I missing something from 
the FF&S or BL products?

--MARK

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

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 16:23:23 +0000
From: A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: And the latest score is Grids 6, Coils 5
Message-ID: <199511081529.KAA08786@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

Susan Marie Shock <34ZBTXQ@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> asks the question:

>What difference does it really make except for those who want to nitpick?
>it's GDW's game; they can change it if they want. Ships still enter jump space
>in TNE. I'm sorry, but I fail to see the relevance.

BIG BIG BIG BIG Biiiiig difference. How do you prevent a ship from jumping?
Got a Jump grid? Ok, hit it with ship lasers, dynamite it from the inside or
outside. No jump grid.... errr... you mean we gotta go find some tiny
lanthanum coil somewhere in the drive room and that's the _only_ way to
knock out the ship's jump drive? (Ok, so there's all the super-fast fusion
reactor which actually powers it and so on, but you get my drift...)

So, a ship's vulnerability to jump drive damage is DRASTICALLY altered
depending on which load of nonsense-change-it-every-other-week-for-no-reason
that GDW is currently spouting...

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Why is it _so_ hard to grind this into
some game designers' heads?

GDW-BETA

Who ya gonna call? Looks like we need the GDW-Beta list to look into this
one. OK, Derek (Wildstar), how does one subscribe to GDW-Beta? A "subscribe
blah blah" type message sent to a listproc somewhere?

Andy


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

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 95 11:01:53 -0500
From: lewis@chara.gsu.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TL 8 Banshee Light Attack Jet/Interceptor
Message-ID: <9511081601.AA15657@chara.gsu.edu>

 

TL 8 Banshee Light Attack Jet/Interceptor
A twin engined stealth fighter.  Its heavy (2 tons) load of missles
give it an excellent strike capacity.  It role would be equivalent 
to the F-15 Strike Eagle.  It can also carry air to air missles 
in its missle bays.  With its fuel probe it can stay up for several
hours.  These features combine to make it a decent interceptor.


Values in parenthesis refer the Banshee loaded with external drop tanks.

TL: 8
Price: 4.53 MCr   (Does not include ammunition or fuel)
Size: 1500 cubic meters or 107 displacement tons
Mass: 25 tonnes (31 tonnes)
Power: Two HBT provide .414 MW. An internal fuel cell provides 
 .15 MW for 6 hours. It has its own fuel supply.
Maintenance Points: 6
Controls:Enhanced electronic controls, TL all weather flight avionics. Flight 
 computer, Satelite Positioning.
Communications: 3000 km radio, 30 km laser designator/communicator
Sensors: 15km radar.
Electronic Countermeasures: Stealth, 10 IR decoys, 10 EMS decoys. Note
 that the stealth is lost if the Banshee has external drop tanks.
Life Support: Oxygen Mask.
Crew: 1 with advanced cockpit armor (AV 4) and advanced ejection seat.
Fire Control: 30 km laser designator.
Armament: 2 tons of missles in internal bays.  20 mm Autocannon with 
 TL 8 digital ballistic computer (-2 diff mods) and imaging radar.
 The Banshee has 1 FHP, and 2 IWHP, both plumbed. Usually used only
 for fuel tanks, becuase they disrupt the stealth properties, but they could
 be used to carry munitions.
Ammo: 2000 rounds of ammunition for the 20 mm Autocannon.
Maximum Speed: 2800 kph  (2267 kph)
Crusing Speed: 2100 kph  (1700 kph)
NOE Speed: None
Travel Move:8400 (6800) 
Combat Move: 389 (315)
Agility: 8 (7)
Fuel Consumption 2070 liters/hour
Internal Fuel Capacity:  5530 liters of hydrocarbon distillates. Fuel Cell
 carries .54 liter of hydrocarbon distillates in a seperate storage tank.
 Though the fuel cell can use fuel from the main tank, if neccesary.  
 The Banshee also has a fuel probe for mid-air refueling.
Endurance: 2.67 hours (5.57 hours)



