Traveller-digest    Tuesday, September 21 1999    Volume 1999 : Number 1112



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

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces
Ground Forces Name
Re: Time Question(s)
Re: Milieu 0 questions (reposted, apparently lost)
Ground Forces Stuff
Re: Ground Forces////Pocket Empires question
Re: Ground Forces
Re: Ground Forces...
RE: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces
Re: Ground Forces...
GDW Sign
Re: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces 
Provincial Forces (WAS RE: Ground Forces)
Re: GDW Sign
Re: Ground Forces
RE: GDW Sign
Re: Milieu 0 questions
Astrogator 4.51.00
Re: Ground Forces...
Re: Ground Forces

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 21:17:15 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces

Jeff Zeitlin wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 18:10:19 -0400 (EDT), Black ICE
> <wombat@premier.net> wrote:
> 
> >I think that the title "Into the Mud" would be a good one.  That way, if
> >you see fit, you can include the following quote from T.R. Fehrenbach's
> >_This Kind of War:  A Study in Unpreparedness_ (AUSA hardback edition,
> >pg 290):
> 
> >**begin quote**
> 
> >Americans in 1950 rediscovered something that since Hiroshima they had
> >forgotten: you may fly over a land forever; you may bomb it, atomize it,
> >pulverize it and wipe it clean of life -- but if you desire to defend
> >it, protect it, and keep it for civilization, you must do this on the
> >ground, the way the Roman legions did, by putting your young men into
> >the mud.
> 
> >**end quote**
> 
> DAMN! I think you've just hit the jackpot.

**blush**

> However, were I to
> put this quote up front in the book, I'd probably start it with
> "... you may fly over a land forever; ...", rather than starting
> with "Americans in 1950...".
> 
I posted the entire paragraph so that Doug could accept or reject it, as
he sees fit (I assume that quoting a long single-sentence paragraph is
allowed under the "fair use" portion of copyright law).  While I agree
that removing the specific reference to post-Hiroshima America makes the
quote universally applicable, I believe that using the full quote, with
attribution, places the issue of "push-button" warfare versus infantry
combat into historical perspective.  In other words, should Doug decide
to use this quote, he can choose to use it as either an eternal truth of
warfare (and thus use the edited quote), or as an historical perspective
(using the quote as an illustration of early Terran recogintion of this
concept).

Either way, the quote expresses a concept that needs to be expressed in
any Traveller work deling with ground forces (Army or Marine).

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

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:16:50 -0400
From: Mark Urbin <eclipse@ultranet.com>
Subject: Ground Forces Name

I like "The Emperor's Fist"

The Navy may enforce Imperial Will, but the Marines and Army are the Fist.

Being a serious Bab-head, GURPS:Gropos is just too cool, but I think Doug 
made the on target comment about legal attack weasels.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
eclipse@ultranet.com -- These opinions are mine, no one else wants `em.
Vikings? There ain't no vikings here. Just us honest farmers. The town was
burning, the villagers were dead. They didn't need those sheep anyway.
That's our story and we're sticking to it.  http://www.ultranet.com/~eclipse/
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 21:27:11 -0500
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net>
Subject: Re: Time Question(s)

Leonard Erickson wrote:
<<snip>>
> >
> > Well, I'm not a physicist (nor do I play one on TV), but I would invoke
> > pseudoscience and point out that, on average, they spend as much time
> > decelerating as accelerating.  If they jump out with a high velocity,
> > they have to decelerate to match the system's relative velocity.  This
> > should cancel out any noticeable temporal effects of their acceleration
> > on the way out.
> 
> Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The dilation effects *add*, not
> cancel. But as my other post points out, they'd have to accelerate for
> *days* to get noticeable dilation effects.

Well, in self-defense, I didn't claim that this was _accurate_; I merely
offered this as a quick-and-dirty plausible explanation.

Of course, any player who seeks significant benefits from relativity
effects during the normal run to jumpspace is probably trying to
munchkinize the rules anyway, and deserves whatever the referee
delivers....
 
> The astrogator has to worry about the fractions of a second involved.
> Passengers don't.

