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From: owner-traveller-digest@mpgn.com (Traveller-digest)
To: traveller-digest@Phaser.ShowCase.MPGN.COM
Subject: Traveller-digest V1996 #740
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Traveller-digest    Wednesday, December 11 1996    Volume 1996 : Number 740



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: Re: Deckplans
Re: Mechs in Traveller
RE: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century
RE: Mechs in Traveller
Starships-Just got it!
SSDS Mouffette-Rapide Far Courier
Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #738
Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #739
Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century
Re: Bruce Who?
Re: Bitter Starships Review
Re: Mech in Traveller
Re: Bitter Starships Review
Re: Traveller on IRC - Very Long!
Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century
Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century
Re: German Translations
Re: Starports
Re: Grand Adventure stuff, Foss Art Design Competition
Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century
Re: Starports

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

Date: 11 Dec 1996 02:40:19 GMT
From: Rob_Prior@nynet.nybe.north-york.on.ca (Rob Prior)
Subject: Re: Re: Deckplans

>Nice, but I prefer a proper grid.

Hm.  Views on this are split fairly evenly.  Maybe I should ignore the grid
and let people draw their own?  :-)

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 21:55:09 -0500
From: Daniel Poulin <pould@netcom.ca>
Subject: Re: Mechs in Traveller

Clint Fishback wrote:
> 
> But the thing about the original question that I think everyone has
> strayed from is what the purpose the mechs were designed for.
> 
> Not large scale warfare.  As people have pointed out, they would be
> handicapped.  The purpose was for duelling or grudge matches.  Mech
> against mech.  Like in Robojox.  A champion from the contesting worlds
> brought their mechs to an arena to battle.  In this form, the mechs
> would be feasible.
> 
> "Let's see.  We can spend millions of MCr on an army to settle our
> desputes or we could spend a couple of hundred on a champion to fight
> their champion."
> 
> Which makes more sense economically and humanly?
> 
> ----------
> From:   Antti Lahtinen[SMTP:lahtinen@ee.tut.fi]
> Sent:   Tuesday, December 10, 1996 5:47 AM
> To:     traveller-digest@MPGN.COM
> Subject:        Re: Mechs in Traveller
> 
>
The problem I see is that you seem to suggest that there is a humanly
way to figth wars.  War is hell (W.T. Sherman).  It is, sadly, one of
the things we humans are best at and, ultimately, the one thing that
distinguishes us (higher primates which includes some other primates)
from other animals (ants do not wage war in the sense of organized
violence).

The suggestion of champions would mean that a society would accept to
submit to a judgement of champions.  This is unthinkable in a democracy
and even more in a dictatorship based on violence.  A leader that would
have failed would simply be killed by his own side.

The closest thing to the type of world that you are describing in earth
history would be 'la guerre en dentelles' (the period that includes
Frederick the Great and Louis XIV) where professional armies of soldiers
would go out of their way to battle one another and would limit the
devastation.

This went away with total war under Napoleon.  An entire country got
drafted into the war effort, making it total.  We cannot go back to the
time of champions.

A democratic leader that would submit to a judgement of champions would
be taken out of office and the democracy would simply ignore the
decision and (if they decide to do so) fight.  A dictator would simply
be taken out and replaced by another one.

My ranting for tonight.  What a great subject to actually pass on my
frustration on my keyboard...

Daniel Poulin
pould@netcom.ca

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 21:17:43 -0600
From: "K.C. Komosky" <kc@mb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century

>What would be the proper number for "X" in "X Flags Over Sylea?"

	Although I do catch the reference, does anyone want to clue in this poor, 
cold, isolated resident of Flin Flon (just a stone's throw away from 
Santa's workshop, its so far north) what the number of flags refers to on 
Earth?

