Rallying the troops for TNE/TDR II

Hi folks,

I am honored that Loren Wiseman asked for our help.  Hot damn!  :-)

I'm going on vacation starting tomorrow.  I expect to be back around the
17th.  Now, Mark pointed out that perhaps we don't need an coordinator,
and I am not really fully coordinated enough to take on the task of
coordinating it ALL.

But, what I would suggest is this:
I feel comfortable, mainly with craft design (obviously!)  What I intend to
do is to review the stuff that has been said about tweaking the MegaTrav
system up to something that works well.

Basically, What *I* intend to give them is a step by step by step review of
the craft design system.  *I* think that the MegaTrav system is basically
quite good (else why should I spend so much time woking on it?), but some
systems need to be clarified, rules need to be enforced, and explained.
Also the system needs to be made consistant.

This is the area I feel most competant to try and work in.  Believe me I
would LOVE to coordinate such an effort.  (when I get back)  (I'll have
35+ hrs solo driving time to think about it.)  I feel that a coordinator
while not absolutely necessary, will certainly help.  The crew of GDW
is gonna have limited patience listening to 300+ people all giving
contradictory views on the TML.

What *I* would like to do would be to have folks send their ideas on craft
design to me.  I'll go through it and pick up the best ideas and try to
incorporate as many as I can into a coherant write up for them to read.

Now, everybody who has used the craft system has opinions about it.  I may
have missed something.  I know there are people out there who are much more
competant at some designs than I.  I would LOVE to hear from George on
water craft design comments.

Computers:
One area we all know that is in need of touching up is computers.  Nobody
has a good answer for what a model 1 computer is.  Nobody knows how a
robot brain compairs to a Model 1.  That is a big problem with the design
system.  I however am the original Computer-0 guy.  I think that perhaps
we should try to hammer together a system to try to equate robot brain
design to the various Model 1's, 2's, 9's etc.  I would love to hear some
input from the *REAL* Computer Jocks out there.   (Mark?  James?)

Since the virus is coming into the game, it will be important that what
computers that *DO* exist will be usable and realistic.  This also, may
allow us to introduce some cyber-punkish computer stuff into Trav.  This
may or may not be desirable.  I don't know, but it is something we might
look into.

It seems to me that while I am competant enough to put together a summary
of craft design stuff, I am not well aquainted enough to go through all
of traveller and find all the strengths and weaknesses.  I know *ZERO*
about trade and commerce stuff, while Steve, Hans, Wildstar and others
really know the stuff.  I suspect there are rather a few of us who could
take on the task of coming up with a definiteive critique of various
aspects of Traveller.  Let's play to our strengths:

I would suggest that if someone feels competant enough to coordinate some
aspect, please volunteer to do so.  Then we can get our best people working
in their best areas on some tough problems.

Let's GO!

Scott 2G Kellogg