Traveller-digest      Wednesday, July 28 1999      Volume 1999 : Number 902



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Goodyear Class 1000 dTon Frontier Merchant
Re: burgers
Re: Goodyear Class 1000 dTon Frontier Merchant
Re: On the nature of Jump Space
Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)
Nature of Jump Space (2D won't work)
Re: Real world question
Re: Republishing CT materials
Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)
Re: Which starship construction/combat rules preferred?
Re: Word copies of MT manuals
Re: Word copies of MT manuals...
Re: Average Density of Cargo?
Re: Word copies of MT manuals
TAS Alien Encyclopedia
Re: by now well off topic
Re: Real world question
FW: burgers
Re: burgers
Re: Real world question
Re: Real world question
Re: Word copies of MT manuals
Re: Republishing CT materials
RE: On the nature of Jump Space
Re: Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)
Re: TNE and where to buy in Germany
RE: On the nature of Jump Space

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 23:11:10 -0400
From: "Paul Schirf" <pc@perkworks.com>
Subject: Goodyear Class 1000 dTon Frontier Merchant

I've just uploaded deckplans for my Goodyear Class 1000 dT 
Frontier Merchant. I'm working on completing both HG and GT 
stats for the ship, and will have them up shortly.

Deckplans are available at:
http://www.perkworks.com/traveller/Goodyear.html

btw: Comments on the rear facing bridge are welcome - as I've 
always felt it is the correct place to put the bridge on any non-chaser.
You see the place you're leaving for 1/2 the trip - see the place you're 
approaching after you're 1/2 way there... - and see who's chasing you.

Paul@Schirf.com

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:19:46 -0600
From: cos 90 <cos90@powersurfr.com>
Subject: Re: burgers

>>BTW: Those pounds in "Quarter Ponder" are imperial, not metric pounds,
>>right?
>>Volker
>
>Err....Volker.....what's a metric pound?

500 grams, or half a kilo. Close enough to the Imperial pound, which
is 454 grams. My mother is originally from central Europe, and grew
up with the metric system -- but in her neck of the woods, they did
use "pound" (500 grams) as a unit of measurement.


     Glenn St-Germain  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 
cos90@powersurfr.com  http://plaza.powersurfr.com/glenn
        "There is no longer any normal to be"
                                 -- Gary Numan

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 22:59:57 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re: Goodyear Class 1000 dTon Frontier Merchant

Paul Schirf wrote:
> 
> I've just uploaded deckplans for my Goodyear Class 1000 dT
> Frontier Merchant. I'm working on completing both HG and GT
> stats for the ship, and will have them up shortly.
> 
> Deckplans are available at:
> http://www.perkworks.com/traveller/Goodyear.html

Looks good (but see below)....
> 
> btw: Comments on the rear facing bridge are welcome - as I've
> always felt it is the correct place to put the bridge on any non-chaser.
> You see the place you're leaving for 1/2 the trip - see the place you're
> approaching after you're 1/2 way there... - and see who's chasing you.

I have no argument with the rear-facing bridge.  However, I would think
that, on a ship intended to land, the best placement for a bridge would
be someplace that can view the landing approach.  I'd consider putting
the jump drive on Deck B, and the bridge on Deck D, so that the bridge
would have a view of the ground.

Just my Cr .02, of course....

- -- 
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:11:20 -0700
From: Richard Hough <rdhough@home.com>
Subject: Re: On the nature of Jump Space

>*cough*.  Laugh.  The biggest departures from hard science are jump
>drives, reactionless thrusters, contragravity, and nuclear dampers.

I said "in my opinion". I don't know how you rank these things, but 2D
space is the one that bugs me the most. It's also the most unnecessary one.

Jump drives violate laws derived from detailed observation of the physical
universe, but 2D space is not even our physical universe. For example,
electromagnetism as we understand it can't exist in 2D.

