<HTML><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10>Subj:	<B> Traveller-digest V1999 #1491</FONT><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10></B><BR>
Date:	12/14/99 3:10:29 AM Pacific Standard Time<BR>
From:	owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com (Traveller-digest)<BR>
Sender:	owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Reply-to:	traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
To:	traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
</FONT><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10><BR>
</FONT><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10><BR>
Traveller-digest     Tuesday, December 14 1999     Volume 1999 : Number 1491<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 Guns<BR>
[none]<BR>
Convention Alert!!!<BR>
Re: Re Recent Gaming<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
RE: Paintball and morality<BR>
MING'S REVENGE<BR>
Re: Full auto Pilgramage Pics...and DITZIE?!?!<BR>
RE: Deserts<BR>
Re: Full auto Pilgramage Pics...and DITZIE?!?!<BR>
Re: Traveller News Service<BR>
Re: Traveller News Service<BR>
Re: Mass communication, the nobility and epistemology (LONG)<BR>
Re: Silly Traveller<BR>
Re: AHA! (Inspiration strikes!) (Was: Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire)<BR>
Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
Re: Re Infantry<BR>
Re: re Guns<BR>
Re: Jackie Chan can whip Virus any day.<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 21:38:40 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: re Guns<BR>
<BR>
>Ob Trav: How many Travellers, other than the PCs, go to low Law Level<BR>
>worlds just to use/purchase weapons they normally aren't allowed?<BR>
><BR>
IMTU, most nobles will. The Holy Grail fo my traveller munchkins is an<BR>
industrialized TL16 LL0 world with lots of wide open spaces.<BR>
<BR>
On the other hand, I once let a player design a custom weaapon suite for<BR>
his BD Mercs (Don't ask... Please... Suffice it to say Xen and Hamford DO<BR>
know the Guy in question.)... The result, a TL15 2mm (2x20mm DU Slug) HVSB<BR>
Carbine and Pistol system, done under 3G3... a DU 2x20mm slug, propelled by<BR>
near max safe caseless load (TL15 powder, calc'ed by 3G3 methods as<BR>
3G3TL17), stepping out at Mach-8 at 1atm.... Pen was ridiculous, Damage<BR>
(MT) was 3 if soft armor or no armor and 8 otherwise. As a ballance factor,<BR>
I had the pistol throw 2m of flame, plus a sonic boom from hell. The<BR>
Carbine was only marginally better, having still almost as much wase<BR>
energy, but more accuracy. After reversion to MT stats, the differences<BR>
were concealability and atten differing. Sig was (by GM Fiat) VHigh...<BR>
hardened ear protection required (MT Dmg 1 if not, per shot). The Carbine<BR>
was equipped with a Full Auto selectable reciever; the pistol was semi<BR>
only. Prices were set unrealistically high due to VERY low demand, but it<BR>
could effectively negate TL15 BD... if you could hit it. Also, the<BR>
extremely compact ammo meant high volumes of ammo in the basic load.<BR>
<BR>
William F. Hostman  |  "Smith & Wesson: THe original Point and Click<BR>
interface!"<BR>
Aramis 0602 C55A364-C S kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge-<BR>
533<BR>
Mailto:aramis@gci.net http://home.gci.net/~aramis mailto:wilh@alaska.com<BR>
ICQ:14640742          AIM:AKAramis	ARM 1.0: 3 R H++ P+<BR>
IMTU 1.0: tc tm++ tn- t4-- tt+ to- tg-- ru+ ge 3i+ c+ jt-() au+ st- ls<BR>
pi+() ta+ he+(-) kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge- pi+<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 21:40:47 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: [none]<BR>
<BR>
>How do you guys run the academy? In my last universe there were little bases<BR>
>and big big bases with the service schools and supply warehouses and such [in<BR>
>addition to depots]...but I never got around to the academy. Is there one in<BR>
>every sector/subsector? Why or why not? Is there a big one at capital for the<BR>
>nobles and the talented commonors?<BR>
<BR>
IMTU, there is one acadamy per subsecotr, and more prestigious ones at<BR>
every depot.<BR>
<BR>
William F. Hostman  |  "Smith & Wesson: THe original Point and Click<BR>
interface!"<BR>
Aramis 0602 C55A364-C S kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge-<BR>
533<BR>
Mailto:aramis@gci.net http://home.gci.net/~aramis mailto:wilh@alaska.com<BR>
