BSE Digest V1 #9

From: kerry@io.com (Kerry Harrison)

Date: Sat, 05 Nov 1994 16:58:19 +0000

BSE Digest               Saturday, 5 November 1994     Volume 01 : Number 009

In this issue:

+       Re: Ship Type Limits
+       Re: Ship Type Limits
+       Re: RIP-IMP Battle 42/194
+       BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits
+       Re: Ship Type Limits -Reply
+       Re: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits
+       BSE: Supra Haulers
+       BSE: the subject prefix
+       BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits
+       BSE: Bad Ships
+       Re: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits
+       BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits
+       Re: BSE: Bad Ships

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

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

From: Doug Wampler <wamp@thunder.indstate.edu>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 21:07:29 -0500
Subject: Re: Ship Type Limits

Neil, and what about all those people who are currently running
megahaulers?  What about the human affiliations who can only
build megahaulers?  You can take away megahaulers if you wnat,
but you better replace them with merchantmen . . . you can't take
away someone's positions without replacing them!
  Doug Wampler, SMS PD.

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

From: RIPLord@aol.com
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 00:26:11 -0500
Subject: Re: Ship Type Limits

Doug,
  I agree with what you say.  I was, as I stated, just proposing.  Perhaps
the MH is NOT a good type to scrap.

If there are just a few of a particular ship type, then with incentive from
the affiliation and/or from RTG (be it in a reduced turn fee or whatever)
they could be inticed into bringing the ship in for an upgrade/overhaul.
  If a company chose that ship type as the one they want to build, then, once
again, RTG could easily give the company a choice of a different ship type to
build.
   Now, Pete and Thad have also said that the better (but longer term)
solution is to just increase the total number of ships from 50 to 300 or
more.  That requires reprogramming the database, something that RTG wants to
do, but it isn't priority #1 right now.

Neil

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

From: RTGames@aol.com
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 02:24:43 -0500
Subject: Re: RIP-IMP Battle 42/194

Steve,

Yeah, I decided not to clear out the old stuff in the political files that
existed before I ran this batch, just in case somebody wanted to refer to it
for some reason....it's not really a bug--I'll be clearing the current files
next time, so that they will be created from scratch.  I am working on a
routine to print out all ships in an affiliation, so that PD's can tell what
they've got; I should have that ready this weekend.  Maaan, it's busy around
here....<g>

Pete

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From: Alan Hatcher <ZU02380@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU>
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 94 01:37:19 CDT
Subject: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits

To throw in my two-cents worth on the Ship Limits matter, I would prefer
waiting and allowing RTG to re-do the data base.  Just because a particular
ship is not considered worthwhile by most players does not mean it has no
place in the game.  To me a large choice of ships to choose from is one of the
things that makes BSE such a great game.  I'm not the type of player that likes
 to mini-max everything I do in a game.  I don't always take the 'best' spells
or weapons when I participate in a role-playing game.  Often times I choose
some of the stranger things in order to play a character who's a bit different.
  I seem to recall a story about someone who used to run around in BSE in a
Yacht just to be different.  Let's be a little patient before we rush off to
chunk a lot of the ship classes.  After all, patience is one of the main
traits required for someone who plays in our type of game.

Alan

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

From: pkrauskopf@FALCON.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 07:48:12 -0500
Subject: Re: Ship Type Limits -Reply

Now hold on a minute!  Merchantmen are currently built only by
non-IMP positions, and they are NOT an even trade for megahaulers,
considering the speeds.

Phil K.

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

From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun)
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 10:46:40 EST
Subject: Re: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits

Alan,

As an aside, running around in a Yacht need not be "just to be different."
Personally, I consider it to be one of the best ship designs in the game.
This is not "strange personal opinion", but quantified reasoning.  Using the
same reasoning, it is possible to demnstrate that there are some ship classes
that were simply not designed well.  How many 1976 (I think that was the year)
Ford Pintos  do you see on the road?  If we can scrap the Pinto & benefit, why
not?

You argue that something would be lost from the game if some of the ship
classes were removed, but this makes absolutely no sense.  If a ship is to be
removed to be replaced by another, then how is something lost?  Indeed, with
only 30 ships to choose from, the proposals I've seen seek to MAXIMIZE ship
diversity by replacing ships that are similar to, but not as good as, other
ships with ships of an entirely different nature.

