From: "Jeremy Seeley" <jseeley2@qwest.net>
> My question is, what scale should I use for mass? Assuming "ancient"
ships
> (galleons, viking ships, etc), what would I mass them at? That is the
I like this idea! Are you going to put any background info on the web? I'd
love to check it out.
This brings up the related question: What other independent (Non-Genre
(ie
Trek, B5, Galactica, SAAB, HH, SW), Non-Tuffleyverse Spinoff/Splinter)
universes are out there for FT? The only one I know of for sure is Kieth
Watt's Exodus Project.
If there's mre than 1 or 2, then perhaps an "Independent Universe" list can be
added to one of the FAQs or to the WDA.
***
This brings up the related question: What other independent (Non-Genre
(ie
Trek, B5, Galactica, SAAB, HH, SW), Non-Tuffleyverse Spinoff/Splinter)
universes are out there for FT? The only one I know of for sure is Kieth
Watt's Exodus Project.
If there's mre than 1 or 2, then perhaps an "Independent Universe" list can be
added to one of the FAQs or to the WDA.
***
The problems with finding independent universes seem pretty much of two kinds:
most folks at least get direction from a particular bit of genre,
and sci-fi's been around long enough that no matter how original your
thinking appears, you'll get 'oh, you mean like...'
Some of the splinter/spinoffs seem to me to be more suitable for other
universes; a few in Three Roses and A Lion, others in L. Ron Hubbard books.
Others could fit in several other universes. My own corporate wars idea seems
far beyond what's in Tuffeyverse, and is probably closer to what you'd expect
in the Aliens series, Moon 44, or to some extent, Outland.
If anyone decides to do a laissez faire gone bad, robber barons gone
monstrous universe, my sore-loser renegade Texaco Freetraders stand
ready
to spoil anybody's cash-flow. ;->=
The_Beast
-Douglas J. Evans, curmudgeon
One World, one Web, one Program - Microsoft promotional ad
Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer - Adolf Hitler
> On 7-Jun-01 at 10:07, devans@uneb.edu (devans@uneb.edu) wrote:
list can
> be added to one of the FAQs or to the WDA.
The wierdest has to be the friend that wanted to run a game based in the
"Uplift War" universe which David Brin wrote. How the heck do you model
something that can destroy you by disbelieving but could also destroy the ship
it is on by doing the same?
From: devans@uneb.edu:
> The problems with finding independent universes seem pretty much of
I see your point. Trek Purists might even call SFB non-genre. I guess I
was really interested in and asking about universes that were at least largely
independent of, shall we say, "mass produced" SF genres. Certainly SW, Trek,
B5, and probably SAAB and HH count that way. Also certainly the "Space
Vikings" and a "Space 1889" universe (one I am thinking about, tho I don't
have the original game anymore as source material) would be my definition of
"non-genre"
> My own corporate wars idea
Aliens is arguable Genre for Dirtside, even less for SG, but certainly not
for FT - the ships were merely set environments for the action. The
other sources you list, I would argue are too "small" and not fleshed out
enough to define Genre specifics.
From: Roger Books <books@mail.state.fl.us>
> The wierdest has to be the friend that wanted to run a game based
The Uplift universe, and places like Vinge's "Fire upon the Deep" would be
Genre (in my definition) if it's "rules" were more defined, but to me they
seem open. As it is, hey are examples of primarily plot settings with wierd
and wonderful tech effects around the character actions.
Remember, H. Beam Piper wrote a (terrific) book called "Space Viking" that
had lots of action, both ship-to-ship and ground, that would translate
fairly easily into FB/DSII/SGII terms. His ships were quite large,
common
classes being referred to a 1000-foot (length) and 1500-foot. No
fighters though. I think almost anything that's been published somewhere could
be called "genre", and that's probably almost everything. The difference
what's widely known and what isn't.
[quoted original message omitted]
Yes, I do plan to put it on the web. I am just waiting for my brother to get
my FTP up (he has a server at his house). Can't complain, he's the one that
gives me free space.
Jeremy
> > My question is, what scale should I use for mass? Assuming
I'd
> love to check it out.
list can
> be added to one of the FAQs or to the WDA.
I have that book! I always loved it. Found my copy in a used book store. Very
good reading.
Oh yes...the ship's sizes (1000 foot, ect) refered to the ship's
Diameter...not length. Yes, all of Mr Piper's ships were round. Star drive was
"Dillingham Hyperspace Drive" (seemed to cover about 1
light-year per hour.)
Maneuver drive was the "Abbot lift-and-drive" (An all-around gravitic
drive.)
Ship's defenses consisted of Collapsium-plated steel armor. (Very heavy
stuff, could turn aside atomics.) Ship weapons were Atomic tipped missles and
cannon. The missles had a 1000 mile range. Ships also had intercept missles.
Typical journeys were into the hundreds to thousands of hours...(All of the
really interesting planets were very far apart. Lots of un-interesting
planets everywhere.) Ships were very expensive, and had a long construction
time. The "fleet" battle at the end of the book had 16 ships on one side, and
10 on the other.
The Space Vikings came from "the Sword Worlds" (A feudal culture. Kings,
princes, ect.) The only other power was the "Old Federation". (A democratic
power long since passed the point of no return. The vikings easily raided
there without reprisals.)
Definatly a good read! Go find yourself a copy!
Donald Hosford
> "Robert W. Eldridge" wrote:
> Remember, H. Beam Piper wrote a (terrific) book called "Space Viking"
that
> had lots of action, both ship-to-ship and ground, that would translate
> > Remember, H. Beam Piper wrote a (terrific) book called "Space
that
> > had lots of action, both ship-to-ship and ground, that would
It is a great book read it years ago in fact at
http://www.tin-soldier.com/sg/eli.html you
can fined a miniature line that was taken from the book and although renamed
fits them to a tee. The Eli are the remnants of an ancient humanoid race that
is regressing to
barbarism. Most of their worlds are impoverished, isolated low-tech
backwaters. The few Eli who have maintained some of their ancient skills and
technology make their living as space pirates (sometimes known as Vacuum
Vikings). They will fight anywhere for money and loot.
Eli raiders are armed with heavy laser rifles, blast rifles, and whatever
exotic weapons they can steal. They wear strange, baroque armor and are jump
trained.