	(as he ducks and looks over his shoulder, remembering when he innocently 
asked what 'fanny' meant in Australia)

K.C. Komosky
who isn't all THAT cold, heck it reached -10C today!
kc@mb.sympatico.ca

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 21:27:59 -0600
From: "K.C. Komosky" <kc@mb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Mechs in Traveller

>>But the thing about the original question that I think everyone has
>>strayed from is what the purpose the mechs were designed for.
>>
>>Not large scale warfare.  As people have pointed out, they would be
>>handicapped.  The purpose was for duelling or grudge matches.  Mech
>>against mech.  Like in Robojox.  A champion from the contesting worlds
>>brought their mechs to an arena to battle.  In this form, the mechs
>>would be feasible.
>
>So train your nobles in fencing.  Or use a sim-tank.  Or play Yahtzee.

	Well sure, they could do that, but I thought we were trying to come up 
with a justification for some Foss art in Starships ;-)

>>"Let's see.  We can spend millions of MCr on an army to settle our
>>desputes or we could spend a couple of hundred on a champion to fight
>>their champion."
>>
>>Which makes more sense economically and humanly?
>
>You expect people to make sense?  In 1939, Hitler made outrageous demands 
of
>the Polish government to widen the East Prussian corrider to Danzig.  The
>Poles, mindful of what had happened to the Austrians and Czechs, not only
>agreed, but gave Hitler more than he wanted.  Hitler broke of talks, 
fuming
>to the press that the Poles were being unreasonable.

	However, there are all kinds of historical counter-examples. Well, not of 
playing Yahtzee to decide conflicts, but all through feudal Europe and Asia 
(and probably elsewhere), there were long, complicated rules and procedures 
involved in fighting a war due to principles of honour, the church, etc.

	While one side could theoretically break the rules and, say, launch a 
sneak attack on a Sunday, they never did. It all has to do with the culture 
a person lives in.
>I think that if this contest were to take place, the losing leader would
>calmly open his comm, state "begin plan 'B'" and then gun down his 
oppenents.

	Only if Plan B was commonly done in that culture, or there was no serious 
taboo against Plan B.

	In modern day earth, the UN (or anyone else) couldn't sit down and decide 
to solve all conflicts by advanced computer simulations (to throw in a 
random Trek reference). We all know how easy it is to wage a war. But if it 
naturally arose in a culture that the only way to wage war was in a giant 
suit of armour, and it slowly evolved into giant mechs, no one would ever 
really imagine anything else.

K.C. Komosky
kc@mb.sympatico.ca

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

Date: 10 Dec 96 22:08:51 -0500
From: "Jeff Kazmierski" <odysseus@novia.net>
Subject: Starships-Just got it!

Just picked up a copy of Starships at my FNGS (Ground Zero Comics). 
Overall, I rate it very good.  It's well laid out, the artwork is, as
usual, excellent (although I'm beginning to wonder about Foss's penchant
for putting giant crane-like thingies on his vehicles-what the hell /is/
that on the vehicle on the front cover?), and the design system is not only
good but /complete/ and logically organized.
  The deckplans and ship data are both useful; though the deckplans may be
a bit sketchy for some people.  They're good as a starting point, though; I
think that was the idea.  Kind of like the blank areas in the subsector map
in the rulebook.  They should have gone with a white background for the
plans, though.  There's defintely too much black.
  The color plates should have been placed between the plans and the design
rules.  Having to flip across 6 pages of basically nothing to get between
one part of the rules to the rest is kind of annoying (and I don't mean to
imply that the art isn't necessary or good; just that its placement hurts
the readability of the SSDS).  As usual, Foss's art is bizarre.  Some of it
isn't "Travelleresque".  But that's not the point of it; the point is to
"fire the imagination", to create a sense of wonder.  And it definitely
does that.
  I'm glad they decided to go with SSDS, but I wish IG would synchronize
the two systems.  The most glaring inconsistency I've found between QSDS
and SSDS is in the HEPlaR drives.  I know a lot of players and GM's don't
bother with HEPlaR, but I believe in using all the resources that are made
available.  Here's an example of what's wrong with the systems:

