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Subject:   Traveller-digest V1996 #214
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Traveller-digest            Friday, 5 July 1996        Volume 1996 : Number 214

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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

         1. Re: TNE without the virus
         2. ID4
         3. More questions about TNE
         4. Coast Guard
         5. Re: More questions about TNE
         6. Re: More questions about TNE
         7. Wave Motion Gun (Td V96#212)
         8. Re: More questions about TNE
         9. Re: TNE without the virus
        10. Re: More questions about TNE
        11. Re: More questions about TNE
        12. Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201
        13. Sneaks and Geeks
        14. Re: More questions about TNE
        15. Re: More questions about TNE
        16. Re: More questions about TNE
        17. Re: BR and BL
        18. Re: Naval Ships in Milieu 0
        19. Re: Sneaks and Geeks
        20. Re: More questions about TNE

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

From: Matthew Harelick <matth@interactive.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 08:19:07 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: TNE without the virus

> From: Shalom Zaidfeld <yu145850@yorku.ca>
> Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 11:25:28 -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? 
> 
> do you mean rules-wise or background-wise?  

Primarily rules-wise, but also background-wise? Instead of saying that 
the virus wiped out technology and the Imperium how hard would it be 
to change the background to say that the more powerful sides simply 
beat each other into the stone age and that the Reformation Coalition 
formed in order to defend its members  from fragments of the Imperium raiding
their planets for resources? 


Matthew

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

From: Matthew Harelick <matth@interactive.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 08:27:43 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: ID4

Hi: 

Patrick Stewart was watching it in the same theatre that I was in. I saw
him on line for a hot dog. 

Matthew


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

From: Matthew Harelick <matth@interactive.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 08:34:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: More questions about TNE

Hi: 

Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe? 

Matthew


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

From: Les Howie <lhowie@novalis.ca>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 09:40:41 -0300
Subject: Coast Guard

Charles Pratt wrote

>The Coast Guard falls under the direct command of the Department of
>Transportation (weird, huh)

Not really.  Coast Guard is also responsible for Navigational Aids --
clearly a concern of DOT.  Canada Coast Guard was transferred from DOT to
Fisheries and Oceans this year (I shall not speculate on why).

Question: Are there orbital navaids in traveller? Who maintains them --
planetary authorities (Orbit Guard?), Starport Authorities?.  Also, in
Canada (IIRC) Coast Guard coordinates search and rescue for Canada's SAR
areas, even if other resourses (Navy, Merchant Ships, etc.) do the actual
rescue.


>but in times of war fall under naval command.

Anecdote (off topic, BWTH) from Midlebooke's "Convoy"

US Merchant seaman picked up by CG Destroyer in North Atlantic after torpedo
attack remarked somewhat pointedly "... but you're not the navy".  CG Seaman
offered to "throw him back until the Navy gets here".  Was restrained...


Les Howie
Senior Software Developer
NovaLIS Technologies
Halifax NS
lhowie@novalis.ca


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

From: Jeffery.M.Miller@Dartmouth.EDU (Jeffery M. Miller)
Date: 05 Jul 96 08:51:44 EDT
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

re. aliens in TNE. This was one of the most disappointing aspects of TNE for me
(though I do like the game generally): There were no good references to alien
races as PCs a'la the Vargr,Hiver,Aslan, et al in CT. I always swore I wouldn't
play a character that wasn't Vargr (suited my temperament), and TNE didn't even
give me the option! As a matter of fact, that is the reason I couldn't get some
people to play at first: they wanted to be a BEM (tongue firmly in cheek) and
wouldn't play of they had to be the run of the mill HomoSapiens. 

Hopefully IG reinstalls some ETs!

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

From: Joseph "Chepe" Lockett <jlockett@io.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 08:03:58 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

Quoth Matthew Harelick:
> Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe? 

Yes: the aquatic Schalli.  They're covered in the main TNE rulebook.  TNE
also gave much more detail (which revulsed some, amused others) about the
Ithklur, the race providing the bulk of the Hivers' military (see "Aliens
of the Rim: Hivers and Ithklur").