ICQ:14640742          AIM:AKAramis	ARM 1.0: 3 R H++ P+<BR>
IMTU 1.0: tc tm++ tn- t4-- tt+ to- tg-- ru+ ge 3i+ c+ jt-() au+ st- ls<BR>
pi+() ta+ he+(-) kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge- pi+<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 07:10:05 GMT<BR>
From: "Boris Cibic" <kafka47@hotmail.com><BR>
Subject: Convention Alert!!!<BR>
<BR>
Hi all!<BR>
   Is anyone going to attend Pandemomium 2000?  If so would any like to <BR>
start up a Traveller game there?<BR>
Regards,<BR>
Boris Cibic<BR>
kafka47@hotmail.com<BR>
<BR>
______________________________________________________<BR>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 21:03:06 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Re Recent Gaming<BR>
<BR>
> >I have rarely used Traveler rules for roleplaying , as I don't like using<BR>
> >rules for roleplaying even with goood rules, and in general Traveler<BR>
rules<BR>
> >are not good for actual playing (though they're great as a basis for<BR>
> >character creation, ship design and wargaming )<BR>
><BR>
> The rules of any roleplaying game should be a basis for resolving those<BR>
> bits which are NOT "Role Played". By by that standard, the rest of the<BR>
> followingg makes little sense...<BR>
<BR>
Yeah, sorry, I said that badly, what I meant is that as soon as you have to<BR>
start using the rule system for combat, especially space combat,  and such<BR>
it tends to bog down.<BR>
<BR>
<snip><BR>
> JC is a wonderfully written game. It has a decent set of rules; a simple<BR>
> and consistant mechanic. The mechanics are a hybrid of tactical wargame<BR>
and<BR>
> roleplaying skill systems. The vehicle design system is more a rating<BR>
> system, which also tells you how big it MUST be (as a range), based upon<BR>
> the basic tech level of the system. Not to mention it is compatable with<BR>
> Heavy Gear and Tribe 8.<BR>
<BR>
No argument there.<BR>
<BR>
>But, the system overall, while well written and<BR>
> simple, looks to lend it self more to dice-rolling than role-playing. (I<BR>
> have not yet run any of the DP9 stuff except as solo-combat bits).<BR>
<BR>
The thing I liked about it was that just using the system as written (i.e;<BR>
without having to fudge it ) we managed to run a space battle between two<BR>
squadrons of mechs and fighters in about forty minutes.<BR>
<BR>
I've tried similar things in Traveller, and we had to basically ignore the<BR>
starship combat rules to get anything useful done in a reasonable time. Not<BR>
that this is unusual, I suspect most people don't use the starship combat<BR>
rules unless they're specifically looking for a wargame, but the thing is<BR>
that in JC you don't have to avoid the rules.<BR>
<BR>
And they work to a level of detail that made the roleplaying part fun. The<BR>
guy who blew up the enemy mech only to have his own thrusters and most of<BR>
the torso of his mech destroyed in the ensuing ammunition explosion. The<BR>
enemy mech who lost all thruster control, who we captured and brought home<BR>
by tossing him between us like a large football.<BR>
<BR>
Yes, there were quite a few die rolls, but they were simple ones, and so did<BR>
not get in the way of the roleplaying part of the combat.<BR>
<BR>
Part of this may have been was the whole idea of fighting in humanoid mechs,<BR>
you can't give the finger to an enemy while flying a fighter and expect him<BR>
to see you, but when you do it in a 30m mech, he's likely to get the idea.<BR>
<BR>
There is also a good set of choices in combat for players, making the combat<BR>
as much part of the roleplay as everything else, you can characterize by<BR>
your combat choices.<BR>
<BR>
However, the JC scenarios do tend to emphasize combat, and don't provide a<BR>
lot of scope for roleplaying except when "off-duty", or in special<BR>
situations, pretty much like the old FASA Star Trek rules and scenarios<BR>
didn't lend themselves to roleplaying, unless you weren't a part of Star<BR>
Fleet.<BR>
<BR>
>Best non-FTL RPG setting I've read. Much better than Terradyne.<BR>
> Setting with details as rich and mineable for ideas as S1889.<BR>
><BR>
> I do agree, however, that it should eb looked at, especially the books on<BR>
> ships. Great feel for TL9, extended duration, in-system ships. Note: Trav<BR>
> TL 9 is pregravitic, and late TL 9 is jump capable.<BR>
<BR>