Good point, especially since the values involved seem to be too small to
perceive by basic human senses.

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

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:22:47 -0400
From: "Terry Carlino" <carlino@home.com>
Subject: Re: Milieu 0 questions (reposted, apparently lost)

>>I am trying to set up a campaign based on the Long Way
>>Home/Gateway adventure, to introduce some friends to Traveller,
>>but am missing a few details (like what year it should be set
>>in.  I'm guessing near 0.)

>The M:0 text and map are inconsistent. The references in the
>text are written with reference to the placement of the Sylean
>Federation as in the T4 main rulebook, NOT in the M:0 Referee
>data for Core sector.

One might almost think that the various sources were records from over a
thousand years ago, found in some old TAS database. :^)

Terry C

All that is Gold does not glitter
Not all who travel are lost

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:26:51 -0400
From: Mark Urbin <eclipse@ultranet.com>
Subject: Ground Forces Stuff

 From my sig quote collection (Military Sigs 
http://urbin.homepage.com/sigs/mil-sigs.html)

Taking and holding land. It's been the job of infantry ever since one 
caveman took a dislike (and a leg bone) to another; and will remain so. 
Infantry alone can't do it; but no force without infantry can either. -- 
Matt Clonfero

"Superior firepower is an invaluable tool when entering negotiations." -- 
General George S. Patton

"Well it's Tommy this, and Tommy that, and 'Throw 'im out the brute!', but 
it's 'Special train for Atkins!' when the guns begin to shoot..." -- 
"Tommy", R. Kipling

"The political object is the goal, war is the means of reaching it, and the 
means can never be considered in isolation from their purposes." -- Karl 
von Clausewitz, 19th Century Prussian General

"Always use a piledriver to crack a nut. The piledriver doesn't take much 
damage, and the nut stays cracked." -- USMC maxim

"...an imperfect plan implemented immediately and violently will always 
succeed better than a perfect plan." -- Gen. George S. Patton


- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
eclipse@ultranet.com -- These opinions are mine, no one else wants `em.
       Smith&Wesson -- The Ultimate "Point & Click" User interface.
                  http://www.ultranet.com/~eclipse/
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:34:17 -0400
From: "Thomas Schoene" <TomSchoene@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces////Pocket Empires question

- ----------
> From: Dan Roseberry <rosebee@troi.csw.net>
> To: Traveller Mailing List (TML) <Traveller@lists.imagiconline.com>
> Subject: RE: Ground Forces////Pocket Empires question
> Date: Monday, 20 September, 1999 10:05 PM
> 
> Greetings Travellers!
> > 2.  I'm soliciting titles. SJG definitely wants to change Ground
> Forces.
> > Right now, I'm leaning towards Imperial Regiments.  Suggestions?
> 
> Serious:  Gurps:  Soldiers of the Imperuim

This is really good. Higher on my list than any of my own suggestions. 


> I have a question about the Pocket Empires book.
>
This is a major non sequitur.
Sorry, can't help you here.

> 
Tom Schoene

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:35:29 -0400
From: "Thomas Schoene" <TomSchoene@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces

- ----------
> From: David P. Summers <summers@alum.mit.edu>
> To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
> Subject: Re: Ground Forces
> Date: Monday, 20 September, 1999 9:35 PM
> 
> >>2.  I'm soliciting titles. SJG definitely wants to change Ground
Forces.
> >>Right now, I'm leaning towards Imperial Regiments.  Suggestions?
> >
> >How about "GURPS Traveller: Grunts"?
> 
> Or how about "GURPS Traveller: Ground Ponders?"

David: can we think about this one for a while?  :-)  

Tom Schoene

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:45:38 -0400
From: "Terry Carlino" <carlino@home.com>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces...

I like GT:Imperial Sword and Shield
However, since this is a reference to Regency Era material would that be a
problem for SJG. My understanding was that they were limited to CT
references.

So this is not just a "ME TOO" I'd like to cover some other stuff. Doug, do
you intend to cover Imperial Marines?

