			    TRAVELLER Digest 486

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Challenge 79? 	by jlockett@hanszen.rice.edu (Joseph L Lockett)
  2) RICE Paper: Capon/Lunion 	by Douglas Berry <dberry@mailhost.hooked.net>
  3) Effects of Relic X-Boats & Tenders in The New Era 	by fcain@st6000.sct.edu (Franklin Cain)
  4) Re: TRAVELLER digest 485 	by Joe Lachance <jllachan@midway.uchicago.edu>
  5) Reply to Mitch Schwartz 	by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  6) Rice papers, Adventures, and designs 	by broussa@ConnectI.com (David C. Broussard)
  7) Re: Newsflash:  Nilsen no longer with GDW 	by "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
  8) Re: Nilsen leaves... then what? 	by "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
  9) Re: Nilsen, Challenge 79. 	by "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
 10) Re: Nilsen, Challenge 79. 	by PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
 11) Design question. 	by Andy Davis <acdavi00@mik.uky.edu>
 12) Re: 'E' Class starports 	by PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
 13) What a response! 	by HA282PMR01@ntu.ac.uk (Paul Radford)

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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 17:09:18 -0600 (CST)
From: jlockett@hanszen.rice.edu (Joseph L Lockett)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (Traveller Mailing List)
Subject: Challenge 79?
Message-ID: <199511162309.RAA10197@harry-clay.hanszen.rice.edu>

Given the looooooong hiatus between 76 and 77, I'm amazed that GDW is planning
that far in advance!  Has anyone seen or heard hide or hair of Challenge 78?
I was rather disappointed that, unlike some other publications in the field
(Pyramid springs to mind), Challenge 77 had no mention whatsoever of its
absurd lateness, happenings at GDW, etc.: merely an issue in a vacuum.  That,
if anything, is the way to scare off potential buyers/subscribers, when they
don't know what's happening or why.

I don't think Dave Nilsen's departure is necessarily a death-knell for GDW
(nor do I think Marc Miller's portended it -- from what I heard, he just
wanted/needed to make some more money).  I've enjoyed many of GDW's releases,
but their deep silence concerning goings-on, schedules, etc. is disturbing.

Might it be that the long-ago Mythus lawsuit hurt them worse than they
admitted, and we're only now seeing the fallout?

-----------------------------*-------------------------*-----------------------
   Joseph "Chepe" Lockett    | "Nullum magnum ingenium | GURPS fan, Amiga user,
 jlockett@hanszen.rice.edu   |  sine mixtura dementiae | Shakespearean scholar,
http://www.io.com/~jlockett/ |  fuit." -- Seneca       | actor and director.
-----------------------------*-------------------------*-----------------------

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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 16:55:00 -0800
From: Douglas Berry <dberry@mailhost.hooked.net>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: cberry@cinenet.net
Subject: RICE Paper: Capon/Lunion
Message-ID: <199511170055.QAA05663@chum.hooked.net>

This is my first attempt at a RICE paper.  Any constructive criticism is
welcome.  Coming soon:  Lunion and the Regency Navy Threat Assessment:
Sword Worlds Confederation. 
 
Capon/Lunion  (2324 Spinward Marches) 
A747748-B   N   Ag     810  Re     F9v 
Gravity: 0.6     Day: 33h 40m 48s     Year: 678d 6h 29m (standard) 
Axial Tilt: 24d 13m 02s 
Atmosphere: 0.65, Oxygen: 23%, No weather control 
Temp.: -6  (+/- 6 lat, +18 to -42) (season: +14.4 to -24) 
Daily temp. range: +7.5 to -16.5 
Conservative, Advancing  Peaceful, Unagressive  Regional, Aloof 
Agricultural, Agroproducts 
Law: 8-667A6  Tech: B9-BAACB-BBBA-BB-F 
 