Yeah, which is exactly why I went for this period with this JC/T2300 mix, as<BR>
T2300 can give me all the near star info and planetary descriptions, the<BR>
Kafers, etc, and T2300 actually does have mechs, though not quite as big and<BR>
versatile as the JC ones.<BR>
<BR>
The big differences will be the political set-up, as JC doesn't have the<BR>
same political background. But as I'm running around the "First interstellar<BR>
flight" time, that won't matter much.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 00:13:45 -0800<BR>
From: Evyn MacDude <wmacdude@worldnet.att.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
Jim & Peta Lawrie wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> >> I hate Christmas without snow!  :(<BR>
> ><BR>
> >There is no Christmas witou snow, so there!<BR>
> >Tommy Grav<BR>
><BR>
>     You obviously meant to say "There is no christmas without 35 degreeC<BR>
> weather, kookaburra's or VB beer."<BR>
>     Jim L.<BR>
<BR>
 I'll second that... a que on the beach is required.<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Evyn...<BR>
<BR>
Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin<BR>
Get six pretty maidens to bear up my pall<BR>
Bunches of roses all over my coffin<BR>
Roses to deaden the clods as they fall<BR>
 Laredo<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 00:15:58 -0800<BR>
From: Evyn MacDude <wmacdude@worldnet.att.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
Jeff Zeitlin wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> There are undoubtedly a large number of South Africans, Angolans,<BR>
> Mozambiquios, Australians, New Zealanders, Brazilians, Chileans,<BR>
> Argentines, Uruguayans, and so on who would disagree with you...<BR>
<BR>
Jeff, you forgot Californians....  Least some of us.<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Evyn...<BR>
<BR>
Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin<BR>
Get six pretty maidens to bear up my pall<BR>
Bunches of roses all over my coffin<BR>
Roses to deaden the clods as they fall<BR>
 Laredo<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1982 23:58:48 -0800<BR>
From: "Glenn M. Goffin" <gmgoffin@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
<BR>
> From: Sethkimmel@aol.com<BR>
> Subject: > Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
<BR>
> rboleyn@paradise.net.nz writes:<BR>
> <BR>
> << Ob Trav: How many Travellers, other than the PCs, go to low Law Level <BR>
>  worlds just to use/purchase weapons they normally aren't allowed?<BR>
>   >><BR>
> Come to Las Vegas. The tourists do this all the time...:-). I wonder what<BR>
<BR>
The San Francisco Visitor Center has (or had, the last time I was at the<BR>
Visitor Center) a color brochure in Japanese advertising shooting<BR>
opportunities.  I don't read Japanese, but I do recognize it and<BR>
advertising is not too hard to figure out.  <BR>
<BR>
- --Glenn<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1982 00:12:58 -0800<BR>
From: "Glenn M. Goffin" <gmgoffin@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: RE: Paintball and morality<BR>
<BR>
> From: Jesse DeGraff <jdegraff@pacbell.net><BR>
 <BR>
> Oh, what a soapbox opportunity, but I shall refrain =)   If only I could<BR>
> win the PRK's (People's Republic of Kalifornia) State Lottery and get the hell<BR>
> out of here ;)<BR>
<BR>
Surely you're getting some compensation in stock and stock options. <BR>
That should lead to a windfall and escape potential fairly soon.  As<BR>
much as I like you, Jesse, I always encourage anyone who wants to to<BR>
leave the Bay Area, because that's one fewer person competing with me<BR>
for local resources.  By the way, what's your housing situation like? Is<BR>
it something I might be interested in when you go?<BR>
<BR>
Ob Traveller:<BR>
The original character generation systems (at least) mentioned feelings<BR>
about one's prior service, depending on how the generation system had<BR>
gone, as a part of character development.  If the prior service did not<BR>
involve a lot of travel, feelings about a particular place would also be<BR>
an important part of role-playing a character.  ("Chirpers!  why did it<BR>
have to be chirpers? I hate chirpers.  I thought I'd never see a chirper<BR>
after I left Vanejen."  "Man, I hate being out here in the boondocks. <BR>
Rhylanor is just so primitive after you've lived on Mora for a while.")<BR>
<BR>
- --Glenn<BR>
<BR>
