SCOTT,
You're out of luck on what you want me to edit or don't edit. If I had
the time to waste checking for that it might be okay, but the only thing
I had time to waste on it was some reformatting and deleting the stories
and adventures out for the people I was forwarding it too (which are people
interested in what the TML had to say and do, but didn't have the access
to Internet to do so themselves, therefore they subscribed through me).
Anyway now GDW has it's own access as do the other people if they
want it directly (and GDW does), I will no longer be forwarding the
TML to anybody using this address since it is not permitted.
In any case I don't really consider the TML private, anymore than
a subscription to a magazine is private, or joining a SIG.
Therefore if you have anything to say that you don't want to tell
GDW, you might consider private Email (though legally speaking, I'm
not sure Internet Email would be considered private by a court of law
at this time).
EVERYBODY ELSE,
GDW, and several other parties where interested in getting the TML
feed for various reasons. In GDW's case it gave them access to what they
hoped might be useful consumer input (and to a certain extent it did).
Despite what people think or decide to believe. I do believe that
GDW has TNE's best interests at heart, and it does look like they'll be
opening up playtesting to other people, and hopefully here on the TML
as well. Otherwise there best course would be to just let the game die
and not bother with putting up with the heat they are, nor worry about
the competition taking over the position left open by the failure
of MT.
Everybody already knows what a kludge MT was, so what's the sense
in repeating that all the time? (I think by now even the densest person
would get that point). Even Joe Fugate got to admitting what a
mistake it was.
Admittedly some of the changes in TNE are going to upset a lot
of old traveller players (me included), offhand I don't really see
a way around it, but than I agree that Traveller needs some major
updating to bring it up to date with modern RPGing, ease of use, and
technology (AI, cybertech, nanotech as examples).
As for switching to the T2K system, well, I'm certainly going
to miss those d6. But I can understand the need to keep things
simple, and using just one system inhouse is easier than trying to
remember how to play several different RPG's. Just so long as I don't
see characters living through bazooka hits and such.
At the moment my main concerns are how open the playtesting will
be, and hoping GDW doesn't rush the product out before the bugs are
mostly removed at least (I'm more tired of others of seeing errata/updates
put out because the product was rushed out to meet some deadline).
Anyway, a little chaos in one's life keeps those arteries from hardening
up. And experienced GM's know how to change the rules to please themselves
and their players (that includes things like the Virus and other unpleasant
facts, like possibly Stutterwarp, which I can accept as an option/variant,
but not as an official part of TNE).
P.S. And anybody feeling intimidated by GDW listening in can have fun.
If you can't take the heat in return, maybe you shouldn't speak up in
public. 'Nough said.
P.P.S. As for the discussion on GDW suing Scott, they where talking about
doing so for libel, not copyright infringement. And GDW has been pretty
good about allowing others to use their universe, especially when there
permission is asked.