Welcome aboard!
You have been officially added to the Traveller Mailing List.
This message outlines all information you need to know about
using the list.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAVELLER MAILING LIST
FIRST POSTED: 1 JULY, 1987
LAST MODIFIED: 15 OCTOBER, 1993
Hello, and welcome to the Traveller Mailing List.
Please read this whole (8-page) document thoroughly (You'll only need
to read it once), and then make a hard copy of it and keep it for
future reference. It *should* contain everything you need to start
using (as opposed to abusing :-) the Traveller Mailing List.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This document contains sections on:
SUBSCRIBERSHIP (who are we?)
DESCRIPTION OF THE LIST (the TML manifesto)
A VERY BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO TRAVELLER (RPG gaming 101)
SENDING ARTICLES TO THE LIST (nuts & bolts, how-to)
WATCH THOSE CC:'S AND YOUR OTHER AUTOMATIC MAILER SERVICES
WHAT TO DO IF MAIL HICCUPS (something goes wrong, how-to)
TRAFFIC AND DELIVERY STYLE (TML delivery styles)
CONTENT (statement of administrative intent)
TOPIC COORDINATORS (sublists and how to get on them)
HOW TO GET OLD ARTICLES AND SHAREWARE (archive sites)
TRAVELLER SERVICES (resident experts and special archives)
A WORD ON MANNERS AND LIST OWNERSHIP (cautionary advice)
COMMONLY-REQUESTED POSTAL ADDRESSES (in- & out-of-print resources)
SUBSCRIBERSHIP
This all started June 16, 1987 with a posting to USENET, and we have
grown to 413 member addresses, and has outgrown GEnie as the largest
electronic repository and discussion of things related to Traveller. As
long as I am co-ordinating this list, membership will be open to
everyone for free (it's my personal labor of love for the game of
"Traveller").
The membership seems to be very diverse, and well distributed over the
continent of North America and sites in the UK, Scandanavia, Australia,
South America, Asia, and the low countries of Europe. In the addresses I
see all kinds of sites: defense contractors, electronics manufacturers,
publishers, universities, and homebrew USENET sites. GDW, HIWG, and
several other organizations monitor happenings on the TML.
The people that read the list are mostly players and referees of
Traveller. Some of them currently play Traveller but most have played it
at some time or are planning to play Traveller. Many have never looked
at a Traveller rulebook and play other role-playing games, and some are
just interested in science fiction or technology projections in general.
It is my sincere wish that we get the largest possible membership on
this list (the more the merrier), so feel free to tell others about it
that could be interested and have E-mail access. However, since I
cannot be responsible for any transmission charges, the membership is
restricted to those sites which shoulder their own burden of
transmission costs.
This list is included in the USENET list-of-lists, which appears
periodically in the news.lists newsgroup. It is also mentioned in the
FAQ for the rec.games.frp newsgroup.
DESCRIPTION OF THE LIST
This list exists to discuss Game Designer's Workshop's TRAVELLER Science
Fiction Role Playing System (what a mouthful), including all derivative
games and rulesets (Traveller: The New Era, Traveller 2300,
MegaTraveller, Classic Traveller, Striker, Azhanti High Lightning, etc).
Discussion is intended to be unlimited and to people with a broad base
of familiarity with Traveller. Subscribers can exchange programs, news
bulletins, new "rules", war stories, questions at any level of
expertise, answers, etc; or just listen.
Also there are a number of you out there (you know who you are), who are
interested primarily in other gaming systems, but want to transfer
concepts embodied in Traveller to other systems. For reasons listed
below (see CONTENT), lengthy non-Traveller messages are discouraged.