Example:  Standard Maneuver Drive for the Scout/Courier (2G, 100dT Ship)
Values for QSDS HEPlaR Drive (Rulebook Values)
2G/100dTons
Volume:  1 (14kl)
Cost:  MCr0.0
Power:  10MW
Area:  1
20 hours' Fuel:  7.2dT (100.8kl)
Crew:  0.0

Values for SSDS HEPlaR Drive
2G/100dTons
Thrust: 2,000 tonnes
Mass: 10 tonnes
Volume:  10kl
Power:  100MW
Area:  10
20 hours' Fuel:  35.7dT (500kl)
Crew(Mx):  0.1	

And to make matters worse...
QSDS Values for HEPlaR Drive (from the pre-print version)
2G/100dTons
Volume:  1 (14kl)
Cost:  MCr0.0
Power:  140MW (!)
Area:  1
20 hours' Fuel:  7.2dT (100.8kl)
Crew:  0.0

  Also, in the T4 basic rulebook, it states that Thruster Plate drives
become available at TL12.  However, on the SSDS charts, we have them
appearing at TL11, one level /before/ High Efficiency Contragrav.  This is
minor, however, and on page 71, they're described as being TL12.  So it's
not /really/ a problem.
  Still, I'd like to see something done about the differences between SSDS
and QSDS.  Actually I'd like to see the QSDS HEPlaR drives redesigned
according to SSDS.  Since SSDS is the more detailed system, it'll be the
one I use from now on, especially for lower-tech ships.
  All in all, I feel Starships is a good buy.  It's well organized,
attractive, the design system is logically organized, and appears to be
well proofed.  I'd recommend it.

Jeff

P.S.  My website at http://www.novia.net/~odysseus/ is up!
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                +
                |\      "Anybody got a Q-tip?"  
                | )      /       
                | )       _      
       _        | )      /@
        \ ______|/______/
_________\ @@@@@@@@@@@@/__________
        odysseus@novia.net
  http://www.novia.net/~odysseus/
- ---------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:50:40 -0500
From: rellio@po-box.mcgill.ca (Roderick Darroch Elliott)
Subject: SSDS Mouffette-Rapide Far Courier

        I just threw this together: it's designed for a Milieu 0 campaign
environment.  Thought it was of sufficient funkiness that I post it; I
don't know whether anyone has come up with the caudal-mounted laser concept
before.  I think that it's got all sorts of adventure possibilities built
into it; any PCs worth their salt should be able to get up to all sorts of
trouble in one of these. I did this with the SSDS; I'm not entirely
familiar with the system yet, so I may have made some mistakes (especially
due to my upgrading from TL-11 to TL-12 at the last minute); I rounded up a
fair bit to compensate.  Any comments?




Famille Spofulam Yards Moufette-Rapide class Far Courier

200 Td                     2800 M^3                        145 Mcr
4 crew                     2 Pass (M)                      0 Pass (L)
22 Td Cargo                TL-12 Std Civ controls          TL-12

06 Size rating                                03 Jump rating
00 Fire Control Rating                        04 G rating (T-plates)
01 Heavy Laser Caudal Mount 2/2/0/0           05 Power plant rating
                                              100 Fuel rating/S/R
                                              A2/P3/J0 Sensor rating
                                              11 Structure  25 Armour


        "For when it absolutely has to get there, *fast*".  The FSY
Moufette Rapide-class Far Courier, capable of acceleration matching that of
the standard Imperial Patrol Cruiser and double that of the Mercenary
Cruiser, is designed to meet the courier needs of a young and expanding
Imperium.  With enough fuel for 1 3-parsec and 1 2-parsec jumps required
before refuelling, it is capable of doing the 5-parsec Sylea-Eneri or
Sylea-Abbanol runs in approximately 14 days(!), and with its fuel scoops
and compact TL-12 purification plant, is capable of of a complete
wilderness refuelling in approximately 12 hours.  Power is supplied by a
TL-12 Zhunastu Fusion Systems 500-Mw fusion plant which provides sufficient
excess capacity to emergency overload the Thruster Plates by 100% while
operating the laser at maximum ROF).  It is built into a 200 displacement
ton crystaliron streamlined wedge hull.

