BSE Digest v195 #167 From: kerry@io.com (Kerry Harrison) Date: Wed, 03 May 1995 00:00:00 +0000 BSE Digest Tuesday, 2 May 1995 Volume 195 : Number 167 Welcome to the BSE Digest, the place to dicuss all the myriad aspects of life Beyond the Stellar Empire with other denizens of the Greater Periphery. In this issue: + Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released + BSE: New Rules Questions + BSE: Morale and Other Questions + Re: BSE: Promotions + Re: BSE: Hammerfest + Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released + Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released + BSE: Special abilities + BSE: The Rules need... + BSE: Research + BSE: New Rules Question + Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released + BSE: Ship Specialization + BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier + Re: BSE: Poker + BSE: Excessive Quoting + Re: BSE: FOE Statement + Re: BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier + Re: BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the bse-list or bse-digest mailing lists. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NoaKrieger@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 12:54:55 -0400 Subject: Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released [OOC] Brad, You stated that you ftp'd the file, did you set your ftp to use a binary transfer? Some systems default to binary, some to ascii. I've been burnt myself a couple of times because some PC versions of ftp default to ascii. The UNIX systems I'm familiar with default to binary. I've gotten into the habit of typing "binary" before doing a "put" or a "get" just in case. Good Luck! Jim Gagliardi ------------------------------ From: jstanton@qualcomm.com (John Stanton) Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 09:56:30 -0700 Subject: BSE: New Rules Questions Pete/Thad, First a few comments. Good job on the rules. Whoever provided the Word for Windows 2.0 version, thanks! I have 5.1 on my Mac and 2.0c on my PC -- neither can read 6.0. However, there is a problem with displaying the tables -- the header shows up as a black bar and for some reason I am having a tough time printing the rules. I hope RTG will be mailing us a printed copy. More comments: I like the fact that you did not put had limits on the number of mines, I think that the 30K/RTS limit effecively does the same thing. I don't think that the private sector is generating enough stellars, 1/10 stellar per mu is too low an amout. To give up 100,000 mus of production for 10,000 stellars doesn't sound practical -- a 1 to 1 ration sounds a lot better to me. You have created a lot of new places for stellars to be drained away with research, we need new nources of income. Also, I don't think that production colonies will be able to generate the stellars they need to buy what they need. Suppose I want to buy 5,000 PT at 20 st/mu --> 100,000 stellars is probably a fair amount. If I wanted my private sector to produce the stellars I would have to sacrifice 1 million MUs of production! This is one thing that looks pretty different from your original proposal and something I don't like. I urge you to give this point one more consideration. I like the idea that you can convert general research to specific on a 5:1 basis. Free sensor array results! Yeah! Do you still intend to print them every two weeks? Would it not be more practical to include in colony turns? Now for some questions.... How long do we have to decide if our colony is going to change status to become a production or research colony? What will be the costs? What category would I specialize in if I want to work on researching new mining methods (deep sea mining, gas giant mining, etc.) and metalurgical techniques? General research? Can you use general research to determine if a colony can produce a certain type of drug? Of would you have to use pharmaceutical research? How are other intoxicants produced? Or do I need to do a pharmecutical research project first to figure it out? (Of course the pharmeceutical research requires that I have other intoxicants;). Is it possible to just convert some natural intoxicant into an other intoxicant? Are you going to let us keep current stock piles of research points since the mechanism is similar to what previously existed? What kind of research must be performed to figure out how to build EMs? Will it be a tech that can be simply bought (like market receiver)? Do you intened to put out a new list of items that can be purchased, besides what you have in the rules? Is it possible to licence technology that has been out for a long time? E.g. I want to licence tech to build pulsar tanks for 24 weeks, can the PFM give me that licence? Can ship hull building knowledge be likewise licenced? What is outpost security and armored tanks? Are they really common tech? Thanks, John ------------------------------ From: jstanton@qualcomm.com (John Stanton) Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 11:19:09 -0700 Subject: BSE: Morale and Other Questions Thad/Pete, What are the differences in morale calculations? I see the increase in amounts from various complexes. They look good. Do colony class still add to morale? Can you still distribute stellars for a bonus? Does extra food still add to morale? In another vein, what is the possibility of making print out frequencies be at a higher value than every 4 weeks, how about allowing every 6 or 8 weeks to be the new maximum? And I can't find the section on fleet turns. Is that being implemented at this time? In the future? Thanks, John ------------------------------ From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun) Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 11:26:06 EDT Subject: Re: BSE: Promotions Phil, We agree, but why is battle seen is the most intrinsically hazardous duty? Nuking 3 midsized ships as part of a 25 capital ship force is minor compared to some of the critically important, and quite dangerous, exploration done. As to the GPs - it would be nice if we were allowed more PCs than those in direct command of positions. However, one could always give the points collected by a GP to the starcaptain of the "created by" ship. Be seeing you, Brad Braun btb4@lehigh.edu ///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ But you don't seem to understand. I fully expect to reign in Heaven. After all, is it not better to be a live lion? