Traveller-digest       Monday, August 9 1999       Volume 1999 : Number 931



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: Explain to me how radios work
Re: Explain to me how radios work
Sword Worlds
RE: Planetology 102
Re: Planetology 102 Part 4
Re: Explain to me how radios work
Re: Don't Panic. Remain Calm
RE: Old rules in a new box (Was: Re:House Rules)
Re: Hitchhikers Guide on CD
Re: re Gen Con UK
re: TAS Alien Encyclopedia
Re: Hi! 
Re: Planetology on the Web?
Re: Dispatch From Crescent City Con
Re; Trav Suite
Sword World history (was: 'Heraldry' and 'Traveller symbols'
More Sword World history
Re: Sword Worlds
CT skill limits (Was: Hi!)
The Imperial Army (circa 1110) [long]

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 17:28:38 +0100
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com>
Subject: Re: Explain to me how radios work

At 12:48 09/08/1999 -0300, Michel Vaillancourt
<misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca> wrote:

<snip>

>>I also assume that a broadcast from a more powerful transmitter (say a
>>1,000 km ranged transmitter) could be picked up and heard by these little
>>radios at a longer range.
>
>        Correct again.  "Range" is a function of the *transmitter*, not the
>reciever.  So, a 10km range transmitter can be heard by any reciever on the
>same freq within 10km.  A 1000km range transmitter is heard by every
>reciever on the same freq within 1000km, regardless of the range of the
>recievers transmitter.

Yes, with your (real world) definition.

In Traveller (eg T4) the 1,000,000km receiver is bigger than the 1,000km one.

I suspect that the difference is that the Traveller sensor ranges are
designed for space, with little interference, whereas real world ranges
are intended to indicate the distance at which two transmitters won't
interfere (ie 10km from one 10km transmitter and 20km from another
means that you can hear the first, 5km from one and 10km from the
other and you get noticable interference)

<snip>

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

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

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 12:34:49 EDT
From: AveNelso@aol.com
Subject: Re: Explain to me how radios work

On radios:

    ALso remember that if the planet has no atmosphere, then radio becomes a 
line of sight communication device.   Hills and other obstructions will block 
radio signals and there is no atmospheric effect to bounce the signal around

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 12:57:50 -0400
From: Mark Urbin <eclipse@ultranet.com>
Subject: Sword Worlds

BZA types on a weasel powered keyboard:
 >You mention an erratic political history, I'll bet each world is highly
 >individualistic like Scotland and such, eh? Maybe each world has it's own
 >crest? I don't need it for the sector overview obviously, but they would be
 >nice for chrome. Like I said, I would like to adhere to canon (mainly
 >Millers), but I am willing to extrapolate from written description.

     Yup.  Each Sword World is a separate entity with it's own military.
Navy of Sacnoth, 14th Gram Lift Infantry, etc.

    The militaries band together against a common foe, lead by what ever 
Sword World or group of worlds that have the political upper hand at the 
moment.


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
eclipse@ultranet.com http://www.ultranet.com/~eclipse/  Opinions Mine!
By the way, there is no year zero, (not in the Gregorian calendar)
and the third Millennium starts in 2001, not 2000.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 13:18:01 -0400
From: Ian Ferguson <ian@vax2.concordia.ca>
Subject: RE: Planetology 102

Thad,

Just in case you were wondering, I am following this string with great
interest.  Thanks and keep 'em coming.

Peez

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 11:03:36 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: Planetology 102 Part 4

Leonard Erickson wrote:
> 

> Well, another "interesting" factoid is that (as I recall) the basic
> structure of chlorophyll (the organo-metallic phoryphin(sp) that makes
> it all work) is *very* similar to the "heme" backbone of hemoglobin and
> the active portions of the other respiratory pigments.

Yes the basic porphyrin structure surrounding the metal complex is
similar in a number of molecules, only some of the side chains vary. The
immediate protein neighborhood is also very similar, although the rest
of the molecule is considerably different.