If you do are you going to try to adjust or otherwise reduce the effect of
the hyper-power battledress in GT:SM? If you are might I suggest a
specialize anti-BD weapon? Perhaps a type of anti-armor ammunition that can
penetrate BD and do some real damage to a person inside, but doesn't have
the oomph to hurt a MBT or APC. If it could be fired from a gauss rifle, and
strings of them could be rigged in anti-BD mines this would tend to nullify
the high DR of the BD. If you fire it into an unarmored person it just
penetrates like a normal round (except perhaps it goes completely through).
This would prevent it from unbalancing the game the other way. Just a
suggestion.

Moving to another fine area of discussion: The Marine Cutlass. The idea that
the Marine Cutlass is made of some kind of superdense/steel laminate has
been discussed on the list. It is a reasonable suggestion, it's one failing
being that it would most likely require the Marine to have one weapon for
actual battle (where a suit of BD would make the heavy blade usable) and a
lighter steel alloy ceremonial blade. I have a short dissertation on the
Marine Cutlass on my website at:
http://members.home.net/carlino/imperial.htm

Hope I've given you something to ponder.

Terry C

All that is Gold does not glitter
Not all who travel are lost

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 19:56:53 -0700
From: "Jesse DeGraff" <fenris@slip.net>
Subject: RE: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces

Gotta' throw my .02Cr in for it as well.  Just a REALLY nice tie in.
Jesse




> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
> [mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com]On Behalf Of Michael
> Peters
> Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 6:12 PM
> To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
> Subject: Re: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces
>
>
> Jeff,
>
> Concidering the international (and interstellar?) nature of the list and
> Traveller fans in general, I like the abridged version of the qoute. I
> also have to throw my vote in for this! Even in the 3I it'll be the
> grunts that get down in the dirt that'll hold civilization together!
>
> Jeff Zeitlin wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 18:10:19 -0400 (EDT), Black ICE
> > <wombat@premier.net> wrote:
> >
> > >I think that the title "Into the Mud" would be a good one.
> That way, if
> > >you see fit, you can include the following quote from T.R. Fehrenbach's
> > >_This Kind of War:  A Study in Unpreparedness_ (AUSA hardback edition,
> > >pg 290):
> >
> > >**begin quote**
> >
> > >Americans in 1950 rediscovered something that since Hiroshima they had
> > >forgotten: you may fly over a land forever; you may bomb it,
> atomize it,
> > >pulverize it and wipe it clean of life -- but if you desire to defend
> > >it, protect it, and keep it for civilization, you must do this on the
> > >ground, the way the Roman legions did, by putting your young men into
> > >the mud.
> >
> > >**end quote**
> >
> > DAMN! I think you've just hit the jackpot.  However, were I to
> > put this quote up front in the book, I'd probably start it with
> > "... you may fly over a land forever; ...", rather than starting
> > with "Americans in 1950...".
> >
> > --
> > Jeff Zeitlin
> > jzeitlin@cyburban.com
>
> --
> Mike Peters
> travelleri@home.com
>

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

Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 12:14:08 +1000
From: david.d.jaques-watson@centrelink.gov.au
Subject: Re: Ground Forces...

Dear Folks -

Actually, this should be "Dear Doug" - is the Ground Forces book only going
to cover Imperial organisations?? I was hoping to see the GURPS translation
of the Zho Consular Guard, the Tealikhoi, the forces from Darrian and the
Sword Worlds (Mech infantry etc), and maybe even a mention of K'kree and
Hiver forces.

...or will all of this need to be in "GURPS Traveller: Not-The-Emperor's
Legions" ???  ;-)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
David "Hyphen" Jaques-Watson        Beowulf Down (Tavonni/Vilis/SM 1520)
http://www.tip.net.au/~davidjw                       davidjw@pcug.org.au
"I file things in historical order, with a hashing algorithm of gravity"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
REQ'D DISCLAIMER - material & opinions contained within are solely those
of the author and do not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the
position of Centrelink or any other Commonwealth Government agency.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:03:04 EDT
From: JLAROSEE@aol.com
Subject: GDW Sign

