To: Anthony "K." Baggaley [email removed]
Dear Anthony:
Here are my responses to your comments posted on March 16th:
> Well it looks like all the moans about GDW's massive incompetence
> and discussions over obscure traveller/science facts has all moved
> to the gdw-beta list. Pity, that's what I really liked about the
> TML, but I'm sure all the TNE players out there wouldn't agree...
I say, moan and groan all you want. The TML is an open forum.
It's not like there is a set limit on the amount of material it
can hold. Anyone who doesn't like what you have to say can skip
your messages and read the ones they like. That's what I like
about the TML -- it's a real potpouri. Sure, a pocket can be
nice to concentrate efforts, but general discussions about
Traveller is what TML was made for -- and what can be more
general than the very rules through which the game is played?
BTW, would someone please post some info about how to join the
gdw-beta list?
> I just thought I'd try answering a few questions people asked
> yesterday. (It's either that or my 'why TNE is trash' flame, and
> I'm still collecting evidence for that)
TNE has its good points and bad. I like the campaign, though it
saddens me that CT and MT are no longer supported commercially
with new material (TTC and TML are notable exceptions). Thank
goodness for TML!
[excerpts follow...]
> "Michael A. Masten" asked
> >I have a question about the Virus that keeps getting mentioned in TNE.
> >What is it and where did it come from?
>
> What is it?2- depending on peoples point of view, it is also-
> 1) a way to turn Traveller into a 'Dark Future' RPG, while still
> being able to say 'No, it's about REBUILDING society, honest-
> we only need the Fusion Rifles for our own protection'
> 2) a way to release a new Traveller set that didn't need new
> players to learn the whole Imperial background (destroying
> 90% of it may have rather overdone the idea)
> 3) a way to clean out a background that was just too big and
> complex for the new design team to cope with.
> 4) a way to destroy the Imperial background... just because they
> could.
> 5) a way to annoy me- personally :)
>
> Where did it come from?2- again, depending on who you ask-
> 1) TNE designers- Frank and Dave (the Game Guys)
> 2) several other people- but don't claim GDW nicked any ideas
> off you, or they'll sue!
> 3) someone who didn't know squat about computers or the Traveller
> background
> 4) a bad dream
Boy, they REALLY got to you didn't they? Heck, I don't plan on
using TNE (the campaign) for years to come -- not until they
finish the rules, and generate enough background to work with.
I'm quite interested in seeing what they come up with, so I am in
part financing that endeavor by purchasing their products as they
come out. But I've spent so much time and effort developing the
Spinward Marches, that it makes sense to me to make use of my
custom materials for that region, rather than start developing
another region (the Old Expanses) from scratch and fear that it
will conflict with GDW's ongoing developments for the same
region.
> As for the merits of various backgrounds, the only 'merit' I can
> see in TNE is that the 'area of interest' i.e. the area that the
> published background covers, is less 'civilised'. PCs have more of
> a chance to act as bloodthirsty criminals and get away with it, with
> smaller governments or no government in most areas. It has an
> advantage- with all these smaller ponds PCs have more chance to be
> big fish, which should suit some people and could be interesting
> if they use this power for anything other than stealing chickens.
> However, most Arses background I've seen implies they prefer to
> 'shoot people with big guns'- I get the impression it's this that's
> making TNE so popular (not on this mature list of course :>)
> That you could do all this in CT, just outside of the Imperium,
> means TNE has no real improvement over CT. But, again, it depends
> who you ask...
As a Spinward Marches ref, I don't see TNE as a drawback or a
setback. If anything, it enhances Spinward Marches/Regency
campaigns, because the borders actually become frontiers. And
since the Regency, the Zhodani Consolate, the Darrian
Confederation, and the Sword Worlds -- and in my campaign the
spinward "land grants" (Foreven, Far Frontiers, Vanguard Reaches,
The Beyond, etc.) -- will have survived for the most part intact,
civilization will have continued to advance there
(population-wise, culture-wise, and technology-wise), NOT
regressed. Civilization will be just a bit smaller as a whole,
'tis all.
> Now, HEPlaR vs. Thrusters... Oh boy, when did you get here?
> You certainly missed the big fight over Fusion Drives when TNE
> came out.
Yes, I missed it too. I think I better play that "most American
of games" and catch-up before I let my fingers go crazy at the
keyboard on this one.
Later,
Rodge.