There are a number of metals that can fit into the porphyrin 'cage' and
work catalytically. Cu, Co, and Cr have all been used in the laboratory,
and Cu and (IIRC) Co are used by various organisms. Obviously, from the
spread of that same basic struture throughout life on the planet, the
porphyrin/metal complex is very old.

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

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 13:33:06 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re: Explain to me how radios work

Phil Kitching wrote:
> 
> At 09:38 09/08/1999 -0500, "Joseph R. Dietrich" <yikes@evansville.net> wrote:
> >I have a situation I thought the list might be able to enlighten me on. I
> >have several PCs that are equipped with personal radios with a listed range
> >of about 10 km. Unfortunately, I am a little hazy on what "range" actually
> >means.
> 
> I don't know what the books actually assume but I would guess the following:
> 
> A 1 km radio generates a certain amount of radio energy.
> As you get further away from it the signal strength decreases
> (inverse square law).
> At 1 km, this signal is just about detectable with the sort of receiver
> that you expect it to be matched to - in this case, probably a 1km receiver.
> 
> The problem is - what is the correctly matched receiver?
> 
> My guess would be that a 1,000km transmitter needs a 1,000km receiver
> to work at 1,000km.
> 
> A 1 km receiver should be able to detect a 1,000km transmitter at some
> range greater than 1km but less than 1,000km.

Well, two issues involved in signal reception are signal strength and
antenna length (on both the transmitter and the receiver).  As others on
the list have discussed signal strength, I'll talk about antenna length.

A transmitter with a nominal range of 10 km (with its standard antenna)
can improve on this with a more efficient antenna.  Ideally, the length
of an antenna is based on the broadcast frequency.  IIRC, the length of
a quarter-wave antenna (in feet) is 234 divided by the frequency in
megaHertz.  Thus, for the AM broadcast to which I am currently listening
(1150 AM, WJBO in Baton Rouge) we get a quarter-wave antenna length of
234/1.15 = 203.48 feet.  A fixed-site broadcast facility (such as the
WJBO radio station mentioned above) would probably have a half-wave or
full-wave antenna (406.96 feet or 813.92 feet, respectively).  Deviation
from these ratios leads to a less-efficient wave propagation, and thus
less range.  Those of you who have worked with US Army vehicle-mounted
radios will recall that, at the base of the vehicle whip antenna, there
is an antenna matching unit.  This works to adjust the effective length
of the antenna to match the frequency range.

The significance of all this, as it relates to short-range radios
receiving long-range broadcasts (or vice-versa), is that most small
radios have fixed-length antennae, which will neither broadcast nor
receive any given frequency as well as an antenna of ideal length for
the frequency.  OTOH, a receiver with a large antenna of ideal length
can receive a given broadcast at greater range than the nominal range of
the transmitter.  I can only make a WAG at quantifying this, but a
factor of three (suggested in another post) sounds reasonable.  You can
adjust this up or down, depending on the exact nature of the receiver in
question (referee's choice).

<<snips discussion of signal strength>>

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

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 14:50:04 -0400
From: Thomas Jones-Low <tjoneslo@softstart.com>
Subject: Re: Don't Panic. Remain Calm

	I won't panic. There are a number of Mailing list servers which could
host TML two are http://www.onelist.com and http://www.telelists.com
	I subscribe to mailing lists from both of these servers and the mail is
quick, digests provided, configurable, etc. and Free. 

- -- 
	Thomas Jones-Low		JobScheduler for Oracle
	tjoneslo@softstart.com		
	Ph: 802-652-1596		http://www.softstart.com

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 14:57:49 -0400
From: Thomas Jones-Low <tjoneslo@softstart.com>
Subject: RE: Old rules in a new box (Was: Re:House Rules)

>Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 16:27:37 -0400
>From: "Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com>
>Subject: Re: House Rules (Was, Re: Hi!)
>
>Speaking of Rules, I just found two issues of SpaceGamer in an old box.
>
>#44, October 1981
>
>Armored Combat for Traveller :  Armored Fighting Vehicles in Traveller
>

	I also have this rule set. They are a quick and dirty set of rules
drawn from the original striker rules for vehicle construction and
combat. The mesh well with the CT rules. I still have a few designs in
this format somewhere....

