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Subject:   Traveller-digest V1996 #211
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Traveller-digest           Thursday, 4 July 1996       Volume 1996 : Number 211

(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.
All rights reserved.

The following topics are covered in this digest:

         1. Re: Ship Name and Deckplans
         2. Re: Ship Name and Deckplans
         3. Re: TNE without the Virus
         4. Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201
         5. Re: ID4
         6. Re: Skills
         7. Re: Miscellaneous thoughts
         8. Re: Death of Literacy
         9. Re: Literacy loss
        10. Re: TNE without the Virus
        11. Re: Sylean Exploration Corp.
        12. Re: TNE without the Virus
        13. Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201
        14. Re: Fission reactors
        15. Re: ID4
        16. Re: Disposable PCs
        17. Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #207
        18. Re: Foss Art: Two Thoughts
        19. Re: Missiles (was Re: Traveller Small Craft/Fighters)

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

From: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 09:04:38 -0800
Subject: Re: Ship Name and Deckplans

On  3 Jul 96 at 16:07, Leonard Erickson spewed:

> eris@pen.net (Eris Reddoch) writes:
> 
> > >Campaign Cartographer is a really great mapping program that comes
> > >with a Traveller Style Scout Ship.  It saves to BMP or PCX format,
> > >and makes wonderful maps.  
> 
> So where do I get it, what does it cost, and what hardware/OS does it
> require? I can't easily use it if it take Windows, a 386, or VGA. On
> the other hand, if it supports DeskJet printers or even better, HP
> Plotters, then I'm *real* interested (I have a 7475A I'm not using for
> anything at the moment. :-)

286 or better...  2MB RAM, 5 MB HD Space, MS-DOS, Mouse or other 
plotting device.

Although it will work with a 286, they recommend a 386 minimum.  I 
run it on a 486-66 Mhz.  I have a feeling it would be SSSLLLOOOWWWW 
on a 286.

As to where to get it, I got it from 1 of the local game shops, so I 
wouldn't have a clue where to send you.

Stu

> 
> 
> Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
>  shadow@krypton.rain.com	<--preferred
> leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com	<--last resort
> 
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" -Isaac Asimov, from "Foundation"
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This tagline brought to you by Big Ed's Taco Emporium, conveniently located next to
Bob's Pet Shop.
Stuart L. Dollar           sdollar@goodnet.com    

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

From: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 09:13:48 -0800
Subject: Re: Ship Name and Deckplans

On  4 Jul 96 at 6:27, James Lindsay spewed:

> On Wed, 3 Jul 1996 23:15:18 -0800, Stuart L. Dollar wrote:
> 
> > I have Campaign Cartographer...  Haven't used it much though.  You 
> > can definitely set up a hex or square grid behind the maps.  Most of 
> > the things you typically see on a Traveller deck plan are included as 
> > predefined objects, although you can definitely create your own.  
> > Their example of a ship design looked so much like the standard 
> > Scout/Courier design I was astonished...
> 
> Tell us more !   8-)
> 
> Where'd you pick it up?  How long ago?  How much?
> 
I picked it up from a local game dealer (he deals some computer 
software, mainly computer wargames, along with the usual CCG's, 
RPG's, Wargames, etc).  I picked it up for too much.  I think I spent 
about $40 or $50 on it about 8-10 months ago.  It has a very nicely 
bound manual, with plenty of examples, and a very detailed tutorial.  
I just haven't used it much in recent months because I haven't had the 
need to draw deckplans.  Maybe I'll play with it a little over the weekend, 
and see if I can't do a few of the standard Traveller ships with it...

Stu
 
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" -Isaac Asimov, from "Foundation"
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This tagline brought to you by Big Ed's Taco Emporium, conveniently located next to
Bob's Pet Shop.
Stuart L. Dollar           sdollar@goodnet.com    

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

From: Larry Hadley <lhadley@knet.knet.flemingc.on.ca>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 12:24:16 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: TNE without the Virus

On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Matthew Harelick wrote:
> 
> Is it possible to play TNE and not use the virus? What I mean by possible is
> is it possible to use the system without too many modifications? 

