Re: TML nightly: Msgs 4616-4616 V44#14

>On the other hand, like so many other areas of goods-and-services marketing,
>the game company relies to an extent on generating fresh interest in its
>products, by issuing newer versions and (hopefully) better rules systems.
>A company that remains hidebound in an old system is committing a form of
>corporate suicide.

I would hope that people would see this point as axiomatic. I really don't
mind a new version of a favorite gaming system (ability to spare the cash,
or willingness, being another question), witness my near-blind leap of faith
when I bought MT. (Though solely as a result of the PBeM, I might note.) As
a current politician might say, the issue is change. Of course, the obvious
retort is change to what? This, of course, is the real reason behind the
sound and fury. I wonder if anyone objects to the pure concept of a new
version.

>Let's wake up and smell the coffee, people. Just for a few minutes, let's
>unstrap our laser carbines, take off our PRIS binocs, and look around the
>real world for a minute, and see the fact that *we are a dying breed.*

And damn proud of it, too. I doubt very much of us are follow the crowd
types, if the rugged individualism shown in the PBeM is at all even a
hint at the people who play them. :->

>"Economics Drives Design."

The car may be great, the road may look clear, but I really wonder where the
heck we're going to end up being driven. Brings to mind a scene from a
favorite movie of mine (Thunderball, with IMHO the best female Bond villian):

"Some men just don't like to be driven."

"No, they just don't like being taken for a ride."

>But if an idea is just plain stupid or useless, or reflects bad
>planning or thinking, then I reserve the right to say so, and loudly.

One would also hope that given the goal, all the options will be
considered, not merely the adequate one that has already been chosen.

>>     Second, its very easy for gaming groups to hop among GDW RP games
>>and even borrow elements from one another.
>
>Chaosium tried this and it didn't work very well. Stick to reason 1, it
>makes more sense. (i.e. a house system is easier to bugfix and cheaper too).

Perhaps part of the reason is that a Chinese menu approach doesn't tend to
build the desired degree of loyalty to a particular system? It's a thought,
anyway.

>>     Third, the house role playing system is a direct descendant of
>>classic TRAVELLER.  TRAVELLER was their first RP game, but never
>>received the benefits of GDW's advances in RP game system design.  Now
>>they finally have a chance to do so.  TRAVELLER is coming home.
>
>This statement is meaningless propaganda. Reread it; it says absolutely
>nothing. It's not classic TRAVELLER in rules or milieu, so what's left?

The more you overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.

>>Unfortunately, the Rebellion itself became a spectator sport, too
>>large in scope for player characters to interact with.

Exhibit A in the "Think Before You Leap" category.

>>     The background for TNE is set 70 years after the Rebellion (circa
>>1190) in a time when interstellar society has completely collapsed.
>
>This is wise, and a good nod to those with campaigns yet to finish.

Very wise. It gives breathing space to those people who either want to
use the new background material or ignore it in toto.

>........... Not to mention a sourcebook for
>the Imperium in 1120 or so, as Strephon deals with Dulinor's failed
>assassination attempt, the Naval conspiracies that surfaced in the
>Fifth War, and the politicking of the Archdukes that he recently
>reappointed....

Give Metlay a gold star for this idea. A very good idea. You ever get
this into pseudo-reality and past the mere concept stage, Mike, drop me
a line, we'll talk... I *really* like it...

>>     TNE will definitely not be an outgrowth of MT.  Although MT was
>>an award winning game design
>
>What award? Most Errata in One Volume Of Rules? Dumbest Ship Combat System?
>Worst Pseudoscience?

Award winning, because if any company can shovel out such patently bad
product *AND* get people to buy it, it must be worthy of SOME award, right?

Give them a gold star if they can REALLY say Award-Winning and MT in the
same sentence. Reminds me of reading one of those Five Year Plans, boasting
about the incredible progress of the Big Red Machine. Not!

>>particular, GDW will completely revise the ship design system to make
>>it easier.  Digest Group made a special effort to assure that classic
>>ships were convertible to MT.  GDW, however, will not do this so as to
>>not risk compromising the new system.
>
>All I can say is, it had better be an improvement. We've had compatibility
>without convenvience, and now you're taking compatibility away....

Amen, brother. We want to be able to design, really design ships but not
take as long as it does to design a REAL ship. I would be sorely disappointed
if it just turns out to be a bland and faint echo of what we have now. Some
people DO like detail. We shall see...

>I'm actually looking forward to this, being one of the few people out
>here who actually understands why the distance limit for stutterwarp was
>set to the particular number of ly that it was. I've had star gates as
>Ancient artifacts in my Trav games for over thirteen years, and a system
>for running a lower-tech version in place for nearly eight. I'd LOVE
>to get Traveller working with some of those ideas.

Nor do I mind having multiple drive techniques. I like the idea. It's the
implementation that I dread (see your retcon comments).

>I'd recommend it anyway. A simple diagram explanation as given in MAYDAY
>would help a lot, and it makes a lot of physical sense. On the other
>hand, I'd recommend laminated play boards with markers rather than the
>old system of past, present and future position counters....

Keeping in mind the advantage of a combat system that can be used without
boards, or the requirement of large area, etc. (if that hasn't been
figured out already).

>And to Bertil, for his comment on the Metlay System of Space Combat:
>THHPHHHBBBT!
>
>|->

Shiver me timbers and get me some grog! :>

>>As a result, the Empire of Deneb remains a
>>powerful interstellar state even in the New Era.
>
>This is a soft spot in my heart, and I'm damn grateful for it. But I'd
>dearly love to know how they were able to actually stop the Virus....

Definately one of the saving graces of TNE. Empire of Deneb. I guess so,
but that name just has an odd ring to it, somehow...

>>     The 'long ship' is a class of starship apparently unique to the
>>Star Vikings.  This is an unstreamlined ship with a good jump range,
>>but minimal or possibly no maneuver drive.  It carries rider ships
>>which are actually used to contact worlds.
>
>The Alcyon? Nah.....|->

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... :->

- ----

Shortest Judicial Opinion Ever Written:
    "The appellant has attempted to distinguish the factual situation in this
     case from (a prior case). He didn't. We couldn't. Affirmed."
          --Denny v. Radar Industries, Inc., 184 N.W.2d 289 (1971)

Nicholas Sylvain ([email removed])
Marshall-Wythe School of Law
College of William and Mary