>
>#52, June 1982
>
>Spy-Cars in Traveller :  The Omni-Car
>

	This is basically the example vehicle built in GURPS Vehicles. Evil
Steve and his MIB's are not shy about borrowing their own material.

- -- 
	Thomas Jones-Low		JobScheduler for Oracle
	tjoneslo@softstart.com		
	Ph: 802-652-1596		http://www.softstart.com

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

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 18:34:19 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: Hitchhikers Guide on CD

"Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com> wrote:

>Thanks Dom!  You certainly know where your towel is!  :)

I really should read the other three books in the trilogy after the first
two ;-)

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 18:38:40 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: re Gen Con UK

Volker Greimann <volker@greimann.de> wrote:

>>How many we have ready depends on how smoothly the layout etc goes. I would
>>bet on three, not four releases.
>Hmmm, seems about the right time for another mail-order. Be sure to tell us
>what is out when...

Be assured that we will do that ;-)

>>>Grr, makes one wish one could be there. Why-o-why does WoTC not have a Gen
>>>Con on the mainland as well, btw?
>>
>>I believe there is a BeNeLux Gencon annually?
>Since when? Do you know where I can find information on that?

I'll try and find out from my friend who went last year.

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 18:49:11 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: re: TAS Alien Encyclopedia

greg.aldridge@marconicomms.com writes:

>So after a couple of e-mails and a fax, followed by a six day wait, I've
>finally got my
>copy, and a free TNE t-shirt.
>The service I have received from Fantasy En'Counter, especially Holger
>Willert, who was
>very quick to respond to my e-mail, puts several of the 'F'LGSs that I
>have visited in
>England to shame.
>If you can spare the 250 DM and desire a copy, Fantasy En'Counter get my
>recommendation.
>First impressions of the book...  well worth it.

I know exactly how you feel - their service was superb when I ordered 18
months ago...

It's also cheaper to buy them like this rather than second hand in the UK.

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 18:55:13 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: Hi! 

"Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com> writes:
>I use no more skills than INT & EDU.

MT uses the same....

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 19:00:11 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: Planetology on the Web?

"Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com> writes:
>Thad asked :
>- -----------------
>I'd be interested in putting my Planetology 101 and 102 posts and
>other stuff on the web, but I don't have a site of my own.
>Would anyone be interested in hosting this?
>  ---------------------------
>I will, I've been saving them all as text files for a later CD burning.

If you send me a compilation of the posts I'll put them on the BITS site
archive page.

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 19:54:48 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: Dispatch From Crescent City Con

John Buston <John.Buston@tesco.net> wrote:

>>They sold out of the first edition that fast.  The Second printing is just
>>a bug fix.
>
>How many did they print/sell?

Wasn't it 2000 Hardbacks and 10,000 softbacks? ISTR someone mentioning
those figures on the TML a while ago...

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 19:26:30 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re; Trav Suite

 "Dave Strebe" <strebe@intergate.bc.ca> writes:

>Could some kind being direct me to the
>"Trav Suite" or "Dulinor Suite". I had a look
>at the "Core" site but it is not listed there.

Hyphen's Traveller site (the big link page) has a pointer to a mirror for
the software in Australia.

I can't remember his URL but I did link it from BITS at
http://www.bits.org.uk/ on the jumpsites page.

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: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 21:26:44 +0200 (METDST)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
Subject: Sword World history (was: 'Heraldry' and 'Traveller symbols'

Glenn M. Goffin writes:

>For the Sword Worlds, I always use red, white, and blue, reflecting both
>their French and Scandinavian roots 

Sounds like you have access to canonical information about the Sword Worlds
that I haven't seen. AFAIK the Sword World language has elements from
Scandinavian, German, and Vilani languages, but the French is news to me.
Where did you get that information?

And from Alan Bradley:
 
>>Even more interesting though, is the fact that some Imperial worlds were
>>originally settled by Sword Worlders.  Documented cases include Margesi and
>>Garda-Vilis/Tanoose.  Off the top of my head I'm not certain if it is
>>stated explicitly that Vilis was too, but that's the assumption I make.  (I
>>think it is stated somewhere.)

