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Date:	12/23/99 4:11:37 PM Pacific Standard Time<BR>
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Traveller-digest    Thursday, December 23 1999    Volume 1999 : Number 1566<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: Geographical idiocy (<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Gone for the holidays, and 1yr anniversary<BR>
Re Deck Plan Software.<BR>
Re: Terran polities<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Geographical idiocy (<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
[none]<BR>
Re Keyboard Kill Flags<BR>
Re: Gunnery<BR>
Re: Emperors of the Rule of Man #8<BR>
OT-- North Pole Standoff with the ATF<BR>
TNE combat (a little long)<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 16:07:52 -0600<BR>
From: tim@premier.net<BR>
Subject: Re: Geographical idiocy (<BR>
<BR>
From:           	"Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
To:             	<traveller@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
Subject:        	Re: Geographical idiocy (<BR>
Date sent:      	Thu, 23 Dec 1999 13:38:53 -0600<BR>
Send reply to:  	traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
<BR>
> <BR>
> Plus, if California is anything like Texas, geography in the sense of what<BR>
> is where is not stressed. We have the nice pretty 5 themes of geography to<BR>
> teach.  Place, location, Movement, Human Environment Interaction, and one<BR>
> other that my soft brain can't remember.<BR>
<BR>
> The idea is to stress how people affect the environment and how the<BR>
> environment in turn affects people and culture.<BR>
> Its  History Concepts versus hard facts these days or so everyone claims.<BR>
> Fact is, if you don't like  it, go beat your school board with axe handles<BR>
> till they change it and if that doesn't work, get ahold of your state board<BR>
> of education. They respond much better to a good beating :)<BR>
> <BR>
<BR>
As far as geography goes one of the problems is that it is not <BR>
taught at most US Univ anymore as an independent even Thomas <BR>
here got his from his history professor though he seems to have <BR>
learned alot. The best schools are Berkly and Chicago. Luckly I go <BR>
to LSU which actually has a good/great geography/anthropology <BR>
departenment.  Its amazing what you can learn.  In my Research <BR>
Methodologies Class are reports covered a wide range of topics.  <BR>
Though I am a human ie history, political,economic, and area <BR>
studies grad stundent, ie I study geopolitics, I look foward to <BR>
learning GIS software and satellite tasking.  Also there is all that <BR>
cool physical geography stuff as well.<BR>
So much to learn so little money  : )<BR>
<BR>
Geography can be extermly fun  <BR>
Tim Reynolds<BR>
tim@premier.net <BR>
225-334-5063<BR>
- ------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
Getting an education was a bit like a communicable <BR>
sexual disease.  It made you unsuitable for <BR>
a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.<BR>
<BR>
Terry Pratchett <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 17:12:39 -0500<BR>
From: "Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
ok how do you want to do this?  I zipped up both Business and Technical<BR>
versions which weighs in at 67 megabytes.<BR>
<BR>
I can setup an FTP server on my system for you to log into and download, or<BR>
you can give me an IP address to upload to.  Your call.<BR>
___________________________________________________________<BR>
 J-Man<BR>
 ICQ# 2843475<BR>
 New Hampshire - U.S.A.<BR>
 Email : j-man@iname.com<BR>
 Home Page : http://www.geocities.com/~jman037/<BR>
___________________________________________________________<BR>
<BR>
- ----- Original Message -----<BR>
From: "Leonard Erickson" <shadow@krypton.rain.com><BR>
To: <traveller@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 3:33 PM<BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> In mail you write:<BR>
><BR>
> > If you have a cable modem I'll unload my copy of Viso on you.  I NEVER<BR>
used<BR>
> > it and now no longer even bother installing it.  Not because its bad,<BR>
but<BR>
> > because I'm into too many other things and don't have the time for it.<BR>
I<BR>
> > have Viso 3.0 business and Viso 3.0 Scientific.<BR>
><BR>
> I don't have a cable modem, but the system my shell account is on has a<BR>
> T-1 line. I can grab it from you easily, and then take my time getting<BR>
> it from the shell account.<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: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 14:09:21 -0800<BR>