PHYSICAL: 
     Capon, viewed from orbit, is an attractive blue-green world. 
The visitor may notice the vast ice fields that cover large areas 
of the land masses.  Also of note are the World Spine Mountains, a 
famed destination for sport climbers for centuries. 
     Capon has a thin atmosphere, with a almost non-existent ozone 
layer.  Caponese life has adapted to the harsh conditions, and the 
colonists all tend to be of a very dark shade.  Travellers, however, 
must take precautions against high UV levels.  Since much of the 
valley is snow-covered throughout the year, exposed human eyes can 
suffer permanent damge in a matter of minutes due to "snow blindness". 
Eye protection is a must, and either fully covering garments or a 
strong sunblock is needed to avoid a painful melanoma. 
     There are two main continents; Nord, which is ice bound, and 
Pillagi, where most settlement has occurred along the Lanzecki river 
basin.  The Lanzecki, which flows 12,000km from the World Spine to 
the Hester Ocean, is a meandering, slow river.  Its flood plain 
provides for much of the agricultural output of the world. 
 
HISTORY:  
     Capon was settled in 124, with colonists drawn from the Deneb 
sector.  The first colony failed within 50 years due to poor 
planning.  In 180, an Imperial Navy base was started on the site 
of the first colony.  Ministry of Colonization officials scoured 
the area for colonists who could stand the extreme UV levels.  The 
result was one of the oddest collections of people ever to settle 
a world.  While regulations were followed in skills available and 
male-female ratios, etc.; most of the colonists had never met each 
other until they were on the transports.  The second colony was 
established in the Lanzecki River's broad delta region.  After 
clearing the heavy jungle, the region was found to be very fertile, 
supporting a wide variety of crops along with aquaculture. 
     The Second Frontier War saw the invasion of Capon by Sword 
Worlds forces.  An attempt to deny the Naval Base to the Imperium, 
the occupation led to a bitter guerilla war that last three years 
(617-620).  The Occupation, as it is remembered, has left a lasting 
dislike of off-worlders in general and Sword Worlders in particular. 
 
SOCIETY: 
     Caponese society is best characterized as conservative and 
polite.  Manners are considered to be of paramount importance in 
social situations.  Rudeness will rarely result in violence, but 
the offender will be ignored.  Caponese dress in head-to-toe outfits, 
rarely exposing skin to the harmful rays of Cyr.  Since UV 
protection goggles are mandatory, it is considered very rude to look 
an ungoggled person in the eyes.  Among family and close friends, 
however, there is no nudity taboo.  Indeed, communal bathing is part 
of the Brushlander culture. 
     There are two distinct sub-cultures on Capon; the majority who 
live in the Lanszeki valley, and the Brushlanders who follow the 
Basa herds.  Brushlanders are nomadic, living in massive ATVs.  They 
use kians and light grav vehicles to monitor their stock. 
     Brushlanders barely acknowledge the existence of the world 
government, preferring their own clan structure.  Most Brushlander 
clans consist of several families of 40-60 individuals.  Brushlander 
and mainstream Caponese come together annually when the clans bring 
their herds into railheads for auction.  At these times, the clan 
council judges disputes between families, allocates goods and profit 
from the sale, and makes arrangements for clan members who wish to 
leave for any reason (usually the clan member is welcome to return 
at any time). 
 
GOVERNMENT: 
     Capon is governed by a Senate that controls appointments to 
various posts.  The world is divided into four districts, with 
Burton's Landing constituting a seperate district of its own.  Seats 
are allocated based on a districts economic output, resulting in a 
constant shift in the balance of power.  The Senators from each 
district elect one of their number to serve on the Executive Council, 
this body holds the purse strings of the Treasury. 
     The Senate is popularly elected every five years.  Elections 
are staggered, so that any given year 1/5 of the seats are contested. 
Caponese politics are fractious, with several candidates vying for 
any given seat.  One wit observed:  "Caponese are polite to a fault, 
and that fault is politics." 
     Everyday administration is handled by various Ministies. 
Ministers are appointed by the Senate, and nepotism seems to be the 
rule.  Lower-level bureaucrats are found through civil service exams, 
and tend to make up for their superiors' failings. 
     Law enforcement is under the supervision of the Ministry of 
Justice and the National Police.  Laws are mainly intended to 
preserve order, and allow for a wide range of expression.  Police 
tend to be armed with non-lethal weapons, and act more as mediators 
whenever possible.  Those arrested will be tried before a tribunal 
consisting of a Senator, a police official, and a citizen selected at 
random.  The accused are considered innocent until proven guilty. 
Punishment is slated more towards conspicuous public service and 
embarrassment. 
 
