BSE Digest v195 #258

From: kerry@freeside.fc.net (Kerry Harrison)

Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000

BSE Digest                 Thursday, 20 July 1995       Volume 195 : Number 258

Welcome to the BSE Digest, the place to discuss all the myriad aspects of
life Beyond the Stellar Empire with other denizens of the Greater Periphery.

In this issue:

+       Contact
+       People vs. Fat Boy, et al.
+       Re: BSE: BSE On-Line Conference
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates?
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates
+       "Merchant" Upgrade Class A
+       APOLOGIES - Gaspree is at space square 1738!
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates
+       BSE:  Ilium Novum
+       Re: BSE: GTT Gaspree (#1656) Market Report for 27-195
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates?
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates?
+       Re: BSE: Skirmish in Podkay
+       BSE: IND Posting
+       Re: BSE: IND Posting
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates
+       Re: BSE: von Ludendorf
+       Lord Nicholas Van Rijn
+       Re: BSE: Battlegates?

See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the bse-list
and bse-digest mailing lists.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: StuKrieger@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 22:50:01 -0400
Subject: Contact

To Any Party with Information,

I wish to know who runs SSL(?) Ambrosia (2525), a colony in
the Spandau system.  Can anyone help me out with a name?
Possibly an email or snailmail address?

Thank you.

Wayne Alexander

------------------------------

From: WayneAlex@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 22:48:41 -0400
Subject: People vs. Fat Boy, et al.

(...the courtroom at IND Allipon...the Prosecution has rested
its case after weeks of parading parties, human and alien,
described in detail the suffering they endured at the hands of
the defendants...Mr. Duckworth studies his notes, and then
rises...)

Mr. Duckworth:  Your Honor, this court has heard tales of
woe that would make a statute shed alligator tears.  But, what
does it prove?  The Prosecution has only proven that a great
many people suffered improbable, but possible, natural
disasters.  No proof has been presented to link any of these
unfortunate incidents with my clients.  Where is the proof?
Tales of sorrow are heart rendering, but they are not
conclusive of anything other than the freakishness of nature.
I move for dismissal of all charges, Your Honor.

The Court:  As reprehensible and disgusting as this court finds
your clients Mr. Duckworth, I have to agree with most of your
argument.  The prosecution has presented a litany of sorrows
and disasters, few of which point anything approaching a
factual finger at the Defendant as the cause of the problem, and
their evidence is ruled moot.  However, the court does find that
the evidence provided by the CPR and the Lemites is sufficient
enough to continue with this trial.  Your motion to dismiss is
denied.  Call your first witness.

Mr. Duckworth:  The Defense calls [CENSORED].

(...the chief defendant, Fat Boy, proudly waddles to the witness
box, where he is sworn in by the clerk of the tribunal, Otis Flypaste...)

The Clerk:  Raise your right appendage.  Do you promise to tell
the truth, most of the truth and damn near all of the truth, so help
you *BOB*?

The Defendant:  Uhmmm...ehhhh...no, I don't think I will.

The Prosecution (leaping to his feet):  Your Honor!  I demand that
the Accursed be advised of his absence of any rights under the
Secret Code of Military Toughness...

The Court:  Mr. Prosecutor!  You are out of order!  I find you in
contempt of this court and fine you one Twinkie.  Now, set down
before I assess further confectionary sanctions.  Now, Mr. Boy,
you are here as a witness in your own defense.  This court
expects you to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, understand?

The Defendant:  Why should I have to start now?  What is truth?
Is it objective or subjective or manipulated?  Is my truth the same
as your truth?  Who knows, who cares?  Can you make him give
me that Twinkie you were talking about?

Mr. Duckworth:  Mr. [CENSORED], are you guilty of the crimes
that you are accused of?

The Defendant:  Nope.  Never heard of the CPR, except as a
medical procedure.  The Lemites I do know of, but I had them
only once, when I was in the Navy, and a bottle of Blue Ointment
and a hammer made them go away after a week or so.