From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh@aracnet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
>Hi all.<BR>
><BR>
>Can anyone recommend a shareware/freeware prog for drawing<BR>
>deckplans, planetary maps and that sort of thing?  It doesn't have to be<BR>
>anything fancy...<BR>
><BR>
>Thanks,<BR>
>Charles C.<BR>
<BR>
Well, if you can find someone selling a copy of ClarisDraw, I've got a<BR>
library for doing deckplanes on my web site.  I don't know if it will work<BR>
under ClarisWorks/AppleWorks.  I've never tried it with my old version of<BR>
ClarisWorks, and haven't had a reason yet to get the latest version of<BR>
AppleWorks.<BR>
<BR>
The library is at http://zane.brouhaha.com/healyzh/files/DeckPlan.hqx it<BR>
includes all the common deckplan symbols and the common smallcraft.<BR>
<BR>
If you can't find ClarisDraw I would recommend AppleWorks though since it<BR>
includes most of the functionality of ClarisDraw.  I think it's available<BR>
on the PC still, and I know it's available for the Mac.  I've found<BR>
ClarisDraw to be the best program out there for doing deckplans and<BR>
starcharts, but it isn't suited for planetary maps.  Personally for<BR>
planetary maps I'd use Painter, but Painter is a rather expensive program.<BR>
<BR>
				Zane<BR>
| Zane H. Healy                    | UNIX Systems Adminstrator  |<BR>
| healyzh@aracnet.com (primary)    | Linux Enthusiast           |<BR>
| healyzh@holonet.net (alternate)  | Classic Computer Collector |<BR>
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+<BR>
|     Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing,    |<BR>
|                   and Zane's Computer Museum.                 |<BR>
|                 http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/              |<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 17:20:22 -0500<BR>
From: "Jory Earl" <j-man@iname.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
Fidonet?  Holy Leaping Lizards Batman!  I haven't seen that name in a long<BR>
time.  It's still around I assume?  :)  My copy is on a 5 1/4 floppy<BR>
somewhere..I think another copy is on CD somewhere else..I'll go look.<BR>
<BR>
Yup found "TheDraw" and "TheBrush" on an old CD.<BR>
___________________________________________________________<BR>
 J-Man<BR>
 ICQ# 2843475<BR>
 New Hampshire - U.S.A.<BR>
 Email : j-man@iname.com<BR>
 Home Page : http://www.geocities.com/~jman037/<BR>
___________________________________________________________<BR>
<BR>
- ----- Original Message -----<BR>
From: "Leonard Erickson" <shadow@krypton.rain.com><BR>
To: <traveller@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 3:30 PM<BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> In mail you write:<BR>
><BR>
> > I also have TheDraw sitting around somewhere too.  :)<BR>
><BR>
> Unlike you, I know *exactly* where it is<BR>
> (\\td-3\main\freq\dos\graphics\editors). If you are in Fidonet, you<BR>
> can FREQ TDRAW*.* from me.<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: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 15:03:30 -0700<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: Gone for the holidays, and 1yr anniversary<BR>
<BR>
Leonard Erickson wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> In mail you write:<BR>
> <BR>
> > p.s.  Meant to have a TML Happy Holiday picture for everyone, but alas, I<BR>
> > didn't have the time.  Think of Ditzie roasting chestnuts on an open fire<BR>
> >>;D<BR>
> <BR>
> Knowing Ditzie, the "open fire" was made by lighting a few bags of<BR>
> gunpowder or the like that were past usage date (they really do<BR>
> dispose of old powder by burning it).<BR>
> <BR>
<BR>
Naaaahhh. Ditzie does it _right_:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Take one 25 lb bag charcoal.<BR>
<BR>
Soak with a couple liters LOX.<BR>
<BR>
Drop match on it from a _distance_.<BR>
<BR>
The charcoal will be gone in seconds...but what _glorious_ seconds they<BR>
are!<BR>
<BR>
(NB: There was an engineering prof somewhere who's done this a number of<BR>
times. He's made Dave Barry's column, and was the killer of the INternet<BR>
once upon a time as everyone dl'ed his mpeg of the events...I forget<BR>
where it is; it's probably still posted somewhere.)<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 13:47:11 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: Re Deck Plan Software.<BR>
<BR>
><BR>
>For the newbies to the Mac Scene ClarisWorks is what AppleWorks used<BR>
>to be called. And it's a damn fine, stable package. This ships with<BR>
>the iMac and iBook (not sure about the G4's) and is about 70 GBP to<BR>
>buy otherwise for WINDOWS and MacOS.<BR>