VISITING CAPON: 
     The first thing a visitor to Capon will notice is the small 
orbital port.  Currently being upgraded as part of the Phase 2 
Starport project, the Up-port is crowded for a class A facility. 
Once cleared by the RQS and Caponese Customs, your ship will land at 
the First Try Memorial Starport.  Built on the site of the failed 
colony, the main terminal has an interesting display of artifacts 
found during the port's construction in the late 700s.  Ground 
transport to the capital of Burton's Crossing is usually handled by 
high speed Mag-Lev trains, but an option for the traveller with more 
time is a trip up river on one of the many cruise ships. 
     Once in Burton's Crossing, (pop: 6.4 million) there are a variety 
of hotels and entertainments.  It is important to remember that acts 
perceived as rude will result in a shunning, even from merchants and 
police.  Most of the planets economic activity is handled here, rather 
than at the starport, due to the nature of the world's exports.  A 
brisk futures market can be found in the Poolside district, and is 
fascinating to watch. 
 
SYSTEM DETAILS 
 
Primary: Cyr             F9v 
 
0.       Empty 
 
1        Caldon  YS00000-0 
 
2        Firth   Y310125-A 
 
3        Belt    Y000000-0 
 
4        Capon   A747748-B  N  Ag 
  12     Yun     H221369-B     Re 
 
5........Empty 
 
6........Tiburons Y9A0000-0 
 
-- 
Douglas E. Berry - dberry@hooked.net 
Planets created while you wait 
The Dream is, and must remain, alive.... 

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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 20:25:34 -0500 (EST)
From: fcain@st6000.sct.edu (Franklin Cain)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: fcain@st6000.sct.edu (Franklin Cain)
Subject: Effects of Relic X-Boats & Tenders in The New Era
Message-ID: <9511170125.AA35720@st6000.sct.edu>

	The Scout Service of the Last Imperium had two primary functions:
Exploratin and communications.  The purpose of exploration is clearly
substantiated by the huge number of relic scout/couriers.  So whatever
happened to all of the X-Boats and their Tenders?

	First of all, the X-Boats and Tenders had massive amounts of
electronics (as befits a moile communications post).  Thus, they were
greatly susceptible to Virus infestation.  In fact, a major avenue of
Virus propagation was the X-Boat Network.  Therefore, the majority of
X-Boats and Tenders were casualties to Virus.  But that still leaves us
with a large number of X-Boats and a lesser number of Tenders to account
for. 

	In the Post-Collapse universe, most X-Boats will be greatly valued
as reserves of spare parts (just as the Covenant of Sufren is doing with
the jump drives from its larger naval vessels).  However, a pocket empire
might maintain one or two X-Boats as a special high-jump courier. 
Tenders, on the other hand, will probably be used as fuel shuttles (with
their hangar bay reconfigured as extra fuel tankage).  While you consider
the implications of this, let me bring up something else.  

	A major problem faced by the Reformation Coalition is the
restriction on travel within the RC imposed by the astrography.  For
example, for a typical jump-2 ship (such as a far trader or a
scout/courier) takes eight jumps to travel from Oriflamme to Spencer (see
figure 1 below), crossing the RC border to do so, even though Spencer was
only three parsecs away!  If the same ship goes from Baldur to Helios, the
trip involves four jumps, again crossnig the RC border, and again the
destination was only three parsecs away.  Going from Nike Nimbus to the RC
Navy HQ at Aurora takes four jumps, once again crossing the RC border (but
this time, our destination was four parsecs away).  What does this have to
do with relic X-Boat Tenders?

