Traveller-digest        Friday, July 30 1999        Volume 1999 : Number 908



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: Transstellar chronosynchronization
Re: Request for help
Re: Request for help
RE: Galactic North
RE: Critter Classifications
Re: Request for help
Lichen
Re: GT and Short vs Long Term Access (and super-duper thruster modules)
World Builder Deluxe V5.0
Re: Request for help 
Candles Against The Night Webpage
RE: Splat gun
Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)
Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)
Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)
RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...
Rotation-Luminosity Factor for Satellites? (long)
Re: RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...
Re: RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...
Re: World Builder Deluxe V5.0

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 23:42:07 +1200
From: "Mike Smith" <mjsmith@staff.salcom.co.nz>
Subject: Re: Transstellar chronosynchronization

"long distance GPS system"
Given a few hundred years, and some *enormous* power amps, you'd have
something...
Mike.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Leonard Erickson <shadow@krypton.rain.com>
To: <traveller@lists.imagiconline.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 6:35 AM
Subject: Re: Transstellar chronosynchronization


> In mail you write:
>
> > Isn't there some sort of absolute relationship between the
> > absolute magnitude of certain variable stars and the period of
> > their variation?  Cepheid variables (I think)?  By identifying a
> > number of such stars, according to their spectra and periods, and
> > any easily calculable changes in either over time, such that at
> > least three would be visible from anywhere in the Imperium, one
> > should be able to unambiguously set a clock and calendar - and
> > reset them on coming out of jump.
>
> Alas, the relationship isn't accurate enough for timekeeping. The
> periods might be of use for synchonizing *calendars*, but not clocks.
>
> > Those same easily identifiable
> > variable stars also provide "anchor" points for navigational
> > reconing, making it possible to know where one is after a
> > misjump.
>
> After a misjump that lands you in an "uncivilized" system or an empty
> hex, the first thing you do is look for things like the Magellanic
> Clouds. Those are a pair of satellite galaxies of our galaxy, and will
> be visible from *anywhere* in the Imperium. They'll let you determine
> galactic North, as well as spinward and coreward.
>
> Armed with *that* info, you then attempt to spot stars that are "bright"
> throughout the galaxy. Mostly Giants and supergiants. You'll have some
> idea of which directions they should be in, so it's just a matter of
> looking for bright stars in the "right" direction and then comparing
> spectra.
>
> If you land in a "civilized" system, you merely use the radio to ask
> where you are (assuming that the systems navigational beacons hadn't
> already told you!).
>
> And for that matter, the Imperium (and other large multi-system powers)
> can afford to have "beacons" on certain radio frequencies that could be
> heard for *many* parsecs. These are mainly intended to help the IISS
> with survey work by making it easier to determine the relative
> positions of systems. But they also work for ships that have misjumped.
>
> --
> Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)
>  shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred
> leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort
>

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:50:53 -0500
From: "Smart, David J (David)" <dasmart@lucent.com>
Subject: Re: Request for help

Andrew Moffatt-Vallance wrote:
> 
> I'm having trouble getting my browser to reach my site. I can get to it
> using via ftp but I can't seem to get to it via the web. Could some kind
> soul try and reach it for me.
> 
> http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm


I received the following at 8:47am CST:


Fatal Error 500

Can't Access Document: http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm. 

Reason: System call `connect' failed: Connection refused. 

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:48:19 -0400
From: Michael Peters <travelleri@home.com>
Subject: Re: Request for help

Andrew,

I tried it and got a "Connection Refused" message.

