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Traveller-digest     Tuesday, December 7 1999     Volume 1999 : Number 1455<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.<BR>
All rights reserved.<BR>
<BR>
The following topics are covered in this digest:<BR>
<BR>
Re: OT: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
Deadfall Ordnance and Falling Rocks<BR>
Re: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
(Almost) Tidally Locked Worlds<BR>
Re: OT Flamebait: realism of war movies<BR>
Re: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
Re: 3D star maps<BR>
Re: 3D star maps<BR>
Re: 3D Star Mapping<BR>
Re: Question<BR>
South Park's Cartman as a Imperial Noble<BR>
Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
GT:Nobles Want List<BR>
Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
Re: Traveller-digest V1999 #1435<BR>
Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
Imperial Nobles<BR>
Starship troopers and electronic warfare<BR>
Re: Starship troopers and electronic warfare<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 16:03:58 -0500<BR>
From: Juliean Galak <jg42@cornell.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: OT: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
<BR>
At 10:55 AM 12/7/99 +0000, you wrote:<BR>
>There were several times when I just said "one grenade."  Since all the<BR>
>actors demanded "face time", they bunched up like a flock of sheep in a<BR>
>blizzard.<BR>
<BR>
What, you mean like the spaceships in the Starship Troopers movie?  Where <BR>
the ships are so closely packed that to avoid ground fire they dodge and <BR>
crash into each other?  Remember, space is _really_ small!  It's only one <BR>
screen width in any direction....<BR>
<BR>
           -- Juliean Galak (a.k.a. Falcon)<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
jg42@cornell.edu        "I do not agree with a word you say, but I will<BR>
                          defend to the death your right to say it."<BR>
                                              -- Francois Marie Voltaire<BR>
#include <disclaimer.h> "Imagination is more important than knowledge"<BR>
                          			     -- Albert Einstein<BR>
for PGP public-key and<BR>
more quotes, http://gerfalcon.tzo.com/plan.htm<BR>
WWW Page: http://gerfalcon.tzo.com/                <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:24:39 -0700<BR>
From: "Eric T. Holmes" <eholmes@lanl.gov><BR>
Subject: Deadfall Ordnance and Falling Rocks<BR>
<BR>
All:<BR>
<BR>
Okay, I'm confused....I tried to understand this stuff some time ago and<BR>
still haven't gotten it straight.<BR>
<BR>
So, where can I go to get the correct formulas for calculating what damage<BR>
a falling rock will do from space and a piece of "streamlined" deadfall<BR>
ordnance.<BR>
<BR>
I already know what damage a Minuteman RV , a Davy Crocket missile and a<BR>
280mm shell in terms of nuclear destruction.  I just want to get to the<BR>
equivalents or the formulae.  To be honest, every time I have visited the<BR>
Traveller FAQs, I can never seen to get the answer I want.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks<BR>
<BR>
Eric<BR>
Eric<BR>
<BR>
eholmes@lanl.gov 			holmberg@thuntek.net <BR>
7am to 4pm Mountain Time 	6pm to Midnight Mountain Time<BR>
<BR>
IMTU: he+, tc+, tm, tne, t4, tg, tt, to, ru, ge, 3i+, c+, jt, au, st, ls+,<BR>
pi+, ta+, <BR>
		as+, va+, dr+, _sa_, kk--, hi--, so++, zh, vi, da, sy, _hu_ <BR>
			(sa = other sapients, hu = other humani)<BR>
<BR>
Lacedaemon, we have done our duty.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 14:16:56 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
<BR>
On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Brandon Cope wrote:<BR>
 <BR>
> You can get court martialed for anything other than very minor offences (and <BR>
> maybe even for those). Despite opinions to the contrary, Star Fleet is <BR>
> _obviously_ a military organization.<BR>
> <BR>
> (which makes their policy of carrying families along assinine)<BR>
<BR>
Why?<BR>
<BR>
If the ship is regarded as a 'base' rather than a 'vessel' (reasonable<BR>
considering their size and missions) then what's wrong with family<BR>
housing?<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 16:23:18 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Charles Collin <charles@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca><BR>
Subject: (Almost) Tidally Locked Worlds<BR>
<BR>
Hi all.  <BR>
<BR>