        "For when it has to get there, *period*".  The FSY Moufette-Rapide
class Far Courier is also heavily armoured, and packs a nasty punch with a
TL-12 Ling Standard 251-Mj laser in a caudal mount (a small rearward-facing
spinal mount).  Being a courier, not a fighting ship, standard doctrine
dictates that a Moufette-Rapide, when confronted with a threat, should
literally turn tail, presenting the smallest possible surface area, and
accelerate away... and if the threat is foolish enough to give chase, open
fire to convince it of its folly.

        The high acceleration of which the Moufette-Rapide is capable
dictate a vertical deck layout and concomitant vertical landing
orientation.  The upper sections of the ship are connected by a single
spiral staircase.  Accomodations are tailored to its mission: the engineer
and gunner/steward bunk (literally) in the engineering spaces when carrying
passengers, and the captain/pilot and navigator bunk forward in small
staterooms immediately aft/below of the cockpit. Immediately aft/below
their staterooms are the two small passenger staterooms (convertible into a
single large stateroom for a small additional cost.  When not carrying
passengers, the engineer and gunner may bunk here).  A moderately spacious
lounge/dining area (approximately 50 m^3) occupies the next deck down.

        Fuel tankage takes up much of the remaining space, traversed by a
lift shaft running from the lounge down to engineering.  The cargo hold is
right aft, served by two large cargo bay doors that drop down to double as
loading ramps.  The thruster plates are of course mounted below the hold.

        With a price tag of 145 Mcr which reflects its equally high
performance, the Moufette-Rapide is not designed for free-trader
operations.  Rather, it is aimed at a higher market niche; at governments,
corporations, and militaries that require a fast courier vessel capable of
putting up a strong defence.

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:49:17 -0500
From: Marska3@aol.com
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #738

unsubscribe - Traveller
unsubscribe - Traveller Digest

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:50:08 -0500
From: Marska3@aol.com
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1996 #739

unsubscribe - Traveller
unsubscribe - Traveller-digest

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:06:38 -0600 (CST)
From: Joseph "Chepe" Lockett <jlockett@io.com>
Subject: Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century

Quoth K.C. Komosky:
> 	Although I do catch the reference, does anyone want to clue in
> this poor, cold, isolated resident of Flin Flon (just a stone's throw
> away from Santa's workshop, it's so far north) what the number of flags
> refers to on Earth?

I don't know about other states, but the "Six Flags Over Texas" park
refers to the (duh) six flags that have flown over Texas as, respectively,
a part of French territory, Spanish land, the country of Mexico, the
independent Republic of Texas, a state of the Confederacy, and a member
of the United States of America.

As for Texas weather... we're still in short sleeves.  :-)

- ----------------------------*------------------------*------------------------
 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.

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 22:52:18 -0800
From: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Subject: Re: Bruce Who?

On 10 Dec 96 at 19:33, Joseph E. Walsh spewed:

> Hi,
> 
> I've had some email questions asking who the heck I mean when I say,
> "Bruce Johnson will judge the Foss Art Contest."  So, I'll answer
> that here so everyone knows: I mean the frequent TML participant who
> is at Arizona State University's Department of Phramacology. 

Joe, how dare you confuse a fine institution with that little second 
rate college down south.  :-)

Mr. Johnson is at University of Arizona's Department of Pharmacology.  

Stuart L. Dollar
Stuart L. Dollar               sdollar@goodnet.com
Alumni of the Undefeated Rose Bowl Bound
Arizona State University Sun Devils
AP #2 Coaches Poll #2, (11-0)  Bring on the Buckeyes!!!