P.S.  Great pictures from your visit to Mark Cook's place!<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1982 00:32:49 -0800<BR>
From: "Glenn M. Goffin" <gmgoffin@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: MING'S REVENGE<BR>
<BR>
The Government of Mongo wishes to announce that the leader of the<BR>
Outworld Coalition Forces shall be unable to prosecute the war on 18<BR>
December 1999 and that the leader of the Imperial Forces expects to be<BR>
unavailable as well.  The Fifth Frontier War shall accordingly remain on<BR>
hold until further notice, with hostilities expected to recommence on a<BR>
mutually convenient date in January 2000.  <BR>
<BR>
In the interim, the Government of Mongo wishes to remind readers of the<BR>
TML that Mongo is a leading producer of fine smoking products, leather<BR>
apparel and equipment, and decorative (but very strong) chains, and<BR>
hopes that you will consider items produced by Mongo artisans in your<BR>
gift-giving plans.  <BR>
<BR>
Hail Ming!<BR>
<BR>
- --Glenn M. Goffin, Esq.<BR>
Honorary Vice-Consul of the Planet Mongo<BR>
San Francisco Megalopolis/Terra/Sol/Solomani Rim<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 10:55:07 +0200<BR>
From: Antti Lahtinen <lahtinen@ee.tut.fi><BR>
Subject: Re: Full auto Pilgramage Pics...and DITZIE?!?!<BR>
<BR>
> Head over to http://vision-forge-graphics.com/jesse/shooting/, then down<BR>
> to the Dec 13th news, for pictures of Doug's & my trip to Oregon to have<BR>
> some full auto fun with Mark Cook.<BR>
<BR>
	Apparently you had much fun. I noticed that there is one major<BR>
	difference between the weapons used in Oregon and those we use<BR>
	in Finland. Because of local regulations are encouraged (not<BR>
	required yet) to use suppressors (because guns cause "noise<BR>
	pollution"). Currently all my guns (except a Benelli M3 shotgun)<BR>
	are suppressed.<BR>
<BR>
	An image of my favorite "toy" can be found at:<BR>
<BR>
	http://personal.inet.fi/business/reflex.suppressors/jati.jpg<BR>
<BR>
	Another nice gun can be seen at the last image of page:<BR>
<BR>
	http://personal.inet.fi/business/reflex.suppressors/50cal.html<BR>
<BR>
	There might be much variation within a given Traveller Law Level.<BR>
	In some countries suppressors, bayonet lugs, folding stocks or<BR>
	other accessories might be completely banned, while in other<BR>
	counties they might be compulsory.<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
      Antti Lahtinen                lahtinen@ee.tut.fi<BR>
      Researcher, MSc (Eng)         http://www.ee.tut.fi/~lahtinen<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 23:09:40 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: RE: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
On 13 Dec 99, at 23:56, Jeff Zeitlin wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> On Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:30:27 -0500 (EST), Tommy Grav<BR>
> <tommy.grav@astro.uio.no> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> >There is no Christmas witou snow, so there!<BR>
> <BR>
> There are undoubtedly a large number of South Africans, Angolans,<BR>
> Mozambiquios, Australians, New Zealanders, Brazilians, Chileans,<BR>
> Argentines, Uruguayans, and so on who would disagree with you...<BR>
<BR>
Actually it's kinda neat - we have a nice christmas in the summer with <BR>
the barbie and all, and then in the winter we have a "Mid-winter <BR>
christmas party" to celebrate at the "right" season. We still don't get <BR>
snow, though - just lots of wind and rain (just like the rest of the <BR>
year).<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
Wellington, New Zealand<BR>
<BR>
A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 23:09:40 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Full auto Pilgramage Pics...and DITZIE?!?!<BR>
<BR>
On 14 Dec 99, at 10:55, Antti Lahtinen wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>  There might be much variation within a given Traveller Law Level.<BR>
>  In some countries suppressors, bayonet lugs, folding stocks or<BR>
>  other accessories might be completely banned, while in other<BR>
>  counties they might be compulsory.<BR>
<BR>
We have this strange effect here: A perfectly legal hunting weapon can <BR>
be turned into a Military Style Semi-Automatic (MSSA) just by someone <BR>
bringing a large magazine (by itself perfectly legal) into your house. <BR>