_Regency Sourcebook, p. 41 says that Vilis was colonized from Gungnir in 240
and _Spinward Marches Campaign_, p. 19 that Garda-Vilis was settled from
Vilis in 290. The latter, at least, is not the entire truth, since
_Broadsword_, p. 6 states that Garda-Vilis was colonized in -121 under
the name Tanoose (IMTU _Danuuz_ is the name of a sword owned by a legendary
Vilani hero).


      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
- ------------
        "The referee should determine the nature of subsequent
         events based on the individual situation."
                                _76 Patrons_, p. 8

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

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:02:58 +0200 (METDST)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
Subject: More Sword World history

Alan Bradley writes:

>Earliest Sword World settlement: -399
>First interstellar government in region - Sacnoth Dominate - formed: -186
>Breakup of Sacnoth Dominate: -102
>Various squabbling states: -102 to end of First Frontier War (around 700
>years!)

We actually have quite a lot of information about those various states.
Below are some of my notes about Sword World history. Be aware that these
are the raw data and contains a number of contradictory statements. 

 -102           Sacnoth Dominate breaks up into Gram Confederation, Sacnoth
                Confederacy, and Hofud assembly. These governments rapidly
                disintegrate, beginning a period of disorganized infighting,
                with no clear dominant government. [JTAS18:17]
  -11           Some interstellar government restored [to the Sword Worlds].
                Five governments in control of region. [JTAS18:17]
   53           Imperial scouts contact Sword Worlds. [TD18:22]
  60-160        Scouts explore Deneb and Spinward Marches sectors. [TD18:22]
   73           First Sword World contact with Imperial traders. [Be:8, T:11; 
                RS:32; IE:40; JTAS18:17; LDNZ:23]
  104           Triple Dominion of Colada, Anduril and Dyrnwyn established. 
                [JTAS18:17; RS:32]
  147           Imperial Scouts contact Sword Worlds. [D:25]
  148           Imperial Scouts contacts Sword Worlds and, immidiately 
                afterwards, the Darrian Group. [D:12]
  217           Triple Dominion breaks up. [RS:32] Resumption of small,
                squabbling governments. [JTAS18:17]
  300           Sword Worlds are divided into five interstellar realms:
                Cunnonic, Tizon, Hrunting, Margesi, Gungnir, Mjolnir, and
                Colada; Joyeuse, Gram, Tyrfing, Beater, Orcrist, Sacnoth, 
                and Excalibur; Narsil and Anduril; Dyrnwyn, Durandal, and
                Hofud; and Sting, Biter, Iron, Bronze, Mithril, Wardn,
                Olympia, and Smoug. [TA:15]
  400           Imperial border touches Sword Worlds border. [T:11]
   "            Sword Worlds are divided into nine interstellar states:
                Cunnonic, Tizon, Hrunting, and Margesi; Mjolnir, Colada,
                Joyeuse, and Gram; Gungnir; Narsil and Anduril; Orcrist and
                Excalibur; Sacnoth and Tyrfing; Dyrnwyn and Durendal; 
                Beater, Hofud, and Sting; and Biter, Iron, Bronze, Mithril,
                and Steel. [TA:15]
  500           Sword Worlds are divided into eight interstellar states:
                Cunnonic and Tizon; Hrunting, Margesi, Mjolnir and Gungnir;
                Colada and Joyeuse; Gram, Tyrfing, Beater, and Excalibur;
                Narsil, Anduril, and Orcrist; Sacnoth; Dyrnwyn, Durendal, 
                Hofud, Sting, and Biter; and Iron, Bronze, Mithril, and 
                Steel. [TA:15]
  589           First Frontier War begins. Darrians neutral. [RS:30] 
   "            Sword Worlds are divided into five interstellar states:
                Cunnonic, Tizon, Hrunting, Margesi, Mjolnir, and Gungnir;
                Colada, Joyeuse, Gram, and Tyrfing; Narsil, Anduril, 
                Orcrist, Excalibur, Sacnoth, and Beater; Dyrnwyn, Durendal,
                and Hofud; and Sting, Biter, Iron, Bronze, Mithril, and
                Steel. [SMC:14]
   "            When 1FW begins Sword Worlds unite to create one ruling
                government under the control of the Sword Worlds Navy. [D:14]
  593           Sword Worlds invade Entropic Worlds. [RS:30, D:14]


