I would like to make a couple of follow-up comments about the UUP idea.
First of all, I'm glad GDW will do something of the sort with T:TNE; any sort
of multi-universe game needs something like this. Personally, I felt that the
Tone, Contrast, Scale, and Input numbers are quite important. Not everyone
likes the same kind of adventuring, and these allow you to quickly see if a
product fits in with the kind of game your players like to play.
The parameters were intended to go into equations in the vehicle and equipment
design sequences: exactly what each number means depends on what it is for.
As a rule of thumb, a 0 indicates that the technology is impossible (not
present in the universe at all). Other numbers indicate greater or lesser
degrees of efficency; the larger the number, the more efficient or powerful
the effect. Exactly how these numbers are interpreted would depend on the
rules contained in the design sequences for that technology.
Since none of these rules (currently) exist, then it is all rather
hypothetical. But it would be nice to see such a scheme in place for T:TNE.
Speaking of Arrival Vengance, my local game store (Dream Wizards) does not
have it in stock yet (Dec 30th). Tom Peters (who occasionally works there)
mentioned that he has yet to see the completed product, and he did the
cover art (!). Tom also expressed a good bit of confidence in Dave Nilsen
and Traveller: The New Era.
[email removed]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Science-Fiction Adventure
in the Far Future