I'm working on a map/write-up for the world Velscur (1110 Egyrn/Trojan<BR>
Reach, X374379-3 Ni 302 Na F9 VI) and I have some questions. I'm picturing<BR>
the world as approaching tidal lock, with a rotation period of several<BR>
decades.  This means the locals have to keep moving to remain in the<BR>
habitable zone, but they can manage it even with their primitive tech. <BR>
So... <BR>
<BR>
1. How do I calculate temperatures on the surface of such a world?  I<BR>
tried the formulae in "Grand Survey" for tidally locked worlds (same as in<BR>
WBH, I believe) but they give me a "cold pole" temp of only -60 degrees<BR>
Celcius or so, if I'm doing it right.  The formula says maximum cooling<BR>
due to night-time is (Base+273)  *.15 for this world, giving me something<BR>
like -50 (assuming a Base mean temp of around 10).  Add the latitude<BR>
change of about -20 and I've got -70. If the planet's mean temp is 10 or<BR>
so, I get only -60 for the pole that's spent 50 years in darkness.  What<BR>
am I missing?<BR>
<BR>
2. I want a mean temp that's low enough that the "twilight band" will be<BR>
uninhabitable.  Otherwise the inhabitants would just live at the north and<BR>
south poles.  What's a good distance for this from an F9 VI?  Can I assume<BR>
that the planet's mean temp will be found at the twilight band in general?<BR>
Something tells me there's going to be a sinusoidal relationship that I'm<BR>
missing...<BR>
<BR>
Any thoughts on these or other aspects of my idea are welcomed.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks,<BR>
Charles C.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:12:44<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: OT Flamebait: realism of war movies<BR>
<BR>
At 08:37 AM 12/8/1999 +1300, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>And it's at that point that you find out just what your men really <BR>
>thinnk of you as a leader.<BR>
<BR>
The joke is that "Follow Me!" is actually only the motto of the<BR>
commissioned infantry.  The motto for the enlisted blue corders is "Not on<BR>
your f**king life, sir."<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:17:37<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Space Above and Beyond<BR>
<BR>
At 01:59 PM 12/7/1999 -0600, you wrote:<BR>
>I thought Court Martial only happened when you lost a ship.  Even then you<BR>
>could be acquitted.<BR>
<BR>
A Court-Martial can be conviend for any breach of law or duty.  Getting a<BR>
crew member killed in a stuoid manner would count.<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:21:26<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
<BR>
At 01:08 PM 12/7/1999 -0600, you wrote:<BR>
>I think that was addressed in one of the episodes.  Note i'm not taking<BR>
>sides, just reporting.<BR>
><BR>
>McQueen: "I have heard rumors that some of you don't like being assigned<BR>
>ground missions.  Now hear this!  This is not the Air Force.  You go where<BR>
>you are needed and assigned to go.  You are Marines!"<BR>
<BR>
I have had the honor of sitting in the pilot's seat of a C-141 in flight.<BR>
It is amazingly complex.  The number of dials, gauges, switches.. and this<BR>
is on a fairly modern cargo bird!<BR>
<BR>
People with the Right Stuff are rare.. it's hard to make people pilots,<BR>
because we're not flying creatures.  So why waste pilots as riflemen when<BR>
you can take Pvt. Snuffy, who's just as strong/smart/handsome as the<BR>
flyboy, but has 20/40 vision and put him in harm's way with a rifle?<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 16:32:20 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Kenji Schwarz <schwarz@fas.harvard.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
<BR>
On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Douglas E. Berry wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> At 10:21 AM 12/7/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> >So which of the Archdukes is Cartman?<BR>
> <BR>
> Based on girth, Norris.<BR>
<BR>
Wasn't there a SP episode where Kyle (IIRC) was cloned by a mad scientist,<BR>
with ill & unthrifty fallout for all?  There's my vote for Norris.<BR>
<flamebait> Or else Big Gay Al. </flamebait><BR>
<BR>
It seems to me that Varian might also represent the Kenny-principle.<BR>
<BR>
Since we all know that the Vilani are obsessed with their shugilii,<BR>
clearly Archduke Ishuggi is the Traveller avatar of Chef.<BR>
<BR>