   Sure, some of the background is iffy but the system itself is very
playable using any other milieu. The ship design (FF&S) has some
assumptions about crew sizes based upon the RC era but there are fixes for
those in beta form right now. Also, in char-gen the ship-DM's aspect would
have to be looked at (it assumes collapse), otherwise it's one of the
things I really liked about TNE.

   Alternatively, you could just do a little handwaving and ignore Virus.
Just say 3I collapsed b/c of the Civil war and gloss over why.


- -- DLH "Warhammer"                           lhadley@knet.flemingc.on.ca
   Traveller stuff for sale/trade.
   http://www.knet.flemingc.on.ca/~lhadley/Profile.html

"...I do my job the best way I know. I'll keep on doing that. If somebody
gets killed, OK. Nobody lives forever, and I don't have any friends on the
other end of the muzzle"
  - Danny Pritchard



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:17:18 -0700
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201

Leonard Erickson wrote:

>Sure. They intercepted the transmissions. They they tried to figure out
>what it was. "Looks like some *very* sophisticated computer code, sir".
>And when they couldn't figure it out quickly, *some* bright lad said
>"Let's load it into an isolated system and see what it does."

I like this idea.  I like it alot.  The only thing is it relys on human 
input trying to "crack Dulinor's Code."  It's probably more likely and I 
have revised my own ideas about the initial infection if you assume the 
following sequence of events:

1) Passive sensors detect transmission.  Because the sensor operator is 
busy at the moment, they begin storing the data and alert the computer.

2) The computer analyzes the first few miliseconds of the transmission, 
says "Hey this could be important."  It in turn alerts the radio which 
continues recording where passive sensors left off.  While the radio is 
recording the transmission it alerts the Reo that there's an encoded 
transmission eminating from the research facility.  It also alerts the 
computer when it's finished recording.

3) The computer immediatly begins running the received data through a 
series of de-scrambling program's not realizing that this is really 
"VIRUS" not an encrypted message.  The computer not wanting to disapoint 
the Reo does this automatically because it figure's he'd rather look at a 
message than a screen full of video vomit.

This way the computer automatically executes the code by attempting to 
descramble it unwittingly subverting itself.  The Virus quickly subverts 
the transponder and begins beaming copies of itself to the other ships in 
the fleet.  It's all automatic, no human interface at all the ship 
infects itself by doing what it was programmed to do.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 07:08:25 -0700
Subject: Re: ID4

James Lindsay wrote:
> 
>On Sat, 22 Jun 1996 23:30:56 -0500, David C.. Broussard wrote:
> 
>>Sorry to post off subject, but I would recommend seeing ID4(assuming of
>>course it is out in your area).  It is a fair example of variant TL
>>combat.
> 
>Yes... an OK movie, unless your stuck in a theatre with 400 other 
>Canadians last night at 3:00 in the morning!  A little TOO American for 
>some of us. 8-)

You saw it at 3:00am?  You mad and impetuous fool.  Larry and Willie did 
the morning show from inside the theatre with cell phones.  It was pretty 
funny I've never heard anything like that before.

"It's time to remove the tinfoil from your head and return to the 
mothership."
 
>THIS MOVIE CONTAINS THINGS APPROPRIATE FOR TML DISCUSSION.  PLEASE 
>CONSIDER OTHERS BEFORE POSTING ANYTHING (INCLUDING SPOILERS IN SUBJECT 
>HEADERS).

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:21:37 -0700
Subject: Re: Skills

Joe Walsh wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Glenn M. Goffin wrote:
> 
>>Flame and lurking skills are either cascade skill under communications
>>(1980s rpgs),or independent skills related to communications (1990s 
>>rpgs).  Either can be role-played, of course, but in some situations a 
>>task roll should be made.  For example:
>>
>>   To tie up opposing communications by starting a flame war: 
>>					Formidable (flame)
> 
>Wow, lots of people on Usenet must have fairly high levels of Flame 
>skill!

Is there a default for this?  Or by making a successful typing task: 
Difficult can you enable the Flame task making it one difficulty level 
easier?