20 mm Autocannon
TL: 8
Ammo: 20 mm
Muzzle Energy: .092 Mj
Weapon Length: 140 cm 
Weapon Weight: .11 tonnes
Weapon Price: 204,000 Cr
Magazine Weight: 40 kg
Magazine Price: 200 Cr
Ammunition Price: Cr 2 (HE), Cr 6 (Apfsdsdu Keap), Cr 3 (HEAP), 
Cr 10 (Flechette), Cr 4 (Sefop)
Ammunition weight: 200 g

Round            ROF     Dam Val         Pen           Range
HE               20      C:1  B:7        Nil            450m
KEAP (Apfsdsdu)  20      C:-  B:-        7:6:5:3        600m
HEAP             20      C:1  B:3        13C            450m
Flechette        20      C:-  B:90       1-Nil          450m
Sefop            20      C:1  B:7        13C            450m
 

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

Date: Wed, 8 Nov 95 18:01 GMT
From: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Boulton)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: aboulton@cix.compulink.co.uk
Subject: The Traveller Chronicle
Message-ID: <memo.281526@cix.compulink.co.uk>

What's TTC's email address? The one I've got keeps going boing.

---===---
Andrew Boulton

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

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 13:58:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Andor, Candory and Red Zones.
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951108092629.6010B-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


Some comment on Andor, etc.

From: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
> 
> >***Another error!***
> >
> >pg 48  The droyne worlds are both classified as "Red Zone" *and* have 
> >       starport C ports *and* have massively increased tech levels (from 9 
> >       to D on Andor, 8 to E in Candory)
> 
> Is this an error, or an updating of obselete information?  I've spotted a
> couple of cases where Ancient sites have appeared, as well.  I just assumed
> that these were sites that were found between surveys.

According to World Builder's Handbook, 'special' TL's aren't part of the 
listed UWP Tech level: the listed UWP TL is the 'high common' level.

-----*****-----*****

From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
> 
> Do you mean that it's a mistake that the interdicts have not been removed
> or that it's a mistake to have C starports on interdicted worlds? 

First, how can a world be interdicted and have a starport?
Second, why should such a stable people such as the Droyne raise their TL 
so drastically, so quickly, in so short a time? (Neither system is part 
of the Regency Industrial Development Program)

> If I remember correctly Andor and Candory have always had C starports.

I think you're right: however, I never really thought about the 
contradition between starports and red zones till just now.

> (Note that there is a Droyne Free Trader from Andor mentioned in 
> "Merchants")

The mystery get's deeper and deeper...
(AND their governemnt changed, from a oligarchy to the traditional Droyne 
hierarchy.  Whatever that is...)

> The increased TLs does seem to indicate that they are changing their
> age-old way of life. It's interesting that Candory has reached a higher TL
> than Andor. Hmmm... that's going to take a bit of explaining.

I doubt if GDW is going to go into this: any RICE men out there that 
want's to take this on?

-----*****-----*****

From: library@dss.gov.au (DSS Library)
> 
> Dear Folks -
> 
> 1.      DROYNE RENAISSANCE
> 
> In digest 474, Alvin said that the following was an error:
> 
> >pg 48  The droyne worlds are both classified as "Red Zone" *and* have 
> >       starport C ports *and* have massively increased tech levels (from 9 
> >       to D on Andor, 8 to E in Candory)
> 
> Why is this an error? I've always assumed the the interdiction was only for
> non-Droyne. I don't think that Droyne are excluded from their own worlds.
> Remember that the Navy OR the IISS can interdict a world. Perhaps the
> interdiction has been requested by the Droyne themselves, to only allow local
> Droyne to leave and return from the systems.

You may be right-on: I have never heard of this, however. Someone with a 
better Traveller collection than I have can prove you right...

> The next nearest Droyne system is Auitowry (sp?) in the Rift, which is TL 15.
> If you want Droyne PC's (or even NPC's), they have to come from somewhere.
> Candor and Andory are the best choices.
> 
> Note that both are Ancient sites. maybe the interdict is to protect these
> areas - and remember that no-one in the Regency knows where Eskayloyt (SP?)
> - the Droyne's Lost Home - is. They *think* that it could be A or C - and are
> taking no chances on artifact weapons ending up in the wrong hands.

Again, possibly correct: but why the starports if they want to Red Zone it?  
Unless your statement on Droyne being able to cross the Red Zone is 
correct, of course...

