Traveller-digest       Monday, August 16 1999       Volume 1999 : Number 968



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Cheaper GT Fuel Tanks
Re: Oops... Off Topic...
MT errata?
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
the bdsm thread and the game geek proposal
Re: Stereotyped Gamers (was: Re: Endorphins...)
Re: MT errata?
re: Books
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
RE: Ditzie's Chopper-wopper
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
Re: Fast Food 
RE: Aquatic Ape
Re: Ship questions...
Re: Ship questions...
Re: Fast Food 
SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Inter-racial gettin' it on....
Re: Ship questions...
Re: Ethically challenged merchants
Re: SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Inter-racial gettin' it on....
Re: Fast Food 
Re: Range of Sight?

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:57:16 +0100
From: John Buston <John.Buston@tesco.net>
Subject: Cheaper GT Fuel Tanks

The standard GURPS Traveller fuel tanks are "ultralight self-sealing". These are
very expensive though relatively light. The assumption from GURPS Space is that
the light weight of the tanks offsets their costs by reducing the need for very
expensive thrusters. 

Unfortunately this is not true. It may be true at GTL9, but at GTL 10 the
thrusters are so powerful that is much cheaper to use standard tanks and have
extra thruster modules.

Ultralight self-sealing tanks are a fifth the weight, cost ten times as much and
are less safe than a standard tank. Figures for one DT of the various tanks are
(including fuel mass):

Tank type                Mass sTons  Cost MCr  Fire Risk  Use For 

Ultralight Self-Sealing     1.13       0.167      +1      TL9- craft
Standard                    1.80       0.017      -2      Commercial craft
Standard Self-Sealing       2.63       0.033      -3      Military craft

Using standard tanks make a significant difference to published designs. It
reduces their price tag considerably and increases the profitability of
commercial craft substantially. So if you are going to use this modification you
may need to adjust the shipping rates to compensate.

The most extreme example of the effect of this change is the 800 DT oiler in
GURPS Far Trader. Using a standard tank reduces the cost an 800 DT Oiler from
113 MCr to less than 30 MCr, with the same performance (i.e. more thrusters) and
only a 1% reduction in tankage. 

Stones Throw Shipyards - August 1999

http://homepages.tesco.net/~john.buston/StonesThrow.htm

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:05:18 +0100
From: John Buston <John.Buston@tesco.net>
Subject: Re: Oops... Off Topic...

>What types of "toys" would be around for BDSM'ers in the 3I?

Are any of you gearheads? Using Gurps Vehicles & Gurps Robots I am sure you
could come up with some very interesting things. In G:Robots there is already
the example Lemon Angel companion android, and Synthia! for starters... There
are also some interesting devices in there I am sure you could use (e.g. Neural
Interfaces, Neural stimulators, Paralysis guns, etc.).

I see the basis of an adult traveller scenario staring here. Hmm, now
what can I put in this new G:T starship component module? 

"Voyage of the BSM Pandora" anyone? (SPI minigame, Ares 1981)

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:59:24 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael A Newman <manst4+@pitt.edu>
Subject: MT errata?

Can someone point me to errata for MT, either in print or on the web?  I
know that some has appeared in both Challenge and MT Journal.  Is there a
comprehensive list anywhere?

Thanks,
M

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:33:47 -0400
From: "Daniel Phelps" <phelpsd@gate.net>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

Was written on the subject of pirate economics:

>  Cost of market entry isn't an issue? Surely the economics of sustaining
>piracy is more important than the psychology (once the "career" starts)?

Well,  ...the traditional point of entry into such a career was to sneak up
on your first victim in dugout canoes swarm on board and put every one who
doesn't immediately surrender to the sword.  That's how they did it in the
Caribbean in the late 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.  In the Indian Ocean
and the South China Sea they sneak up on unsuspecting commercial vessels in
the shipping lanes in power boats in the dead of the night.  The pirates
then swarm on board, put any one who resists to "the sword", bust open the
safe, steal everything portable of value, and disappear over the side.  The
technology over time changes but the MO is nearly the same.

Regarding sustaining the effort, if you have a safe base to operate from, an
infrastructure to dispose of the loot, a plentiful supply of victims and a
ready manpower pool to replace losses due to attrition you are in pirate
heaven.