Kenji<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:20:54 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: 3D star maps<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>> This is no. of destinations within 1 parsec but more than 0.1<BR>
>> parsecs. (This last restriction will hopefully stop binary <BR>
>> companions showing as Jump-1 destinations.)<BR>
><BR>
> You might want to reconsider. 0.1 parsec is a LONG distance. <BR>
> Anthing more than 10 AU is probably too far for anthing other <BR>
> than a jump, time wise. Even that is too far for slower ships.<BR>
> 10 AU will take 9 days for 1G, 6.3 for 2G, down to 3.7 for 6G.<BR>
> For most ships, more than 10 AU means a jump. 0.1 parsec equals <BR>
> 20626.5 AU. <BR>
><BR>
> 0.000049 parsec is just a tad over 10 AU. <BR>
<BR>
0.0001 parsec (20.6 AU) is a more "covenient" figure to work with. :-)<BR>
And I could argue that at 0.001 pc (206 AU) is still "in system".<BR>
<BR>
parsecs  AU        light<BR>
- -------  --------  --------------<BR>
0.00001    2.06     17.2 min<BR>
0.0001    20.6       2.86 hr<BR>
0.001    206         1.19 day<BR>
0.01       2.06 k   11.9 days<BR>
0.1       20.6 k   119 days <BR>
1        206 k       3.26 years<BR>
<BR>
So at 0.001 pc, you can still send a radio message and get a reply<BR>
faster than you can send a ship. At 0.01 pc, round trip time for a<BR>
radio signal is 23.8 days, which is well above the time for a jump out<BR>
and a jump back. <BR>
<BR>
So 7 light days is the point where it gets just as fast to jump a ship<BR>
as to send a radio signal. That's 1209.6 AU or 0.00586 pc (1/170 pc). <BR>
<BR>
So it looks like 0.005 or 0.001 pc for a "reasonable cutoff". <BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:38:16 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: 3D star maps<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> --- Leonard Erickson <shadow@krypton.rain.com> wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>> .1 parsec is ~20,000 AU. Making it a distance properly covered by<BR>
>> jump.<BR>
>> Far companions (such as Proxima Centauri) deserve their own entry.<BR>
>> :-)<BR>
>> <BR>
>> I'd be tempted to take it all the way down to .001. That's 200 AU<BR>
>> (well, 203, but why quibble).<BR>
><BR>
> Still too far. Depending on the speed the ships use, more than 7 <BR>
> days travel time will make it a jump, and thus a worthwhile target.<BR>
<BR>
But as noted in another message, at 206 AU (sorry the 203 was a faulty<BR>
memory) the place is still faster to *communicate* with. Less than 3<BR>
days round trip time for a radio or lasercomm message.<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:43:04 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: 3D Star Mapping<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Actually I have cross indexed the names from the Yale Bright Star<BR>
> against the draper numbers in both the Yale and Hipparcos, giving<BR>
> Bayer/Flamsteed name against Hip number, if anyone can use that data.<BR>
<BR>
Sounds useful if I ever get that far. Way too many projects on the back<BR>
burner.<BR>
<BR>
>> Do you have an address for this? (the Gleise) I could not locate the<BR>
>> database online.<BR>
<BR>
> The starting point for all 3D starmapping his<BR>
><BR>
> http://www.clark.net/pub/nyrath/starmap.html<BR>
><BR>
> His links include a number of general catalog repositories, as well<BR>
> as having several datasets downloadable directly.<BR>
<BR>
Anybody have a downloadable database of *extragalactic* objects,<BR>
complete with positional co-ordinates? I'd also be interested in<BR>
positional data for *bright* intragalactic objects and strong radio<BR>
sources. Basically, the sort of stuff you'd use to determine your<BR>
position if you were *really* lost. As in "Are we sure what galaxy we<BR>
are in?"<BR>
<BR>
If nothing else, generating a table of usable "beacon stars" that are<BR>
visible (or radio detectable) clear across "known space" would be nice.<BR>
<BR>
BTW, as I pointed out in r.a.sf.s some time back, any sort of "jump"<BR>
drive with *real* range is just as apt to drop you out several<BR>
*megaparsecs* away as several parsecs. Which makes for some lovely<BR>
problems in navigation. <BR>
<BR>
The *only* SF story I've ever read that used this idea was "The Galaxy<BR>
Primes" by E.E.Smith. And he sort of cheated to let them find their way<BR>
home. <BR>
<BR>
That could be an interesting thing to do to some players if you are<BR>
getting tired of the standard background. Have them test a "new"<BR>
concept in jump drives. Something that they inventor says is so<BR>