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 22:56:29 -0800
From: "Stuart L. Dollar" <sdollar@goodnet.com>
Subject: Re: Bitter Starships Review

On 10 Dec 96 at 19:27, BrianMays@aol.com spewed:

> My previously posted fear regarding ship design limitations proved
> true.
>  5000 tons, no more.  The ship design sequence is fabulous, but

Not to pick on you specifically Brian, but to everybody whining about the 
5000 ton limit for SSDS, when did you subscribe to TML, last week?  
If not, then you, I and everybody else should have known since June 
that this was the limit to which SSDS was going up to.  Except for 
new subscribers, this should have come as no great surprise.  The 
system was fan designed, after all.

Stu


Stuart L. Dollar               sdollar@goodnet.com
Traveller referee since 1978, Official USENet 
spokesperson for Imperium Games
- ---------------------------------------------------
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." 
- -Thomas Jefferson

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:10:06 -0500
From: HDHale@aol.com
Subject: Re: Mech in Traveller

   <cough>  Well I suppose it's too late to point out the combat walkers
mentioned in the Terran history write-up that's part of the Solomani Rim New
Era history....

   Well what the *&%(*....

   Basically, combat walkers emerge on Terra as a result of two factors.
 First, the lack of proper gravitic manufacturing facilities.  This shortage
was due to the fact that prior to the Collapse, Terra imported practically
all of its gravitic generators from offworld (usually Agidda or Ember), and
what facilities that were present were for the most part were in ruins.
 Second, technological advances are made in walker design that make them the
overall equal of tracked and wheeled vehicles.  These advances, related to
the field of Cybernetics, would have been made previously within the Imperium
or the Solomani Confederation, but did not occur because of the advent of
gravitic technology.

   Terran combat walkers do not look like giant samurai, or a giant cow.
 Most have multiple legs and resemble spiders, though some of the smaller
ones, used for infantry support and scouting, have only two legs.  After
about 1160, all Terran combat walkers were manufactured with gravitic
generators and short duration heplar thrusters.  Most previously manufactured
models have been retrofitted with these devices over the years.  Combat
walker manufacturing ceased some 10 years ago, and their number are slowly
being replaced in military units by more traditional gravitic designs.  The
Terran Army still maintains large numbers of them, however, and the smaller
versions can be found in Terran Republic Marine infantry units where they are
predominately used as weapons platforms.  Surplus combat walkers have found
their way into mercenary units based in the Republic, and some combat walkers
have even been converted for the tourist trade and for the luxury off-road
vehicle market.

Regards,

Harold

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:33:51 -0500
From: BrianMays@aol.com
Subject: Re: Bitter Starships Review

In a message dated 96-12-11 01:01:11 EST, sdollar@goodnet.com writes:

<< when did you subscribe to TML, last week? >>

Actually, about a month ago . . .

Brian

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 00:37:27 +0000
From: "Kenneth Bearden" <dreamer@brokersys.com>
Subject: Re: Traveller on IRC - Very Long!

On 10 Dec 96 at 18:34, Suzette C. Dollar wrote:

> Thursday night is Traveller night on IRC!
> 
> Last week had a reasonable turnout, we had a total of ten people show 
> for the evening.  We'd love to have more!   Our topic last week was 
> "Game Handouts" and we came to the general concensus that nobody 
> really gives anything out,

I give out a bunch of things as handouts and props in my games.  It 
makes them more real, and the players like this.  I think I picked 
this up after GMing the James Bond rpg.  They gave you a lot of 
handouts in that one.

Just recently, I've copied the wallet contents of Roet Bannerji's 
wallet, put in some ID cards from supp 12, and gave this to the 
players when they found the wallet (in the Traveller Adventure).  

I've also been known to copy pictures, write documents, and do all 
sorts of things to have a physical hand out for my players.  The 
backstory posts in the Grand Adventure were written and mailed to the 
respective player.  I've got a lot of written material that is sent 
out on a periodic basis, like Traveller News Service items.

Each time the characters reach a new starport, I mail out TNS items 
between game sessions.  This simulates their catching up on the news 
while the ship is insystem.

My players come home from work, check the mailbox, and have something 
to think about until the next session.

From you comments, I'm one of the few GMs who actively uses handouts, 
but I encourage all GMs to use them more often.  You will be 
surprised what a cool prop can do for a game.