A VERY BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO TRAVELLER
For those of you completely unfamiliar with Traveller, a short
explanation is in order. Traveller is a set of rules for a Role Playing
Game. Another common Role-Playing Game of wide familiarity is Dungeon &
Dragons by TSR, in which players attempt to guide fictional people (like
characters in a book) through a plot and setting set up by a person
designated to provide most of the setting and arbitrate the results of
player actions (the Dungeon Master, or DM). What makes Traveller
different from Dungeons and Dragons is that instead of being set in a
medieval/magical/fantasy setting, it is set in a futuristic,
technological society of Interstellar Government and Commerce. This is
the primary distinction, as both "games" exist to provide the basic
framework and rules by which each world operates.
An illustration: Dungeon & Dragons could provide the background for a
storyline such as any of the "Sinbad", "Conan", "Lord of the Rings",
"Eternal Champion" or other medieval/fantasy stories (to name a few),
while Traveller provides an excellent framework for stories similar to
"Alien", "Star Wars", and to a lesser extent "Dune". Unfortunately for
you buffs interested exclusively in "Star Trek", Traveller in general
doesn't mesh well with arbitrating that sort of science fiction (but
other gaming systems exist just for this purpose).
Most TML members agree that Traveller's biggest plus is the rich
history, technology, and aliens background provided in numerous
supplements. Many other enjoy the creative aspects of the ship design,
world generation, and trade systems. Most agree that the three major
ruleset revisions (Traveller "Classic", MegaTraveller, and the latest,
Traveller: The New Era) are bespotted with conflicts and blatant
revisionism, but when it comes right down to it, rules are guidelines
and usually don't get in the way of good clean fun.
For more information on Traveller, you should look in your Yellow Pages
for the most sophisticated gaming/hobbyist shop in a nearby metropolitan
area, and drop in. Examine the Traveller: TNE ruleset, and supplementary
materials published for Traveller. Other sources of up-to-date Traveller
information can be found in "Challenge" magazine (a publication of Game
Designers' Workshop), and "The MegaTraveller Journal" magazine
(publication of Digest Group Publications, alas, this excellent source
stopped publication at issue 4); there are fanzines you can ask about on
the TML - the ones I am aware of are the HIWG newsletter and Tiffany
Star; other magazines targeted at Science Fiction gaming may have a
small amount of Traveller-related material, but Challenge has a large
circulation and hence, availability. Naturally, members of this list
will be happy to answer any questions you have, too.
SENDING ARTICLES TO THE LIST
For those of you unfamiliar as to what a mailing list is, it is simply
an electronic mail "mailbox" on a UNIX host computer. Any mail sent to
that mailbox at that host computer is automatically resent to everyone
in the list. These mailing list mailboxes are also called "aliases".
There are two mailboxes which exist for this list. The first is the
address to send any requests to add or delete a subscription, inform me
that your account is moving, request archives of old messages, offer
suggestions as to how the list itself is run, or just chat with me (the
list owner). All mail sent to this mailbox will be sent only to me.
Most of you have used this mailbox to request that you be added to the
list. Here is the "REQUEST" mailbox:
[email removed]
All mail sent to "traveller-request" will be assumed private unless
explicitly stated otherwise: I will make a strong effort at keeping
traveller-request correspondence confidential. However, expect that
your name, city, state (or country), and electronic mail address will be
available to other members of the Traveller list.
The second mailbox broadcasts all mail it receives to everybody on the
mailing list, including you. This is somewhat similar to posting an
article to USENET, and so the usual posting suggestions exist: do not
flame (send those via direct mail), and be reasonably brief (this means
if there is a lot to say, go ahead and say it; but if there is little to
say, don't ramble). Here is the "BROADCAST" mailbox:
[email removed]
When you send a submission to the broadcast mailbox, you will recieve
an automated reply indicating that your mail has been recieved.
Please follow these format rules when sending a message to the list:
1. Use only standard printing ascii characters: alphanumerics,
punctuation and special characters (#!|, etc.) are okay.
No "control codes" except CR (^M), LF/NL (^J), FF (^L), or
TAB (^I), please. [Reason: mailers sometimes reject messages
with unusual characters or control sequences in them. This
means my personal mailbox gets filled up by scores of
undeliverable mail messages.]