	Suppose the RC NAvy were to commission two squadrons (with one
Tender [Tanker version; see below] each) to service deep-space refueling
depots.  One squadron ("Sahara Squadron") would be based out of Baldur and
would service 0833 and 1034.  The other ("Gobi Squadron") would be based
out of Shenandoah and would service 0938 and 1137.  From 0833, Sahara
Squadron would connect Kruyter, Eos, Nike Nimbus, Enkidu, and Baldur (see
figure 2 below); from 1034, Sahara Squadron would connect Baldur, Helios,
Oriflamme, Spires, and Zloga.  From 0938, Gobi Squadron would connect
Aubaine, Phoebus, Spires, Lucifer, and Shenandoah; from 1137, Gobi
Squadron would connect Oriflamme, Spires, Zloga, and Shenandoah.  Also,
within each squadron, both deep-space refueling locations would be within
jump-2 distance of one another.  Thus, someone wanting to go from
Oriflamme to Eos could do so in just three jumps!

	Initially, each deep-space refueling site would be uilt from the
following Clipper Modules (from the RC equipment Guide, plus the update(s)
in _Challenge_ magazine):

		1x 25-ton Lifeboat Module (for the emergenct low 
			berths and the radio)
		1x 25-ton Missile Module (for self-defense as well
			as for the Active and Passive EMS arrays)
		2x 25-ton VIP Quarters Modules (for accomodations)
		1x 50-ton Service Module for 10-ton Small Craft
			(for the skiff and the machine shop)
		4x 100-ton Fuel Modules (for fuel tankage)

	Eventually, each site would replace the Small Craft Service Module
and both of the VIP Quarters Modules with a 200-ton Quarters Module Mk IIa
(for the rec deck, the radio, the sickbay, and the skiff); furthermore,
each site would get an additional 6x 100-ton Fuel Modules (bringing the
total number of such Fuel Modules per site to ten each).  Initially, both
Squadrons would have onlu one Tanker each to service both of their
deep-space sites; eventually, another two Tankers (one per Squadron)
should be assigned.  The eight-week schedule for both Squadrons would look
like this:

	Weeks 1-2:  Sahara Squadron returns to Baldur and refuels; Gobi
Squadron returns to Shenandoah and refuels

	Weeks 3-4:  Sahara-1 jumps to 0833 and unloads fuel; Gobi-1 jumps
to 0938 and unloads fuel; (Sahara-2 and Gobi-2, if available, would
service 1034 and 1137, respectively)

	Weeks 5-6:  (as Weeks 1-2 above)

	Weeks 7-8:  Sahara-1 jumps to 1034 and unloads fuel; Gobi-1 jumps
to 1137 and unloads fuel; (Sahara-2 and Gobi-2, if available, would
service 0833 and 0938, respectively)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Figure 1):

	(show Aubaine and Oriflamme subsectors together; also show the
left-most column of So Skire subsector [hexes 1731-1740])

	path "A" -- Oriflamme to Spencer:  draw arrows going from
Oriflamme (1235) to Helios (1234) to L'steich (1333) to Junak (1432) to
Nimz (1633) to Lamneth (1735/So Skire) to Tuer (1638) to Teldora (1437) to
Spencer (1338)

	path "B" -- Baldur to Helios:  draw arrows going from Baldur
(1032) to Bestor (1131) to Corrig (1331) to L'steich (1333) to Helios (1234)

	path "C" -- Nike Nimbus to Aurora:  draw arrows going from Nike
Nimbus (0732) to Eos (0632) to Adrian (0432) to Fija (0434) to Aurora (0535)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Figure 2):

	(show Aubaine and Oriflamme subsectors together)

	draw arrows connecting 0833 to each of the following:  Kruyter,
Eos, Nike Nimbus, Enkidu, Baldur, and 1034

	draw arrows connecting 1034 to each of the following:  0833,
Baldur, Helios, Oriflamme, Zloga, and Spires

	draw arrows connecting 0938 to each of the following:  Aubaine,
Phoebus, Spires, 1137, Shenandoah, and Lucifer

	draw arrows connecting 1137 to each of the following:  0938,
Spires, Zloga, Oriflamme, Spencer, and Shenandoah