IIRC, a form of nuclear beta decay is affected by electromagnetism, so I'd
be careful about claiming nuclear dampers among "the biggest departures
from hard science".
- --
Richard Hough
rdhough@home.com

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:18:57 -0700
From: Richard Hough <rdhough@home.com>
Subject: Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)

> I
> have a couple of questions for my fellow gearheads:
>
> 1.  Would densitometers and neutrino sensors with a range of 160 km be
> useful in locating deep meson sites from a low orbit?  If not, what
> would be the minimum recommended range?

Well, first you have to get within 160 km of a deep meson site.

I've always ruled that densitometers and neutrino sensors do not have
enough resolution for fire control. You can use them to detect the
existence of enemies, but not target them. This explains their absence from
the basic starship combat rules.

- --
IMTU t4+ ru ge+ !3i(3i++) jt-- au+ ls- 

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 00:23:47 -0500
From: Steve Fellows <sbf1@earthlink.net>
Subject: Nature of Jump Space (2D won't work)

I have only been following this thread off and on, but a discussion
today at work
got me interested.  I talked with the staff mathmatician at work
regarding a related subject.
We were talking about the movie, Cube, which was on sci fi.  They
supposed a
three coordinate system, could not only describe your position in 3d
space,
but also the position in time.

He argued that if you go from a higher dimension to a lower dimension
you will lose
one reference.  You will not be able to get back to the higher
dimension.

Therefore, I am thinking that hyperspace being 2d won't work, even the
map as
a representation.  You can't get the 3d aspect back.  Therefore,
hyperspace
should be a higher dimension.

The map is a 2D representation, because, well, its easier to show it as
2D (just like
its easier to show the solar system as 2d on a sheet of paper, but all
the planets do
not lie exactly in the same plane.

thanks,
Steve Fellows
sbf1@earthlink.net

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 22:22:24 +0000
From: brhoust@juno.com
Subject: Re: Real world question

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 19:55:41 +0100 "Nick Bradbeer" <nickb@ndirect.co.uk>
writes:
>>>>To survive the Van Allen Belts
>>
>>>To *survive*? How radioactive do these people think the Van Allen 
>belt is?
>>
>>These people believe that JFK Jr. was killed by a blackhole flung out 
>from
>>brookhaven National Labs on Hillary Clinton's orders.
>
>
>I concede your point, stop talking and start looking nervously about 
>me for
>a handy weapon. These people are *real*?
>
>
>Of course, I work for the government (I have a badge and a black tie 
>and
>everything), so I'm probably just part of the Big Establishment 
>Conspiracy.
>
>NB
>

Funny.  I don't remember you from the last SDN meeting...

Bradley

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 22:57:19 -0700
From: shudson@lightspeed.bc.ca (Steven Hudson)
Subject: Re: Republishing CT materials

...
>Starships, is of absolutely no use whatsoever, and i am sure everybody 
>on the list will agree with me on that.

  Yeah, but if Leroy were still on the list...  :)

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 01:05:37 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)

Richard Hough wrote:
> 
> > I
> > have a couple of questions for my fellow gearheads:
> >
> > 1.  Would densitometers and neutrino sensors with a range of 160 km be
> > useful in locating deep meson sites from a low orbit?  If not, what
> > would be the minimum recommended range?
> 
> Well, first you have to get within 160 km of a deep meson site.

Granted (that's why I asked the follow-up question of what _would_ be a
useful range).
> 
> I've always ruled that densitometers and neutrino sensors do not have
> enough resolution for fire control. You can use them to detect the
> existence of enemies, but not target them. This explains their absence from
> the basic starship combat rules.

In starship combat, I would agree (I would use them as "cueing" sensors
in starship combat).  However, unless the deep meson site is located in
an area with significant void spaces, such as extensive caves (which
would themselves draw the attention of densitiometer-equipped ships),
even a "near-miss" with a meson gun would tend to damage fixtures within
a deep meson site (due to transmission of shock waves through the
rock).  An analogy would be depth-charging a submarine in World War II. 
Even though the sonar of that era was not sufficently accurate to ensure
destructive engagement, the near-misses caused damage to submarines,
thus reducing their combat efficiency.  The addition of neutrino sensors
would help improve the "fix", thus increasing the chance of damaging the
deep meson gun's power plant.

