[I am sending the first pieces of mail to the list because: 1) A large
fraction (~25%) of the list is interested in my PBEM Traveller game, and
2) when I finally start refereeing I'm only going to be sending to the
player and listeners lists, and thought everyone still considering
playing or listening should be given a chance. --JP]
I got a great response! Please check that your name appears on the
correct lists. Especially note that I've included all possible players
on the listeners list (assuming that if you can't play, you'd at least
like to listen). If I've included you on an incorrect list, please send
me mail for correction.
Clearly this is way too many people for me to referee, and probably too
many for Eric Kaylor ([email removed]) to referee, so I'm going to have to
select one or two players (more discussion below, after the lists).
Player Candidates:
Bill Oliver [email removed]
DAVIS JONATHAN E [email removed]
DAVIS JONATHAN E [email removed] (a netless friend)
Glenn Fernandez [email removed]
Jon Davis
Mark Carroll [email removed]
Tim Thomas [email removed]
[email removed] (Stuart Stirling)
[email removed]
[email removed] (I do not think about what I do not think about.)
Alternate Referee Candidate:
[email removed]
[Eric: if you decide you want to referee too, feel free to post to the
list, or contact me for better mailing addresses to candidates. You can
then pursue the candidates with whatever player-qualification scheme you
see fit.]
Registered Listeners:
"D. J. McCarthy" [email removed]
Bill Oliver [email removed]
DAVIS JONATHAN E [email removed]
DAVIS JONATHAN E [email removed] (a netless friend)
Glenn Fernandez [email removed]
Jon Davis
Mark Carroll [email removed]
Tim Thomas [email removed]
[email removed] (Bart Massey)
[email removed] (Bob Lewis)
[email removed] (Stuart Stirling)
[email removed]
[email removed]
[email removed] (I do not think about what I do not think about.)
The rest of this letter is directed at the above-mentioned player
candidates, but could be of general interest/discussion/flaming on the list
:-).
Okay, here's how I'm going to figure out who will be a player: I'll send
historical background of the sector/subsector of play out to all
potential players; you'll come up with a one-page character description
(of a young adult); I'll pick the ones I think I can best referee; and
then we'll run the character through the service/skill generation system
together and start playing. I'm expanding on this below.
The subsector is Chosen Subsector/Menion Sector. I generated these star
systems and sector/subsector history this weekend. The sector as a
whole is very unfinished and there's lots of room for creativeness there
on the part of both player and referee. I'll send the history to the
traveller list tommorrow or Thursday when I have it a little more
complete.
When the subsector history mail comes, prepare and send me a one-page
character description. To make this easy, tell me your candidate
character's home world (choose any planet in Chosen), family upbringing
(merchant captain's daughter, whatever), dispostion, rough physical
characteristics and an indication of their personality. Assume an age
of 18-22 (if you want to figure out stats, run 'em through advanced
college system, or something else, you're welcome to but it's not
necessary). Tell me about your character's career aspirations (in other
words, does she/he want to become a navy officer, merchant, smuggler,
scout, diplomat, whatever) but DO NOT run them through the military
character generation yet.
Don't be overly concise; be creative. Use as much space as necessary to
tell me who this character is and why they're interesting. Don't get
too carried away unless you think I'll like the character so much I'll
pick him; i.e. don't get your hopes up too much. I expect around one
page (60 lines or so) of material, more is fine but don't waste valuable
time on a maybe unless you get into this stuff (like I do :-). Be
forwarned, I don't go for supermen (UPP ABAACC) but I am fairly flexible
nonetheless.
When I receive all the responses I think I'm going to get, I'll look at
the characters I get and choose the one or two that most inspire me.
These are the characters that we'll navigate through the UPP/service/skill
generation systems (quite arbitrarily and in a pick-and-choose manner,
mind you) until we have a fleshed-out character ready to play.
Sorry I have to be so arbitrary about who gets to play! I'd really like
to ref everyone! I expect that even mild effort on your part is going to
end up quite creative and inspiring to me. I'm pretty easygoing and
have a good appreciation for imagination. I have a feeling I'll have a
hard time deciding.
Be aware that these games will evolve slowly, over months. If you feel
your account is going to be unstable and die in 6 months and you don't
know if you'll get net access, please tell me and I'll take that into
account. A fast game is possible, but I'd have to evaluate whether its
probable and desired or not.
_ ___
| | / _ \ James T. Perkins, [email removed], 629-1149
| |__ | |_| | Tektronix Logic Analyzers, DAS System Software, Display
|[address removed]
Currently reading: Keith Laumer, Retief_and_the_Warlords
Killed processes never die... They just go to the big Bit Bicket in the sky.