How about a real twist, pirates working the border who specialize in ripping
off smugglers.  They show the signature of a patrol vessel or even a
"unmarked patrol vessel" and tell the victim to heave to.  They either board
without a fight or put the victim out of commission at close range where
close sensor scrutiny or even sight alone might unmask them.   If they get
on board without being unmasked they might even "impound" the cargo, order
the vessel to proceed to some specified port and make a clean get away.
Even if the victim figures the ruse out who is he going to complain to.

Lest you think the above is to far fetched to be played, I based it on real
life.  The actual case in the late 60's early 70's ran like this.  Mob
connected cigarette smugglers would fill their vans at the factory in North
Carolina.  It was legal to buy "in bulk" just illegal by the laws of the
neighboring state to run the cigs over the state line untaxed by that state.
As they were tooling down the interstate on their way to New York City and
other points metropolitan in Yankee land, along would come an "unmarked
patrol car"  which would pull them over as ATF.  The smugglers would pull
over, surrender and ultimately find themselves kicked loose on a back
country road victims of "the Dixie Mafia".  The feds got wind of what was
going on when things escalated, bodies started showing up and the rip off
artists turned out to be connected to white power types.

Dan

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:42:35 -0400
From: "Daniel Phelps" <phelpsd@gate.net>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

Was asked:

>If a bunch of villians get on to my free trader whilst it is in port.
>(By bribing security, having friends in the crew or just being downright
> sneaky.)
>Then, for little outlay they could fly off in a starship and sell it.
>
>I can see the cost/benefit here.
>
>On the other hand, if they are going to use a 100MCr ship to raid me in
>space, then I have to ask the simple question - why don't they just sell
>the pirate ship?

possible answers:

Because a) they can only sell the ship once, b) its probably got a "bad
title" i.e. stolen and thus they can only get a fraction of its true value
and/or c) they are all "wanted men" and turning "wolf's head" is their only
acceptable option.

Dan

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 14:57:54 -0700
From: "Kiri Aradia Morgan" <tiamat@tsoft.com>
Subject: the bdsm thread and the game geek proposal

>> Personally, I am finding the discussions to be somewhat, uhmm,
disturbing... I'd rather not see them. Even tho it does cast new light on
certain members of this list.
>>

I agree that the discussions of our personal lives and such do not belong on
the list.  There are things about me that I am just not ready to tell this
many strangers, which is why I've said as little about my own practice as I
have.  I'm already scared that I have frightened people off!

But what about the discussions of practices people might be into in the game
world-- are those offensive too?


>Perhaps we should form a seperate, less stringent "Game Geek" mailing list.
I am not offended by this content, although I read the list to get Traveller
ideas, not alternative lifestyle info.
>
Me too, and I hope y'all realize that!

>But I would subscribe to such a list, and perhaps there we could discuss
other game topics that won't fit in this or other existant lists. Or is
there a list out there already? I am thinking "Adults only", although not
just because of sexual content. I think there are many topics (ie: sex,
narcotics, violence, crime, etc.) that should preclude a younger audience,
and although I like kids, I am not one, so there is a limit on "shared
interests".
>
A discussion group for HANDLING such topics in games would be very cool -- I
can still remember discussions I had with guys in the 80's about "how to get
chicks to play games with you."

It was amazing to me that they hadn't realized that women were turned off to
the games (and to them) by events such as having female characters get raped
when captured, slavery of the Gorean variety in fantasy games, "rolling for
pregnancy" (I am sorry, but a culture that has effective technology, be it
scientific or magickal, is going to find a way to tackle this problem) and
other undignified things that frequently happened to female characters.

A common line I used:  "I don't care how realistic it is-- do you play these
games to experience reality?  Women have to deal with enough of this crap in
real life!"

>I would also like to see such a list be somewhat generic concerning game
system. Possible topics to discuss:
>
>Game Session Dynamics: How many arbiters in your game? Do you use a team
leader to call out actions? How many folks does it take for a good game?
What are the rules of ettiquette? How should one handle Munchkins?
>

good questions!

>Lifestyles of the Bored and Geeky: A study in gaming furniture, costumes,
props, and Gaming Conventions. Demographics of gamers, recipes for munchies,
book reviews, etc.
>
I used to give talks about how to get lucky at cons, too... everything from
"use soap and water liberally" to "how to find out what she likes to do
without looking like you're trying to hit on her all at one time".