Kenneth.

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:49:30 -0500
From: TPeterAZ@aol.com
Subject: Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century

In a message dated 96-12-10 17:16:01 EST, Rich Ostorero wrote:

> What would be the proper number for "X" in "X Flags Over Sylea?"
>  

Actually, six, given the history we know.  Of course one is assumed to be the
flag of a united, pre-First Imperium Sylea.  The second would be the Ziru
Sirka, followed by the Terran Confederation, the Rule of Man (Second
Imperium), Sylean Federation, and finally, the Third Imperium.  I don't think
the influence of the Old Earth Union reached Sylea, so that's pretty much
out, though you could extrapolate Sylea into a pocket empire and have a
seventh.  Anyhow, that's the way it looks, as far as I can figure.  


Tim Peter
<TPeterAZ@aol.com>
"There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, Ignorance."--- Socrates

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:49:36 -0500
From: TPeterAZ@aol.com
Subject: Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century

In a message dated 96-12-10 22:29:53 EST, K.C. Komosky wrote:

> what the number of flags refers to on 
>  Earth?

Six Flags Over Texas was the first of several theme parks in the US owned by
Six Flags, Inc.  Despite the fact that there is now a Six Flags Over
Mid-America, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great
Adventure, ad nauseum, the original name referred to the six governments
which led Texas (if Texans would ever allow it to be said they were *led*.
 They prefer to go their own way).  In no particular order, (I think) they
are: French, Spanish, Mexican, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States
of America, and the United States of America.  Actually, to relate this to
Traveller in some meaningful way, this post has given me the idea of
modelling a planet, and it's history, after Texas.  It truly does have a
fascinating, frontier-type history.  And how many states in America existed
as independent nations for nine years (as Texas did, and some folks down
there think they still do).  :-)


Tim Peter
<TPeterAZ@aol.com>
"There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, Ignorance."--- Socrates

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 08:18:50 -0800
From: Harald Budschedl <Harald.Budschedl@mag.linz.at>
Subject: Re: German Translations

Joseph M. Saul wrote:
> 
> Some context on a couple of these:
> 
> >- -> Liebeskinder - "Child's Love" (or should that be "young love"?)
> >Nope- Rather Children OF love (As in: The result of Love)

Yep, right.
 

> >- -> Abwehr - "Protection"
> >Defence!
> 
> Um, yes.  But it was also the name of Germany's Military Intelligence
> organization in World War II.  The Abwehr was headed by Admiral Canaris,
> who was executed (along with a number of other officers) for attempting
> unsuccessfully to assassinate Hitler.

Yes. For them, they were a defence against others. To others they were 
the attackers.
 
> >- -> Beinbruch - "Broken Bone" (what, a high-G world??)
> >instead of bone, insert LEG
> 
> Isn't there a toast (or war cry) -- "Hals und Beinbruch!"  Since I don't
> have my dictionary here, I have no idea what Hals means.  (Maybe it's the
> secondary planet in the system.  ;-)

"Hals" means "neck". Even if this sounds strange to you, this is a way of 
wishing luck ("Break your neck and leg!"). Some sarcasm here...
As sailors wish "Mast- und Schottbruch", which means "break your mast and 
your ????" (don't know the word for "Schott").


CyA
Buddy
- -- 
# Disclaimer: All opinions stated are only MY OWN.
# Harald.Budschedl@mag.linz.at 
# ADV - Anwendungsentwicklung
# Graphisch Technischer Bereich

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 02:23:35 -0500
From: Thad Coons <104765.503@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Starports

Tim Peter writes:

[Snip, snip]
 
> Assume the lowest population multiplier gives somewhere around 10
> billion folks on-world.  If one-one-hundredth of one percent of those
> people travel off world per year, the starport would have to handle
> 1141.5 passengers *outbound* per hour, (assuming a Terran year) never
> mind inbound.  I have always assumed that a Class-A facility is able to
> handle whatever is thrown at it, using multiple highports and
> downports, each capable of handling at least 10000 tons of ships (be it
> 50 Free Traders or 5 Type TI Frontier Transports), and all the cargo
> and passengers they can carry, supplemented by smaller orbital and
> groundside "berthing and repair" facilities that aren't part of the
> starport proper.  I also imagine that most larger vessels are "parked"
> in orbit, since space is much larger than the ground below.  Again,
> a Type-TI might land for the loading or unloading of high- and
> mid-passengers, but would then be assigned an orbit, rather than
> sitting on the ground when not in use.