Derek Stanley

8)



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:41:50 -0700
Subject: Re: Miscellaneous thoughts

Joe Walsh wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 3 Jul 1996, Derek Stanley wrote:
> 
> > Quite all right.  Just don't let it happen again or I'll be forced to
> > drop a rock on your head.  8)
> 
> And I suppose I won't be invited to hide behind your desk, either, will
> I? :)

Oh no.  Its a big desk.  The more the merrier.  8)

> So, I fell for the same fallacy twice.  Sigh.

Hey, none of us here want to hear about your fallacy!!  Go to 
WWW.HOTTALK.COM if you want to talk about that!  8)
 
> >  Imagine how much the mortality rate would have climbed during the
> > collapse, it's a pretty staggering thought.
> 
> I shudder at the thought.

With the decline in medical technoligies, the emergence of harsh diseases 
like the plague etc.  I'd imagine that a huge chunk of the population 
died in the years immediatly after the collapse.  50-60% would not be 
unlikely.
 
> I'll design an aging table for those years.  It will have one Interval,
> and the roll to avoid aging effects will be 13+.

I wonder if during the collapse it might be better do begin character 
generation at 14 instead of 18...or is it 17?  Can't remember.  This 
would reflect the younger age at which people would become responsible 
for their own well being.  Sure when you've got toaster ovens and 
microwaves it's easy to keep your kids around till their 28 but when 
survival means getting everyone into the feilds as early as possible and 
making them self sufficient.  You can get my point.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:26:20 -0700
Subject: Re: Death of Literacy

Joe Walsh wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Wes Payne wrote:
> 
> [Wes' explanation of why literacy was lost so quickly - snipped]
> 
>>Therefore,literacy would be much harder to maintain in the aftermath of
>>a sudden, watershed event like the Collapse than it would have been
>>during an interregnum such as the Long Night.
> 
>Not only that, but it would be a hell of a job to bring literacy back.
>You'd have to import instructors from any worlds that had retained their
>literacy.  The RC has its work cut out for it. 
Why do I suddenly have vissions of Rex Harison in "My Fair Lady" 

"A EEE OY OO YOUUU"

"No no Thrug, try it again.  This time with a book on your head."

8)

You know if they just dropped pamphlet and started a letter writing 
campaign they could clear this whole problem up immediatly.  

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:33:24 -0700
Subject: Re: Literacy loss

ROWAN Iain wrote:

> check out a library would be a good idea.  Technology crashed to the
> extent that holographic teaching tapes, CD-ROMs, even VCRs are
> not a practical source of information?  Don't need very high tech to
> transmit information via the printed page.
> This is all fine and dandy on worlds that actually used the Printed Page. 
 Vland, Terra.  But what about all those poor people on TL-15 worlds that 
use holographic crystals etc.?  Those guy's are screwed in the biggest 
sence of the word.

Imagine if Virus hit the StarTrek universe.  Most of those settlements on 
the frontier don't have "written records" they're all stored on somekind 
of nifty gadget.  Getting a book from someone is a really important gift. 
 

Sure you could read those data crystals for a week or so on your palm 
top, but what happens when it's batteries fail?  It's back to the bone 
scapula hoe and leaf spring crossbow.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:49:34 -0700
Subject: Re: TNE without the Virus

Matthew Harelick wrote:
> 
>Is it possible to play TNE and not use the virus? What I mean by 
>possible is is it possible to use the system without too many 
>modifications?

Absolutely, just use the rules and ignore Virus...  Tahda!!  If you do 
this you'll either have to find CT or MT stats on space, which is fairly 
easy on the web or make up your own area of space for the player's to 
float about in.  No problem.

Derek Stanley


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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:46:20 -0700
Subject: Re: Sylean Exploration Corp.

Leonard Erickson wrote:
> 
> Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca> writes:
> 
> > Well at least you didn't think I was a Columbian.  "Vancouver Blend?"
> > Hey it's a Columbian Coffee."  "That's BRITISH COLUMBIA!!"
> 
> As I recently got raked over the coals for this:
> 
> It's "Colombia", no u....