Thanks for the input.  Expect newer AuricTech Shipyards military designs
to reflect the need for greater range on both densitometers and neutrino
sensors (at least 5000 km, preferably more), in order to deliver
accurate meson fire against deep meson sites.  (Of course, densitometers
and neutrino sensors are rather costly.  _Well_ in keeping with
AuricTech's design philosophies....)

- -- 
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 23:16:30 -0700
From: shudson@lightspeed.bc.ca (Steven Hudson)
Subject: Re: Which starship construction/combat rules preferred?

>From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
>Subject: Re: Which starship construction/combat rules preferred?
...
>> showing ad nauseum (good taste, that...) - apparently the Germans invaded
>> Czechoslavakia (!) in `38, or at least A&E chose to show some clips of
>> generic military activity at that point, 
>
>The first Nazi military incursion into Czechoslavakia took place in the
>fall of 1938, in the mostly ethnic German Sudentanland. The Czechs
...

  Yes, an incursion by the German military, but there wasn't any combat...

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 16:35:30 +1000
From: "The Roc" <roc@kewl.com.au>
Subject: Re: Word copies of MT manuals

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Erwin Fritz <efritz@GLJA.com>
To: Traveller Mailing List <traveller@mpgn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 8:27 AM
Subject: Word copies of MT manuals


> Okay, I need to clarify something here.
>
> I have Word versions of the three MT manuals. I typed them myself, years ago,
> because you can't buy them here in Calgary anymore, my players were wearing out
> the one set of originals I have, and I couldn't afford a scanner at the time.
>
> Whenever I mention this to the TML, I get a flood of requests asking for copies.
> While I'd love to share them with you, I need Marc Miller's permission to do so.
> I don't want to violate any copyright rules.
>
> My current understanding of the copyright rules is that I _would_ be violating
> these rules if I sent them out to people.
>
> Please, if you want copies, don't ask me -- ask Marc!
>
> Thanks, and happy Travelling!
> --
> Erwin Fritz
> Gilbert Laustsen Jung Associates Ltd.
> http://www.glja.com
>

Errrr... seeing as you are the one that would be "distributing" the items in
question... shouldn't it be you who asked Marc?

eg:
I asked Marc if I could have some of your copies Erwin, I've posted his
reply below!

>> Marc, a bloke named Erwin has offered to give me a copy of everything he
has
>> if I get your permission.  Can I?
>>
>> The ConMan
>>
>>
>
>
> ConMan.
> Sure, go for it!
> Love and hugs to the wife and kids!
>
> Marc Miller

As where your asking, you get the only permission by reply, no forgeries

- -- The Roc (Forgery -0)

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 16:39:17 +1000
From: "The Roc" <roc@kewl.com.au>
Subject: Re: Word copies of MT manuals...

Oh, by the way, I don't want copies of your stuff... I was just trying to
point out a flaw in what you had said... that someone desperate enough could
do that (not to cast aspersions upon anyone on the TML, just pointing out
the possibilities).

- -- The Roc

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 23:44:36 -0700
From: shudson@lightspeed.bc.ca (Steven Hudson)
Subject: Re: Average Density of Cargo?

  FWIW, UPS (probably a decent index of small mixed goods orders...)
has a minimum volumetric charge of 167kg/m^3; if you assume that "normal"
is around double that then 5,000 kg/D-ton looks OK.

        Steven Hudson

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 00:01:50 -0700
From: "Legate Legion" <legate@futureone.com>
Subject: Re: Word copies of MT manuals

From: David J. Golden <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Word copies of MT manuals

> If you do get permission, please reserve a copy for me (I can prove
>I own a [water-damaged] set of MT manuals ...). I figure Marc's
>currently trying to read 6.02x10^23 emails from people asking for
>permission, so I won't bother him directly ...