"obvious" he can't understand why no one ever tried it before. <BR>
<BR>
The answer is that most races *have* found it and tried it. And then<BR>
written it off as a bad idea when none of the test ships ever came<BR>
back. They never came back because until you can "calibrate" the drive,<BR>
it jumps you at *random*. And since it has a range big enough to hit<BR>
anywhere in the universe, random is *really* random.<BR>
<BR>
If you want to be *really* realistic, have the first jump land them<BR>
somewhere in one of the Voids. Careful observations with the *good*<BR>
telescope they brought along (they expected to be lost, just not *this*<BR>
lost), will let them pick out the patterns of galaxies surrounding the<BR>
Void. The nearest ones may be only a *billion* parsecs away. They might<BR>
even be able to detect a few red dwarfs that are floating alone in the<BR>
Void. Still far out of normal jump range, much less being reachable<BR>
under normal drive ("No, we can't go into cold sleep to try for one,<BR>
there's no way the low berths will run for anything *close* to a<BR>
million years..." :-)<BR>
<BR>
When that sinks in, the players are going to be *really* unhappy. Be<BR>
nice. Let the next jump take them near *something* they can refuel at. <BR>
And then either there, or at the next jump let them discover a<BR>
civilization. It can even have humans, descendants of humans from other<BR>
human groups that invented and tested the drive millenia ago. As well<BR>
as species from far distant galaxies (ie you get to invent new races). <BR>
<BR>
BTW, this could explain why the Vilani never got past J2. They came up<BR>
with this drive instead, and after fooling with it for a few centuries<BR>
gave up.<BR>
<BR>
In any case, it's a hell of a way to get folks into a new background. :-)<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 16:42:07 -0500<BR>
From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Question<BR>
<BR>
From: Loren Wiseman <lkw@io.com><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> Gentlebeings:<BR>
><BR>
> The question has come up in house WRT GT Nobles: What does the fanbase<BR>
want<BR>
> to see. One suggestion is to do a collection of PCs (a la GURPS Wizards or<BR>
> GURPS Warriors), but I find this unsatisfactory (although any such book<BR>
> will need to give the most important Imperial nobles as PCs). How much<BR>
> should e devoted to life at the Imperial court? What burning questions<BR>
> (about nobles) need to be addressed? How many angels can dance on a<BR>
> pinhead, and why does he put up with it at all?<BR>
<BR>
Personally, I would like to see some information on how the Imperial<BR>
government actually operates. Specifically, how Imperial feudalism works<BR>
with the incorporation of a thoroughly post-feudal military and a laissez<BR>
faire economic doctrine.<BR>
<BR>
I wouldn't mind seeing what life in the Imperial court might be like, as<BR>
well. I'm not a big fan of the idea of having a big book filled with NPCs.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:46:23 -0800<BR>
From: Keith Johnson <keithalanjohnson@home.com><BR>
Subject: South Park's Cartman as a Imperial Noble<BR>
<BR>
At 04:04 PM 12/7/99 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
>At 10:21 AM 12/7/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
><BR>
> >So which of the Archdukes is Cartman?<BR>
><BR>
>Based on girth, Norris.<BR>
<BR>
Cartman is clearly Lucan.<BR>
<BR>
<Cartman voice> I'm the emperor! Respect my authori-ty! </Cartman voice><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
I would compare Stan to Archduke Norris, but I am trying to purge the <BR>
thought of Norris vomiting whenever approached by a future Archduchess.<BR>
_________________________________________________________<BR>
Rev. Keith Johnson      /\     keith@sjgames.com<BR>
Assistant Webmaster    /()\    keithalanjohnson@home.com<BR>
Steve Jackson Games   /____\   reverendkeith@hotmail.com<BR>
  IMTU tm+ t4+@ tg++$ ru- ge-@ st+ pi+ he+ dr+ hi-@ zh+<BR>
_________________________________________________________ <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 15:04:39 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
<BR>
On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Kenji Schwarz wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Douglas E. Berry wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> > At 10:21 AM 12/7/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