Some of your comments are right on the mark: I was trying to go for the
_minimum_ requirements, which were still probably too big for some of the
smaller class A ports.  The size of the starport has a lot to do with the
population and traffic of the world. A class A port might be compared to a
controlled access freeway: You have standard 4-lane rural versions with
sparse traffic, and you have 12-lane major arteries that still get clogged.
A high population, high tech, industrial capital on a major trade route
would measure traffic in ships per minute.

On such a world, yes definitely on multiple downports. Also yes on separate
berthing/service/repair facilities. Probably yes also on multiple orbital
components, but only a few. It ranges between between inconvenient and
impossible for most ships larger than about 1000 tons 
to land on a planetary surface, so most large ships do remain in parking
orbit, and rely on shuttles and launches for transfers to planetary
surfaces.

 

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:26:44 -0800
From: "Rich Ostorero" <stormhvn@inreach.com>
Subject: Re: Grand Adventure stuff, Foss Art Design Competition

> 
> On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Rich Ostorero wrote:
> 
> > Why stop with just the monorail illo? How 'bout that "mech?"
> 
> We'll see how this contest turns out - if it goes well, I'm not opposed 
> to doing another one in January, if Bruce isn't (perhaps with a prize of 
> a copy of Aliens or CSC).  We'll see...

Hmmm...can you say "instant tradition?" I knew you could :)

- --Rich
stormhvn@inreach.com

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

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:22:51 -0800
From: "Rich Ostorero" <stormhvn@inreach.com>
Subject: Re: Roller Coasters in the 57th Century

> >
> >My over-caffienated mind reels, Craig . . . .:)
> 
> You should try growing up with this guy as a big brother.. he ALWAYS is
> thinking like this.

As a big brother myself, albeit to a guy as mundane as Reader's Digest, I
understand :)

> Hmmmm... Vland, Rule of Man, whatever they had before the SF, Sylean
> Federation, Third Imperium.  Since sylea might have been balkinized at
some
> point in it's history, the possibility for multiple flags for the Long
Night
> must be considered.  (78 Flags, Shields, Rock Paintings, and Transponder
> Codes Over Sylea!)

I realize there was probably a period of balkanization before the emergance
of the Federation. Can't wait until the M0 book to find out what IG sez.

- --Rich
stormhvn@inreach.com

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

Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 02:59:06 -0500
From: TPeterAZ@aol.com
Subject: Re: Starports

In a message dated 96-12-11 02:28:40 EST, I (Tim Peter) wrote:

> If one-one-hundredth of one percent of those
>  > people travel off world per year, the starport would have to handle
>  > 1141.5 passengers *outbound* per hour,

Oops!  Seriously misplaced a decimal point there.  With a population of 10
billion, one one-hundredth of one percent (or one percent of one percent; or
 0.0001) equals only 114.15 passengers per hour, a number which shoots my
point to hell.  One tenth of one percent seems more likely, and makes my
earlier math correct.

As regards Thad Coons' comments, I also agree that there would be fewer
orbital components relative to the number of groundside.  Groundside
facilities are cheaper to build, and maintain, than orbital.  I see the
primary function of orbital facilities as being a "control tower," and
coordinating parking orbits and shuttle services to and from the same.  Hey,
cool!  Valet parking in LPO.


Tim Peter
<TPeterAZ@aol.com>
"There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, Ignorance."--- Socrates

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

End of Traveller-digest V1996 #740
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