What's more you (in the event the police find out), the unlicenced <BR>
owner of a now MSSA must prove that you had no knowledge of its status <BR>
as an MSSA or you'll get to lose the "right" to own _any_ firearm, or <BR>
to even handle one under supervision. It's amazing how the accessiories <BR>
make the gun.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
Wellington, New Zealand<BR>
<BR>
A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 23:09:40 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Traveller News Service<BR>
<BR>
On 13 Dec 99, at 19:12, JFZeigler@aol.com wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> In a message dated 12/13/99 11:32:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, <BR>
> gridlore@pop.mindspring.com writes:<BR>
> <BR>
> > >What other duke in living memory has defended the Imperium from<BR>
> > >invasion <BR>
> by <BR>
> >  >hostile empires?<BR>
> >  <BR>
> >  Since the aging rolls at TL 12 begin at something like 110, and<BR>
> >  aganthetic drugs are available, I suppose all those guys in Sol Sector<BR>
> >  might be clearing their throats about now.<BR>
> <BR>
> Urrr, not really.  Technically the Solomani Rim War was a civil war.<BR>
<BR>
You mean like your little war of independence was a civil war?<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
Wellington, New Zealand<BR>
<BR>
A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 21:27:06 +1100<BR>
From: "Jim & Peta Lawrie" <jimpeta@primus.com.au><BR>
Subject: Re: Traveller News Service<BR>
<BR>
> Urrr, not really.  Technically the Solomani Rim War was a civil war.<BR>
<BR>
You mean like your little war of independence was a civil war?<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
<BR>
    Its only a Civil War if you lose, otherwise it's a glorious, patriotic<BR>
etc war.<BR>
    Jim L.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 01:51:07 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Mass communication, the nobility and epistemology (LONG)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Hey, the last time I was at one of those, I very nearly had to strip<BR>
> down before they finally conceded that it was the button on my pants<BR>
> tripping the alarms.<BR>
><BR>
> To be fair, they'd had an incident the week before where some banger<BR>
> stabbed another banger, so they cranked up the sensitivity on the metal<BR>
> detectors to 'Absurd'...I wasn't the only one getting caught by the<BR>
> things. <BR>
<BR>
I'd love to see how they'd handle one "gentleman" I once met. He had a<BR>
rather unusual piercing. With a ring that must have weighed several<BR>
pounds. *NOT* something easily removable, and definitely "below the<BR>
belt. <BR>
<BR>
I have this image of him in the line and them "localizing" the signal. :-)<BR>
<BR>
> Besides <assume meanacing psycho voice> I know 250 ways to kill you with<BR>
> a tiny knife blade like that...<BR>
<BR>
It's long enough to cut the jugular. What move do you need?<BR>
<BR>
Of course, I bet they allow little old ladies with 18 inch steall<BR>
knitting needles in. *Those* things are dangerous!<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, 14 Dec 1999 01:58:37 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Silly Traveller<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>>From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
><BR>
>>I just watched "Raiders of the Lost Ark" again last<BR>
>>night. <BR>
><BR>
> I caught part of it on Saturday night, but had to<BR>
> leave at the boxing match beside the pusher-prop<BR>
> German airplane.<BR>
><BR>
>>The PCs have found an *old* Solomani ship, say from <BR>
>>the period of the original wars with the Ziru Sirka. <BR>
><BR>
>>It's got something stenciled on it in what may be an <BR>
>>old version of Galanglic. It's rather cryptic. <BR>
><BR>
>>Yes. *That* crate. :-)<BR>
><BR>
> I don't know if I'd give it to the PCs right away;<BR>
> after all, they might all just be killed as soon as<BR>
> they opened it, like in the movie.<BR>
<BR>
Well, if they've got brains (I know, *big* assumption) they'll check<BR>
for any documentation accompanying the crate *first*. Or if one of them<BR>
has anything *approaching* archeological skill/experience he won't let<BR>
them *think* about touching it outsie of a lab for free of damaging<BR>
whatever's in the crate or contaminating the artifacts. <BR>