    As well as one for me.

Legate Legion
ICQ # 8973001
legate@futureone.com

"A man may fight for many things; his country, his principles, his friends,
the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd
mudwrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock, and a stack of
French porn." - Edmund Blackadder

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 07:47:25 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: TAS Alien Encyclopedia

Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de> writes:

>A small german Company (never heard of them before or after this product)
>reprinted the GDW alien modules+alien realms into one big hardcover.
>Its absolutely beautifully made, but the price tag is a great obstacle,
>as it costs about 250 Marks (~140 USD) without shipping.
>It can still be ordered from Fantasy Encounter (http://www.fanen.de)

It is actually cheaper (in the UK) to buy it like this than buy all the
books separately second hand, unless you get a really good deal.

Dom

- ----------Dom Mooney---dom@cybergoths.u-net.com------------
"In the End I found beginnings, not a vision, a wake up call.
Raised from the dead by a beating heart and at last I can
  see it all. And my eyes were opened to the darkness.."
                  Fish /Raingods with Zippos/
Rob Prior's Mac software @ http://www.bits.org.uk/ 

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 18:01:02 +1100
From: Ian or Katts <ianw@orac.net.au>
Subject: Re: by now well off topic

>From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
>Subject: Re: Real world question

>One of these people has (repeatedly) announced that I'm just an alias for
>an Orthodox Rabbi.  He completely missed the point when I posted a "you're
>right" at 2200 hours on a Friday night.

Even the ultra-orthodox could pull this off if they used cron.

Ian Whitchurch

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 00:02:22 -0900
From: Peter Newman <pnewman@gci.net>
Subject: Re: Real world question

"Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>

> One of these people has (repeatedly) announced that I'm just an alias for
> an Orthodox Rabbi.  He completely missed the point when I posted a "you're
> right" at 2200 hours on a Friday night.

Obviously he knew that you simply used your 
time machine to post on the jewish Sabbath
what you read the following day, as part
of your effort to cover your tracks. :)

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 16:22:26 +0800
From: "Antony Farrell" <Skaran@bigpond.com>
Subject: FW: burgers

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
[mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com] On Behalf Of Nick
Bradbeer
Sent: Wednesday, 28 July 1999 7:01
To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
Subject: Re: burgers


>BTW: Those pounds in "Quarter Ponder" are imperial, not metric pounds,
right?
>Volker


Err....Volker.....what's a metric pound?

NB
Its a hammer with a 1 kilogram warhead

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 00:54:17 +0200
From: Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de>
Subject: Re: burgers

At 00:00 28.07.99 +0100, you wrote:
>>BTW: Those pounds in "Quarter Ponder" are imperial, not metric pounds,
>right?
>>Volker
>
>
>Err....Volker.....what's a metric pound?
The metric pound weighs exactly 500 grams, or was it 250 grams, damn, you
got me confused now, and its late.
I think it was 250...
I am vaguely aware that in the US, a pound is slightly less than that.
Volker
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Volker A. Greimann --- http://www.greimann.de --- volker@greimann.de

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 01:57:16 -0700
From: Evyn MacDude <wmacdude@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Real world question

Douglas E. Berry wrote:

> At 06:53 PM 7/26/99 +0100, you wrote:
> >>>Is required for what? (Just amused and curious.)
> >>
> >>To survive the Van Allen Belts
>
> >To *survive*? How radioactive do these people think the Van Allen belt is?
>
> These people believe that JFK Jr. was killed by a blackhole flung out from
> brookhaven National Labs on Hillary Clinton's orders.

Doug?!?  What he wasn't.