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

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

From: Derek Wildstar <wildstar@qrc.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 96 09:26:57 -0400
Subject: Wave Motion Gun (Td V96#212)

> From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
> Charles Pratt wrote:
> > 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?
> 
> Possibly the largest PAW ever built.  But nice effect though, everytime 
> they warmed that puppy up you knew there was some serious butt kicking to 
> be delt with.

(BTW: This is coming from a guy who has all three series of StarBlazers on
      videotape, and all of the Space Cruiser Yamato movies I can find)

The PSG (Pseudo-Scientific Gobbeldygook) explanation for the Wave Motion Gun
is that it's the largest tachyon acellerator ever built (not counting the
ones in the Andromeda-class battleships, of course).  Presumably, it fires
some type of tachyons that have a relatively large cross-section for
interaction with normal matter.

Back before the "Laser Limit" was established, I worked out that the best
Traveller model for the Wave Motion Gun was a laser.  In FF&S, there's no
limit to the discharge energy you can have for a laser, and as the energy
increases, so does the penetration.  A laser sized for a battleship's main
weapon would have enough damage and penetration to pierce a small moon.
It would also require a crew of only one to operate the laser.


wildstar@qrc.com
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Prepare the Wave Motion Gun!

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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 07:00:21 -0700
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

Matthew Harelick wrote:
> 
> Hi:
> 
> Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe?

I'm not sure.  Were the Ithklur and the Prt? in the origianl books?  I'd 
imagine so but probably in more of a passing reference than they got 
treated in "sneaks and geaks."

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 06:58:41 -0700
Subject: Re: TNE without the virus

Matthew Harelick wrote:

>Primarily rules-wise, but also background-wise? Instead of saying that
>the virus wiped out technology and the Imperium how hard would it be
>to change the background to say that the more powerful sides simply
>beat each other into the stone age and that the Reformation Coalition
>formed in order to defend its members  from fragments of the Imperium 
>raiding their planets for resources?

ewww... eeee... ewww...  That's going to require considerably more work 
on your behalf.  I've seen a number of posts flying around here with 
methods of how other people have done this.  You've got you're work cut 
out for you though, best of luck.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 07:07:04 -0700
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

Joseph Chepe Lockett wrote:
> 
> Quoth Matthew Harelick:
> > Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe?
> 
>Yes: the aquatic Schalli.  They're covered in the main TNE rulebook.  
>TNE also gave much more detail (which revulsed some, amused others) 
>about the Ithklur, the race providing the bulk of the Hivers' military 
>(see "Aliens of the Rim: Hivers and Ithklur").

The Schalli are probably better detailed in Path of Tears.

Derek Stanley

I knew I was forgetting about someone.



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 07:05:34 -0700
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

Jeffery M. Miller wrote:
> 
>re. aliens in TNE. This was one of the most disappointing aspects of TNE 
>for me (though I do like the game generally): There were no good 
>references to alien races as PCs a'la the Vargr,Hiver,Aslan, et al in 
>CT. I always swore I wouldn't play a character that wasn't Vargr (suited 
>my temperament), and TNE didn't even give me the option! As a matter of 
>fact, that is the reason I couldn't get some people to play at first: 
>they wanted to be a BEM (tongue firmly in cheek) and wouldn't play of 
>they had to be the run of the mill .HomoSapiens.

Regency source book has decent, not extensive but decent, information on 
Vargr, and Aslan's, they also do the Joes and the Darin's but lets face 
it both of these are just human sub-species.

If you've got a sence of humor "Sneaks and Geeks" is an excellent source 
book.  Unlike the old Traveller alien supplements where they told you 
everything in "Sneaks and Geeks" there's still a certian amount of 
mystery about the aliens, which I think is better.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 07:14:59 -0700
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #201

Leonard Erickson wrote:
> 
> Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca> writes:
> 
>>>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."
> 
>Remember, this is just how the infection *started*. You do need an
>explanation of how these highly trained people made the goof. After
>that the virus can handle it by itself.
> I like my "automated" explanation much better.  No human hands on it, but 
if you rely on human means there' a number of things that you could 
speculate on.

1)  Battle fatigue, not really thinking just doing some tech 
instinctively ran Virus through the code cracker.

2)  Curiosity:  Involved in one of the largest space battles over one of 
the Imperium's most secret research stations a transmission is suddenly 
beamed out which you intercept.  Wouldn't you just be dying, oohh bad 
pun, to find out what's going on down there?