> > <BR>
> > >So which of the Archdukes is Cartman?<BR>
> > <BR>
> > Based on girth, Norris.<BR>
> <BR>
> Wasn't there a SP episode where Kyle (IIRC) was cloned by a mad scientist,<BR>
> with ill & unthrifty fallout for all?  There's my vote for Norris.<BR>
> <flamebait> Or else Big Gay Al. </flamebait><BR>
> <BR>
> It seems to me that Varian might also represent the Kenny-principle.<BR>
> <BR>
> Since we all know that the Vilani are obsessed with their shugilii,<BR>
> clearly Archduke Ishuggi is the Traveller avatar of Chef.<BR>
<BR>
I am glad I didn't have any coffee in my mouth at this point.<BR>
<BR>
Very glad.<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 16:09:06 -0600<BR>
From: "Robert Eaglestone" <eaglesto@nortelnetworks.com><BR>
Subject: GT:Nobles Want List<BR>
<BR>
Most of Steven's suggestions for GT:Nobles have to do with order:<BR>
<BR>
1. how a world or cluster is brought into the Imperial nobility.<BR>
2. how nobility is gained (types of nobility).<BR>
3. how nobility is organized within classes.<BR>
4. how nobility interacts between classes.<BR>
<BR>
These are valid issues; however, what are you going to do<BR>
with the REST of the book?  Moreover, though these questions<BR>
are unanswered by 'canon', I think knowing a 'definitive' answer<BR>
does not improve the overall playability of Traveller.  So I tend<BR>
to not be so worried about unanswered quesions like those above.<BR>
<BR>
What lights my fire is Adventure.  So what does a noble have<BR>
that is geared toward adventure?  I suggest that there are<BR>
a set of core ideas that the book could build itself around,<BR>
which can generate many a fruitful night of gaming.  Of course,<BR>
the book would concentrate on the noble as Adventurer rather<BR>
than Patron.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
1. Sabotage.  Prestige is gained by sabotaging the unsabotageable<BR>
with one's own team, led by oneself.  Mission: Impossible.<BR>
("Just to show I can prevent it").<BR>
<BR>
2. Defiance.  Power is concentrated: a noble can gain prestige<BR>
with open defiance of some strong opponent.  For example, the<BR>
very existence of the Federation of Arden is a defiance of Imperial<BR>
and Zhodani political, economic, and military power.  Obviously<BR>
connected with some noble houses somewhere, whose raw power<BR>
and connections enables them to do this. ("Just because we can")<BR>
<BR>
3. The Gambit.  Nobles thrive on overcoming impossible odds,<BR>
even to the point of sacrificing safety for a chance of a more excellent<BR>
outcome.  Just so, then, will some nobles attempt impossible tasks<BR>
with as few competetive resources as possible.  Of course, what<BR>
resources they have will be the best Imperial Credits can buy.<BR>
<BR>
4. The Hunt.  Call it "Scouts on drugs", where a noble decides to<BR>
play Scout and makes a beeline for some interdicted, uncharted,<BR>
or non-Imperial world in order to "discover something".<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Add to this the complexity of dealing with contacts, favors, and<BR>
bureaucracy to line up all the ducks, and fire away!<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
For resources, Jens has the right idea: a yacht design and a sample<BR>
estate map would be useful.  By the bye, don't forget to make the<BR>
yacht a fine vessel, something nobles would WANT to pay big<BR>
bucks for.  And the best sensor package available for 200dtons, ok?<BR>
<BR>
- -Rob<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 13:57:14 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 10:22 PM 12/6/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>>I don't mean to be rude, but did you consider the fact that it was *meant*<BR>
>>to be a black comedy in the first place? I mean, this was not a surprising<BR>
>>concept. Paul Verhoeven has built a career around extremely violent,<BR>
>>action-packed science-fiction black comedies. I'm utterly confused by anyone<BR>
>>who expected this movie to be serious or in any way accurate.<BR>
><BR>
> Many of us hoped that a movie called "Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers"<BR>
> would have more resemblance to the book than a few names and a sketched out<BR>
> plot.  Ginny Heinlein tried to have The Master's name removed after seeing<BR>
> a pre-release print.<BR>
<BR>
I thought she *succeeded*? Given the way copyright law works, it's<BR>
pretty simple for the copyright holder to pull *that* off. Preventing<BR>