><BR>
>Personally, I like Adobe Illustrator but that's out of the price<BR>
>range we're considering.<BR>
<BR>
Also good on the Mac Scene is DeskDraw/DeskPaint. Runs about US$40 for the<BR>
pair, if still available. Nice, simple, and it has run on my machines from<BR>
OS 6.0.8 through 8.1, and has always been smooth and fault free. I did my<BR>
CarWars Vehicle Sheets with it. And Roadway sections.<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: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 22:50:29 -0000<BR>
From: "Matthew Bond" <mgb@akira.swinternet.co.uk><BR>
Subject: Re: Terran polities<BR>
<BR>
- -----Original Message-----<BR>
From: Kiri Aradia Morgan <tiamat@tsoft.com><BR>
To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com <traveller@lists.imagiconline.com><BR>
Date: 23 December 1999 22:01<BR>
Subject: Re: Terran polities<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
From: Florian Merx <flow523@gmx.de><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
>> William F. Hostman writes:<BR>
>> I doubt there is a continuity there. For example, Egypt, which was nation<BR>
3-5000 years ago, is a nation now; for well over 100 years it was NOT a<BR>
nation. Only China has survived 5000 years with a clear national identity.<BR>
>><BR>
>Wait a second there. The idea of a nation only came up in the 17th/18th in<BR>
*western* Europe. Absolutism and all that. Until then the general populace<BR>
(mostly illiterate farmers) didn't care if their (land)lords were French,<BR>
German or Swedish. Indeed, in Germany, a country that was one of the latter<BR>
ones to achieve the status nation, it wasn't until the protests of 1832<BR>
(Hambacher Schlo, nudge nudge) that the cry for a unified nation was heard.<BR>
The nobility until then derived their claims from god - and possibly<BR>
Napoleon, depending on where you were at the time. ;)<BR>
><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
This is a rather eurocentric view, don't you think?<BR>
<BR>
I am pretty sure that people in China have always had a very good sense that<BR>
they are Chinese and and that their rulers were Chinese (or invaders) and<BR>
that they are living in the Middle Kingdom.<BR>
<BR>
My Chinese ex can trace his family back to the Han (don't get him started on<BR>
the Manchu).  I don't know about the academic definition of nationalism and<BR>
all-- it's been years since I did academic history-- which hasn't always got<BR>
much relationship to actual history-- but there is a very definite sense of<BR>
what is and is not China and what is and is not Chinese that has been a<BR>
factor in Chinese thinking for a lot longer than 300 or 400 years.<BR>
<BR>
And I am pretty sure that the Tokugawa, to whom my Beloved One's family were<BR>
once retainers (don't get him started on the Meiji), had a pretty good sense<BR>
of Japan as a nation-- and what they did and did not want coming into and<BR>
out of that nation.<BR>
<BR>
Kiri  =)<BR>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
Yes, to my mind a 'nation' is a contiguous geographical area occupied by a<BR>
single culture, ruled by a single government (be that a Monarch, Senate,<BR>
Parliament, Emperor etc),<BR>
<BR>
ie China & Japan, have been nations for ages (single cultures, single<BR>
governments). Italy & Germany have only been nations for 100 - 150 years<BR>
(single cultures, formerly many governments). Nations, once formed, tend to<BR>
last a long time (unless conquered) due to a sense of commonality.  Some<BR>
areas that are, or have been, 'nations' in the modern era are really Empires<BR>
by a different name eg Russia/Soviet Union, Yugoslavia.  They aren't<BR>
(weren't) true nations, as they were composed of many cultures ruled by a<BR>
single government, and thus readily fell apart into smaller nations at the<BR>
first real opportunity.<BR>
<BR>
Matt<BR>
<BR>
Matthew Bond<BR>
mgb@akira.swinternet.co.uk<BR>
www.akira.swinternet.co.uk/strom.html<BR>
- --------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
"To strike a man who insults you is one thing...<BR>
...To run him through with a sword is quite another!"<BR>
- --------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 09:51:50 +1100<BR>
From: "Jim & Peta Lawrie" <jimpeta@primus.com.au><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
>JPG is the *worst* possible format for *drawings*. It's designed to<BR>
>*throw away* fine details. <BR>
>If the color set is small use GIF files. If it's more than 256, use PNG<BR>
>files. <BR>
>And for vector files, CGM files are probably the most portable. I know<BR>
>Corel can handle them.<BR>
>Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