<BR>
Or maybe one of the characters is a Levite? :-)<BR>
<BR>
> Maybe it should be<BR>
> a race between the Solomani, who want to use it in the<BR>
> next Solomani Rim War, and the Imperium, who send the<BR>
> PCs to steal it back?<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, 14 Dec 1999 02:03:01 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: AHA! (Inspiration strikes!) (Was: Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Leonard Erickson <shadow@krypton.rain.com> wrote:<BR>
>> AHA! (Inspiration strikes!)<BR>
>><BR>
>> *This* is how to have some of Grandfather's kids survive. He wote them<BR>
>> off after he saw that the ship didn't make turnover. 200,000 years for<BR>
>> the rest of the universe has been a decade or so for them...<BR>
>><BR>
>> Only problem is that they'll be about 200,000 light years (something<BR>
>> over 61,000 parsecs) away.<BR>
><BR>
> Not necessarily.  Space, after all, is not flat.  If the ship<BR>
> failed to make the turnover, then perhaps it got<BR>
> redirected by one or more of the dips (gravity wells) in<BR>
> the road.<BR>
<BR>
At anything remotely *approaching* c it'd take a *dangerously* close<BR>
pass to a black hole to chjange course significantly. <BR>
<BR>
> Coincidence is the stuff that legends are made of.<BR>
> Maybe it even made a great circle and the ship made the<BR>
> turn-over it missed the first time around!<BR>
<BR>
The universe doesn't *have* a great circle as a possibility unless it<BR>
is *closed*. Currently that looks kinda unlikely. <BR>
<BR>
Even if it *is* closed, the length is *billions* of parsecs. In fact,<BR>
there's no good reason that it'd even be *close* to the diameter of the<BR>
*visible* universe. Thanks to inflation, the universe could anything<BR>
from ten times that to a trillion or more times that. <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, 14 Dec 1999 02:08:30 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>>>> You know... Paint Balls don't have to contain paint....<BR>
>>><BR>
>>> But you'd want to handle them more carefully if they contained something<BR>
>>> dangerous !<BR>
>><BR>
>>I already covered "explosives". <BR>
>><BR>
>>But it just occured to me that some PC out the *has* to be carrying a<BR>
>>paintball gun with "napalm" ammo. Though I admit it'd be more likely in<BR>
>>a White Wolf type game. <BR>
><BR>
> Holy water. To fight Vampires you load your paintballs with Holy Water.<BR>
<BR>
You need to read some of Nick Pollota's "Bureau 13" books (Based on the<BR>
"Stalking the Night Fantastic" game)<BR>
<BR>
Try a "scenario load" alternating:<BR>
<BR>
Holy water<BR>
napalm<BR>
hydrofluoric acid<BR>
DMSO mixed with garlic, MSG, silver nitrate and some nasty toxins<BR>
	(garlic for vampires, MSG because in high doses it gives almost<BR>
        *anyone* crippling migraines, silver nitrate for weres, toxins<BR>
        for the obvious reasons and DMSO so it'll all spread thru the<BR>
        body *fast*)<BR>
<BR>
At the start of one of the books, a character is lamenting the fact<BR>
that he *didn't* have a LAW with him *merely* some grenades. He'd been<BR>
on the way to the corner deli to pick up lunch. <BR>
<BR>
Bureau 13 is a lot like the Men in Black, except with a far more<BR>
liberal hiring policy. You survive an encounter with the "paranormal"<BR>
(which includes extraterrestrial encounters) and you are eligible.<BR>
<BR>
It might be fun porting them to the Imperium. Their teams are as crazy<BR>
as most PC teams. And probably both sneakier and better armed. :-)<BR>
<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, 14 Dec 1999 02:19:50 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 10:43 AM 12/14/1999 +1300, you wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>>Ob Trav: How many Travellers, other than the PCs, go to low Law Level <BR>
>>worlds just to use/purchase weapons they normally aren't allowed?<BR>
><BR>
> Well, consider the cost.. Assume that the world you want to purchase<BR>
> weapons on is J-1 away.  That's Cr. 16,000 at least to have a fairly good<BR>
> chance of living through the journey.  After that, there's the problem of<BR>
> residency.  I can't just cross the border into Oregon or Nevada and go<BR>
> shopping, the dealer will want to see my ID.  It's a violation of federal<BR>
> to knowing sell an illegal firearm, and since whatever toy I've come all<BR>