it from being shown would be very difficult, and damned expensive. But<BR>
demanding that the remove reference to the "original idea" because<BR>
they've screwed it over badly is pretty much a "gimmee".<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 14:01:48 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1999 #1435<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>>> sounds in a vaccum<BR>
>>    See above. Makes for bad TV to have long periods of silence;<BR>
>>    while some people in the audience will be thrilled that someone<BR>
>>    bothered to think about it, the rest of 'em will be bored at<BR>
>>    having no sound, or think their TV has died.<BR>
<BR>
> Ditto this.  Once a large porportion of the population has travelled in<BR>
> space and *know* how 'quiet' it is (I'm not sure this will be the case as I<BR>
> suspect that like living aboard ship it will actually be quiet noisy at a<BR>
> 'local' level), then it will become very unfashionable to have whizzing<BR>
> ships.  IMO.<BR>
<BR>
It won't even take that. Just enough footage of *real* spacecraft going<BR>
by each other in utter silence. After all, it's not that the ships are<BR>
*quiet*, it's that you can't hear the noises from another ship onboard<BR>
your ship.<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 13:36:21 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> I loved that show!  What were some of the shortcomings?  <BR>
><BR>
> Note, not trying to start a flamewar, i'm admittedly ignorant.<BR>
<BR>
Try these on for size. In the episode that convinced *me* to quit<BR>
watching it, they took off from earth in their cute little "fighter<BR>
jet" clones, and rendezvoused with a carrier *near Jupiter*. <BR>
<BR>
Jupiter is 5.2 AU from the sun. Let's be nice and assume it and earth<BR>
are as close as they ever get and thus the trip is *only* 4.2 AU.<BR>
That's 630 million km. Boosting at 1 g until halfway, then turning<BR>
around and decelerating would take almost 6 *days*. No way are those<BR>
cockpits livable for *one* day, much less six.<BR>
<BR>
To reduce the trip time to 1 day requires an acceleration of around 8.5<BR>
gees. Which is far too high to sustain for that long (remember, they<BR>
don't have inertial compensation). <BR>
<BR>
Next, we have them expecting an enemy attack that will pass near<BR>
Jupiter. So they hide in the Trojan asteroids. Unfortunately, the<BR>
Trojan asteriods are 5.2 AU away from Jupiter! Same orbit, but<BR>
leading/trailing by 60 degrees.<BR>
<BR>
The Trojans may have a lot more asteroids per unit of volume than the<BR>
asteroid belt, but they *still* aren't as crowded as they showed.<BR>
<BR>
They had Jupiter showing a visible disk from the Trojans. Sorry, it's<BR>
as far from them as from Earth.<BR>
<BR>
They had the fighters boost to intercept trajectory and then coast to<BR>
intercept the enemy. Good idea, but again, the sheer *scale* means<BR>
they'd be in the fighters way too long. <BR>
<BR>
Now, we have them headed more or less *at* the enemy "formation", with<BR>
velocities such that they were able to reach intercept in only hours.<BR>
Yet when the formations pass through each other, the ships are able to<BR>
keep firing at each other (visually!) for a minute or more!<BR>
<BR>
And to top it off, the fighters are able to turn around and come back<BR>
for a second pass in only a minute or so. <BR>
<BR>
Oh yeah, the enemy force was moving at a speed that would let them<BR>
attack earth within "hours" of passing Jupiter.<BR>
<BR>
In short, they had *no* idea of the distances involved, nor of the<BR>
velocities that those distances require. No sense of the *scale* of<BR>
space. <BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1999 09:15:03 +1000<BR>
From: dadams@parracity.nsw.gov.au<BR>
Subject: Imperial Nobles<BR>
<BR>
The Lord Allmighty, St Loren of GDW writes:<BR>
<BR>
>>><BR>
Gentlebeings:<BR>
<BR>
The question has come up in house WRT GT Nobles: What does the fanbase want<BR>
to see. One suggestion is to do a collection of PCs (a la GURPS Wizards or<BR>
GURPS Warriors), but I find this unsatisfactory (although any such book<BR>
will need to give the most important Imperial nobles as PCs). How much<BR>
should e devoted to life at the Imperial court? What burning questions<BR>
(about nobles) need to be addressed? How many angels can dance on a<BR>
pinhead, and why does he put up with it at all?<BR>
<<<<BR>
<BR>
Nobels can be an interesting campaign setting, and solve some issues.<BR>