You know living here you'd think I would know that...  No actually I was 
right about the British Columbia part, but the one in South America is 
Colombia.  So you were right on that point.

Its handy having an atlas by your desk.  8)

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 08:49:34 -0700
Subject: Re: TNE without the Virus

Matthew Harelick wrote:
> 
>Is it possible to play TNE and not use the virus? What I mean by 
>possible is is it possible to use the system without too many 
>modifications?

Absolutely, just use the rules and ignore Virus...  Tahda!!  If you do 
this you'll either have to find CT or MT stats on space, which is fairly 
easy on the web or make up your own area of space for the player's to 
float about in.  No problem.

Derek Stanley


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

From: Larry Hadley <lhadley@knet.knet.flemingc.on.ca>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 13:55:20 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201

On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Derek Stanley wrote:
> I like this idea.  I like it alot.  The only thing is it relys on human 
> input trying to "crack Dulinor's Code."  It's probably more likely and I 
> have revised my own ideas about the initial infection if you assume the 
> following sequence of events:

   THAT's the kind of thinking I like to see Derek! Keep trying...

- -- DLH "Warhammer"                           lhadley@knet.flemingc.on.ca
   Traveller stuff for sale/trade.
   http://www.knet.flemingc.on.ca/~lhadley/Profile.html

"...I do my job the best way I know. I'll keep on doing that. If somebody
gets killed, OK. Nobody lives forever, and I don't have any friends on the
other end of the muzzle"
  - Danny Pritchard



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

From: Charles Pratt <tminus@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 11:01:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Fission reactors

On Wed, 3 Jul 1996, Leonard Erickson wrote:

> I suspect that the "coast guard" is *part* of the Navy, much like the
> Army Air Corp used to be part of the Army. They'd have the right to go
> after things clear down to the limit of planetary sovreignty, and
> possibly beyond. (Sort of like how both the Sheriff's department and
> the Coast Guard *both* patrol the Willamette and the Columbia).

The Coast Guard falls under the direct command of the Department of
Transportation (weird, huh) but in times of war fall under naval command.

> So the coast guard would be responsible for a lot of search and rescue
> vessels, "cutters" (several hundred ton armed vessels used occasionally
> for S&R, but mostly for customs and patrol work). They'd also be
> responsible for the SDBs and their tenders. In fact, I'd say most
> "normal" system defence stiuff would be theirs.
>
> The "real Navy" would have the battleships and battle riders and all
> the "escort" type ships.
>
> So just as Coast Guard units served in Vietnam and the Gulf, the
> Imperial Navy would grab such units as they might need for system
> defense and patrolling duties for the units normally assigned to such
> things.
>
> I expect that there'd be some intense rivalry between the two halves of
> the Navy. Both would look down on the other side.

Not necessarily...The Coasties, or Planetary Guardsmen, or whatever, and
the Navy would have vastly different roles.  The Guardsmen would enforce
commercial shipping regulations, search and rescue stuff, etc.  The Navy
would fly around with huge guns and shoot stuff.

- -----

        "Life is a disease of matter." --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
        Charles Pratt tminus@u.washington.edu -- when in doubt, sail.
   "And on the eighth day, the Army Corps of Engineers changed everything."


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

From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 11:02:39 -0700
Subject: Re: ID4

David C Broussard said:

"It is a fair example of varient TL combat."

That's it?

ID$ is just too much fun.  After years of high-handed, moralistic, "we've
come to save from yourselves", clap-trap; we finally have a good, old
fashioned kick ET in the butt film.

There is nothing intellectualy rewarding about this movie.  But things blow
up *real* good..

I give it 4 1/2 Secondary Explosions (out of a possible five)

Doug Bob says check it out.