> the way to another state to buy is probably banned in California (which is<BR>
> the safest state in the country, just take a night-time stroll through East<BR>
> LA!) they can't sell it to me.<BR>
><BR>
> In Traveller, I think customs would be very curious about people making<BR>
> short trips to lower law level worlds.  Baggage searches would be common.<BR>
<BR>
But given the way Traveller has worked for all these years, there won't<BR>
*be* residency requirements for off worlders. And any searches will be<BR>
as you try to leave the port's extrality zone at your destination. <BR>
<BR>
Well, if the world is really high tech, and low law level, then the<BR>
port might search folks coming back in. Maybe.<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, 14 Dec 1999 02:23:41 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Re Infantry<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 11:53 AM 12/13/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>>I'm just hoping to be retired before the tents, boots, and gas mask get<BR>
>>lighter. I don't want to carry ladders and winches on my back so we can<BR>
>>always be ready in an urban environment.<BR>
><BR>
> Suddenly remembered one of the funniest moments of my military life.<BR>
><BR>
> We were doing MOUT exercises.  The Company CO had promised a day off on the<BR>
> next Friday for the squad with the fastest time in getting into a second<BR>
> story window.  This normally entails throwing a grappling hook through the<BR>
> window and climbing up.  As we went along, the average time was hovering<BR>
> around six or seven minutes.  The First Sergeant called for one of 2nd<BR>
> Platoon's squads, who had vanished into the tree line about 20 meters away.<BR>
><BR>
> They appeared at a dead run, carrying a 12 foot long tree trunk that they<BR>
> had trimmed the branches off of, leaving short stumps.  Two men took cover<BR>
> positions while the rest of the squad swarmed up this improvised ladder<BR>
> into the room.  Total time, about 45 seconds.<BR>
><BR>
> Needless to say, they got the day off.<BR>
<BR>
So, somebody had the brains (or historical knowledge) to re-invent the<BR>
scaling ladder. That's how they did it during medieval sieges. And<BR>
frankly, if you know in advance you'll need to climb a wall or into a<BR>
window and there are tress around, it's the *smart* way to do it!<BR>
<BR>
Unless, of course, you aren't supposed to leave traces behind. :-) <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, 14 Dec 1999 02:32:16 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: re Guns<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> On the other hand, I once let a player design a custom weaapon suite for<BR>
> his BD Mercs (Don't ask... Please... Suffice it to say Xen and Hamford DO<BR>
> know the Guy in question.)... The result, a TL15 2mm (2x20mm DU Slug) HVSB<BR>
> Carbine and Pistol system, done under 3G3... a DU 2x20mm slug, propelled by<BR>
> near max safe caseless load (TL15 powder, calc'ed by 3G3 methods as<BR>
> 3G3TL17), stepping out at Mach-8 at 1atm.... Pen was ridiculous, Damage<BR>
> (MT) was 3 if soft armor or no armor and 8 otherwise. As a ballance factor,<BR>
> I had the pistol throw 2m of flame, plus a sonic boom from hell. The<BR>
> Carbine was only marginally better, having still almost as much wase<BR>
> energy, but more accuracy. After reversion to MT stats, the differences<BR>
> were concealability and atten differing. Sig was (by GM Fiat) VHigh...<BR>
> hardened ear protection required (MT Dmg 1 if not, per shot). The Carbine<BR>
> was equipped with a Full Auto selectable reciever; the pistol was semi<BR>
> only. Prices were set unrealistically high due to VERY low demand, but it<BR>
> could effectively negate TL15 BD... if you could hit it. Also, the<BR>
> extremely compact ammo meant high volumes of ammo in the basic load.<BR>
<BR>
And "enemy" governments and troops will treat anyone caught with one<BR>
the way WWI Germans did any Allied troopd carrying a shotgun. "Died<BR>
attempting to escape".<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, 14 Dec 1999 02:37:09 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Jackie Chan can whip Virus any day.<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Project A. In Project A Part 2, Jackie returned the favour by introducing<BR>
> himself and his cop friends as A,B,C and D.<BR>