2. Please limit line length to 80 characters or less (78 or less
if possible). [Reason: Many people are stuck with standard
24 line by 80 column terminals, or worse.]
The addresses on the list are as brief and as simple as I can keep them,
Internet addresses if possible, so that the UWO mailing system can
choose the quickest route for each message. Since the mail is in effect
resent by my host, as long as you can reach the list here at
engrg.uwo.ca your host, then you can reach everybody on the list,
regardless of the mailer domain they are in.
WATCH THOSE CC:'S AND YOUR OTHER AUTOMATIC MAILER SERVICES
If you reply to a Traveller Mailing List article you have received, and
let your mail program automatically choose the address to reply to,
chances are you won't reply to traveller (the broadcast address);
instead, most mailers will choose traveller-request or jamesp to send
the mail back. That means that I am the only person who will probably
get your message, and then I will have to guess that you meant to send
it to the list, and forward it myself. Adding a human (me) into the
process is sure to degrade the service :-). In fact, I've set it up this
way to avoid accidental broadcast -- I want people to post with
real conviction, forethought and malice. :-)
So I ask you, when responding to any article received via the list, look
carefully at who is going to receive it before letting your mailer send
it. It wouldn't do to have a private response automatically and
carelessly sent to the whole list! Conversely, if you wanted the mail to
go out to the whole list, make sure that you use the traveller address.
WHAT TO DO IF MAIL HICCUPS (AFTER SENDING TO THE MAILING LIST)
Occasionally you may get a copy of your message regurgitated to you,
with strange messages such as "user unknown" or "host unknown", or
"message not delivered in 3 days". If this occurs, PLEASE FORWARD A
COPY OF THE ENTIRE MESSAGE TO traveller-request, so that I can attempt
to determine why the address is bad, and if necessary remove the address
from the list.
Most mail failures are sent back to me, instead of to the originator, so
I can remove addressees from the list that continually cause delivery
failure. Yes, if I can no longer send mail to you for some reason or
another (I keep getting returned and failed mail), I will after several
failures regretfully remove your name from the list. PLEASE KEEP ME
INFORMED OF CHANGES IN ADDRESS and account termination, so I'll not be
so overwhelmed in maintaining failures and can do a more quality job.
TRAFFIC AND DELIVERY STYLE
The list averages about seventy messages every month, and the average
message usually tends to be about 2-3 pages (66 lines == 1 page) in
length. The list has been known to hit 230 messages in one month,
though!
A feature of the mailing list instituted in May 1989 gives each member
their choice of delivery styles:
Instant: Instant delivery means that you recieve each individual message
sent to the list, as quickly as possible, in your mailbox.
INSTANT DELIVERY IS NO LONGER ALLOWED, as it places too great a
load on the mail network.
Nightly Digest: This means that you receive bunches of messages sent
to the list, compacted into a single message, in your mailbox.
The software sends out a single digest nightly at 8:30pm, or
multiple digests if traffic warrants it.
Biweekly Digest: This means that you receive bunches of messages sent
to the list, compacted into a single message, in your mailbox.
The software sends out a single digest Wednesdays and Sundays at
9:00pm, or multiple digests if traffic warrants it.
Bundle Subscription: This means that you receive the archive bundles,
whenever there is 45K worth of accumulated traffic since the
last bundle was sent, compacted into a single message, in your
mailbox. The software sends out a single bundle on an
infrequent basis, usually 1-2 weeks apart.
If you want a particular form of delivery, or want to chage your current
form, just contact traveller-request and I will set you up. The default
form of delivery is NIGHTLY DIGEST.
CONTENT
A word on content is in order. I try to run the TML as a free and
blisteringly open discussion service. I am generally very tolerant of
opinions expressed, even though I may not personally agree with the
originator. I will tolerate general criticism, critique, poor reviews,
and even occasional fits of frustration. However, I will NOT tolerate
direct attacks on another member's integrity.