   Well, today I traveled to the center of the universe, Normal, Illinois, 
and stood beneath the GDW sign. After a brief reflection on all that grew out 
from this spot, I got to work-  ladder, wrenches, hacksaw- an hour and a half 
later, the sign was in the back of a U-Haul truck.
   Next stop- Keven Walsh, my spouse Barb, and I retired to a local Irish pub 
and some dark Guinness. Two toasts: to GDW and the game we all love, and to 
absent friends who could not join in the moment.
   Now, before any fear some desecration has taken place, consider this. The 
sign had advanced symptoms of decay; heavy rust, faded out letters, sag in 
the support brackets (check out the photo at downport.com). Left unattended, 
its days were numbered before the building owner tore it down as an eyesore. 
Now it has a chance at a fresh start. It will be rehabbed and hung in a place 
of honor in my FLGS. It is a piece of our heritage as fellow Travellers and 
now, will be there for the next generation of gamers.
   Photos of the event will soon be available on line. Also, anyone in the 
O'Fallon, Illinois area (just 15 miles from the Archon convention) is invited 
to stop by Medieval Starship to check on the rehab progress.
J. LaRosee
Medieval Starship
     

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:21:57 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Title Suggestion for GT: Ground Forces 

> I think that the title "Into the Mud" would be a good one.  That way, if
> you see fit, you can include the following quote from T.R. Fehrenbach's
> _This Kind of War:  A Study in Unpreparedness_ (AUSA hardback edition,
> pg 290):
> 
> **begin quote**
> 
> Americans in 1950 rediscovered something that since Hiroshima they had
> forgotten: you may fly over a land forever; you may bomb it, atomize it,
> pulverize it and wipe it clean of life -- but if you desire to defend
> it, protect it, and keep it for civilization, you must do this on the
> ground, the way the Roman legions did, by putting your young men into
> the mud.
> 
> **end quote**

And a grizzled Beanie staff sergeant once told me, after hearing the above
quote, "And they forgot it promptly in time for Vietnam."

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: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 12:41:12 +1000
From: david.d.jaques-watson@centrelink.gov.au
Subject: Provincial Forces (WAS RE: Ground Forces)

Dear Folks -

Doug replied to David Smart thus:
>>Do you (or anyone else) have any material on elite *provincial* units
>>within the Imperium? I've just found an article on the Australian
>>force leading the U.N. effort in East Timor which sparked my curiosity.
>
>apart from the JTAS article on the Dynchia, no.  It'd make an interesting
>sidebar at the very least.

There's also the Answerin, who could well be played as the Imperial
equivalent of the Gurkas.

>>It seems Australia is sending in the Gurkhas.
>
>Now *that's* how you stop widespread riots in their tracks!  "You are
>beheading people?  How nice.  Now it's our turn to play..."

Definitely there for the fear factor.

Indonesia: "We want Asian faces in the peacekeeping force!"
Australia: "No problem. We'll ask Britain for the Gurkas."
Timor militia: "RUN!"

I liked the comments from the Interfet commander, Major-General Peter
Cosgrove. Basically, he said that it's one thing for the militia to shoot
unarmed civilians, but entirely another to take on a modern professional
army.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
David "Hyphen" Jaques-Watson        Beowulf Down (Tavonni/Vilis/SM 1520)
http://www.tip.net.au/~davidjw                       davidjw@pcug.org.au
"I file things in historical order, with a hashing algorithm of gravity"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
REQ'D DISCLAIMER - material & opinions contained within are solely those
of the author and do not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the
position of Centrelink or any other Commonwealth Government agency.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 22:42:59 -0500
From: "shadowcat" <meow@advancenet.net>
Subject: Re: GDW Sign

It was a fine time, and we didnt even have to resort to explosives to 
remove the sign, although it was considered.

Jay also took another piece of Traveller history back to his store, 
that being the original canvas cover art for the Traveller Adventure
it has been languishing unapreciated in the basement of a local 
FLGS for the last several years.


Shadowcat AKA Kevin Walsh
Captain of the Free Trader Beowulf
ADD/ADHD Advocate
http://www.advancenet.net/~meow

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 20:50:47 -0700
From: "Bruce Macintosh" <bruce.macintosh@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces

> From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com>

> I've been informed that I will be writing the GT: Ground Forces book.
> Cheer or grumble as you wish.  Couple of requests:

Congrats, Doug!  Good luck on your endeavours.