><BR>
> ObTRAV: Project A can be a great 'Custom Patrol' IN campaign. Corrupt and/or<BR>
> inept Officers, Noble officers with little in common with the troops on the<BR>
> ground, smuggling into a red zone, and lots of sensless violence.<BR>
<BR>
You just reminded me of an *old* TV show that could easily be<BR>
translated into Traveller, especially in the Spinward Marches during<BR>
one of the Frontier Wars, or maybe in the Solomani Rim.<BR>
<BR>
Better yet, make it in a sector that gets occasional Vargr or Aslan<BR>
incursions. Nothing *really* serious, but enough to require *some* sort<BR>
of military presence. Only occasional danger to get in the way of<BR>
gambling, black marketing and other profitable undertakings.<BR>
<BR>
The show? "McHale's Navy". <BR>
<BR>
Have the players need to get something and McHale is their contact for<BR>
the black market. Or he's going to smuggle them across the lines. Maybe<BR>
they got caught by Bighampton or his aide, and need to convince McHale<BR>
to spring them. Or maybe Mchale got caught and the players have to<BR>
convince the admiral that he's innocent.<BR>
<BR>
McHale and crew would liven up any system or subsector. And just about<BR>
*any* of the shows can be turned into a quickie subplot or encounter. <BR>
<BR>
Heck after a few encounters, just noticing that McHale or one of his<BR>
patrol boats is in the same port ought to raise the paranoia level<BR>
considerably. Sure, whatever he's up (if he's even up to anything)<BR>
*probably* won't affect that players. But leaving port quickly will<BR>
seem like a *really* good idea. :-)<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>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1491<BR>
***********************************<BR>
<BR>
To unsubscribe to Traveller-Digest, send the command:<BR>
<BR>
unsubscribe traveller-digest<BR>
<BR>
in the body of a message to "traveller-request@lists.imagiconline.com".<BR>
If you want to subscribe something other than the account the mail is<BR>
coming from, such as a local redistribution list, then append that<BR>
address to the "subscribe" command; for example, to subscribe<BR>
"local-traveller":<BR>
<BR>
subscribe traveller-digest local-traveller@your.domain.net<BR>
<BR>
A non-digest (direct mail) version of this list is also available; to<BR>
subscribe to that instead, replace all instances of "traveller-digest"<BR>
in the commands above with "traveller".<BR>
<BR>
Multi-Player Games Network http://www.mpgn.com<BR>
</XMP></FONT><FONT  COLOR="#0f0f0f" BACK="#fffffe" SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10><BR>
<BR>
----------------------- Headers --------------------------------<BR>
Return-Path: <owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
Received: from  rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (rly-zc02.mail.aol.com [172.31.33.2]) by air-zc02.mail.aol.com (vx) with ESMTP; Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:10:29 -0500<BR>
Received: from  lists.imagiconline.com (lists.imagiconline.com [204.85.32.11]) by rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (v66.4) with ESMTP; Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:10:10 1900<BR>
Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost)<BR>
	by lists.imagiconline.com (8.9.3/8.9.2) with SMTP id GAA02903;<BR>
	Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:08:42 -0500 (EST)<BR>
	(envelope-from owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com)<BR>
Received: by lists.imagiconline.com (bulk_mailer v1.12); Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:07:36 -0500<BR>
Received: (from majordom@localhost)<BR>
	by lists.imagiconline.com (8.9.3/8.9.2) id GAA02772<BR>
	for traveller-digest-outgoing; Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:07:36 -0500 (EST)<BR>
	(envelope-from owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com)<BR>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 06:07:36 -0500 (EST)<BR>
Message-Id: <199912141107.GAA02772@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
From: owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com (Traveller-digest)<BR>
To: traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Subject: Traveller-digest V1999 #1491<BR>
Reply-To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Sender: owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
<BR>
</HTML>