If you feel someone has unfairly attacked your person, don't respond to
the TML broadcast address. Please let me know. It will result in
discussion between the parties, and at my discretion may result in
disciplinary action. Only one severe case has arised, when one member
described another in an obscene and degrading manner on the open forum.
As far as critique or frustration leveled at a company or it's products,
it is generally tolerated on the TML. Most people who emit such
commentary are striving to share their opinions as a customer of the
product, and I believe that as long as it is even partially constructive
commentary, that it is acceptable for posting.
It's okay to discuss other game systems at length on the TML if they are
discussed in a Traveller-related manner (example: comparison/contrast).
However, long non-Traveller messages are expensive for those who pay for
TML mail delivery byte-by-byte, so if it's not related to Traveller,
keep it to a short announcement of an offline discussion.
Above all, think about the other 400+ members of the TML before you
post. And if you see something that really gets your goat, cool off
before responding, and send me a message before responding if you think
it's appropriate.
TOPIC COORDINATORS
There are also more special addresses to send items to the mailing list.
This is because people wanted to start "special interest groups" for
certain topics:
Traveller EPBM Referee: [email removed] (Mark Cook and metlay)
Richard Johnson began refereeing a Traveller Electronic
Play-by-Mail game, where players are crewmembers aboard the ISR
Alcyon, on a mission to research a newly-discovered Ringworld.
Mark Cook and metlay took it over. They periodically keep the
TML at large informed of game happenings. There are a whole
family of mailing-list style aliases at the engrg.uwo.ca site,
to aid characters in routing PBEM mail - for details, contact
pbemref. Note that the engrg.uwo.ca address actually forwards
mail to their real mailboxes: [email removed], and
[email removed].
Compter-Aided Traveller "CAT": [email removed] (Richard Johnson)
[email removed] (Dan Corrin)
CAT members discuss how computers can be used as RPG aids in
playing Traveller, including automated character & star system
generation. This list is distinct and mostly seperate from the
TML. Please mail to BOTH addresses to be added, as Richard is
topic coordinator and Dan maintains a redistribution mail alias,
[email removed].
Traveller Done Right "TDR": [email removed] (metlay & Mark F Cook)
THIS LIST IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE - ALL DISCUSSION SHOULD ACTUALLY
BE SENT TO THE TML ([email removed]). Mark and
metlay maintain several mailing lists dedicated to replacing and
enchancing portions of the MegaTraveller rules. Contact this
address if and only if you are truly committed to spending large
tracts of time discussing rule shortcomings and actually
producing enhancements. Metlay sends out occasional status
reports to the TML at large.
2300AD: [email removed] (Pedro A C Tavares)
Pedro is interested in keeping those with interest in 2300
together, and reports to the TML occasionally if there's any
interesting material. Write him if you're especially interested
in 2300.
TNE-Pocket: [email removed] (George Herbert)
George and Guy Garnett (aka Derek Wildstar) have a working group
to flesh out the history of the "Aoreriyya Region of Reavers'
Deep Sector". This is quasi-official work sanctioned by HIWG and
GDW. Members of this list are expected to contribute regularly,
and periodic reports of goings-on are posted to the TML.
Space 1889: [email removed] (Matt Goodman)
Matt has started a mail list to discuss GDW's Space 1889 game,
which is unrelated to Traveller, but as it's a GDW game, it's of
interest to several TMLers.
If you cannot reach these people, send the mail to traveller-request and
I will gladly manually forward mail to them.
HOW TO GET OLD ARTICLES AND SHAREWARE
There's some starship designs, programs for world generation and trade
and others, official MegaTraveller Errata, and official Imperium sector
data as posted to GEnie by Digest Group (and much, much, more)! The
whole archives are on the order of 45 MEGABYTES in size.