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reformation Coalition _Oasis_-Class Tanker (modified X-Boat Tender)

General Data
	Displacement: 1,000 tons        Hull Armor: 28
	Length: 37.5 meters             Volume: 14,000 kiloliters
	Price: MCr 296.3163             Target Size: M
	Configuration: Box SL           Tech Level: 12/15 (see below)
	Mass (Loaded/Empty): 5,602.351/4,793.951

Engineering Data
	Power Plant: 700 MW TL-12 Fusion Power Plant (50 MW/hit), one year
		duration (54.81 MW shortfall)
	Jump Performance: 2 parsecs (2,100 kiloliters for jump-2; 1,050
		kiloliters for jump-1)
	G-Rating: 1G (500 MW); Contra-Grav Lifters (100 MW)
	G-Turns: 140 (173.6 with jump fuel), 62.5 kiloliters each
	Fuel Tankage: 10,850 kiloliters (775 tons), plus 105 kiloliters
		(7.5 tons) reserved for power plant
	Maint: 254

Electronics
	Computer: 3x TL-12 Mod Fb Computers (0.8 MW each)
	Commo: 1x TL-12 Radio, 1,000 AU (inf.; 20 MW); 1x TL-12 Laser, 1,000 AU
(inf.; 0.3 MW); 1x TL-12 Maser, 1,000 AU (inf.; 0.6 MW)
	Avionics: TL-10+ Avionics
	Sensors: 1x TL-12 Passive EMS Array, fixed, 120,000-km (4 hexes;
0.15 MW); 1x TL-12 Active EMS Array, 480,000-km (16 hexes; 50 MW)
	Controls: Bridge with 5x bridge workstations, plus 8x other
workstations 

Armaments
	3x Turret Hardpoint Socket

Accomodations
	Life Support: Extended (2.8 MW); Grav Compensators (3G; 70 MW)
	Crew: 15 (2x Maneuver; 1x Electronics; 0x [3x] Gunnery; 8x
Engineering; 1x [2x] Maintenance; 2x Command; 1x Medical)
	Crew Accomodations: 15x Small Stateroom (0.0005 MW each)
	Passenger Accomodations: 5x Small Stateroom (0.0005 MW each)
	Cargo: 48.9 kiloliters with small cargo hatch
	Small Craft and Launch Facilities: None
	Air Locks: 10 

Notes:
	Fuel scoops capable of ingesting 800 tons per hour (400 tons per
turn).  
	FPP capable of refing 140 kiloliters (10 tons) per hour (15 hours
for 2,100 kiloliters; 5.04 MW).  
	Electronics shop (0.6 MW), machine shop (1.0 MW), and sickbay (0.8
MW).  
	The power shortfall is made up by powering down either the CG Lifters
(+100 MW) or both the radio (+20 MW) and the AEMS (+50 MW).  
	The hull is TL-15 bonded superdense hull armor.  All other ship
components are TL-12.  (All salvagable relic TL-15 components were removed
for use in more critical RC vessels.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	This is an article I sent to Dave Nilsen several months ago.  He
liked my idea of a deep-space refueling program for the RC (the Centrists
should *really* go for it).  He said he was giving this to Michelle Sturgeon,
the editor for _Challenge_ magazine, to see if she wanted to print it.
However, since I haven't heard anything from Ms Sturgeon, I thought I
would send this copy to the readers of this mailing list.

	If you like this idea, please let me know.  Constructive
criticisms greatly appreciated!

	Thank you.  