>Contacts & Personals: "I live "here", can you game with me?" I see alot of
this on the TML, and it always bums me. I get all excited and hopeful, then
I find out the poster is in Florida or something. PBEM I know nothing about,
and won't post queries here, as I have to many that are not Traveller
oriented, and are probably "basics". I won't waste your time.
>
So long as it's not "Wannas".  I really do not want to get hit on on-list.
Whatever I'm doing, I ain't doin' it with anyone but Hiroshi.  Sorry.  And
even if I did want to get hit on, not when hundreds of folks around the
world are going to be reading it please.  But I don't.  Atashi wa Hiroshi no
n desu!  (This should require no translation.)

>Any other ideas? Anyone agree we could use a less specific Gamers List?
>
Sure, why not?

(Famous last words, I know.)

Kiri

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:05:26 -0700
From: "Kiri Aradia Morgan" <tiamat@tsoft.com>
Subject: Re: Stereotyped Gamers (was: Re: Endorphins...)

>> I figure that any discussion of the nature of Traveller player is
on-topic....
>
>To be honest, I was surprised by the postings on the topic. The stereo-type
of gamers is usually fat/skinny comp/sci/tech male caucasian nerd. Kiri is
obviously *not* male.
>
Nor are a few of the other people on this list.  I am mostly white and pass
for it but I do have some Asian ancestry (not much).  I studied psychology
and history and I have a bad case of math anxiety which is prolly why I'm
not a big gearhead.  I write SF stories and I loved playing CT in the early
80's.  Our campaign had a very space opera-ish feel.  I also once ran a
campaign using CT rules set in the universe that I write in.

> There are quite a few folks on the list in science or technology fields,
thank goodness. Their input is invaluable in this type of game, as opposed
to AD&D and such.
>
Amen!  I am not into that stuff except very casually and I need the advice.

Actually I can't stand games like AD&D because I am an occultist; I did a
lot of graduate work in history of science/occult, which if you go back
prior to the Enlightenment are really the same thing.  If I were going to
play a fantasy game it would have to be a more realistic game system in
terms of the magickal arts.  Chaosium's system was a good approximation of
what actually happens in spellcasting, though there were additions in
Runequest, CoC and Stormbringer that were pure fantasy.

I'm definitely urban wildlife.  I grew up in West Virginia but I loathed it
and I've been moving steadily west since I got to be an adult.  Eventually
I'll probably stay put... either here, or in Tokyo.  SF and Tokyo are my two
favorite cities in the world.

I speak Japanese rather badly and I am quite active in anime fandom, where
depending upon my whim I am most often addressed as Mistress Tiamat or
kiri-chan.  Don't ask me why Mistress Tiamat, that is what started the whole
bdsm thread, for which I apologize to those who were offended!

Kiri

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:13:10 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re: MT errata?

Michael A Newman wrote:
> 
> Can someone point me to errata for MT, either in print or on the web?  I
> know that some has appeared in both Challenge and MT Journal.  Is there a
> comprehensive list anywhere?

Well, I don't know how comprehensive it is (since I don't play MT, I
haven't looked at it), but David Golden's Web site has some MT erotica
^h^h^h^h^h^h^h errata at:

http://www.pcisys.net/~goldendj/Traveller/Rules.html

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

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:32:27 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: re: Books

"Eris Reddoch" <eris@pcola.gulf.net> writes:

>On 08/16/99 at 01:36 AM,  SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com> said:
>>Yes! They're a little more adult in writing style and I enjoyed them
>>a lot. I'd give you a review but Andy Lilly has my set and I won't
>>see him until GenCon UK.
>Went to the bookstore this afternoon, bought _Derelict for Trade_, read it
>tonight, had to report. I liked it!  Seeing as it took me until 2:30 to
>finish, I'll be dead today, but it was a "can't put down" read.

I know the feeling. Cherryh, Norton and Azimov are the 'foundations' of my
vision of the Trav Universe.

>>They're ideal for a heretic. ;-)
>You got that right!

Actually, once I tuned out the Droyne, 'Velani', black globe and meson gun
references in 'Gateway to the Stars' (the T4 novel) I didn't mind it. Kind
of a Traveller Weiss and Hickmann..