Mr. Duckworth:  Thank you.

The Court:  Your witness, Mr. Prosecutor.

The Prosecution:  Your Honor, this is ridiculous.  The Defendant
is obviously attempting to pull a fast one on this Court.  I have no
questions for this sorry excuse...

The Court:  Mr. Duckworth, call your next witness.

Mr. Duckworth:  No further witnesses, Your Honor.  The Defense
rests.

The Court:  There being no further witnesses, the Court will take
this case under advisement, and issue a ruling in three days
time.  This court is in recess until then.

...to be continued...

------------------------------

From: ac217@detroit.freenet.org (Chip Charnley)
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 22:57:58 -0400
Subject: Re: BSE: BSE On-Line Conference

>You're not an idiot either, Chip - nor is Bill Pegues. The rest of those
>people though....
>
>Feel better now? (g)
>

Nah, just about the same. This inch thick, thorlium enhanced hide I've
developed over a decade of being on CIS absorbs most of this stuff these
days! :`)

Chip

------------------------------

From: PROTHORAX@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:09:38 -0400
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates?

(ooc) Thanks for sharing the research info and I think your going to take
some heat on this but I see some  game advantage here?! The battlegate is a
problem to us agressive types but I have a couple ideas on how to defeat this
monster?! What gets me is that I have worked on so many projects and they
have either required the help of others and inturn the work is taken or I run
into a dead end?! I bet I have spent thousands and have nothing to show for
it! What really bites is that I really like searching for that artifact and
doing research!                          later david

ps. this thing has aggressive possiblities! :) I'm not sure RTG has taken a
truely close look at this monster! But, it gives some of us the chance to
think on how to beat this thing and to look for a game item to stop (or slow
down) the MONSTER!

------------------------------

From: Paul Schneider <pauls@realm.net>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 19:50:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates

On Wed, 19 Jul 1995, Christopher Allen wrote:

> They are just like ships except that they don't require maintenance (as
> they can't land, or even enter orbit.)

Interesting.  So this means that they can carry Jump, Thrust Engines as
well as be specialized.

Paul

------------------------------

From: ASOCCIO@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:15:31 -0400
Subject: "Merchant" Upgrade Class A

Greeting's   Marshall Whispers

The starcaptain  Lt. Collins  of the AFT  TYRONE  #1613,  after receiving the
message from it's main office, that GTT  Gaspree had made a offer of a free
upgrade to  his ship to a Merchant A . was report to have said long live the
Honorable Marshall Whispers.

This message is sent to GTT Gaspree  send a Pickup Authorizations to the AFT
TYRONE (1613) and we will  do the upgrade you have offered. We look forward
to a long trade friendship, and will give GTT Gaspree high priority on our
shipping runs.

Lt. Collins , Starcaptain
AFT TYRONE   #1613

asoccio@aol.com

Antonio Soccio   (Tony)

------------------------------

From: Christopher Allen <gtt-pd@consensus.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 21:07:28 -0700
Subject: APOLOGIES - Gaspree is at space square 1738!

Apologies for a creeping error that was propogating itself all over my
files as if it was a virus ;->

GTT Colony Gaspree is at space square 17-38, and the Newbian BattleGate is
at 18-38.

This error was:

* in my .sig for months
* in the Gaspree market message
* in the recent Merchant Upgrade announcement

Thanks to Bill Hendrick for pointing it out to me -- hopefully no one will
have any troubles over it.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. Marshall Whispers, Chairman & CEO            aka Christopher Allen ..
.. Galactic Transport & Trade                   4104-24th Street #391 ..
.. GTT HQ, GTT Colony Gaspree (#1656)    San Francisco, CA 94114-3615 ..
.. Petroom (17-38) in Newbian System (#2)           home 415/647-6401 ..
.. <GTT-PD@consensus.com>   No calls after 9pm or before 9am Pacific! ..