- --
Evyn...
Wish I was a better person...   with more control...
Turn the other cheek...   and when the punch comes, roll...
Wish I was a kinder person...   could see the others pain...
Not over react, not judge...   and shrug off the spreadin' stain.
Damaged, by John Shirley/Donald Roeser, BOC, Heaven Forbid 1998.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:01:19 -0700
From: Evyn MacDude <wmacdude@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Real world question

Douglas E. Berry wrote:

> It was an awesome post, I wish I had saved it.

Doug, pull it off deja news.

- --
Evyn...
Wish I was a better person...   with more control...
Turn the other cheek...   and when the punch comes, roll...
Wish I was a kinder person...   could see the others pain...
Not over react, not judge...   and shrug off the spreadin' stain.
Damaged, by John Shirley/Donald Roeser, BOC, Heaven Forbid 1998.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 11:03:40 +0200
From: Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de>
Subject: Re: Word copies of MT manuals

At 22:13 27.07.99 -0400, you wrote:

>As far as my understanding of copyright as long as you give credit where 
>credit is due and do not charge for the copies, or make any other commercial 
>gain your not violating the law. I'm sure any paralegals or attorneys out 
>there can clear this up. As far as getting Mr. Miller to give permission
that 
>may take forever. He is rather slow in answering requests concerning use of 
>his property. 

I wouldnt say so:
I wrote him yesterday night and got a personal permission this morning.
Thats 8-hours.
Also, Marc has always been relatively quick answering personal mails and very
fair concerning giving permissions and or dealing out playtest files. 
Volker
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Volker A. Greimann --- http://www.greimann.de --- volker@greimann.de

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 11:05:47 +0200
From: Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de>
Subject: Re: Republishing CT materials

At 22:57 27.07.99 -0700, you wrote:
>...
>>Starships, is of absolutely no use whatsoever, and i am sure everybody 
>>on the list will agree with me on that.
>
>  Yeah, but if Leroy were still on the list...  :)

He said the name, he said the name...
...stone him!!!
Volker
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Volker A. Greimann --- http://www.greimann.de --- volker@greimann.de

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 10:20:44 +0100
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com>
Subject: RE: On the nature of Jump Space

At 22:40 27/07/1999 -0600, "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net> wrote:
>At 09:07 PM 7/27/99 -0600, I wrote:
>>At 02:16 PM 7/26/99 +0100, you wrote:
>>>So to get a given number of significant figures in your position
>>(say n),
>>>you would need an n digit number for your x coord and a 2n digit
>>number
>>>for your y coord.
>>
>>	Sorry, I'm not sure I can buy that one, as it depends solely on the
>>representation of the number and not the "number" itself ... it's
>got
>>to be the same regardless of the numbering system you use, as Hiver
>>ships don't jump differently than human ones.
>
>	OK, I changed my mind. More specifically, Richard Hough explained it
>in terms that make sense to me. So now that *that* minor stumbling
>block is out of the way, I'm warming to the idea of jumpspace being
>2D, and hence the 2D maps. 

Don't change too quickly.

Whilst it is mathematically possible to have a 1:1 mapping between a 2D
and a 3D space, jumpspace clearly isn't 2D - try walking around a ship
with multiple decks.

I suppose that it's possible that jumpspace is 3D but the Z dimension
is only a kilometer or so, but then the jumpspace map would be really
crowded. Or maybe (as has been suggested before) jump space is a stack
of 2D planes but you can't move easily in the Z dimension.

Note that jumpspace is clearly 3.5D at least - there is a time axis after
all.

Phil Kitching
- --
  http://www.btinternet.com/~salvo/
  Postmark Design Bureau, Emerging Technologies Division.
 "Microwaving half-baked ideas from across the Galaxy"

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 10:42:25 +0100
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com>
Subject: Re: Re :- Two Ship Design Questions (FF&S2)

At 01:05 28/07/1999 -0500, Black ICE <wombat@premier.net> wrote:
>Richard Hough wrote:
>> 
>> > I
>> > have a couple of questions for my fellow gearheads:
>> >
>> > 1.  Would densitometers and neutrino sensors with a range of 160 km be
>> > useful in locating deep meson sites from a low orbit?  If not, what
>> > would be the minimum recommended range?