Mike

Andrew Moffatt-Vallance wrote:
> 
> I'm having trouble getting my browser to reach my site. I can get to it
> using via ftp but I can't seem to get to it via the web. Could some kind
> soul try and reach it for me.
> 
> http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm
> 
> Andrew etc
> http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/
>     Listening to way to much Dave Brubeck

- -- 
Mike Peters
travelleri@home.com

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 10:50:34 -0400
From: Ian Ferguson <ian@vax2.concordia.ca>
Subject: RE: Galactic North

Charles Collin writes:
<snipped>
>Galactic North as you look at a 2D trav map is *away* from the viewer,
>assuming the galaxy rotates clockwise and assuming that spinward,
>coreward and north are considered the "positive" directions in our
>coordinate system.  Spinward is on the left, trailing on the right,
>coreward up and Rimward down.  North is into the page, south out from the
>page. 

	That is how I see it.

>Of course, you could take trailing as the positive direction for that
>axis, or rimward as positive for its axis, and then North becomes towards
>the viewer (use the left-handed three-finger axis trick to see what I
>mean).

	Well, sure, but if we use "North" the way it is used on Terra,
	then the direction of rotation of the galaxy becomes the
	determining factor. "Spinward" is in the direction of rotation
	(i.e. East), and Trailing is the opposite direction (i.e. West).
	Coreward is towards the central axis of rotation (i.e. Down),
	Rimward is away from that axis (i.e. Up), and North is the
	direction from which the rotation of the galaxy appears to be
	counter-clockwise (on Terra, North is the direction to a single
	point: the North Pole; however I see Galactic North as being
	parallel to the axis of rotation).

>Of course, I probably have this all wrong...let me know...

	I thought that you guys at McGill knew everything ;-)

Peez

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 11:00:06 -0400
From: Ian Ferguson <ian@vax2.concordia.ca>
Subject: RE: Critter Classifications

William F. Hostman writes:
>Unfortunately, traveller includes a basic assumption that a lot of
>transplanting has occurred....

	This is true, I would certainly consider Vargr mammals. On
	the other hand, the hairy quadrupeds on Pscias might be
	"mammeloids," but probably not mammels.

>And, while unlikely, it is possible that some "crossbreeding" might 
>occur. The odds do severly suggest against it, however.

	That is an understatement. We are genetically closer to a 
	gibbon than we are to a cow, closer to a cow than we are to 
	a python, closer to a python than we are to a sponge, closer 
	to a sponge than we are to a maple tree, closer to a maple 
	tree than we are to a bacterium, and very likely closer to a
	bacterium than we are to any alien life form; and we cannot
	even cross with a gibbon.

Peez

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 16:20:38 +0100
From: "Peter L.S. Trevor" <ptrevor.trisen@zetnet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Request for help

Andrew Moffatt-Vallance wrote:
> I'm having trouble getting my browser to reach my site. I can get to it
> using via ftp but I can't seem to get to it via the web. Could some kind
> soul try and reach it for me.
> 
> http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm
> 

I got a generic "Requested page is currently unavailable" message
for ...

http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm
http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav
http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv
http://users.netaccess.co.nz
and even
http://netaccess.co.nz

Supposedly "Cannot find server or DNS error", however pinging the
server brought back response times of 436ms to 634ms.  Don't know
where that leaves you.



Regards PLST
"Rome wasn't burned in a day."

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 11:52:37 -0400
From: Ian Ferguson <ian@vax2.concordia.ca>
Subject: Lichen

Robert O'Connor writes:
<snipped>
>As Leonard Erickson has already pointed out, the definitions of animals
>and plants you posted were less than comprehensive (but if *taxonomists*
>can't agree over such matters, where does that leave the rest of us??).

	In fairness to the much-maligned taxonomists, although there
	are many grey areas, the distinction between plants and 
	animals is pretty clear.

>Leonard Erickson wrote :-
>> I'm not sure where lichen fall in the above scheme.
>Lichen are related to mosses (bryophytes) - so they're plants.

	In my earlier post (you probably didn't get it before sending
	this one) I mentioned that a lichen is made up of a fungus and
	an algae. I now amend that to include some lichens that are
	composed of a fungus and a "blue-green algae" (a kind of
	photosynthetic bacterium).