3)  Brown nosing:  Some junior tech, receives the message, figuring this 
may be a good way to get a promotion he decides to show some initiative, 
run the code, find out what it does and after learning this tell his 
captian what the enemy has found out.  Obviously the first tech to do 
this would be remembered as a hero because he'd be the first person to 
figure out just what Dulinor's men had stolen and whether it was really 
worth anything.

Derek Stanley


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

From: Jeffery.M.Miller@Dartmouth.EDU (Jeffery M. Miller)
Date: 05 Jul 96 10:35:47 EDT
Subject: Sneaks and Geeks

Okay, I'm game(snicker)...Where dost one procure this much referred-to tome of
Sneaks and Geeks?

Wallowing in ignorance...

- -j

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

From: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 07:39:54 -0800
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

On  5 Jul 96 at 8:34, Matthew Harelick spewed:

> Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe? 

Well, they did write a lot about the Ithklur, a minor race within the 
Hive Federation.  The 1 and only alien book written prior to GDW's 
demise was Aliens of the Rim, Vol. 1 Hivers and Ithklur.  The Ithklur 
had been mentioned previously in CT Alien Module 7, Hivers, but the 
new book expanded on the Ithklur.  Aliens of the Rim wasn't one of 
the better TNE supplements though.  A lot of what was written 
contraadicted other sources on the Hivers, and I thought the Ithklur, 
as portrayed were a bit silly...philosopher warriors.

As I recall, there was a really dumb joke about corn dogs running 
through 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: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 07:43:01 -0800
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

On  5 Jul 96 at 8:03, Chepe spewed:

> Quoth Matthew Harelick:
> > Did TNE introduce any new aliens into the Traveller Universe? 
> 
> Yes: the aquatic Schalli.  They're covered in the main TNE rulebook.  TNE
> also gave much more detail (which revulsed some, amused others) about the
> Ithklur, the race providing the bulk of the Hivers' military (see "Aliens
> of the Rim: Hivers and Ithklur").

Oops...forgot about the Schalli...

The Schalli are actually most heavily covered in Path of Tears, if 
I'm not mistaken.  Count me amongst the later on Ha-Has and Idiocy...
I'm not a big guy on 'canon', but it seems kind of silly to 
contradict previous sources just for the sake of a few jokes...which 
is what Aliens of the Rim did...

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: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 08:05:05 -0800
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

On  5 Jul 96 at 7:05, Derek Stanley spewed:

> If you've got a sence of humor "Sneaks and Geeks" is an excellent source 
> book.  Unlike the old Traveller alien supplements where they told you 
> everything in "Sneaks and Geeks" there's still a certian amount of 
> mystery about the aliens, which I think is better.

Derek,

I usually see eye to eye with you but not on this one.  I have no 
problem with somebody not fleshing out all the details of a universe and 
indeed prefer it that way, but how do you portray an alien race if you 
don't have a lot of detail about the race...

Actually, as I recall, someone from GDW (maybe Dave Nilsen?) 
explained their outlook on Sneaks and Geeks by saying that TNE wasn't 
about being able to play aliens (other than Schalli, which is an inherent 
contradiction).  They thought that the previous alien modules had 
allowed players to gallavant all over the map in the other stellar 
empires playing K'Kree, or Vargr, or such.  (I personally don't see 
why this is a bad thing, but read on)...

Well, gee that's great, but first of all GDW wrote the first set of Alien 
modules, and started the trend in the first place.  Second of all, if you're 
not going to offer details about the aliens in the "canon"-ical 
universe, then why have aliens at all...  If Sneaks and Geeks is the 
only source 1 has on the Hivers, they're going to wind up playing 
them as humans in really funny suits...  Finally, who gives a rip if 
players aren't playing anywhere near where GDW was developing the RC 
section of the universe in New Era...  What's wrong with playing an 
alien as a significant NPC or PC?  It's more challenging than playing 
a human (at least to do it welI), and can add a lot of science 
fiction flavor to a campaign...  And finally after all, it is the 
players game...