-----*****-----*****

From: "Glenn M. Goffin" <ggoffin@igc.apc.org>
> 
> > From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
> 
> > 
> > ***Another error!***
> > 
> > pg 48  The droyne worlds are both classified as "Red
> > Zone" *and* have starport C ports *and* have massively
> > increased tech levels (from 9 to D on Andor, 8 to E in
> > Candory)
> 
> Where's the error?  Supplement 3, The Spinward Marches, 
> listed those Droyne worlds as interdicted, yet possessed of 
> tech levels and starports.  Book 7, Merchant Prince, 
> describes Thyo Supud, a Droyne free trader "formed by a 
> Droyne kroyloss ... from Andor."  (Book 7 at 9.)  The 
> interdiction of the Droyne worlds has always seemed to keep 
> non-Droyne out, not to keep Droyne in.  Why wouldn't the 
> Droyne improve their situation during the rebellion and 
> collapse?
> 
> --Glenn

OK: the data pre-rebellion is correct: both worlds have always had a C 
port.  However, how can they have a starport, when all Red Zoned worlds 
are forbidden from having starports?  If the Imperium/Regency want's to 
keep Droyne worlds isolated, and reduce the chance of any 'leakage' of 
possible Doomsday weapons, why should they allow any contact at all?  
Droyne trade in Artifact material is just as dangerous as human trade... 

Apparently, the Droyne can improve their situation from the pre-Rebellion 
period: the question is, why now?  Apparently with their 'racial memory' 
- and their ability to hand-build jump drives, according to rumour - they 
could have had a nice empire going, say, 10,000 years after the Final War.
Instead, they maintain their (usually) low TL's, and live comfortabily in 
other people's Galatic Empires.  Why the sudden change, in the current 
post-Holocaust environment - after all, the Droyne have seen far worse, but 
didn't strive to improve their TL standard.

The Great Exception to all this is Auitowry, a major TL F Droyne world 
out there in the Trojan Reach (I think).  Why Auitowry?

RICE paper alert, RICE paper alert!!!

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

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



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

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 13:49:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Merrold Kenneth Young <mky1@axe.humboldt.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM, xboat@MPGN.COM
Subject: Request for UPP data for Maygar sector
Message-ID: <Pine.PMDF.3.91.951108134409.2078A-100000@axe.humboldt.edu>

Travpals,

Would one of you kind souls please email me the stats (UPP and stellar 
information) on the Maygar sector?  I am ignorant of FTP stuff when it 
comes to zipped files and am eager to start developing this part of 
space.  I've found the file through Netscape as well as the 
ghost.cc.missouri.edu site, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Merrold Young
mky1@axe.humboldt.edu 

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

Date: 08 Nov 1995 11:59:27 GMT
From: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Influencing GDW
Message-ID: <859435006.76937706@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca>

>p.s. In the end the only way most of us have of influencing GDW is to 
>negatively review their efforts & hope they change. These mailing lists
>help facilitate that.

Actually, Loren said that the best way of influencing GDW is to submit
high-quality material that they could use.  By high-quality he meant usable
with little or no editing.  This means complying with what's been decided,
but it gives you a chance to literally write the book on new areas.

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

Date: Thu, 09 Nov 1995 10:57:01 -0600
From: library@dss.gov.au (DSS Library)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 475
Message-ID: <199511092055.KAA24602@babylon5.dss.gov.au>

Dear Folks -

RE:     LEWIS

I, for one, was sorry that the world Lewis/Aramis has already been detailed. I
*liked* the new description - as someone stated before, these sort of worlds are
needed to balance out all the "happy happy" worlds. After all, the
Imperium/Regency is supposed to be made up of humans - there MUST be a few
skeletons in the Regency closet (human or otherwise ;-). After all, if the
Imperium could produce people such as Lucan and Dulinor, it is *NOT* the happy
place that the Star Trek UFP is (and note that in DS9, we are beginning to see
"behind the scenes" even there).