------------------------------

From: Christopher Allen <gtt-pd@consensus.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 21:36:00 -0700
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates

At 7:50 PM 7/19/95, Paul Schneider wrote:
>On Wed, 19 Jul 1995, Christopher Allen wrote:
>
>> They are just like ships except that they don't require maintenance (as
>> they can't land, or even enter orbit.)
>
>Interesting.  So this means that they can carry Jump, Thrust Engines as
>well as be specialized.

Actually the blurb does say that they can't Jump (even when turned 'off')
however they don't require engines to move (so mine are filled with
shields). As they can't land they can't be specialized nor can thorlium or
korondite coating be accomplished (but believe me, I'm looking into
research to do both in space rather than with a colony.)

The full official blurb is:

"Your ICM's are considered built into the hull. If the Battlegate takes
even 1 MU of hull damage, it will shut down. The Battlegate may shut itself
off using a 10 TU special action. The Battlegate requires crew, etc., just
like a normal ship. You may move 1.5 squares per 70 TUs. You must list each
square you with to move to or through. Like Stargates, Battlegates cannot
be located in planetary squares. The Battlegate does not require any
engines to move. The Battlegate may not jump."

I am in the process of converting some existing important stargates into
BattleGates with the co-operation of the Samillians to be for the joint use
for all affiliations at no charge. Additional conversions of stargates will
require agreements for the upgrade from us and Solar Array power from the
Samillians.

------------------------------

From: StephMarte@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 00:45:37 -0400
Subject: BSE:  Ilium Novum

Nicky,

Try not to drown the colonists in the swamps of Neptula
and you'll get the hang of it.

The place you call home was originally founded by
yours truly.  Back in 187, I think.
    Glad to see the name has stuck.  In case you ever
wondered it is Latin for "New Troy."

Regards,

Sir Arthur Curry
       WCE War Secretary

------------------------------

From: Christopher Allen <gtt-pd@consensus.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 21:55:44 -0700
Subject: Re: BSE: GTT Gaspree (#1656) Market Report for 27-195

At 7:11 AM 7/16/95, Hendrick,Bill;=9462771 wrote:
>The pricing for consumer goods doesn't make sense.  You are charging 10
>stellars for consumer goods and 25 for luxury goods.  Luxury goods are 10
>times more effective.  The proper pricing should be about 2 stellars.
>SSL Arkham is also selling luxury goods at 8 stellars a few weeks ago so
>if the guy starts advertising you won't sell too many luxury goods also.

(ooc) Thanks, Bill -- I've thought about this a little more, and I don't
have clear answers on pricing morale items.

One approach:

Morale items increase the morale, which increases the number of man-hours
generated. One way to pick a base "value" for any morale item under the new
rules is to see how many stellars it would generate for a factoryless
colony.

For instance, 1 luxury good is a +10 for 1000 people. 1000 people at morale
10 will produce 100 man hours, which is enough to run 1 factory for 25 MUs
of production, which is worth 2.5 stellars in the 'private sector'. This
sets the base price of a luxury good at 2.5 stellars.

GTT produces 20% more, so the same luxury good is worth more to us. 1000
people at morale 10 produce 120 man hours, which runs 1.2 factories at 30
MUs of production, or 3 stellars.

Obviously you don't want to sell morale items for less than what they can
earn you in just stellars or production, so this base price is probably the
rock bottom sell price. How much more a more realistic sell price should be
I'm not sure -- but it should be at least 2 times the base sell price. Thus
at Gaspree Luxury Goods should not sell for less than 6 stellars.

Buy prices are typicaly 2 to 5 times the sell price, so a buy price for
Luxury Goods should be 12 to 30 stellars, depending on your needs.

Yet there seems to be quite a demand for Luxury Goods -- it seems from
looking around that the many colonies want them.

Ideas? Other thoughts on pricing?

------------------------------

From: Christopher Allen <gtt-pd@consensus.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 21:55:55 -0700
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates?