IMNSHO, 2 of the best books ever written for any version of the game 
were DGP's alien modules for MegaTraveller.  It gave great detail 
about the race, their background, their history, heck even examples 
of how to role play them in various situations...  IG would do well 
to look at the DGP books as an example of how to write future books 
or supplements about particular aliens, or contract with Roger Sanger 
to finish the series...

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: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
Date: 05 Jul 1996 11:19:23 GMT
Subject: Re: BR and BL

I've played both.  

Brilliant Lances is fun, and really quick to play once (a) you figure out the
rules, and (b) fill out the data sheet.  Shalom & I solved (a) by repeated
rereading, and I've solved (b) by saving all the sheets I fill out (and
filling out sheets when I'm bored).

This is an excellent game in terms of game mechanics.  The editing is
terrible, but once you wade through it the game plays fast.

Oh yeah, the visual appeal of using Rafm's spaceship miniatures is hard to
beat.  I've also made little planets and 'bogey' black blobs.  And if you
don't like using miniatures (or can't afford it) the counters look good.

I found Battle Rider a good game, but less fun than Brilliant Lances. 
Probably because I was less involved with a fleet than with my little
crippled scoutship.  However, it plays fast.

I've bought and played every Traveller product since the game was first
published.  (Yes, I _do_ have gray hair.)  These are the best space combat
games I've played, ever.

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

From: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
Date: 05 Jul 1996 11:30:59 GMT
Subject: Re: Naval Ships in Milieu 0

The traditional usage (from CT days) was Imperial Naval Ship (INS).

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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 08:12:47 -0700
Subject: Re: Sneaks and Geeks

Jeffery M. Miller wrote:
> 
>Okay, I'm game(snicker)...Where dost one procure this much referred-to 
>tome of Sneaks and Geeks?
> 
> Wallowing in ignorance...
> That's okay it took me about ten messages to figure out what "Sneaks and 
Geeks" was too.  It's the "Aliens of the Rim, Hiver & Ithklur" source 
book.  

You can purchace it at any fine hobby store.  Well any finer hobby store.

Derek Stanley



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

From: Derek Stanley <dstanley@direct.ca>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 08:28:29 -0700
Subject: Re: More questions about TNE

Stuart L. Dollar wrote:

>I usually see eye to eye with you but not on this one.  I have no
>problem with somebody not fleshing out all the details of a universe and
>indeed prefer it that way, but how do you portray an alien race if you
>don't have a lot of detail about the race...

See my take has alway's been give me enough that I can use and after that 
I'll take it myself, this way there's something non-canon about the 
alien, all it takes is one mischevious player to peak through the book 
and say something and the aliens darkest inner secret is ruined forever. 
 Ie. If a player read the Aslan source book and determined the Aslan 
refuesed to fight between 4 and 5 on weekdays because it was tea time.  
The'd use that to their advantage, if they just never saw the Aslan 
between those times they might never figure out somethings up.
 
>Actually, as I recall, someone from GDW (maybe Dave Nilsen?)
>explained their outlook on Sneaks and Geeks by saying that TNE wasn't[snipity snipity snip]
>why this is a bad thing, but read on)...

I agree with you here.  I never had a problem with day triping across the 
universe to adventure with the new resident alien.
 
>Well, gee that's great, but first of all GDW wrote the first set of 
>Alien modules, and started the trend in the first place.  Second of all, [snip sliding away]
>a human (at least to do it welI), and can add a lot of science
>fiction flavor to a campaign...  And finally after all, it is the
>players game... 
I think aliens have a great potential for comedy, of course when I gm we 
usually spend 1/4 of time with tears rolling out of our eyes from 
laughing.  But beyond that aliens should never be humans in funny suits, 
they're, well, alien.  But if you can't publish a book with a little 
humour in it people are taking it to serously.  I've read the Digest 
Group Publications, "MT Vilani and Vargr" module, I don't know if there's 
an earlier source book on this material but really it's so dry and stale, 
I'd have looked at the author and said, nice try, the deatils are there 
but can't you make it more interesting and less like a text book?

There's lots of great infomation contained within these pages but it's so 
friggin boring that you need someone to duct tape you to a chair and keep 
turning the pages to continue reading it.  I like lots of information but 
make it interesting at least.

Derek Stanley



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

End of Traveller-digest V1996 #214
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