Dom

- ----------Dom Mooney---dom@cybergoths.u-net.com------------
                       MiB - Marines in Battledress
   "Protecting the Imperium from the Scum of the Galaxy"
Rob Prior's Mac software @ http://www.bits.org.uk/ 

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:39:41 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu> writes:
>Actually, the ideal anti-boarding missile, which is what you mean, I think,
>wouldn't go in the missile turret. The moment it moved they'd be shot by the
>opposing ship. What you want is something that sits like a limpet on the ships
>hull so it isn't noticed until it's fired, which is, of course, too late.
>Stick a bunch of these
>on the hull in different facings and you'ld be set.

Marcus Rowland had a good article in an old White Dwarf which covered Anti
Piracy techniques (such as the laser behind the dummy wall in the airlock
which fires once the ships are mated...).

>My one and only statement on the Existence Of Pirates:
>Basic, number-one reason that pyrates exist is in _every_ ship design I've
>ever seen: they are _all_ armed.
>
>Period.
>Spending lots of hard-earned cash on lasers and missiles, having to deadhead a
>gunner along everywhere you go, and sacrificing cargo space for a turret and
>it's requisite power, mfd etc etc is economically stupid, unless it's needed.
>
>QED

You sure it's not that Traveller is "Yanks in Space (tm)" with a right to
bear weapons being fundamental.. but if you put all those weapons on a ship
someone is bound to use them... oh!  QED <grin, duck and run>

Dom ;-)

* Yanks in Space is a trademark of Hans.. ;-)

- ----------Dom Mooney---dom@cybergoths.u-net.com------------
                       MiB - Marines in Battledress
   "Protecting the Imperium from the Scum of the Galaxy"
Rob Prior's Mac software @ http://www.bits.org.uk/ 

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 17:42:31 +0100
From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
Subject: RE: Ditzie's Chopper-wopper

"Jesse DeGraff" <fenris@slip.net> writes:

>The way it was described to me (after I blew it the first time), was that
>indeed it was meant as a joke.  She's this hyper-intelligent, very young
>girl with a speech impediment, almost no restraint whatsover :), and she
>happens to be the chief R&D designer for a company that makes some SERIOUS
>hardware.  And she was on "something", but I can't remember what it was
>supposed to be for.  Could be worse.  She was originally supposed to be a
>4yr old :)

She is only the chief designer of the High Energy weapons Division. Famille
Spofulam Yards is the other big arm, run by Ditzie's Uncle Hengebar,
producing ethically challenged starships and there's a projectile weapons
division which played with an asteroid mass driver....

Dom

- ----------Dom Mooney---dom@cybergoths.u-net.com------------
                       MiB - Marines in Battledress
   "Protecting the Imperium from the Scum of the Galaxy"
Rob Prior's Mac software @ http://www.bits.org.uk/ 

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:43:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anthony Jackson <ajackson@molly.iii.com>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu> writes:
>My one and only statement on the Existence Of Pirates:
>Basic, number-one reason that pyrates exist is in _every_ ship design I've
>ever seen: they are _all_ armed.
>Period.
>Spending lots of hard-earned cash on lasers and missiles, having to
>deadhead a gunner along everywhere you go, and sacrificing cargo space
>for a turret and it's requisite power, mfd etc etc is economically stupid,
>unless it's needed. 

Ironically, all of this explains _why_ there's pirates (nice circular logic there).  If every ship is armed, some of them will start using those armaments. While being a pirate full-time is probably a good way to wind up dead (and probably not very smart even in the short run), if your fairly heavily armed trader comes across a weaker ship doing wilderness refueling in some back end of nowhere system, some people are going to be tempted.  Call it the starship equivalent of a mugging.

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

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 23:56:48 +0100
From: "Nick Bradbeer" <nickb@ndirect.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

>Ironically, all of this explains _why_ there's pirates (nice circular logic
there).  If every ship is armed, some of them will start using those
armaments. While being a pirate full-time is probably a good way to wind up
dead (and probably not very smart even in the short run), if your fairly
heavily armed trader comes across a weaker ship doing wilderness refueling
in some back end of nowhere system, some people are going to be tempted.
Call it the starship equivalent of a mugging.


