CAT -- Clearing the Decks

Last week I spouted off about being more interested in working with
TML sophonts on programs to help the GM, than in directly addressing
TDR rules-generation stuff.  This has sparked some interest, and some
heat as well as light.  This message is a summary of CAT to date, a
list of existing participants, and (I hope) removal of some floatsam.

Current participants:
	Richard Johnson		[email removed]
	Chuck McKnight 		[email removed]
	Paul Dale		grue@batserver.
	Dan Corrin		[email removed]

Others who seem to be interested, by their archives and TML comments,
but who have not actually offered to join in the discussion:
	Jo Jaquinta		[email removed]
	Robert P. Poole		[email removed]
	Mark Cook		[email removed]

Actually, Mark has participated, but his priorities are for TDR.


We, so far, do not actually have a co-ordinator.  We usually just copy
everyone who is participating, as I am with this message.  This one I
felt should be echoed to the TML as well -- sort of a gentle reminder
to others that if they are interested, they can join in.  The feeling of
most of us is that software is better done quietly in private (and
wash your hands afterwards. :-)  Actually, we're deliberately trying to
avoid committee-think.

Our primary goal right now was IMHO best expressed by Dan:
	A pc in front of every ref? I could care less. I want a pc in
	front of *me* while I am refing. So do others on the list, and
	I just think that we should get together to program so we don't
	waste our efforts.

Chuck is currently doing MSDOS ports of existing software on the TML.
Dan and Paul are working on a Deck Plan generator, and I'm just trying
to collect everything so I can see what programs I want to port to
what machines.  My eventual goal is to have a bunch of programs we can
put together as a package for distribution, a package that covers most
of the most-needed stuff.

I think most of us are out for personal fun, not profit.  We'll take the
cash if it falls in our laps, though.


Mark and Dan have been discussing the role of CAT<-->TDR.  My view, shaped
largely by Dan's, is that we're programming for ourselves, and sharing
information.  Right now we're doing MT rules, because they exist.  If,
in the future, someone (or several) want to port the programs to TDR rules,
we'll help all we can.


I'm not sure what Robert Poole is doing, but did understand he was archiving
software for TDR, or something like that.  Robert, if you get your copy,
please let at least one of us know if and how we should co-ordinate
efforts.

Richard