Peez

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:51:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anthony Jackson <ajackson@molly.iii.com>
Subject: Re: GT and Short vs Long Term Access (and super-duper thruster modules)

John Buston writes:
> >> Anyone care to explain the cost of GTL12 thruster modules to me?
> >> I calculate them at MCr 0.65 each (GT lists them as MCr0.29 each).
> 
> >It's a bug; they're computed at $40/lb.  After it was pointed out, the 
> >general decision was to ignore the problem.
> 
> I assume the same goes for the maximum air speed of very good streamlined
> ships (i.e. GT default streamlining) being 740mph?

They decided to errata the rulesin that case -- VG + lifting body can do supersonic.  This presumably because VG streamlining generates convenient numbers (20% of volume) and superior does not (23.077% of volume).

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 18:07:42 +0100
From: "Stuart Ferris" <stuart.ferris@virgin.net>
Subject: World Builder Deluxe V5.0

Version 5.0 of my World Builder Deluxe software has been released. The new
version has a significant number of improvements:-

1) Generation of full World Details for Satellites.
2) Mainworlds may be a Satellite orbiting a Gas Giant.
3) Trade & Commerce Details may be generated.
4) Important NPCs who are present on the World may be generated.
5) System Maps may be generated.
6) Governments for Balkanised worlds are now fully generated.
7) The choice between Standard and Alternative UWP Generation.
8) Trade Codes are now expanded to a full text description.
9) Base codes are now expanded to a full text description.
10) Allegiance Codes are now expanded to a full text description.
11) Original artwork by Jesse DeGraff.

The software is compatible with Windows 95/98 & NT. It may be downloaded
from the following location:-

http://www.cozmos-cosmos.com/~sferris/Traveller_World_Builder_Deluxe.zip
(3.0Mb)

Work continues and the following features are planned for future version:-

a) A Database file format.
b) Generation of World Maps.
c) The choice between using MT 'World Builder Handbook' rules or GURPS
'First In' Rules.
d) Support for linking WBD output to Galactic 2.4 sector files.
e) Several rules revision and amendments to produce more believable worlds.

Stuart Ferris
stuart.ferris@virgin.net
http://freespace.virgin.net/stuart.ferris/index.htm

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 13:30:42 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Request for help 

> I'm having trouble getting my browser to reach my site. I can get to it
> using via ftp but I can't seem to get to it via the web. Could some kind
> soul try and reach it for me.
> 
> http://users.netaccess.co.nz/amv/trav/index.htm

Just tried it.  Server seems down or something.  Netflake told me that the 
server was refusing connection at this time.

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:14:13 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Candles Against The Night Webpage

Due to some disagreements with my former ISP, I have moved my webpages over 
to my *new* ISP, AccessToledo.  The new URL for my page is:

http://members.accesstoledo.com/jamstar/traveller

Sorry for the interruption.

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:35:52 EDT
From: tasegeal@juno.com
Subject: RE: Splat gun

Many thanks to Colin for the stats on the SG!  October
of 1982 I walked into the Games Workshop just outside
of London and discovered CT for the first time.  As 
I remember the graphic that went with the article had
shooter blasting the side of a passing APC with
DRAMATIC results!

QUESTION:

If I've got the original GDW FF&S, is there an update
sheet available that will bring it in line with the current
rules?   Should I just locate the latest erratas for 
FF&S S2 at the Missouri archive as Dom suggested?

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:43:06 -0400
From: "Peter H. Brenton" <pbrenton@mit.edu>
Subject: Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)

>Hi all,
>
>I've mentioned that I used to work on technology similar to HPGs before now
>when we've been on a number of threads. The website below represents an
>evolution of the technology I was working on. There's not a lot there, but
>it may be interesting.
>
>http://www.urenco.com/flycylinder/index.htm


Awwww, that ain't nuttin.  We got us an HPG to be admired; 72 tons spinning
at 1800 RPM - and an alternator about 30' long that turns 1/4 of that
energy into 300 Megawatts of electrical power in about three seconds.  I'm
told the flywheel has about 2 Billion Joules of stored energy (=2 thousand
megajoules?), but I didn't do the math myself.