	Franklin W. Cain

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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 19:42:43 CST
From: Joe Lachance <jllachan@midway.uchicago.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 485
Message-ID: <CMM.0.90.4.816572563.jllachan@quads.uchicago.edu>

Does anyone here know GDW's phone #?
I've been in search of the RSB, but have come up dry, and would definitely
like a copy of the sourcebook (even if my own campaign has diverged a good
deal, i still like to work in "official developments")

Joe Lachance
(jllachan@midway.uchicago.edu)

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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 21:36:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Reply to Mitch Schwartz
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951116210605.4494C-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


From: mitch@intersys.com (Mitch Schwartz)
> Subject: Alvin Plummer's  TL C Nigiyabazi Light Cruiser article in 478
> 
> I would like to congratulate Alvin Plummer for a job well-done.  This is 
> quite rare, as I do not agree with most of his views on Traveller and 
> Traveller:TNE. 

No problemo.  The real problem is for me to try to keep in mind the 
strong points in the arguments of the pro-RC/New Era camp.  Difficult, 
due to extreme emotional bias, but it can be done... temporarily.

> However, his comparison of his light cruiser design
> with the RC modular vessel was particularly well written, and made far 
> more interesting reading than just another vessel description.  I do
> not spend much time designing ships and have not played either BL
> or BR, so I generally have little interest in the ship descriptions.
> 
> But I know enough about the weaponry, numbers, and design 
> issues to follow the discussion, and the comparisons were 
> well-wrought (even if I did not agree completely with all points 
> made).  

Actually, I was hoping for a lot more flames.  Although I love ship 
design and naval architecture, I have yet to play any BL/BR games, and 
was hoping that those with real, regular experience with BL/BR would 
point out where I messed up.  

Actually, when you get down to it, I have never even played/GM'ed a 
Traveller game! No, really!  School and work has usually taken up my 
time, and I prefer designing worlds, ships, etc. to playing in them. Call 
me a frustrated SF writer, or an artist without the disipline to truly 
bring his visions to life.

All my observations were based on some deductive thought, basic common 
sense (sorta) and intuition, coupled with some grasp of the rules.  

> Anyone with any interest in ships (not as units in a
> board game, but as ships) could understand and enjoy the
> article.  Thank you, Alvin, for providing interesting reading.

You're very welcome.  I try to please, but suspect that I'm more likely to 
publicly make a fool of myself than properly illustrate the ideas in my 
head.  

Anyways, I find it deeply satisfying to put my ideas on the TML list - 
where anyone who likes them can use them -  rather than left gathering dust, 
locked away in my files and folders.  And if you don't like them, make 
your own and post them here!

>                                                 Ted7
> Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more
> difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing in the tempting place.
>                     -- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
> 
> Official:                                                Unofficial:
> mitch@intersys.com                     Ted7@world.std.com
>                                                      http://world.std.com/~Ted7

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer               "Yet another Canadian out for World Domination!"

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


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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 20:42:29 -0600
From: broussa@ConnectI.com (David C. Broussard)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Rice papers, Adventures, and designs
Message-ID: <9511170242.AA16270@ConnectI.com>

I would be willing to set up an archive of designs, adventures and Rice
papers on my home page (I have plenty of disk storage). If anyone is
interested E-Mail me either the designs etc., or let me know where to FTP it
from.  If no one is interested that Ok too.

BTW: my Home page is http://www.connecti.com/~broussa
I will set up a traveler.html when I get some stuff.

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!
-----------------------------------------------------------------


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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 20:55:00 -0700
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Newsflash:  Nilsen no longer with GDW
Message-ID: <199511170355.AA18191@ns-1.csn.net>

At 02:13 pm 11/15/95 -0500, you wrote:
>I spoke with GDW today, and they informed me that Dave Nilsen is no longer
with 
>the company.  I didn't ask any further questions since I assumed they would 
>consider that a private personnel matter.  I also found out that Challenge is 
>being put on hiatus after issue 79.
>
>Hmm.  I wonder what this means for GDW in the long term?