I wonder how useful Q-ships would be to the 'local constabulary' types. If
the majority of pirate attacks are indeed opportunity strikes against
lightly-armed freighters, then occasional well-publicised Q-ship stings
(where the 'lightly armed freighter' turns out to be a discreetly armed
gunboat) would introduce rather more hesitancy into the minds of easily
tempted captains.

Nick

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:45:09
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: Fast Food 

At 07:41 PM 8/17/99 +0100, you wrote:
>>Yes but at least we don't wear armour while playing football, its also why
>>the Ithklur prefer to play Aussie Rules.

>"Yes....I've always wondered why a nation which prides itself on its
>masculinity feels it has to strap on thirty pounds of body armour to play
>rugby...." -Giles, BTVS

Get hit by a 360lb man who runs 40 yards in a bit under 8 seconds and ask
me that.

BTW: Why do they call it Aussie Rules Football when from what I've seen on
ESPN the only difference between the game and a bar fight is at the bar you
at least get a drink?

ObTrav: Those minor little cultural differences that can trip PCs up on
worlds that are familiar, but not exactly like what they're used to.
- -- 

Douglas E. Berry       dberry@hooked.net
http://www.hooked.net/~dberry/index.html

People want anarchy for about five minutes. Then they
 want a backrub and some money.  - Bruce Sterling

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:41:15
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: RE: Aquatic Ape

For those interested, the new issue of Time has a cover story on human
evolution.  Pretty good overview of the subject, along with a nice biting
essay about the Kansas Board of Education.
- -- 

Doug Berry             dberry@hooked.net
http://www.hooked.net/~dberry/index.html

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:54:48
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: Ship questions...

At 09:04 AM 8/16/99 -0400, Paul Schirf liked my idea but:

>(1) extend the Vehicle Classification to two positions

No problem, a Leviathan would be MC-yadda yadda yadda..

>(2) declare that the Unique identifier are not used in any particular order 
>- as they are "pre-assigned" in blocks to the subsector shipyards several 
>years in advance of the year that they represent

I'd reserve the numbers for ships that have demonstrated space worthiness.
This stops insurance fraud when a shipyard blows up an orbital yard and
claims that 56 "unfinished" hulls were lost.

>(3) 9000 series numbers are reserved for military vessels.

Interesting. I usually give the military a separate system.

- -- 

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: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 00:04:54 +0100
From: "Nick Bradbeer" <nickb@ndirect.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Ship questions...

>>(2) declare that the Unique identifier are not used in any particular
order
>>- as they are "pre-assigned" in blocks to the subsector shipyards several
>>years in advance of the year that they represent
>
>I'd reserve the numbers for ships that have demonstrated space worthiness.
>This stops insurance fraud when a shipyard blows up an orbital yard and
>claims that 56 "unfinished" hulls were lost.


I think he just meant that the runs wouldn't be perfectly sequential, since
blocks of numbers would be allocated to individual shipyards rather than
entire worlds.

Nick

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

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 00:07:51 +0100
From: "Nick Bradbeer" <nickb@ndirect.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Fast Food 

>>"Yes....I've always wondered why a nation which prides itself on its
>>masculinity feels it has to strap on thirty pounds of body armour to play
>>rugby...." -Giles, BTVS
>
>Get hit by a 360lb man who runs 40 yards in a bit under 8 seconds and ask
>me that.


I don't play Rugby any more, but that's what happens. (Okay, at school the
guys didn't weigh 360 lbs, but then I didn't either). At least they have the
grace to aim at your legs....

>ObTrav: Those minor little cultural differences that can trip PCs up on
>worlds that are familiar, but not exactly like what they're used to.


Oh, hell yeah. <TheevilgrinthatcanonlybegrinnedbyaGM>

Nick

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

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 09:11:03 +1000
From: "Hughes, Michael" <Michael.Hughes@cbr.defence.gov.au>
Subject: SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Inter-racial gettin' it on....

What's the imperial, nay Traveller universe's, opinion on inter-racial
coupling? Is it frowned upon? Regarded as degenerate? Actively practiced on
some worlds? Has a fine collection on under-the-counter tasteful 'glossy
slick' paged publications dedicated to its practice?

Ob Adventure Seed; Characters are either trying to prove or protect the fact
of a high powered Imperium noble's fetish for Aslan la femms, including
having to track down and find/destroy the 'negative's of said patron
enjoying himself at the pink pussycat  and encourage/stop its mass
circulation.  

