GDP, computer aids

A thread of 2 messages, 3 October 1990 to 4 October 1990, in the order they were sent.

#1607 GDP, computer aids

Andrew Salamon · 3 October 1990

  I just received one of their "catalogs" today.  Under the heading of to-be-
released-real-soon-now they have two computer programs.
  One is star system data covering 37 sectors "in and around" the Imperium.
The data is compatible with the second program.  They didn't mention how
up-to-date the data is, ie pre vs post shattered Imperium.  Although they
do call it "Second Survey Data" and if this corresponds to the Imperium's
Second Survey then it is pre-shattering.
  The other program is a computerized version of the World Builder's
Handbook.
  Both will be available in "Late 1990" for Mac and IBM.  The Mac version
of the system data is in Hypercard format.

  Does anyone have any opinions on the following DGP products?
	Traveller's Digest Magazine
	101 Vehicles
	Starship Operator's Manual Vol. 1
	MegaTraveller Referee's Kit
	World Builder's Handbook (Although I think I will wait for the computer
				  version.)
	The MegaTraveller Alien, Vol. 1: Vilani and Vargr: The Coreward Races
	Manhunt: Vol 1 of the Onnesium Quest Trilogy (an adventure, I Guess)

  Are they good, bad, useful, not useful?  Do they have lots of errors?
That sort of thing.

Thanks for any info.

Andrew
[email removed]

#1609 Re: (1607) GDP, computer aids

James T Perkins · 4 October 1990 · reply to #1607

> I just received one of their "catalogs" today. Under the heading of to-be-
> released-real-soon-now they have two computer programs.

Yeah, RSN.  It was supposed to be last Christmas.  I can find out from
some contacts just what held them up, if you like.

In general DGP products are better and more useful than GDW products.
This seems to be true of MT anyway, as GDW became far too busy with
other projects to spend much time on MT after the initial boxed set.
DGP products seem to well exceed the quality of many of the "Approved
for use with [Classic] Traveller" publications of times past.

> 	Traveller's Digest Magazine

Good, they really care about what the readers like.  The name of this
will be changing to the MegaTraveller Digest with, I believe, the
October issue.

> 	Starship Operator's Manual Vol. 1

There is a review of this somewhere on line in the archives.  Really
good material, although it does raise some questions for physics types.
Good layout and illustration of a Trader ship, really makes it come to
life.  There is a Vol 2 in the works, but it hasn't been announced.  I
really ate this material up.

> 	MegaTraveller Referee's Kit

There is a review of this somewhere on line in the archives.  I think it
was described as a ref's screen with useful tables on it.

> 	World Builder's Handbook (Although I think I will wait for the computer
> 				  version.)

There is a review of this somewhere on line in the archives.  It's a
little buggy, but I find it somewhat useful.  Generation is quite
time-consuming, unless it is done by computer! One of the listees (I can
find out who) has a program on line which does something like the WB
program advertised by DGP, but last I heard it needed to have all the
copyrighted material built-in, stripped out, to avoid possible copyright
conflictsas a "derived work".

James
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Traveller Mailing List Administrator	     James T Perkins @ Tektronix, Inc
[email removed]                      	     Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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