<BR>
    Thanks! I'm redoing some deckplans right now.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 23:03:39 -0000<BR>
From: "Matthew Bond" <mgb@akira.swinternet.co.uk><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
<snip><BR>
>Well, if you can find someone selling a copy of ClarisDraw, I've got a<BR>
>library for doing deckplanes on my web site.  I don't know if it will work<BR>
<BR>
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^<BR>
Yes, but do you have any plans for the carriers whose decks they fly from<BR>
<g><BR>
<BR>
<snip><BR>
<BR>
> Zane<BR>
<BR>
Matt<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 10:12:13 +1100<BR>
From: "Jim & Peta Lawrie" <jimpeta@primus.com.au><BR>
Subject: Re: Geographical idiocy (<BR>
<BR>
As far as geography goes one of the problems is that it is not<BR>
taught at most US Univ anymore as an independent even Thomas<BR>
here got his from his history professor though he seems to have<BR>
learned alot. The best schools are Berkly and Chicago. Luckly I go<BR>
to LSU which actually has a good/great geography/anthropology<BR>
departenment.  Its amazing what you can learn.  In my Research<BR>
Methodologies Class are reports covered a wide range of topics.<BR>
Though I am a human ie history, political,economic, and area<BR>
studies grad stundent, ie I study geopolitics, I look foward to<BR>
learning GIS software and satellite tasking.  Also there is all that<BR>
cool physical geography stuff as well.<BR>
So much to learn so little money  : )<BR>
<BR>
Geography can be extermly fun<BR>
Tim Reynolds<BR>
<BR>
    Maps! I love maps! I have hundreds of 'em! Thats why I'm studying<BR>
Spatial Information Systems! So I can roll around in them!<BR>
    (In our mapping principles class a few years back a student answered the<BR>
"multiple guess" question of : What does the note "Ford" mean at grid ref<BR>
blah-blah, with "Dumped car")<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 17:16:59 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
Matthew Bond wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> <snip><BR>
> >Well, if you can find someone selling a copy of ClarisDraw, I've got a<BR>
> >library for doing deckplanes on my web site.  I don't know if it will work<BR>
> <BR>
>                               ^^^^^^^^^^^<BR>
> Yes, but do you have any plans for the carriers whose decks they fly from<BR>
> <g><BR>
<BR>
I have a pretty nice .jpg of SARATOGA from S:AAB.... ;-)<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead<BR>
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)<BR>
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 14:12:33 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: [none]<BR>
<BR>
>Seriously, I would like to try out things like Infini-V ...  does<BR>
>anyone know of a *simple to install* Mac emulator for the PC?<BR>
><BR>
>Regards PLST<BR>
<BR>
Check out www.emulation.net. However, the only Mac Emulators I've seen for<BR>
the PC have emulated M68000 systems ONLY. They will only run through system<BR>
7.1.1 at best. Black and White only. Forget even trying to run PPC code...<BR>
<BR>
There was a Linux project for mac emulation[1], but I haven't heard the<BR>
penguins peep about it since 1997.<BR>
<BR>
Funny enough, there is a Mac Plus emulator for the PPC system8+ machines... [2]<BR>
<BR>
[1]As in, emulating MacOS on the Linux OS, specifically to get Mac Software<BR>
running on x86 boxes.<BR>
[2] Many of the Anchient (sys 4, 5, 6) titles won't run under OS 7.5 or later.<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: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 14:24:45 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: Re Keyboard Kill Flags<BR>
<BR>
>We need them printed on little stickers. Cant you get paper/stickers for<BR>
>inkjet printers?<BR>
>This might be fun<BR>
><BR>
>TV<BR>
Avery corp makes a wide variety of labels for a broad spectrum of machines,<BR>
including InkJets, Laser Printers, and Photocopiers.<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: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 15:50:47 -0800<BR>
From: "Bruce Macintosh" <bruce.macintosh@worldnet.att.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Gunnery<BR>
<BR>
>Yeah, I know, I know...  the function of the gunner is<BR>
>largely abstracted to the issues of sensor operation, threat management and<BR>
>selecting the right fire-plan for the job...  the computer brings up its<BR>
>five recommendations and then the human operator says "use THAT one"...<BR>
>        If you *don't* opt for push button warfare, it becomes awfully "Star<BR>