The primary TML archive site is uwo.ca (or more correctly,
ftp.engrg.uwo.ca, 129.100.100.12, directory pub/traveller). There are
several additional special-interest sites listed in another document
that I can send you.
------- What's there -------
Site Method Buns Pkgs Soft Shps
-------------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ----
uwo.ca ftp all all some* some
traveller-request
email all* all* none none
disk all all none none
There are different ways to request archive information, depending on
the site you get the archives from. 'ftp' indicates anonyomous ftp
online file transfer. 'email' indicates reponse and data via email.
'disk' indicates 3.5" DSHD MSDOS floppies delivered by the postal
service.
Also depending on the site, there are different materials available.
'Buns' indicates the TML message traffic, about 20 megabytes in size.
'Pkgs' indicates "Packages" of collected information: errata, software,
official sector data, and starship designs. 'Soft' indicates additional
gaming aid software, beyond that available in the Packages. 'Shps'
indicates starship designs, beyond that available in the Packages. The
asterisks '*' indicate which site is likely to be most up-to-date for a
particular type of material.
For specific details on retrieving this information and what the exact
site addresses are, mail [email removed] and ask for the
"How to Get Archives" document.
TRAVELLER SERVICES
Vehicle Design Keeper: [email removed] (Rob Dean) or
[email removed] (Robert Dean)
Rob has a huge collection of vehicle designs for use with
MegaTraveller. Send mail to Rob if you'd like him to send them
out to you, or better yet, ask traveller-request to direct you
to the FTP site where they are available.
A WORD ON MANNERS AND LIST OWNERSHIP
I know that everyone on the list is pleasant and excited in Traveller
and will use the list for sharing all the things that make Traveller
exciting, but....
There is no room on this mailing list for people who would destroy the
fun the rest of us are having. If anyone on the list habitually resorts
to abusive language, misuses the list, or I receive numerous complaints
about them (sent to traveller-request), I will warn them by direct mail.
If the situation cannot be resolved, I will remove them from the mailing
list. All attempts at fairness and understanding will be attempted.
Furthermore, the existence of this list and the cost for it's
administration and existence is supported by The University of Western
Ontario, the site administrator (Dan Corrin) and the list administrator
(James Perkins, me). The fact that anyone is on it at all is because
we want you here to listen and to share. If at any time we perceive a
need to discontinue the list for personal or employer's reasons, or
discontinue any individual's participation in the list, I must reserve
that right with no questions asked. Sorry.
Also, the University of Western Ontario is not responsible for the
traffic that flows through the list. All traffic is the responsibility
of the originators.
COMMONLY-REQUESTED POSTAL ADDRESSES
Following are a few postal addresses for sources of fan, out-of-print,
and in-print products and information.
History of the Imperium Working Group (HIWG):
[address removed]
HIWG membership costs $US12 for 6 issues of AAB Proceedings.
HIWG is a fan support group that is dedicated to mapping the
Imperium (officially) and expanding upon the written material.
It was originally created to map out the Rebellion and certain
people were designated Faction analysts. As with the change from
Rebellion to Hard Times and now New Era, HIWG still has a
function supporting Traveller.
For those of you dying to find out-of-print materials, TMLers have
strongly recommended the following store as having fair deals (and
sometimes real steals) on a wide variety of new and used GDW products:
Weekend Warrior
[address removed]
United States of America
Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed]
Payment in US funds by Postal Money Order, Personal Money Order or Bank
Draft. Allow for an extra 10 days for payment made by personal check if
unknown to them.
For currently in-print things, you can reach GDW for correspondence at:
GDW
[address removed]
[phone removed] voice
[phone removed] FAX
Well, that's about it. Everything you wanted to know about the
Traveller Mailing List. Enjoy! And if you have any questions/comments,
let me know.
__ __/ / / Internet Traveller Mailing List, Administrator
/ / / / / James T. Perkins in Eugene, Oregon, USA
__/ __/__/__/ _____/ [email removed]