Be seeing you,

Brad Braun
btb4@lehigh.edu
///////////////////*********************************************\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
    "We are here to rescue Bob the Baboon from the clutches of the evil
    shampoo and lipstick overlords!"
    -Nietzsche
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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From: Kerry Harrison <kerry@io.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:13:31 -0600 (CST)
Subject: BSE: Supra Haulers

Anybody got a couple of Supra Haulers they want to sell or trade for a
couple of Merchantmen or Man-o-Wars?

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

From: Kerry Harrison <kerry@io.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:17:57 -0600 (CST)
Subject: BSE: the subject prefix

ALL:

I've added a subject prefix of BSE:  to the mailing list, this is
automatically attached so there is no need to manually add BSE to this
line.  This should help some of y'all identify which messages are
about BSE.

Kerry Harrison
BSE List Admin

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

From: steve668@dallas.relay.ucm.org
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 16:43:00 CST
Subject: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits

Alan,
I gotta agree with Brad, the Yacht's is a great design.  It's so good, I
choose it from all the various EEM ship classes, as one of the 6 classes the
IMP is allowed to build.  While it can't haul cargo worth a dang, and while
it can't fight, as scout it is fantastic.
steve

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

From: Alan Hatcher <ZU02380@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU>
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 94 17:48:03 CDT
Subject: BSE: Bad Ships

Forgive me, but my ability to quote messages is severely limited on this
system.

Ford Pintos were mentioned as being an example of something that no-one
drives around anymore.  Yes, that may well be true, but I don't think that
should mean that I shouldn't have the ability to drive one if I wanted to.  I
think there are instances that someone might want to be seen riding around in
an old, beat-up space ship just for role-playing purposes.  So what if that
other ship is almost the same but better, this is my old clunker and I'm
sticking with her.  My point is that role-playing concerns should be thought of
also before trashing any of the current ships.  I think it would solve the
problems better simply to wait for RTG to upgrade the database.
                             Alan

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

From: Alan Hatcher <ZU02380@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU>
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 94 17:54:41 CDT
Subject: Re: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits

Steve,

I never said that the Yacht is a bad ship.  It could be said though that it
is not a ship that is often seen about the Periphery.  Maybe that will change
now that the IMP can build them.  My belief is that there are no ships that
have no place in the game.

Alan

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

From: steve668@dallas.relay.ucm.org
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 23:28:27 CST
Subject: BSE: Thoughts on Ship Limits

> ....it is not a ship that is seen often in the Periphery.

You're just not looking in the right places... I built several yachts.  Their
BS surpasses most human ships in the game  (those without speed bonuses, that
is), and since a scout really doesn't need heavy "surveyor" equipment (if
something interesting is found, a fully decked out Survey cruiser can be
sent later).  Using a single Yacht, I found I was able to patch minor holes
in the IDB... missing stuff like a GPI here, a probe there; the yacht was
able to clear 1-2 systems/turn (Swarm took 1.5 turns).  Come the new systems,
i'll probably build a few yachts for whatever ISS players go out there.

Oh, and those companies that want Yachts... come to Crazy Jasil's used Yacht
lot!  We guarantee we'll undercut the EEM's price to build.  You haul in the
hulls and drive out with a Yacht! <g>

Steve

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

From: btb4@Lehigh.EDU (B T Braun)
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 1994 09:26:22 EST
Subject: Re: BSE: Bad Ships

Alan,

If there was no limit, or at least no effective limit, on the number of ships,
I'd agree.  However, very shortly, there will be a class of character
(mid-ranked star-captains) without acceptable ships to fly.  What about their
role-playing?  What about the role-playing of your colony gov. when he finds out
he can't call on an effective defense from the affiliation because the
majority of the current star-captains are cooling their heels in 2nd class
ships for another year or whatever until they can fly a capital ship.  You
sir, want to force everyone to fly a "Ford Pinto," so that you retain your
"right" to do so.  With only 30 ship types in the game, you have no such right.

If you are so concerned about role-playing, I suggest you hone your skills to
where the  ship type matters less.  If you are unable to do so, I'd be happy
to help out:  I haven't dusted out USS Quay's missile tubes in too long, and I
really hate to dust, so...bring your "beat-up ship" wannabe to Stormgate
IV....

Be seeing you,

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

End of BSE Digest V1 #9
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