<BR>
1. A Scandel at court campaign, drawing insparation on the Roman Senate, The Sun<BR>
King Court (al la Three Musketeers), and British Parlement. Mainly usable IMHO<BR>
as a freeform (live action) session. It will also outline the possable factions<BR>
in the Court (Hawkes , Doves, Expansionists, Pro and Anti Solomani et al)<BR>
<BR>
2. Nobles in the Imperium.<BR>
<BR>
What are the roles of Nobles. Are they judges, adminstrators or parasites using<BR>
taxes to fund their extravigent lifestyles. What are the rights and privliges of<BR>
nobels, and what are their responsabilities. Are they required to spend some<BR>
portion of their time at Core, or do they use Proxies?<BR>
<BR>
3. Nobles as PC's. The diference between (using British system) Life and<BR>
Hereditary Peers. What advantages are bestowed that are usefull in a campaign.<BR>
What disadvateages are inherant.<BR>
<BR>
4. Who's Who. Notable Nobels from the Emporer , to Lord Pondscum the Tax<BR>
Collector. Nobels who the characters can inteact, or expexted to have knowledge<BR>
on.<BR>
<BR>
5. Life at Core. A detailed look at the Capatol, it palaces, Naval and Scout<BR>
instalations.<BR>
<BR>
Hope this helps you.<BR>
<BR>
Darryl<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 16:29:23 CST<BR>
From: "Rick Stump" <rick_stump@hotmail.com><BR>
Subject: Starship troopers and electronic warfare<BR>
<BR>
>Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 14:58:19 +1300<BR>
>From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
>Subject: Re: OT/Flamebait: Starship Troopers revisited<BR>
><BR>
>On 6 Dec 99, at 15:46, Douglas E. Berry wrote:<BR>
><BR>
> > With a Sergeant who will see movement on a ridge and not alert his<BR>
> > formation!!  Aiigghh!!  That movie was so BAD!!  Must.. control.. fist..<BR>
> > of...Death...<BR>
><BR>
>And an officer who shoots his own men, when he could've nailed the bug<BR>
>and gone and recovered his man. And they send their sigs to high ground<BR>
>with no security. Sigs may be a lower form of life, but they do have<BR>
>their uses (carrying heavy radios and soaking sniper fire, for<BR>
>starters).<BR>
<BR>
Hey, now, to us electronic warfare types, sigs are far better alive than <BR>
dead ('keep talkin', bubba, I just locked your TOC [tactical operations <BR>
center]. BWA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAA!'). My personal favorite trick when I couldn't <BR>
nail their exact location was to have artillery fire a smoke round near <BR>
where I knew a unit was hiding and then waiting for a report(them: "Sir, <BR>
reporting enemy smoke round 500 meters to my south" Me: "adjust 5 north, he, <BR>
time on target, fire for effect"). Bummer was, the radioman usually bought <BR>
it, too. So, if they're talking leave them alone - one yap-happy radioman is <BR>
worth 20 spies any day.<BR>
<BR>
______________________________________________________<BR>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 15:50:01 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: Starship troopers and electronic warfare<BR>
<BR>
On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Rick Stump wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> <BR>
> Hey, now, to us electronic warfare types, sigs are far better alive than <BR>
> dead ('keep talkin', bubba, I just locked your TOC [tactical operations <BR>
> center]. BWA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAA!'). My personal favorite trick when I couldn't <BR>
> nail their exact location was to have artillery fire a smoke round near <BR>
> where I knew a unit was hiding and then waiting for a report(them: "Sir, <BR>
> reporting enemy smoke round 500 meters to my south" Me: "adjust 5 north, he, <BR>
> time on target, fire for effect"). Bummer was, the radioman usually bought <BR>
> it, too. So, if they're talking leave them alone - one yap-happy radioman is <BR>
> worth 20 spies any day.<BR>
<BR>
Not if they're talking on encrypted signals...which in Trav terms is a<BR>
given.<BR>
<BR>
Heck, today, I think it's a given. I do know that my room mate in '83 or<BR>
so was working on the software for the truck-based comms switches; all of<BR>
their signals were being encrypted continuously. Since Then I'd assume<BR>
they've extended that encryption all the way to the ends of the line.<BR>
<BR>
(heck civilian cell phones can do it...why not milspec stuff)<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1455<BR>
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