>Second Dominate formed (centred on Sacnoth): 604 (approx)
>Breakup of Second Dominate, formation of Gram Coalition: 698
>Breakup of Gram Coalition, formation of Trilateral Alliance: 788
>Breakup of Trilateral Alliance: 848
>Formation of "present day" Sword Worlds Confederation: 852

  604           Sword Worlds plus the Entropic worlds are one state. [SMC:14] 
   "            Sacnoth Dominate restablished as the Second Dominate. [RS:32]
   "            Reestablishment of Sacnoth Dominate, called by historians the
                Second Dominate. This government incorporates the conquered
                Darrian worlds. [JTAS18:17]
  620           Margesi, Hrunting, Tizon, Colada, Mjolnir, Joyeuse, Gungnir, 
                Dyrnwyn, Durendal, Hofud, and Biter temporarily occupied by 
                the Imperium. Occupation lasts for 5 years. [JTAS18:13-14]
   "            Imperial military forces occupy 12 worlds of Second Dominate.
                [JTAS18:17]
621-626         Imperial military forces occupy 12 worlds of Second Dominate.
                [JTAS18:17]
  621           Imperial troops occupy selected Sword Worlds. [T:16]
  698           Second Dominate overthrown by Gram Coalition. 
                [RS:32; JTAS18:17]
  788           War between Darrians and Sword Worlds. Darrians retake 
                Entropic Worlds. Gram Coalition falls, is replaced by Tri-
                lateral Alliance of Narsil, Sacnoth and Durendal. [RS:30,32]
  848           Trilateral Alliance breaks up. [RS:32] Interstellar anarchy
                returns (to the Sword Worlds). [JTAS18:17]
  852           Current Sword World government formed with capital at Gram.
                [RS:32; JTAS18:17] 
   "            Sword Worlds Confederation formed with its capital at
                Joyeuse. [SMC:19]
  979           Third Frontier War begins. [RS:22]
   "            Sword Worlds are split into two states: Cunnonic, Tizon,
                Hrunting, Mjolnir, Gungnir, Colada, Joyeuse, Gram, Narsil,
                Anduril, Orcrist, and Excalibur; and Sacnoth, Tyrfing,
                Beater, Dyrnwyn, Durendal, Hofud, Sting, Biter, and the
                four metal worlds. [SMC:15]
  986           Gram seizes control of Sword World Confederation. [TD18:27]
   "            Sword Worlds plus Cunnonic, Margesi and Tavonni are one 
                state. [SMC:15]
   "            Coup by an anti-Imperial faction transfers capital of Sword
                Worlds Confederation from Joyeuse to Gram. [SMC:19]
 1078           Civil war breaks out on Joyeuse. [TD18:28]
 1082           Sword Worlds plus Cunnonic, Margesi, and Tavonni are one
                state. [SMC:15]
 1084           Sword Worlds retake Entropic Worlds. [RS:30]
   "            Sword worlds have lost Cunnonic, Margesi, and Tavonni, but 
                has taken Winston, Entrope, and Anselhome. [SMC:15]
 1098+          Joyeuse Civil War. [JTAS18:17]
 1098           Joyeuse Civil War begins. [SW:32]
   "            Esalin declared neutral. [RS:37; SM:12; TD18:28]]
 1107           Fifth Frontier War begins. [RS:22] Sword World troops invade
                Vilis and Lanth subsectors as part of the Outworld Coalition.
                [JTAS18:17]
 1110           Darrians retake Entropic Worlds. Imperial forces take many
                coreward and trailing Sword Worlds. 5FW ends. [RS:22,30,32]
 1111           Border Worlds, consisting of Sword Worlds taken by Imperium,
                established as Imperial client state. [RS:32]
 
>The Border Worlds Confederation was formed from Sword Worlds at the end of
>the Fifth Frontier War.  While it's obviously an Imperial creation, it is
>also "yet another Sword Worlds government".
> 
>Even more interesting though, is the fact that some Imperial worlds were
>originally settled by Sword Worlders.  Documented cases include Margesi and
>Garda-Vilis/Tanoose.  Off the top of my head I'm not certain if it is
>stated explicitly that Vilis was too, but that's the assumption I make.  (I
>think it is stated somewhere.)