>Wars"-y in feel to me...  which is fine, but then you have to allow for<BR>
>tigher engagment ranges, smaller combat turns, and that sort of thing.<BR>
<BR>
        I agree completely - it's just amusing that TNE, arguably the most<BR>
hard-science Traveller incarnation yet, had skill levels play such<BR>
a large role in combat.<BR>
<BR>
       If part of the gunner's job is adjusting the input from his/her<BR>
individual<BR>
targeting sensor, than the job does become more skill-driven.<BR>
(Also, if one is using only passive sensors, there's an issue of determining<BR>
the range, at least for the first turn of fire...)<BR>
<BR>
Bruce<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 18:01:04 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Emperors of the Rule of Man #8<BR>
<BR>
JFZeigler@aol.com wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> In a message dated 11/3/99 7:56:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, tiamat@tsoft.com<BR>
> writes:<BR>
> <BR>
> > Nobody with a name like that is what I think of as U-S-of-A American!  But<BR>
> >  I do understand what you mean.  Of course there's no reason to think at<BR>
> >  that late date that he was even born on Earth, is there?  Have you been<BR>
> >  doing characters from the Martian Colonies, etc.?<BR>
> <BR>
> Not yet.  There aren't a *lot* of characters in the book anyway, so I<BR>
> probably won't be introducing more than two or three that haven't already<BR>
> appeared in canon.  On the other hand, I've got a lengthy sidebar on<BR>
> "Personalities of the Interstellar Wars" in the works, and if there's room<BR>
> I want to list at least one prominent colonial.<BR>
> <BR>
> Hey, maybe Albadawi was from the colonies. . .<BR>
<BR>
I was going over some old TML posts (looking for keyboard kills), and I<BR>
noticed that I never told you what "Albadawi" means.  It's Arabic for<BR>
"The Bedouin."<BR>
<BR>
So, find an early colony with a large Arab population....<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead<BR>
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)<BR>
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 15:42:57 -0800<BR>
From: "Kiri Aradia Morgan" <tiamat@tsoft.com><BR>
Subject: OT-- North Pole Standoff with the ATF<BR>
<BR>
Dec. 23, 1999<BR>
Northpole Standoff<BR>
<BR>
A fierce battle ended in a stand-off today as a multi-jurisdictional task<BR>
force of federal law enforcement agents tried to arrest the leader of a<BR>
militant doomsday cult, who call themselves "Elves," living in a heavily<BR>
fortified compound at the Northpole. According to witnesses, federal agents<BR>
hid in livestock trailers as they drove up to the compound.<BR>
<BR>
The approach was difficult in the snow using wheeled vehicles. Several<BR>
agents were reportedly thrown from the trailer when it hit a snowbank. The<BR>
agents were unable to use dogteams and sleds because the ATF agents shot all<BR>
the dogs during training at a nearby recreational facility where agents had<BR>
practiced for weeks on a mock-up of the compound in preparation for the<BR>
raid.<BR>
<BR>
As three National Guard helicopters approached, over 100 law officers<BR>
stormed the main compound, a heavily fortified gingerbread structure,<BR>
throwing concussion grenades and screaming "Come out!" Cult members and law<BR>
officers negotiated a cease-fire about 45 minutes after the incident began.<BR>
<BR>
For the next several hours, ambulances and helicopters swarmed the premises.<BR>
The area was cordoned off and ATF agents with machine guns were posted in<BR>
the roadways to keep reporters at least two miles from the main battle area.<BR>
<BR>
In a lengthy report on the group Saturday, The Northpole Tribune-Herald said<BR>
that the cult was known to have a large arsenal of high-powered weapons,<BR>
probably produced in a workshop disguised as a "toy factory." This toy<BR>
factory is also believed to be the sight of a methamphetamine laboratory,<BR>
according to sources inside the ATF.<BR>
<BR>
The article quoted investigators as saying the crazed cult leader, who uses<BR>
several aliases, "Santa Claus," "Saint Nick," "Sinterclaas," and "Saint<BR>
Nicholas," age unknown, has abused children and claims to have at least 15<BR>
wives. Santa Claus denies these accusations of abuse and said he has had<BR>
only one wife, Mrs. Santa Claus.<BR>
<BR>
Authorities had a warrant to search the Northpole compound for guns and<BR>
explosive devices and an arrest warrant for its leader, Santa Claus, said<BR>
Mess Stanford of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Washington,<BR>
D.C. Mr. Stanford added it would be useless to attempt to get a copy of this<BR>
