As an engineer who role plays in Traveller, I've leaned
toward the "technical" aspects of MT. GDW might consider
technically detailed supplements to TNE about lanthanum grids,
etc. in adventure terms for us "teckies".
As for integrating the "stutterwarp" into TNE from the MT
world, the "it was there all along" argument is bogus and
disappointing to us converting over. It rather should be
considered a different approach to the basic jump drive concept.
Using the "Crazy Eddie" idea from of MOTE IN GOD'S EYE as an
example: being a civilization of TL"n" does not necessarily
imply that you've thought of and tried everything possible with
all technologies at your disposal.
Historically in game terms, the stutterwarp could be
treated as a new or radically different idea that was missed or
never explored for a variety of reasons during the development of
the jump drive. Or, reversing the roles from MOTE, one way it
might be introduced is as some "alien" development, simple yet
never conceived by humans. (Not Hiver - they wouldn't allow it
out of their control and it should be available to all playing
the game, not just their favorite Vyks).
It doesn't have to be tech-level based in the sense that
only TLG+ societies have it. For game balance reasons, it should
be so simple of a concept that any society capable of producing
jump drives should also be able to produce stutterwarp provided
they have heard enough details of the concept.
Keith Thoms