Cunnonic while originally settled by Darrians have been part of one Sword
World polity or another from some unspecified time before 300 until 1084.
In other words, it's been a Sword World planet for 700+ years and only a
Darrian planet for the last 35...
 

      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
- ------------
        "The referee should determine the nature of subsequent
         events based on the individual situation."
                                _76 Patrons_, p. 8

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 13:17:13
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: Sword Worlds

At 12:57 PM 8/9/99 -0400, you wrote:

>    The militaries band together against a common foe, lead by what ever 
>Sword World or group of worlds that have the political upper hand at the 
>moment.

A good analogy might be a tighter NATO, or a looser Warsaw Pact.  The
various worlds are seperate entities, but show a (mostly) combined face to
the other states in the region.
- -- 

Douglas E. Berry  dberry@hooked.net
Yfirmaur, Konunglegur Gramm Floti
Srstakur Vitsmunir jnusta
Sameina Her: Rm, Sver Verld Sambandsmyndun
http://Jump.to/SyleaDownport

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

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:20:38 +0200 (METDST)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
Subject: CT skill limits (Was: Hi!)

Eris Reddoch writes:

>>Oh, it makes sense (and it was int and edu, wasn't it?  I may have
>>made a mistake in my other post...)
> 
>I've always wondered why it wasn't Dex+Int+Edu? There are a lot of physical
>skills that rely on Dex.

I found the limit too severe and the implication that a stupid, uneducated
barbarian warrior was unable to learn combat skills of questionable
validity, so I had a house rule that allowed STR+DEX physical skill levels
and INT+EDU mental skill levels. I then divided the skill list into three
categories: physical, practical, and mental. Practical skills were things
like 'mechanic' and could be charged against either limit according to 
choice.


      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
- ------------
        "The referee should determine the nature of subsequent
         events based on the individual situation."
                                _76 Patrons_, p. 8

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

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 15:31:52 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: The Imperial Army (circa 1110) [long]

Due to the recent discussions about the Imperial Marines and the
Imperial Army, I decided to post my thoughts on the nature of the
Imperial Army.  This could be the basis for a sidebar in the eventual
G:T Ground Forces book.

<<begin paper>>

The Imperial Army in the Third Imperium

The Third Imperium (hereafter "3I") has four basic assets with which to
project its power and influence by force of arms: the Imperial Navy
(hereafter "IN"); the Imperial Marines (hereafter "IM"); the Imperial
Interstellar Scout Service (hereafter "IISS"); and the Imperial Army
(hereafter "IA").  Of these four assets, two (the IM and the IA) are
designed to seize and hold terrain.  Despite this similarity in mission,
there are a number of differences between the IM and the IA; these are
the subject of this paper.

One of the key differences between the IA and the IM is the scale of the
two forces.  While Marine commanders speak of deployable regiments, IA
commanders concern themselves with the deployment of numbered Field
Armies and Corps.  As an example of the difference between the two, at
the beginning of the Fifth Frontier War, there were as many Field Armies
(each of which had 500 times the combat power of a single regiment) as
Marine Regiments in the affected area of the Spinward Marches.  While
some historians refer to all IA units as "local" or "colonial" forces,
this ignores the fact that all Regular Field Armies and Corps are
equipped to a technological standard at or near the Imperial maximum. 
Obviously, local forces, locally armed, could not achieve this level of
equipment.  It is only due to the Imperial nature of these units that
such a level of equipment can be achieved.