> 2.  I'm soliciting titles. SJG definitely wants to change Ground Forces.
> Right now, I'm leaning towards Imperial Regiments.  Suggestions?

GT: Ortillery Targets

Bruce

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 20:56:31 -0700
From: "Jesse DeGraff" <fenris@slip.net>
Subject: RE: GDW Sign

Speaking as a Traveller artist:  COOL!!

Jesse




> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
> [mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com]On Behalf Of shadowcat
> Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 8:43 PM
> To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com
> Subject: Re: GDW Sign
> 
> 
> It was a fine time, and we didnt even have to resort to explosives to 
> remove the sign, although it was considered.
> 
> Jay also took another piece of Traveller history back to his store, 
> that being the original canvas cover art for the Traveller Adventure
> it has been languishing unapreciated in the basement of a local 
> FLGS for the last several years.
> 
> 
> Shadowcat AKA Kevin Walsh
> Captain of the Free Trader Beowulf
> ADD/ADHD Advocate
> http://www.advancenet.net/~meow
> 

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:14:24 -0500
From: "Kurtis Rodgers" <kurtis@fastlane.net>
Subject: Re: Milieu 0 questions

> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 19:02:37 +0100
> From: SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com>
> Subject: Re: Milieu 0 questions

<snip various informative posts>

Mr. Mooney, you are my hero!  :)

Much obliged.  Far better info than I expected.  The TML comes through.

Cheers,
Kurtis

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:09:56 -0500
From: "Bont" <felix@felixcafe.com>
Subject: Astrogator 4.51.00

I have just uploaded a Beta version of Astrogator 4.51.00 (it works 
with Traveller and somewhat with GT).

Many fixes/enhancements that I think will make some people happy. 

New map file format.  When you load up your old map files, expect 
it to take anywhere from 2 to 10 times as long to load and convert 
the map as normal.  ***This only occurs during conversion***  You 
don't get any messages saying this is in progress.  Just wait.  On 
my 166, it took 20 minutes to convert the _1120.map (It was, after 
all, loading and converting 36 sectors!).  All future saves and loads 
will be substantially faster.  Maps are on average 15% smaller.  For 
instance, where before it took about 5 minutes to load and display 
1120, it now takes about 30 seconds.

Added different line styles and thicknesses for Route Legs. 

Added hatch patterns to give a wider range of differentiation 
between Empire colorings. 

Added a new point and click Route Leg creator.  It is called 
InstaLeg and is accessed via the popup menu in the Route Leg 
listing (this is REALLY in beta ... don't try to fool it as you will 
probably break it.  Just follow the prompts). 

Substantially enhanced the popup menus for all functions. 

Enhanced the Edit Sector/Subsector dialog box.  Its much, much 
faster than it was before ... this makes it much easier to create your 
own sector map files. 

Changed the IFF function to IIF in the Query dialog box (Bug fix ... 
oops).

Added an Ancient Site tag to each world (like Scout Base or Naval 
Base) 

Turned the little system information dots to hollow circles.  Some 
people were complaining that it limited the colors that could be used 
for an Empire. 

Currently, all import functions are disabled.  I am in the process of 
changing some internal structures (to support a much broader range 
of data) and I don't want to have to worry with these features right 
now.  They will return ... honest (I need them, too!!). 

You can get it at

http://209.39.36.25/gurps/

- - - -
FELIX (Thomas L Bont)

- - Encrypt your messages!
  That way only the government knows what you wrote!

- - It is truly the wise man that knows what he doesn't!

- - With your shield or on it ... (Old Spartan Blessing)

- - Fidelitas super omnia, honore excepto

- - Help Stop Forest Fires.  Outlaw Matches.

Be sure to visit The FELIX Cafe at
     http://www.felixcafe.com/

- - - -

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

Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 16:03:40 +1000
From: "The Roc" <roc@kewl.com.au>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces...