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ From: rboggs@isisph.com (Russ Boggs) Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 12:38:58 -0800 Subject: Re: BSE: Hammerfest >Only to the planet Hammerfest and the war zone of 3 space squares >outward from the planetary space square. Hammerfest is located in space square ??????? Thank you. ------------------------------ From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun) Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 15:39:52 EDT Subject: Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released I was going to send this with the title "Yep, I'm an idiot." I did ftp again before you suggested this, just on general principle. As with yesterday, I hit the A/I toggle switch. Unlike yesterday, when I retrieved the file from the server I hit the A/I toggle as well. Any who were distracted by this my have (1) free Kick Me In The Head (Pat. Pending) chit, to be redeemed at a time of your choosing. Be seeing you, Brad Braun btb4@lehigh.edu ///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ But you don't seem to understand. I fully expect to reign in Heaven. After all, is it not better to be a live lion? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun) Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 15:50:39 EDT Subject: Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released Jim, As you can see from the previous message, the problem was not in the ftping, it was in the DLing. Shoot me now. Be seeing you, Brad Braun btb4@lehigh.edu ///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ But you don't seem to understand. I fully expect to reign in Heaven. After all, is it not better to be a live lion? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ From: jstanton@qualcomm.com (John Stanton) Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 11:23:07 -0700 Subject: BSE: Special abilities Pete/Thad, Have you spelled out exactly what the new special abilities will be (in light of the new rules) for each affiliation yet? For example, how long will it take SMS to prospect/GPI? Will we be able to prospect from orbit as a special ability? Thanks, John ------------------------------ From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun) Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 16:34:33 EDT Subject: BSE: The Rules need... ...a truly useful table of contents (chapters, headings & subheadings), a list of tables, and an exhaustive index. Also, has anyone tried to see how this reads to a newbie? I think that there are lots of "information holes" in the rules that aren't obvious to the experienced player. This, by the way, is not something new to BSE rules. I just read them through completely, and am very happy. Colosseums! Yes... Be seeing you, Brad Braun btb4@lehigh.edu ///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ But you don't seem to understand. I fully expect to reign in Heaven. After all, is it not better to be a live lion? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun) Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 16:56:26 EDT Subject: BSE: Research Some comments on the new research rules: The specializations are "answer driven", rather than approach drive. Most real research is approach driven. In other words, the USS Robotics Institue would quite reasonably be able to look for ways to improve farming, certain ship and colony functions, or create new items. The limits of the facility would be on their APPROACH, not what they could do. Of course, some approaches would preclude certain types of research: The USS RI would not create the next generation of tank armor. It could, however, produce a smarter robotic tank driver that, along with the SMS Advanced Metallics & Metallurgy Studies Center could produce the next generation of spider tank squasher (no offence to the bugs of the universe intended, you guys currently happen to have the boss tanks in the game). I personally would have preferred a system of co-operative research, but there are ways that research projects can be used to enhance existing items for the same effect. However, adding specializations that have some overlap with the current ones would at least help. It would make sense for each affiliation to be able to "suggest" research specializations that are in keeping with their historical specialities. If nothing else, why not allow research projects on new research specializations? About Standard Colonies & Research colonies with the "general" specialization: Thad (in a 'phone conversation) indicated that if some things don't quite work there'd be room for fine-tuning, but here's my concern (admittedly ahead of the fact): The current limits & the way the points are restricted crushes these two colony types when it comes to research. The original suggestion of limiting the AMOUNT of production allocated makes more sense. Why not have a third factory type: Tooled, Untooled, Tooled for Research? A standard colony simply could not tool more than 1/4 of their factories for research. They would produce general points, that would then (if needed) be converted to specialized points at some ratio. Under the current system, a 400 factory colony would have to allocate all of it's 10K/week production to get 500 points. A modest research effort of 50K points would take two years, at 100% production. Since few, if any, colonies could defer all production for two years, it'd take 4-5 years. This is too restrictive, in my view. I recognize RTG's goal of attempting to block the old "any colony can do anything well" system, and commend them for it. However, there should be some colony type that can do anything REASONABLY. Be seeing you, Be seeing you, Brad Braun btb4@lehigh.edu ///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ But you don't seem to understand. I fully expect to reign in Heaven. After all, is it not better to be a live lion? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ From: RFN2@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 17:24:19 -0400 Subject: BSE: New Rules Question Open Question to Thad or Pete: Regarding colony specializations: Can a colony switch from one specialization to another? It seems that one can switch from Standard to Production (bottom of page 10, area that describes the Costs/Reqirements of the three types) because of the wording "first converting". How about switching from Standard or Production to Research, or any of the other switching possibilities, are there any costs? If switching is not allowed right now then what about in the future can something like a ship's affiliation loyalty be incorporated for colonies...loyalty to the Governor/Administration of the colony in question as a way to keep someone from switching more than once every eighteen months..... Great Job, Much Thanks ; Rob ------------------------------ From: ccharnle@m-net148.arbornet.org (Chip Charnley) Date: Tue, 2 May 95 17:33 WET DST Subject: Re: BSE: BSE version 5.0 rules released > > >On Tue, 2 May 1995 LUDENDORF@delphi.com wrote: > >> > Kerry, >> > >> > What screwed up version of PKWare was used to ZIP the file? I have about 6 >> > versions of PKUNZIP available - none recognize this file. >> >> Brad, >> >> Pardon me for jumping in, It unzipped just fine with PKUnzip 2.04G (most >> current version). >> >> >> Steve >> > >Steve > >Pardon me for also jumping in. I tried PKUnzip 2.04G and it didn't >work. Is there something else I am supposed to be doing and I am not? > > Bill > > > Bill, Where did you get the file from? If you got it via FTP the CLASSIC cause of the problem is that you transferred the file as ASCII instead of BINARY. I run in to this at work ALL the time as many ftp programs DEFAULT to ASCII. Chip Charnley ------------------------------ From: "Middleton, Charles" <cmiddlet@SSBPOST.env.gov.bc.ca> Date: Tue, 02 May 1995 14:58:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: BSE: Ship Specialization Thad Reading the Ship Specialization. Troop Transport. I notice they can carry soldiers, etc but have no increase for the Life support capability? Or would this have to be researched for level 2??? Tug. You let at carry more tractor beams but no more Thrust Engines for towing! Or again is this something to reasearch for level 2?? ------------------------------ From: Kerry Harrison <kerry@io.com> Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 17:46:59 -0500 (CDT) Subject: BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier For sale to the highest bidder, 1 Cargo Carrier equipped with a Cloaking Device. Bids accepted via private email only. KZK ------------------------------ From: Law2Be@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 19:23:14 -0400 Subject: Re: BSE: Poker I guess for the safety of all involved I had better show up again to pull you all off of each other, again. And this time I'll play my own hand thank you very much, I did not realize it was not a team game last time. Just make sure Horsts Ass sits on the other side of the table, I'm still not pleased about loosing ready access to Porkamo Base. Come to think of it, how about putting him between Guido, and BJ?? Sun Tzu ------------------------------ From: Law2Be@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 19:24:18 -0400 Subject: BSE: Excessive Quoting Michael, and others. PLEASE KEEP YOUR QUOTING TO A MINIMUM!!!!! It takes far to long to get 1-3 pages of unnecessary quotes @2400 baud. I'm in an area without access to a local 14,4 line for my mail so I'm at a disadvantage. PLUS I HATE READING THE CRAP 5 TIMES!!! Kerry mentioned it before, so please help out by only quo ting the bare minimum, the subject line will eliminate a bunch of the need. Thank you for letting me rag on something for once.....someone elses turn now. Rick Burningham (on a slow connection) ------------------------------ From: PROTHORAX@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 20:02:11 -0400 Subject: Re: BSE: FOE Statement (ooc) oh how intresting?! the game is truely heating up!<g> later david ------------------------------ From: ccharnle@m-net148.arbornet.org (Chip Charnley) Date: Tue, 2 May 95 19:59 WET DST Subject: Re: BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier > >For sale to the highest bidder, 1 Cargo Carrier equipped with a Cloaking >Device. Bids accepted via private email only. > >KZK > > Well, the WCE would be interested but I would like to know if this is a stellars only auction or are your looking at barter as well? If the latter, what types of things would you be interested in? I have posted this publicly so that all may benefit from the answers. Jame Retief, Research Secretary, WCE Secretariat ------------------------------ From: "Hendrick,Bill;=9462771" <BHENDRICK@kean.ucs.mun.ca> Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 22:57:02 +0200 (IST) Subject: Re: BSE: FOR SALE: 1 Cargo Carrier On Tue, 2 May 1995, Chip Charnley wrote: > >For sale to the highest bidder, 1 Cargo Carrier equipped with a Cloaking > >Device. Bids accepted via private email only. > > [Deleted]> > I have posted this publicly so that all may benefit from the answers. > > Jame Retief, Research Secretary, WCE Secretariat I think it may help everyone if they knew a closing day for bids. Ensign Ut QSN ------------------------------ End of BSE Digest V195 #167 *************************** To subscribe to bse-digest, send the command: subscribe bse-digest in the body of a message to "Majordomo@io.com". To unsubscribe from the bse-digest send the command: unsubscribe bse-digest in the body of a message to "Majordomo@io.com". 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