However, while the 3I equips and trains the Regular forces, most units
answer to the various subsector Dukes during peacetime.  On average,
each subsector in the Spinward Marches commands one or two Field Armies,
plus one or two independent Corps, all of which are equipped at or near
Imperial maximum techological levels.  In practice, these units are not
distributed evenly, and subsectors with little external threats might
only have one independent Corps, often broken down into its component
divisions.  Of course, during wartime, all Regular units can be employed
at the Sector/Domain commander's discretion.  

In addition to the numbered Field Armies and Corps of the subsector
duchies, one can find the sector General Headquarters ("GHQ") forces. 
In the Spinward Marches just prior to the Fifth Frontier War, these
included eight divisions, four independent brigades, and four
independent regiments.  Three of the four independent regiments
available to IA GHQ were jump troop regiments, with forced-entry
capabilities similar to those of IM regiments.  Like the IM, employment
of GHQ forces is an explicit statement of the Emperor's intent.  Unlike
the IM, however, not all GHQ units are immediately available for
deployment.  On average, half to two-thirds of GHQ divisions are
employed in long-term pacification or garrison missions.  On the other
hand, the independent brigades and regiments are usually available for
deployment in support of Imperial objectives.  In general, IA GHQ forces
(if available) can be employed in a manner similar to that of IM units. 
Normally, IA GHQ jump units would be preferred over IM units in cases
where IA Corps or numbered Field Armies will relieve the forced-entry
units in direct combat.  However, this preference is not always
practical; if such is the case, then IM units will be employed to secure
initial landing zones for follow-on IA forces.

This brings us to the third difference between IM and IA forces:  the IA
is multi-tiered.  At the top of the chain of command, one finds Sector
GHQ.  This parallels the sector-level commands of the IN, the IM, and
the IISS.  The GHQ forces (mentioned above) answer directly to the IA
GHQ, in much the same way that IM and IN forces answer to their sector
headquarters.  In wartime, the IA GHQ also assumes command of the
subsector-level numbered Field Armies and Corps within the affected
sector/domain (thus enabling GHQ to deploy these forces outside their
home subsector).  The third tier consists of planetary forces available
for off-world deployment.  These fall under Imperial command only in
wartime, and are equipped to local standards.  Also included in this
tier are numbered colonial units, which are generally comprised of
reservists, equipped to local standards.  The fourth tier consists of
planetary ground, wet-navy, and aerospace forces.  These forces exist
primarily to defend their respective home worlds, and do not normally
fall under IA command.

One similarity between IM and IA units is their high "tooth-to-tail"
ratio.  Unlike some armies in Terra's 20th century, which sometimes had
at least two support soldiers for each combat soldier, about 90% of the
personnel in Imperial regiments are combat troops.  Most maintenance
above operator-level is performed by civilian contractors.  Contract
workers also provide the majority of administrative and logistical
support for IM and IA units, particularly in garrison.  During off-world
operations, the IN provides most of the logistical support for ground
forces, using a combination of naval auxiliary vessels and civilian
shipping.

Notes:

1.  Most of the information in this paper comes from the GDW game _Fifth
Frontier War_, either directly or by implication.  Troop unit numbers
come directly from FFW, as does the distinction between Regular and
colonial units.  The existence of Sector GHQ is used as a means of
explaining the ability of the FFW player to move units without regard to
home subsector.  Sector GHQ also explains the presence of several small
units (division and below), which can easily be transported by batrons
and crurons as "rapid-deployment" forces.

2.  The multiple tier system is intended to reflect the existence of
deployable colonial forces.  The subsector level of the chain of command
parallels the naval chain of command.

3.  The comments about the high tooth-to-tail ratio in IA and IM units
are derived from the unit order of battle holdings in _Striker II_. 
References to civilian contract workers performing most service support
tasks are influenced by Heinlein's _Starship Troopers_, and reflect the
fact that only combat power affects transport requirements in FFW.

4.  My statement that the IN provides logistical support to ground
combat units applies primarily to situations where local contracts are
impractical, due to recent arrival of the ground force, hostility of the
local population, scarcity of local labor or resources, or insufficient
local tech level.  Since the IN controls space, it is logical to
conclude that the IN would have primary responsibility for shipment of
cargoes.  This parallels the experiences of US forces in the Pacific in
World War II.


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

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

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #931
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