warrant, however, because it had been sealed, "for national security<BR>
reasons."<BR>
<BR>
The assault came one day after the Northpole Tribune-Herald began publishing<BR>
a series on the cult, quoting former members as saying the deranged cult<BR>
leader, Santa Claus, abused children and had at least 15 wives.<BR>
<BR>
ATF spokesman Jack Killchildren in Washington said the assault had been<BR>
planned for several weeks, although he added, "I think the  newspaper's<BR>
investigation set up heightened tension." The cult's fortress, called "The<BR>
Toy Factory," is dominated by a tower with lookout windows facing in all<BR>
directions. Guards reportedly patrol the 77-acre grounds at night.<BR>
<BR>
Attorney General Janet Reno ordered the raid after cult members refused to<BR>
surrender documents relating to national security. A source inside the<BR>
Justice Department said that the documents were lists of cabinet members and<BR>
highly placed government officials who were naughty or nice. Despite<BR>
preliminary, secret negotiations to obtain the list, the Elves refused to<BR>
surrender the document to the Justice Department.<BR>
<BR>
The raid was scheduled for December 23, because December 25 is believed to<BR>
be a traditional cult holiday and all the militant elves would be engaged in<BR>
cult rituals in preparation for the event.<BR>
<BR>
At a press conference this afternoon, Attorney General Reno said, "These<BR>
militants abuse children in the most vile manner, by teaching them to expect<BR>
charity. They have even distributed free, working replicas of 'assault<BR>
weapons' and 'handguns.' It is a matter of dire importance to our future and<BR>
the future of all our children, that this peril be ended by every means at<BR>
our disposal."<BR>
<BR>
She went on to say that "I do not want to surround the compound and shoot<BR>
everyone and then burn it to the ground in order to prevent this child abuse<BR>
from occurring again, but that appears to be our only alternative."<BR>
<BR>
According to Reno, the "Toy Factory" itself is a sweatshop and conditions<BR>
inside were horrendous. The Department of Justice is also looking into<BR>
allegations of animal cruelty. Former members of the cult have claimed that<BR>
Santa Claus frequently uses leather restraints on at least eight reindeer,<BR>
housed in sordid conditions on the compound. Witnesses reported seeing a<BR>
reindeer with a protruding red nose, which Janet Reno said was further<BR>
indication of the abusive conditions inside the compound.<BR>
<BR>
Several of the elves were reported by the BATF to have been carrying<BR>
automatic weapons. However, independant sources dispute this, claiming that<BR>
the "automatic weapons" were nothing more than large candy canes.<BR>
<BR>
ATF leader Ted Oyster, shaken after the ordeal, spoke to reporters as<BR>
hundreds of agents, many of them in tears, were taken away from the<BR>
Northpole in military airlifts, ambulances, and private vehicles.<BR>
<BR>
"We had our plan down, we had our diversion down, and they were waiting..."<BR>
Oyster said resignedly, shaking his head.<BR>
<BR>
A hospital spokesman said that most of the wounded ATF agents appeared to be<BR>
suffering from shrapnel wounds from broken candy canes, as well as<BR>
frostbite, apparently suffered from wearing forest-green camoflage in the<BR>
wintery terrain.<BR>
<BR>
Attorney General Reno offered no comment on these reports.<BR>
<BR>
Mack "the knife" McWarty was seen strolling across the White House lawn,<BR>
chuckling to himself as he read what inside sources say was a copy of the<BR>
naughty/nice list.<BR>
<BR>
One highly placed government official was found dead in Marcy Park. His name<BR>
and the cause of death are unknown at this time, however, the White House<BR>
immediately issued a statement claiming the official had committed suicide<BR>
after learning his name was not on the nice list.<BR>
<BR>
Patsy Thomahawk refused to comment on the advice of her attorney on whether<BR>
she had any part in removing copies of the naughty/nice list from a safe in<BR>
the White House.<BR>
<BR>
A spokesman from the MJTF said that it was indeed a tragedy that Santa Claus<BR>
had caused this confrontation, but this should be a lesson to anyone who<BR>
tries to give to everyone without permission from the welfare department,<BR>
and that gathering sensitive data without a permit from official sources<BR>
will be stopped by any means.<BR>
<BR>
FBI spokesman Bob Pricks, the former National Abortion Rights Action League<BR>
Poster Child of 1944, relayed that "We are dealing with a madman. We have<BR>