        Probably explains why they've ignored my every request for
information about my subscription, and my missing issues.
 ___________________________________________________________________
  Dave Golden                              PGP Public Key available
  goldendj@whip.com        http://www2.csn.net/~goldendj/index.html

 "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his
  enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes
  a precedent that will reach to himself" -- Thomas Paine


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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 20:55:02 -0700
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Nilsen leaves... then what?
Message-ID: <199511170355.AA18195@ns-1.csn.net>

At 07:09 pm 11/15/95 -0500, you wrote:
>From: Christopher_Griffen_at_DMC-SJ3@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
>
>> 1) [Dave] apparently received an offer from that vicinity... for 
>> more money than GDW could pay to keep him on as full time staff.
>> 
>> 2) He will still be an associate writer for GDW, and will continue to 
>> contribute to Traveller.  He will in all likelihood (again my 
>> speculation) no longer be the creative guru for the product line.
>> 
>> What do y'all think.  Sounds like trouble to me, especially if it's for 
>> financial reasons.
>> 
>
>Well, here we go.
>
>If GDW tanks (in, say, three or so years), should we largely keep the New 
>Era setting, or simply revert back to pre-Rebellion Traveller with New Era 
>rules?  Or try for something completely different? (ie. collapse without 
>Virus, Lucan winning the Civil War, etc.)  

>Assuming anyone here can handle publishing it, either as a hobby 
>[remember those cheap little black books!] for fellow Traveller fans, or
>as a going financial concern (doubtful).
> 

        What about the power of the medium we're using right now? There's
half-a-dozen Web sites that could continue to publish "official" Traveller
material ... the only question would be who gets to decide what's official
if GDW augers in.
 ___________________________________________________________________
  Dave Golden                              PGP Public Key available
  goldendj@whip.com        http://www2.csn.net/~goldendj/index.html

 "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his
  enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes
  a precedent that will reach to himself" -- Thomas Paine


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

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 20:55:19 -0700
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@whip.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Cc: GDW.SUPPORT@genie.geis.com
Subject: Re: Nilsen, Challenge 79.
Message-ID: <199511170355.AA18204@ns-1.csn.net>

At 11:28 am 11/16/95 -0500, you wrote:
>Another thing, in the not too distant past, GDW mailed the list occasionally
>to let us know of developments in TNE and the company in general. Of late
>though they seem to be ignoring the list, and they've never answered any
>e-mails I've sent them. Don't they care about their fans, the people who
>buy their products? Maybe TML'er should e-mail GDW en-masse and fill the
>subject line with : 'Whats up?'
>
>Getting kind of exasperated at GDW,

        And could this possibly have anything to do with GDW's financial
problems? Ignore your customer, and you have no problems, because you have
no business...
 ___________________________________________________________________
  Dave Golden                              PGP Public Key available
  goldendj@whip.com        http://www2.csn.net/~goldendj/index.html

 "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his
  enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes
  a precedent that will reach to himself" -- Thomas Paine


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

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 00:41:19 -0700
From: PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Nilsen, Challenge 79.
Message-ID: <01HXQBDDSSLI8Y62TK@pimacc.pima.edu>

From:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM" 16-NOV-1995 09:56:53.25
To:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM"  "Multiple recipients of list"
CC:	
Subj:	Nilsen, Challenge 79.

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 11:28:01 -0500
From: E.Watters@Queens-Belfast.AC.UK
Subject: Nilsen, Challenge 79.
Sender: traveller@MPGN.COM
To: Multiple recipients of list <traveller@MPGN.COM>

As for Challenge stopping at 79, why? Any copies that reach our local quickly 
evaporate, unlike Inphobia (R.I.H.), Dragon, White Dwarf, and others. The
Market will be left with no Science Fiction RPG magazine at all. Perhaps
GDW could just officially go bi-yearly?
========================================

I suspect it's financial. Printers need to paid.
================================================

Another thing, in the not too distant past, GDW mailed the list occasionally
to let us know of developments in TNE and the company in general. Of late
though they seem to be ignoring the list, and they've never answered any
e-mails I've sent them. Don't they care about their fans, the people who
buy their products? Maybe TML'er should e-mail GDW en-masse and fill the
subject line with : 'Whats up?'