At 8:09 PM 7/19/95, PROTHORAX@aol.com wrote:
>(ooc) Thanks for sharing the research info and I think your going to take
>some heat on this but I see some  game advantage here?! The battlegate is a
>problem to us agressive types but I have a couple ideas on how to defeat this
>monster?!

I think the Samillians have agreed in principal that there should be a
number of stargates for the common benefit of all affiliations, and the GTT
will build or upgrade those to be BattleGates.

Right now I'm keeping deployment of BattleGates limited to these trade
significant areas, and all such "Trade Center" BattleGates will have
multipel defensive escorts offered by various affilitions desiring the safe
and continued presence of trade at those "Trade Centers". Use of
BattleGates in other situations right now the GTT is discouraging (for
instance, say if the QSN/FGZ/WCE wanted one right now I'd be very reluctant
to sell.)

>What gets me is that I have worked on so many projects and they
>have either required the help of others and inturn the work is taken or I run
>into a dead end?! I bet I have spent thousands and have nothing to show for
>it! What really bites is that I really like searching for that artifact and
>doing research!

(ooc) I think you'll find that under the new research rules RTG will put
fewer unreasonable roadblocks in your way than Those Who Shall Remain
Nameless did. We also have an artifact under the old rules was useless that
finally under RTG we'll be able to use -- I think you'll find the same to
be true.

>ps. this thing has aggressive possiblities! :) I'm not sure RTG has taken a
>truely close look at this monster! But, it gives some of us the chance to
>think on how to beat this thing and to look for a game item to stop (or slow
>down) the MONSTER!

Note any strategy for attacking BattleGates now will be very different with
the new combat rules which will directly incorporate them. Based on the
existence of a "Command and Control" specialization upgrade that is
relatively useless under the existing space battle rules, having a
BattleGate as a sensor/tracking/battle computer platform will also have
tactical possibilities.

------------------------------

From: Law2Be@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 01:10:26 -0400
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates?

I for one have no objection whatsoever to the GTT, or the QSN for that
matter, being allowed to use the old research points for the purpose they
were intended.  In both cases RTG let something into the game that was long
overdue, and beneficial to the game at large.  I used 6 digits of points
myself for techs that are now "open" if you spend the specialized points and
the stellars, but was allowed to apply the old points under the old rules,
for the older available techs.  I am very pleased with the overall
consideration RTG used during the conversion.  Now if we could just talk them
into allowing us a scientist or two for those of us that historically use a
lot of research points.....

Thanx Guys!

Rick Burningham

PS   Paul, they can't be specialized because they can't get into a shipyard!

------------------------------

From: LUDENDORF@delphi.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 01:44:08 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: BSE: Skirmish in Podkay

> announced a bounty of 2,000 genuine USS robotic pleasure sheep for all
> confirmed kills of RIP warships, including those dis-ingenuous fellows who

Herr Tvillfeder,

Sehr dank, aber...

<bang, bang... veruchlicte.... translator... there, that seems to have it>

as, I was saying, however it is the job of the Imperial Fleet to hunt down
and bring to justice the enemies of His Imperial Majesty, Kaiser Jasil.
We require no bounty for doing our job.  Distribute it to the poor and
needy of your colony, or sell them and donate the proceeds to the
Celtians for the reconstruction of their colony, after it's rape at the
hands of the demons.

Ens. von Ludendorf
ISP Bayern

OOC:
Brad,
IMP colonies get almost no benefit from drug items so we don't use
them.

Steve

------------------------------

From: LUDENDORF@delphi.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 01:44:17 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: BSE: IND Posting

>   BTW .. the initial colony report I received also indicates that the FGZ is
> already posted, which saved me one obvious order right there.