Personally I find the mental pic of an Aslan same sex inclined pirate in hot
pants rather appealing.

Rwwwwwooooorrrrrrr. . . yeah baby yeah.

<must take pills, calm down>


- -	Michael 

Email: michael.hughes@cbr.defence.gov.au
<mailto:michael.hughes@cbr.defence.gov.au> 

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:20:50
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <dberry@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: Ship questions...

At 12:04 AM 8/18/99 +0100, you wrote:

>>I'd reserve the numbers for ships that have demonstrated space worthiness.
>>This stops insurance fraud when a shipyard blows up an orbital yard and
>>claims that 56 "unfinished" hulls were lost.

>I think he just meant that the runs wouldn't be perfectly sequential, since
>blocks of numbers would be allocated to individual shipyards rather than
>entire worlds.

Ah.  Since most subsectors won't have that many active shipyards, I can see
this.
- -- 

Doug Berry             dberry@hooked.net
http://www.hooked.net/~dberry/index.html

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:36:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anthony Jackson <ajackson@molly.iii.com>
Subject: Re: Ethically challenged merchants

Nick Bradbeer writes:

> I wonder how useful Q-ships would be to the 'local constabulary' types. If
> the majority of pirate attacks are indeed opportunity strikes against
> lightly-armed freighters, then occasional well-publicised Q-ship stings
> (where the 'lightly armed freighter' turns out to be a discreetly armed
> gunboat) would introduce rather more hesitancy into the minds of easily
> tempted captains.

Bear in mind, most people tempted to piracy probably aren't terribly bright, and probably _do_ get caught, sooner or later (this is true of muggers as well).  Its probably just as effective as an anti-piracy measure to use a small stealthed gunship (which probably isn't going to be detected at any significant range by the sensors on a typical pirate ship) which spends a couple weeks idling in some lightly-patrolled area and then jumps to another one -- and if it sees a pirate, it blows the hell out of said pirate (if it can) or notes identifying information (if it's too far away).

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 19:47:21 EDT
From: AveNelso@aol.com
Subject: Re: SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Inter-racial gettin' it on....

In a message dated 8/16/99 7:17:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Michael.Hughes@cbr.defence.gov.au writes:

<< at's the imperial, nay Traveller universe's, opinion on inter-racial
 coupling? Is it frowned upon?  >>

Again, there is no "Imperial" view on these things.  On some planents such 
things would be abhorrent, in others common place.  THis is precisely the 
result of the Imperium's de-centralization policy.

        Dave Nelson

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

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 21:15:07 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Fast Food 

> > >Yes but at least we don't wear armour while playing football, its also
> why
> > >the Ithklur prefer to play Aussie Rules.
> >
> > "Yes....I've always wondered why a nation which prides itself on its
> > masculinity feels it has to strap on thirty pounds of body armour to play
> > rugby...." -Giles, BTVS
> 
> Don't be silly.  It's obvious that they have to wear the armor because their
> owners pay gazillions for them and don't want them to get all dented up like
> tin soldiers in a bag (or rugby players in a cup match).  It's obvious they
> don't need it to avoid pain, most are too coked up to feel anything. :-p
> 
> Now, let's drop this and go back to the Grav Ball discussion!

No, it's because their mommies won't let them play *hockey*.

ObTrav:  Can you imagine hockey being played on a frozen hydrogen lake?  
Scarey, especially if you slip and fall on your cooling fins.  The heat sinks 
would tend to sublimate the frozen hydrogen with the force of a grenade...

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: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 21:32:57 -0400
From: "Thomas Schoene" <TomSchoene@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Range of Sight?

- ----------
> From: AB <ab@rossmack.com>
>
> d=(h^2 + 2hr)^0.5
> 
> Where:
> d = distance to horizon
> h = observer's height above ground
> r = planetary radius
> 
> Make sure all units are the same!
> 
If you're looking for the range at which you can see a target above ground
level, I think you add one more term to that equation so that it becomes 

d=(h1^2 + h2^2 + 2hr)^0.5

where h1 is the height of the observer and h2 is the height of the target. 
That looks right, but I'm not a brilliant math person, so feel free to
correct as necessary.

Tom Schoene

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

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #968
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