Getting kind of exasperated at GDW,

Eamon Watters.
=============================

You & me both. I'm not surprised though. I think alot of folks there
are "seeing the handwriting on the wall". It's bound to affect their
motivation.

Phil

ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu


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

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 00:09:30 -0500 (EST)
From: Andy Davis <acdavi00@mik.uky.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Design question.
Message-ID: <Pine.NXT.3.91.951117000457.3292A-100000@nx12.mik.uky.edu>

Good morning.
Has anyone out there designed orbital beacons using FF&S?
I'm thinking of something that a survey mission would leave in orbit, be 
it planetary or stellar, after conducting missions into the Wilds.  The 
device would have to be fairly self-sufficient for long periods.  No 
engines would be necessary.
The design I've slowly been working on (my first experiment with FF&S) 
has a 1000-AU transmitter powered by a TL-12 fusion reactor.  Any 
suggestions?  How wrongly am I going about this?
Thanks,
Andy


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was born to hijack space shuttles, and blackmail cities, and start World
Neurologic Wars, and get thrown out of rooms, and institutions, and off planets
and out of solar systems.  --Howard Cohen
Andy Davis    ACDAVI00@mik.uky.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 01:43:42 -0700
From: PPUGLIESE@pimacc.pima.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: 'E' Class starports
Message-ID: <01HXQDK6I46G8Y62TK@pimacc.pima.edu>

From:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM" 14-NOV-1995 16:18:01.98
To:	IN%"traveller@MPGN.COM"  "Multiple recipients of list"
CC:	
Subj:	RE: 'E' Class starports

Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 18:13:07 -0500
From: Shalom Zaidfeld <yu145850@YorkU.CA>
Subject: Re: 'E' Class starports
Sender: traveller@MPGN.COM

On Tue, 14 Nov 1995, Michael Bailey wrote:

> Could they be erected temporarily ?

I also think that E class ports can be erected temporarily, either 
in emergency cases or starting colony, trying to establish trade..etc. 
 
> Well, if my understanding is correct, yes.  The way I always saw it, an 'E'
> Class starport was little more than a cleared patch of dirt, with maybe a
> hotdog stand and an old shack that serves as both customs house and bar to
> keep it company. (stand and shack optional).

Well, it's more of case to case basis.  For example, for my writeup for 
Apollo (Aubaine subsector) the E class starport is infact an old lab ship 
that was converted by the Admin. Terrotry officals to handle the traffic 
in the system.  E class ports, to me, add in a wide variation to the 
game.  They can be either dirtside: converted ships buried in the ground 
type, a patch of dirt or water-based installition.   Or space-based.  an 
old BB serves as the local E port, an astroid whatever..  

Are there any examples of E class ports in the traveller history (World 
writeups?) 

     -Shalom Zaidfeld

====================================

The old CT adventure (double adv?) 'Mission on Mithril' detailed a class
E port on the world & it was pretty much the way Michael described it, as
I recall.

Phil



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

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 11:24:10 +0100
From: HA282PMR01@ntu.ac.uk (Paul Radford)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: What a response!
Message-ID: <95111711240782@newvax.ntu.ac.uk>

Thank you for your response concerning my offering to send out an 
adventure. 

I've got your addresses and will be sending it next week on Tuesday or 
Wednesday. I hope you all like it. It might not be awesome but i think its
ok. You will have your own opinions i guess. Let me know what you think when
you have read it.

Expect it to come not from this address but my other one 
(paul.radford@nottingham.ac.uk). But either address is possible.
If it is too large for mail servers to handle, then something will have to
be sorted out.

I don't mind if anyone wants to add the adventure to an homepage or FTP
site. All i ask is that it retains my name on it.

It seems that there might be a receptive audience for adventures (not just
adventure seeds), and perhaps others have adventures that they would like to
share?

As my campaign is RC based then I would appreciate any adventures that
anyone may have set in this region of space. Regency material would be nice
too in case  I start an alternate campaign.

Thanks everyone.

Paul


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

End of TRAVELLER Digest 486
***************************