+----------------------------------------+
| Douglas E. Berry     dberry@hooked.net |
|  Professional Driver - Traveller Guru  |
|   This is the thread that never ends,  |
|   It just goes on and on, my friend.   |
|  Some people started flaming it, not   |
|          knowing what it was,          |
|     And they'll continue flaming it    |
|         forever, just because          |
| This is the thread that never ends.... |
+----------------------------------------+


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

From: Charles Pratt <tminus@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 11:04:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Disposable PCs

On Wed, 3 Jul 1996, Leonard Erickson wrote:

> Charles Pratt <tminus@u.washington.edu> writes:
>
> > (BTW, this is coming from a guy who has the complete first series of
> > StarBlazers)
>
> "We're under attack by *what*?!?"
>
> "It looks like the Yamato, sir"
>
> "But we're in outer space!"

"Fire the Wave-motion gun!"  Which has got to be, what, a huge N-PAW
spinal mount?

- -----

        "Life is a disease of matter." --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
        Charles Pratt tminus@u.washington.edu -- when in doubt, sail.
   "And on the eighth day, the Army Corps of Engineers changed everything."


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

From: anwfh@orion.alaska.edu (William F. Hostman)
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 1996 12:13:23 -0800
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #207

>Of course, FSotSI gives three different armour values... ending in either
>"E", "F", or "G".  I am again clueless to what these mean.
>
MegaTraveller Armour Values are simply striker armour values... same table
(with 3 entries being different... I've checked!) the AV is a semi-log or
log measure of armour toughness, in comparison to cm of steel. The letter
tells what type of armour it is: E-Crystaliron, F-Superdense, G-Bonded
Superdense.

Here is an extract from the MT Armour Table

AV      1=0.25 cm of steel or equivalent (thickness * toughness/steel toughness)
        4       1cm
        10      2.5
        20      5.95
        30      14.1
        40      33.3 (Striker says 33.3)
        45      51.9
        50      80
        55      123
        60      190
        65      293
        70      453
        75      698
        80      1080
        85      1660
        90      2560
        95      3950
        100     6090
        105     9360

William F. Hostman

Aramis@AsylumBBS.com



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

From: Charles Pratt <tminus@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 13:13:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Foss Art: Two Thoughts

On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Les Howie wrote:

> 2. Suggestion to IG:  Somewhere early on in JTAS, if you have not done so in
> the basic book, provide designs to go along with ALL the spaceships in your
> illustrations.  This provides good examples of what the hull forms really
> mean, and the more complete designs (with hull plans etc.) the better off we
> are.

I second that, and would add this: give the ships a reference point.  I,
for one, think it would be real cool to see a human, standing next to a
human in battle dress, standing next to a grav tank, next to a modular
cutter, next to a scout ship, next to an escort, next to a cruiser...etc.
The biggest problem I have with my players, in terms of describing a scene
are numbers.  Instead of saying, "you estimate the ship at (big number)
tons displacement", I would rather be able to say, "take a look at this
picture.  This is you in your scout ship, and THIS is the thing with which
you wish to tangle."  It might just prolong character life (I play with
some real low watt bulbs now and again).

- -----

        "Life is a disease of matter." --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
        Charles Pratt tminus@u.washington.edu -- when in doubt, sail.
   "And on the eighth day, the Army Corps of Engineers changed everything."


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

From: Charles Pratt <tminus@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 13:17:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Missiles (was Re: Traveller Small Craft/Fighters)

On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Tom Ellis wrote:

> In my campaign, only military craft can use det-lasers, legally that is.
> Most civilian craft carry either kinetic kill missiles or frag missiles
> (blow up at about 2,000km from target km into a mass of very fast shrapnel)

The old "how many megajoules does a wing-nut impart moving at 35
klicks/sec", eh?

> Tom Ellis
> tellis@telerama.lm.com
> http://www.lm.com/~tellis/
>
> "No! Do, or do not.  There is not try." Yoda

  "Judge me by my size do you?  And where you should NOT, for the force is
my ally."  (One of the top then sexually slanted lines in the Star Wars
trilogy)

- -----

        "Life is a disease of matter." --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
        Charles Pratt tminus@u.washington.edu -- when in doubt, sail.
   "And on the eighth day, the Army Corps of Engineers changed everything."


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

End of Traveller-digest V1996 #211
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