Xboats (again), GDW, Barbarians, and stuff

[A quick note -- I'll be away from Thursday through Tuesday this weekend
on vacation in Seattle, so I won't be able to answer any messages until
I get back.  The list software should carry on normally, though --
James]

Well, now that we are "digested", there doesn't seem to be much point in
separating messages by content, so engage your ramble screens...

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No one ever answered my question about the costs to characters of using X-boat
communication.  (I was deeply hurt)  To recap:  "What is the cost of sending a
message to a friend several parsecs distant, and what procedures do you use in
your campaigns?"  (You aren't letting them do it for *free*, are you?)

- ---

This weekend, ignorant barbarians entered my car and stole my suitcase full of
Traveller gear, along with less important stuff like my driver's license and
checkbook.  (a pox upon their houses!)  Lucky for me, the large words involved
caused the criminals to dump the Traveller books in the woods not far away from
my house, which I found the next day.  (Saved!)

I did have a few frantic moments, though, and I called GDW to see how much of
the out-of-print stuff could still be had.  (Thanks again to those of you who
helped me get this stuff in the first place!)  I was a little suprised to have
Marc Miller answer the phone, and he was real helpful.  He offered to handle my
order himself, saying he knew where some of what I needed was gathering dust.
Real nice, you know?

The cool thing about all this is that I don't have to balance my checkbook this
month...   (For a moment there I thought I was off the hook for my much-delayed
TJ-Transport deck plans, but I guess you have to take the good with the bad.)

- ---

I have a copy of the "Vilani & Vargr" Aliens module.  I like it.  There are
very, very helpful sections for each race, giving a couple of pages of
excellent roleplaying examples for each.  Also, non-human races are completely
illustrated (yes, a Vargr bikini would be silly).  There are nice examples of
Vargr starship technology- maybe 6 ships, with stats.  There are also deck
plans for the much-feared Corsair.  Pretty ok product.  I found the Vargr more
interesting than I thought I would, and the Vilani less so.  (IMHO)

Are there release dates for the rest of the series?

Does anyone have any first-hand information on GDW's "Fighting Ships", or DGP's
"The Black Duke"?

- ---

- -Bob Mahoney              [email removed]

(Beware of wandering, illiterate hordes in this area.)