Why?  To make Fusion of course.  It take energy to make energy after all.
Details at;

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/cmod/brochure/brochure_11.html


Peter H. Brenton
MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center
(617) 253-3185
pbrenton@mit.edu

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 20:42:48 +0100
From: "Nick Bradbeer" <nickb@ndirect.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)

>Why?  To make Fusion of course.  It take energy to make energy after all.
>Details at;


And, of course, there's the Shiva project. Fairly impressive energy storage
there, too...

NB

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 12:46:57 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: Real life Flywheel Energy stores (AKA HPGs)

Peter H. Brenton wrote:
> > 
> Awwww, that ain't nuttin.  We got us an HPG to be admired; 72 tons spinning
> at 1800 RPM - and an alternator about 30' long that turns 1/4 of that
> energy into 300 Megawatts of electrical power in about three seconds.  I'm
> told the flywheel has about 2 Billion Joules of stored energy (=2 thousand
> megajoules?), but I didn't do the math myself.
> 
> Why?  To make Fusion of course.  It take energy to make energy after all.

Come now, Peter...we're onto you. 

We know that you use that thing to power the Meson Gun we bought from
the Greys five years ago. You know, the one that Hillary used to shoot
down JFK Jr. 

The story about the mini-black holes being fired from Sandia labs is
just a cover-up of a cover-up.

:-P

Hey, you! Get away from me with that...<flash> 

- -- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 13:31:43 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...

If this doesn't get our lazy butts into space, I don't know what will...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_406000/406859.stm

"The best images ever taken of Saturn's
mysterious moon Titan reveals a complex surface
that may be home to icy landforms and frigid
hydrocarbon seas."

Not only that it quotes our very own sensors guru, Bruce Macintosh: (I'm
presuming it's him...how many of 'em could there be?)

"The dark material could be a sea of liquid
 methane, ethane or other hydrocarbons,"
 Livermore's Bruce Macintosh said. "It's one of the
 darkest things in the solar system. It could also be
 solid organic material." 

I am now desperately trying to find useful rhymes for Titan, and come up
with a "Beverly Hillbillies" parody..

- -- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 13:23:39 -0700
From: "Shawn Campbell" <electric-stitch@w-link.net>
Subject: Rotation-Luminosity Factor for Satellites? (long)

I'd like someone to double-check my thinking here. The numbers were
generated using the World Builders Handbook. The only exception is my way of
figuring the temperature when the satellite is being blocked by the
mainworld, those formulas I have made up and that's what I want checked.

I broke up the satellites orbit into quarters,
    1 while satellite is between the sun and the mainworld
    2, 3 while the satellite is beside the mainworld (counts as two
quarters)
    4 while the mainworld is is between the sun and satellite.

In the 1st quarter, the satellite has normal effects:
    R = L / Sqrt of D  L=Luminosity, D=Distance from the Primary
R=Rotation-Luminosity Factor.
    R = 0.642 / Sqrt of 0.4
    R = 0.642 / 0.63
    R = 1.02

In the 4th quarter, the satellite has effects as if stellar luminosity was 0
(this is my guess)
    R = 0 / Sqrt of 0.4
    R = 0 / 0.63
    R = 0

In the 2nd and 3rd quarters the effects would be the average between 1 and 4
quarters.
    R = (1.02 + 0) / 2
    R = .51

The satellite has a base temperature of 86 degree Celsius
It orbits the main world once every 5.09 days.
It rotates every 21 hours.