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Smart, David J (David) <dasmart@lucent.com>
To: <traveller@mpgn.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 4:32 AM
Subject: RE: Ground Forces


> Hey, Doug!
>
> Do you (or anyone else) have any material on elite *provincial* units
> within the Imperium? I've just found an article on the Australian
> force leading the U.N. effort in East Timor which sparked my curiosity.
>
> It seems Australia is sending in the Gurkhas.
>

The U.K. is sending in the Ghurkhas as part of their input, like Norway is
sending in (I think)3x officers... if it's not 3, it's 5.  Just that many of
these troopies will be passing through Darwin and transported by RAN Navy
Cat if not by RAAF Hurks.

- -- The Roc

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

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:00:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Craig Berry <cberry@cinenet.net>
Subject: Re: Ground Forces

> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 19:12:47 -0400
> From: "Thomas Schoene" <TomSchoene@worldnet.att.net>
> Subject: Re: Ground Forces
>
> > Beyond the strong potential for confusion with Rome, there isn't an
> > organizational level called "Legion" in the Imperial force structure.
> 
> Both true, but "legions" also can serve as a generic term for a military
> force.  For example: the French Foreign Legion is not a "legion-sized"
> unit, and never has been.

True, but it does show up in its official name, which again isn't the case
for any Imperial unit I know about.

> Just brainstorming a little here:
> Along the same lines -- "Imperial Vanguard"

The trouble is that "vanguard" is mostly a naval term in current useage.

> > > Or maybe Sword and Shield.  This plays off the Regency sourcebook, which
> > > uses "Sword" to allude to the Imperial Marines and "Shield" for the Army.
> > 
> > That's not bad, though again you might end up fostering confusion with
> > fantasy RPG.  
> 
> I suppose so, but it wouldn't be the first.  "Behind the Claw" always makes
> me think of Gene Wolfe for some reason.  (Speaking of which, GURPS: New Sun
> is pretty close to being published.)  And as someone else pointed out:
> "First In" is possible to read as a Spec Ops type book.

The more I think about it, the more I like "Sword and Shield", especially
if the nicknames get worked into the text prominently.  I also like "PBI".

> > I'm reminded of the old GDW game "Boots & Saddles", which I
> > could never get myself to remember was about air cav, not *cav* cav. :) 
> 
> Oh, I liked "Boots and Saddles" as a title, but then I'm a sucker for
> tradition.  Nice game too, although it just screamed for computerization to
> sort out the C2 rules.

Amen!  It's a shame that wargaming seems more or less dead as a hobby just
as computers and networking are reaching the point where it would be easy
to have really cool c3i simulation.  (Computer "war games" are out there,
but I don't know of any that approach the scope or complexity of e.g. 
Squad Leader or The Next War, or Boots & Saddles for that matter.  And
please, if I'm ignorant, tell me!!) 

> > How about "Iron Fist" or "By Other Means", both suggesting their role in
> > the Imperial political structure?
> 
> "Iron Fist" is OK. Perhaps "Iridium Fist" would be better, to tie in to the
> Iridium Throne.

I like it!  That's now tied with S&S for first place, in my view, with PBI
in second.

> I'm not so fond of "By Other Means" because it can be sort
> of ambiguous; I keep thinking of "Operations Other Than War."

Yeah, it'd appeal to Clauswitz fans, but that's not a big market. :)

> > > BTW: nice shooting on Ukkie.
> > 
> > He was a sharpshooter in the service, after all, as was our father.  
> 
> Sorry, am I missing something? 

Douglas (the guy writing the ground forces supplement for GURPS Traveller)
is my brother.  He was also an 11-bravo in the US Army, and rated as a
sharpshooter with various weapons.  Our father was in the British Army for
a time before emigrating to the US, and was also a sharpshooter.  I, on
the other hand, was rejected by Navy ROTC for poor vision -- my only brush
with the military unless you count writing software in the defense
industry -- and am lucky to be able to identify the business vs. butt end
of a rifle two times out of three. :)

- -- 
   |   Craig Berry - cberry@cinenet.net
 --*--    Home Page: http://www.cinenet.net/users/cberry/home.html
   |      "There it is; take it."  - William Mulholland

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

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1112
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