Expect the power supplies for a deep site to be lots of small generators
well distributed to reduce signature.

Also expect the designers to drill lots of false caverns and don't forget
that they have an entire planet to play with.

>Thanks for the input.  Expect newer AuricTech Shipyards military designs
>to reflect the need for greater range on both densitometers and neutrino
>sensors (at least 5000 km, preferably more), in order to deliver
>accurate meson fire against deep meson sites.  (Of course, densitometers
>and neutrino sensors are rather costly.  _Well_ in keeping with
>AuricTech's design philosophies....)

The PDB(ETD) solution to this was a liquid hydrogen bubble chamber of
500kt displacement, mocked up to look like a Tigress (essentially
a vast fuel tank).

You then fit all the sensors facing inwards and when the deep site
fires at you, observe the internal explosions to get a track back to
the site.

Having a deep meson site is much like a citadel in a walled town.
It deters people from being annoying but if you have to use it,
either help had better arrive quickly or expect everyone to die.

Phil Kitching
- --
  http://www.btinternet.com/~salvo/
  Postmark Design Bureau, Emerging Technologies Division.
 "Microwaving half-baked ideas from across the Galaxy"

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 12:23:56 +0200
From: "Jens Maskus" <1141-504@onlinehome.de>
Subject: Re: TNE and where to buy in Germany

On Wed, 28 Jul 1999 00:07:31 +0200, Volker Greimann wrote:

>Anybody from the German faction of the list who knows where to get the
>Regency Sourcebook?

There is non in Hannover ;-(

Jens

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 11:00:54 +0100
From: Mark Watson <markw@antares.demon.co.uk>
Subject: RE: On the nature of Jump Space

On Wed, 28 Jul 1999, you wrote:
>>
>>	OK, I changed my mind. More specifically, Richard Hough explained it
>>in terms that make sense to me. So now that *that* minor stumbling
>>block is out of the way, I'm warming to the idea of jumpspace being
>>2D, and hence the 2D maps. 
>
>Don't change too quickly.
>
>Whilst it is mathematically possible to have a 1:1 mapping between a 2D
>and a 3D space, jumpspace clearly isn't 2D - try walking around a ship
>with multiple decks.
>
>I suppose that it's possible that jumpspace is 3D but the Z dimension
>is only a kilometer or so, but then the jumpspace map would be really
>crowded. Or maybe (as has been suggested before) jump space is a stack
>of 2D planes but you can't move easily in the Z dimension.
>

My take on it has been for some time is that jumpspace is 3d but that normal
space is represented in jumpspace(s) as a "terrain" (maybe of energy rather
than matter) - not quite 2d, the irregularities in the terrain are what support
navigation. 

While the terrain is apparently flat it could be part of a very large sphere
(eg the galaxy might be a sphere in jumpspace).

The jumpspace z dimension is (at least apparently) infinite - current
navigation is fairly crude as to how far in the z dimension you end up from the
realspace terrain - the small journeys which take place in the z dimension at
entry/exit to/from jumpspace are what determines the slight variations in jump
times

The jump "planes" could be multiple planes but I've had it that they actually
relate to the distance from the "reality plane" - an orbit closer to the sphere
would cover more "ground" at the same "velocity", but the closer you are the
more energy you have to expend resisting the pull of the reality plane. The
trade-offs between this resistance and distance travelled result in only 6
viable "altitudes".

I think I got the idea from Niven and that this is broadly how hyperspace
worked in the known space stories - but I just checked the story I thought it
was - There is a Tide - and it doesn't seem to be the case, or at least it
isn't openly stated there.

Handwave, handwave
- --  
Mark Watson, markw@antares.demon.co.uk

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

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #902
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