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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!clyde!akgua!astrovax!elt
From: elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Flaws in the Traveler Universe
Message-ID: <85@astrovax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Oct-83 17:21:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: astrovax.85
Posted: Mon Oct 24 17:21:08 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Oct-83 23:31:51 EDT
Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics
Lines: 28

The standard GDW Traveler universe is an attempt to meet two not particularly
complimentary goals: to provide a good background setting for frp adventures
and to be a logically consistent, reasonable extrapolation of current science
and technology aside from a *few* "suspension of disbelief" items (such as
FTL travel or psionics).  Generally it has fair and occasionally brilliant
success, but there are several areas of miserable failure in my opinion.  
Some of my favorites are listed below:

1) Space is not two dimensional.  It might be argued that this is a simple
   compromise for playability; if so, it is a fairly major one.

2) There are many interesting astronomical objects in the sky other than
stars , planets, and asteroids which could make excellent settings for
adventures (see L. Niven for details).

3) Computers are abysmally primitive and ineffective in standard Traveler as
any user of the net is likely to understand clearly.  Rooms full of supposedly
advanced technology computer hardware can barely perform tasks that wouldn't
seriously strain a present day (Tech level 6-7) mini.

4) Genetic engineering which seems likely to be a (perhaps the) major
technological factor in society at Tech level 7-8 plays at most a minor
role in standard Traveler even at Tech level ~D.

These and other flaws in the Traveler universe should be mended by a
conscientious referee.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  If there are
significant responses, I will summarize them and some of my own ideas for
the net.