The first quarter gets 10.5 hours day, 10.5 hours night
the second and third quarters: 5.25 day, 15.75 night
the fourth quarter: 21 hours of night

The max daytime plus would be:
    1st quarter: 0.5 x 1.02 x 10.5 = 5.4 degrees C
    2nd, 3rd quarter: 0.5 x .51 x 5.25 = 1.3 degrees C
    4th quarter: 0.5 x 0 x 0 = 0 degrees C

The Max nighttime minus would be
    1st Quarter: -1 x 10.5 = -10.5 degrees C
    2nd, 3rd quarter: -1 x 15.75 = -15.75 degrees C
    4th quarter: -10.5 x 21 = -21 degrees C

Examining hex row 7:

Hottest Day in 1st Quarter:
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Summer Plus +23.4 x Axial Tilt mod 1 = +23.4
Daytime Plus +5.4
Orbit Ecc Plus 0
Highest Possible Temp = 74+23.4+5.4+0 = 102.8 degrees C

Coldest Night in 1st Quarter
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Summer Plus +23.4 x Axial Tilt Mod 1 = -39
Nighttime Minus -10.5
Orb Ecc 0
Lowest Possible Temp = 74 + 23.4 + -10.5 + 0 = 86.9  degrees C

Hottest Day in 2nd and 3rd Quarters
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Seasonal Plus= 0
DayTime Plus +1.3
Orb Ecc 0
Highest Possible Temp = 74 + 0 + 1.3 + 0 = 75.3

Coldest Night in 2nd and 3rd Quarters
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Seasonal Plus = 0
Nightime Minus = -15.75
Orb Ecc = 0
Lowest Possible Temp = 74 + 0 + -15.75 + 0 = 58.25

Hottest Day in 4th Quarter
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Winter Minus -39 x Axial Tilt Mod 1 = -39
Day Time Plus 0
Orb Ecc 0
Lowest Possible Temp = 74 + -39 + 0+ 0 =  35 degrees C

Coldest Night in 4th Quarter:
Base Temp 86 + Lat Mod -12 = 74
Winter Minus -39 x Axial Tilt Mod 1 = -39
Nighttime Minus -21
Orb Ecc 0
Lowest Possible Temp = 74 + -39 + -21 + 0 = 14  degrees C

So, looking at that, it seems that for the 30.5 hours spent in the 1st
quarter the temp ranges from 86.9 degrees C to 102.8 degrees C, then for
then next 30.5 it ranges from 58.25 degrees C to 75.3 degrees C, then the
satellite reaches the dark side of the mainworld and the temp ranges from 35
degrees C to 14 degrees C, then back to the 30.5/58.25, then back to the 1st
Quarter.

Am I right?

Thanks,
Shawn Campbell
electric-stitch@w-link.net
IMTU tc+ tm+(++) !tn t4 ru+ ge>+ !3i+ c+ jt au+ st+ ls(+) pi+ ta he+(++)

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:29:44
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...

At 01:31 PM 7/30/99 -0700, you wrote:

>I am now desperately trying to find useful rhymes for Titan, and come up
>with a "Beverly Hillbillies" parody..

THE TITAN WILDCATTERS

Hear about ol' Titan way out Saturn's way
With a nitrogen atmosphere
and hellish nights and days
Then they took a look at it using HST
Seems that they've found some hydrocarbon seas

That's oil.  Oceans of it.  Free for the taking. 

So we're hoping this oil sets fire to the race
To get us up and running into deeper space
We've tried research and heroes
But all we really need
Is some good old American slavering greed!

Titan Ho!

<banjo solo>

OK, it's a little rough.  The scansion is off, and it needs work.  That's
what weekends are for.  Now, since I'm listening to Weird Al's parody of
"Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies"...

HYDROCARBONS FOR NOTHING

9AU, 9AU, 9AU away...