cut off all electricity, water, and communications to the compound. Santa<BR>
Claus has demanded that we relay a message to the world. It reads, 'Merry<BR>
Christmas to all and to all a good night.' FBI psychological experts are<BR>
presently analyzing the message, however,preliminary reports indicate this<BR>
is an encrypted threat to invade the neighboring towns near the Northpole.<BR>
It may also be a doomsday message that the cult intends to commit suicide,<BR>
like Jonestown."<BR>
<BR>
Shortly after the raid, a smiling Reno was seen strolling through the pile<BR>
of rubbish looking for anatomically correct Barbie dolls. She claimed that<BR>
she was going to confiscate any that she found as "evidence" and that they<BR>
were for a personal investigation that she was conducting.<BR>
<BR>
Attorney General Reno also disclosed some information about plans to raid<BR>
Mr. E. Ster Bunny sometime next spring. According to the FBI's report on Mr.<BR>
Bunny, he has been hoarding food all year. This is in direct violation of a<BR>
secret Presidential Directive. "This ingratitude for everything that we have<BR>
done will stop, even if it means raiding every house in the USA to enforce<BR>
these new laws that were made to insure your freedom...." Reno said.<BR>
<BR>
This, boys and girls, should make us all sleep just a little bit better<BR>
tonight. The government will protect us from overindulging in freedom. If<BR>
they didn't step in and take control of that "naughty/nice" list, just think<BR>
what shape we might be in.....  :-)***********<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>
Kiri Aradia Morgan      93!      Thou Art God...<BR>
tiamat@tsoft.com<BR>
<BR>
"That wickedness weltering around inside of you, inside of everyone, is<BR>
sacred somewhere.  There's<BR>
a deity out here who digs it.  You can respect and love your darkest side,<BR>
disposing of only what is obsolete or impractical.  It's all about giving<BR>
yourself permission."<BR>
                             -- Jack Darkhand<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 10:56:15 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: TNE combat (a little long)<BR>
<BR>
Hi, after looking over the latest recurrence of the "TNE combat sucks" <BR>
cycle, I've decided to write up a quick fix I came up with last time.<BR>
<BR>
For those that are interested here it is:<BR>
<BR>
Rupert's Non-Ablative Damage System for TNE v0.9<BR>
<BR>
*Warning: This has not been play tested*<BR>
<BR>
This is an attempt to fix something that has bothered many people <BR>
(including me, from time to time) about TNE's combat system, namely <BR>
that it's too hard to injure PCs without using ridiculously powerful <BR>
weapons.<BR>
<BR>
The system works as follows:<BR>
<BR>
1.	Use D10s for damage<BR>
<BR>
2.	All PC hit points are halved, except for the head. All NPCs have <BR>
hit points equal to double their base stats (12 for Novice and <BR>
Experienced NPCs, 14 for Veterans and 16 for Elites).<BR>
<BR>
3.	The severity of a wound is determined by comparing the rolled <BR>
damage to the damaged locations hit points, as normal. However damage <BR>
is not cumulative - each wound stands on its own. The procedure for <BR>
NPCs is the same, and damage to the head is not doubled.<BR>
<BR>
4.	Wound states are somewhat cumulative.<BR>
	<BR>
	A second slight wound results in -2 initiative, three slight wounds <BR>
equal one serious wound, but do not disable any part of the body, <BR>
unless they're all on the same place. Slight wounds do have extra <BR>
effect beyond the third one, and do not have any extra effect if the <BR>
character is already seriously or critically wounded.<BR>
<BR>
	A second serious wound results in a -4 to initiative, and a third <BR>
one results in the equivalent to a critical wound (the character is <BR>
unconscious and will die in 10 minutes, etc). Extra serious wounds <BR>
beyond this have no extra effect.<BR>
<BR>
5.	Note the "no extra effect" in 4 above does not mean that no knock-<BR>
down, panic, etc is caused, just that the character's overall wound <BR>
severity does not get any worse.<BR>
<BR>
That's about it. All normal consequences of wounds still apply (knock-<BR>
down, stun, etc). The big thing is that body locations aren't ablative, <BR>
and that there is some consequence to having lots of light wounds <BR>
scattered over one's body. NPC's wounds are now assessed the same way <BR>
as PCs, too. This should balance things up somewhat.<BR>
<BR>
That's about it folks.<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>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1566<BR>
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