Please find somewhere else to put your world, Lewis. Personally, I don't
remember any references to Gerome and Huderu - although I haven't quite
memorised the Spinward Marches Campaign book, there may be something in there
(or on "Twilight's Peak") - I'll see if I can find anything. BTW, those worlds
are closer to Rhylanor, and so may be better for high-tech research - not so
far to travel. On the other hand, maybe you would put secret facilities far
away, to avoid detection. Up to you!

- Hyphen
 (David Jaques-Watson)


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

Date: Wed, 8 Nov 1995 22:28:33 -0700 (MST)
From: merrick@Rt66.com (Merrick Burkhardt)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (traveller)
Subject: Aerobraking
Message-ID: <9511090528.AA01558@Rt66.com>


Howdy,

Any ideas out there for what areobraking would be like in BL?  What
about the max speed that a ship can hit atmosphere at (and/or for how
many hexes path length)?

I had it become an issue over the weekend and was at a bit of a loss.


-Merrick

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

Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 10:35:53 +0200 (EET)
From: Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: thanks
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9511091024.A2888-0100000@vserver.vantaa.evitech.fi>

I didn't receive TML for couple of days even though I posted 2 messages. 
Oh well, it happens. So thanks to Chris for answering my question about 
extended tech/legal codes (I hope his name right).

"I'll be bag"
-Arnie the Alligator

Joni Virolainen
jonimv@evitech.fi



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

Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 10:39:09 +0200 (EET)
From: Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
To: Traveller Mailing List <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: Dark Traveller
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9511091057.A2888-0100000@vserver.vantaa.evitech.fi>

In fact I also have been reading alt.gothic. If you think that Vampires 
are OK for this setting, then what do you think about Psionics that (try 
to) control different spirits? 

"I'll be bag"
-Arnie the Alligator

Joni Virolainen
jonimv@evitech.fi



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

Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 10:43:56 +0200 (EET)
From: Joni M Virolainen <jonimv@evitech.fi>
To: Traveller Mailing List <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: Immortal Imperium
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9511091014.A2888-0100000@vserver.vantaa.evitech.fi>

If nobles are immortal and they sometimes use other nobles to do very 
secret operations (maybe they are knights?). What do you think their 
modifications would be? Don't you think that they should be enchanced to 
superior strenght/agility/Initiative? But does these operatives have 
immortality? I think not, because it would be hard to convince them to 
take risky jobs. Maybe they are granted immortality after their retirement.

I also think that in that kind of society, they have re-juvenation therapies.

"I'll be bag"
-Arnie the Alligator

Joni Virolainen
jonimv@evitech.fi



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

Date: Thu, 09 Nov 1995 03:08:47 -0700
From: PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Influencing GDW
Message-ID: <01HXFA3TMVS28Y5HA3@pimacc.pima.edu>

From:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM"  8-NOV-1995 15:37:16.32
To:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM"  "Multiple recipients of list"
CC:	
Subj:	Influencing GDW

>p.s. In the end the only way most of us have of influencing GDW is to 
>negatively review their efforts & hope they change. These mailing lists
>help facilitate that.

Actually, Loren said that the best way of influencing GDW is to submit
high-quality material that they could use.  By high-quality he meant usable
with little or no editing.  This means complying with what's been decided,
but it gives you a chance to literally write the book on new areas.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well I was actually referring to influencing them to change, which doesn't
seem very likely, I'll admit, esp. considering the loooong string of RPG-
related miscalculations, starting with T:2000 or so, that GDW has commit-
ted. In fact it seems that the only big score they've had has been CT.  
Oh well....

Phil


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

Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 01:26:29 -0800
From: Shannon Appel <appel@erzo.ORG>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Traveller's Digest Index
Message-ID: <199511090926.BAA00910@erzo.ORG>

For those of you who enjoyed DGP's old Traveller's Digest magazine, an
index of it is now available. You can either ftp it from
ftp.csua.berkeley.edu (where it's located in the directory
/pub/rpg-index), or watch the newsgroup rec.games.frp.archives, where
it should turn up in the next few days. Feel free to drop me a line if
you don't have access to either resource, and would like a copy.

[as a sidenote, that directory contains indexes of a bunch of other
magazines too... just take a look at the README file for a complete
listing.]

Shannon


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

End of TRAVELLER Digest 476
***************************