Gov. Rjin,

Just a freindly reminder.  Quoda is Imperial space and will remain so
after Drell is ceded to the QSN.  The Periphery Flagritz are a separate
and distinct republic from the Transhole Flagritz.  The Periphery
Flagritz live in the Periphery and have every right to transit the space
lanes peaceably.  You are advised to remove FGZ from your enemy list
as you might accidently target the wrong FGZ republic.  Rather, identify
on an individual basis the FGZ positions and take it from there.

ISP HQ

------------------------------

From: LUDENDORF@delphi.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 01:44:24 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: BSE: IND Posting

>   A question? Isn't that the colony the QSN took from the WCE over the minor
> actions of the AIS and in the process killed over 10,000 WCE biomass units?

<OOC>
Dave,
You're thinking of Eldorath.
Steve

------------------------------

From: Paul Schneider <pauls@realm.net>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 22:50:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates

On Wed, 19 Jul 1995, Christopher Allen wrote:

> off using a 10 TU special action. The Battlegate requires crew, etc., just

Hmm, they need crew?  Sounds like they will have morale problems since
they can never land and use rec centers.

Thanks for posting the blurb.  Interesting reading.  Guess we finally have
a need for space stations (upgrade ships in space).

Paul

------------------------------

From: ja409@FREENET.SCRI.FSU.EDU (Jason Arnold)
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 1995 13:27:20 -0400
Subject: Re: BSE: von Ludendorf

><Starcaptain van Rijn,
>This is correct, I will require an itemized list, along with proof of claim,
>to ensure that the claim is fair  and not padded.  IE: If you claim a farm
>was aboard the ship and destroyed, then you'ld better produce proof that
>there was in fact a farm aboard the ship and was destroyed.>
>
>von Lundendorf:
>
>This implies that the Quooman will be able to seek additional retribution
>against the FGZ via the IMP....I will remind you that you've already imposed
>(unwarrented) sactions against the FGZ for their actions....additional
>sactions by the IMPs would be pushing the Ataman's patients on this
>subject....I will also remind you that the Blue Whiner was not killed, that
>the Ataman was truthful about the whole affair, and that we merely hired the
>RIP for the job...
>
>this whole thing is rather stupid...the FGZ could have easily come into Drell
>and blown the sorry SOB away...and that would have been "okay" with the IMPs.
>
>At any rate, you've imposed your sactions...any further actions against the
>FGZ would be considered "impolite" on the IMPs part and would probably create
>a "falling out" between the IMP/FGZ. (not a threat, simply a matter of fact.)
>
>Much Honor:
>Lord Den of Earth
>
>

Von Ludendorf,

I support my Ataman in this....we broke an Imperial law, we were punished by
having our Visa revoked.  By this action (as a result of our own mistake)
Drell is currently under the protective shield of your Imperial forces.  Is
this not punishment enough?  Both the QSN and the FGZ governments have
declared war on the other (unless the Qumans want to retroactively change
the facts again), in war people and things get broken.

I submit that the attack itself was made under war conditions, it was just
the 'method' that was wrong.  We were punished for our method and accept
this....but for what was damaged, well that is the way of war.

My people also value the steps we have taken down the long road of IMP/FGZ
peace and cooperation.

Wotan Tembu, FGZ Chancellor Privy

------------------------------

From: Jackmyster@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 07:13:08 -0400
Subject: Lord Nicholas Van Rijn

Congrates, "Lord" on your promotion!

The FGZ are *most pleased* to hear that your not running around in some
little ship somewhere...but are actually at a colony!

That's just GREAT!

Nomad1

------------------------------

From: ac217@detroit.freenet.org (Chip Charnley)
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 07:37:17 -0400
Subject: Re: BSE: Battlegates?

A>Now if we could just talk them
>into allowing us a scientist or two for those of us that historically use a
>lot of research points.....
>

Rick,
     That would be nice but they are out there to be recruited also. It
takes soem special actions but I have managed to recruit 2 so far and I have
a real good idea where to find another if I can get there before someone else.

Chip Charnley

------------------------------

End of BSE Digest V195 #258
***************************

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