Look at those photos, photos down from Titan
Mapping the surface of that distant moon
It could be oil, oil in vast oceans
Oil to make OPEC swoon

We got to build interworld tankers
Space-going refineries
We got to head out to Saturn's orbit
Kick start this century

Stop at the asteroids, grab a chunk of iron
Nickel-iron spinning like a wheel
Send it back home, in a slow orbit
Arrives at Earth as a block of steel

We got to build interworld tankers
Space-going refineries
We got to head out to Saturn's orbit
Kick start this century

This ain't SF, this really happening
Out there past the ice line
The new Gold Rush, and once get on out there
Who knows what else we will find?

We got to build interworld tankers
Space-going refineries
We got to head out to Saturn's orbit
Kick start this century

9AU, 9AU, 9AU away... (fade)

- -- 

Douglas E. Berry  dberry@hooked.net
http://jump.to/SyleaDownport

TML Great Old One
Plague of the Traveller Riders of the Apocalypse
Chant "Gridlore" thrice to summon.

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:52:58 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: RL:There's Oil in them thar Saturnian satellites...

Douglas E. Berry wrote:
> 
> At 01:31 PM 7/30/99 -0700, you wrote:
> 
> >I am now desperately trying to find useful rhymes for Titan, and come up
> >with a "Beverly Hillbillies" parody..
> 
> THE TITAN WILDCATTERS

 snip

> HYDROCARBONS FOR NOTHING
 
I bow in awe to the filk master! Two of 'em in less than an hour!

- -- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 18:16:25 -0500 (CDT)
From: Cynthia Higginbotham <cyhiggin@pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: World Builder Deluxe V5.0

> Version 5.0 of my World Builder Deluxe software has been released. The new
> version has a significant number of improvements:-

*grumble* I just downloaded it last night! Does this mean I need to
download it all over again?
 
> a) A Database file format.
> b) Generation of World Maps.
> c) The choice between using MT 'World Builder Handbook' rules or GURPS
> 'First In' Rules.

This, and a Linux port, are what I would *really* like...

> d) Support for linking WBD output to Galactic 2.4 sector files.
> e) Several rules revision and amendments to produce more believable worlds.


Seriously, folks, what's out there as far as Traveller support
software these days?  I am particularly interested in Linux/Unix
programs, with an eye toward utilities that can produce nice
spiffy sector and subsector maps, and/or something that does
3D space with links & mapping, like Jo Grant's beautiful CHVIEW
program.  So far I've heard mention of and found :

- - World Builder Deluxe
     pros: does detail system generation, spits out various formats
           of text mode files, fast.
    cons: no source code, DOS/Windows, so I can't port it or change
          it to tune for MTU.  Uses World Builder's Handbook, and
          I've pretty much decided I like First-In/Gurps Space rules
          better. A few bugs you need to look at-- I generated a
	  system around a K2 II giant star with gas giants in orbits
	  0 and 1.  That shouldn't happen.

- - TravTools
     pros: cool sector maps in categories I hadn't thought of, but
           are darn useful in a campaign.  Nice subsector maps, lots
           of *useful* command line utilities (How do I know they are
           useful?  I once felt the need to write utilities in REXX
	   to do some of the same jobs-- I think those REXX scripts 
           are still in the TML software archives somewhere on ftp.mpgn.com)
           ;-)  Source code--I can port it or tune it.
    cons:  DOS programs, and the source is in Turbo Pascal. I can
           work with that, though.  Nice graphical maps have no
	   provision for dumping to file in, say, GIF or JPEG format.
           It would be nice if you could save the maps somehow...
	   Also, the detail system generation is using MT, not GT rules.
	   Again, with source code available, the features can be added.

- - CHVIEW
	pros: NICE 3d Space map.  
        cons: WINDOWs, no source code. Where is Jo Grant these days?

I haven't yet installed someone's suite of Traveller tools based
on wxGTK, but it looks interesting, and it runs on Linux.

What else is out there?  Whatever happened to Jo Grant's Library/TTG
program?

				--Cynthia, back.

    

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

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #908
**********************************

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